These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Virginia Scandals:** Virginia’s attorney general became the second top Democrat in the state to admit to wearing blackface decades ago. Mark Herring apologized for darkening his skin while dressing up as a rapper in college. His apology follows the state’s governor admission that he wore blackface to imitate Michael Jackson after his yearbook page emerged showing a man in blackface and another in a KKK robe. Meanwhile, the woman who accused the lieutenant governor of sexually assaulting her in 2004 went public with details about the alleged encounter. Read more [here](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/06/virginia-scandals-governor-attorney-general-1154315). * **Hot in Here:** Last year was hot. According to data released by NASA, 2018 was the fourth-hottest year on record since record-keeping began in 1880. The last five years have been the five warmest on record. A NASA scientist says “the planet is warming” and the cause is an increase of greenhouse gases. Read more [here](https://www.npr.org/2019/02/06/692060375/2018-was-earths-fourth-hottest-year-on-record-scientists-say). * **ISIS Fight:** Sec. of State Mike Pompeo attempted to reassure allies that withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria does not signal “the end of America’s fight” against ISIS, and rather amounts to a “tactical change.” In the State of the Union address, President Trump said the terrorist group has been almost completely defeated. Read more [here](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/pompeo-reassures-allies-commitment-defeat-isil-190206151647837.html). * **Bird Strikes:** Birds strike planes more than 40 times a day, according to FAA data acquired by USA Today. In 2018 alone, civilian flights reported 14,661 collisions with wildlife. The most well-known bird strike happened ten years ago when Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger safely landed a plane on the Hudson River. Read more [here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/06/bird-strikes-airplanes-wildlife-federal-aviation-administration-data-sully-sullenberger/2613893002/). * **JCPenney:** JCPenney is getting out of the home appliance business. The ailing department-store chain says it will stop selling major home appliances at the end of the month, and also announced that furniture will only be available for purchase online. The company hasn’t turned a profit since 2010. Read more [here](https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/06/investing/jcpenney-appliances/index.html). * **Tipping:** Instacart, the grocery delivery app, has reversed a policy that sparked uproar online when it was revealed that the company was using customer tips to subsidize the wages of its gig workers. The about-face follows successful campaigns for better pay from Uber and Lyft drivers and Postmates deliverers. Read more [here](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/carolineodonovan/after-scrutiny-instacart-will-end-its-controversial-tipping). * **Blackface Sweater:** Gucci has stopped selling a sweater that critics say resembles blackface. The black wool sweater that covers the nose and has a red cut-out for the mouth was selling for nearly $900. The company has apologized. Read more [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gucci-apologizes-stops-selling-890-blackface-sweater-n968681). * **Spotted:** What appears to be Jennifer Lawrence’s engagement ring. The photo was snapped before the actress recently announced to fans that she’s engaged to art gallery director Cooke Maroney. Read more [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6674969/Jennifer-Lawrence-flashes-HUGE-ring-finger-confirming-engagement.html). * **Grande & Grammys:** Ariana Grande, who was supposed to be performing at the Grammys, won’t even be attending the awards. Grande reportedly pulled out after an argument with producers over which songs she would perform. Read more [here](https://variety.com/2019/music/news/ariana-grande-not-attending-grammys-after-disagreements-with-producers-1203129734/). * **Name Taster:** A Glasgow woman has a unique talent ーwhich is actually a medical condition ー that leads her to "taste" something every time a word is spoken. After Julie McDowall went public on social media with her condition, called synaesthesia, she’s reportedly been bombarded with millions of requests. Read more [here](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-47129953). Cheddar's Jill Wagner gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).

Share:
More In Politics
House Passes Build Back Better Plan, Goes to Senate
The House narrowly passed President Biden's $1.7 trillion Build Back Better bill, the largest expansion of the social safety net in decades. The final vote was 220 to 213, with only one Democrat joining all Republicans in opposing the bill. It now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain fate. Jennifer Haberkorn, congressional reporter for the Los Angeles Times, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where she breaks down the current version of the bill, where it goes next, and what it could mean for the country if it eventually reaches the president's desk.
Rittenhouse, Mcmichaels Trials Felt Across The Country
Two murder trials in focus in America — Wisconsin V. Kyle Rittenhouse and Georgia V. Travis Mcmichael, Gregory Mcmichael, and William Bryan, the Men who killed Ahmaud Arbery. Civil rights and criminal defense lawyer Anthony Tall and the Founder and CEO of Kim Crowder consulting Kim Crowder, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Robinhood Cleared by Federal Judge in Meme Stock Lawsuit
A federal judge tossed out a lawsuit against financial services platform Robinhood following the meme stock saga that swept the investment world. The judge said it found no wrongdoing on Robinhood's part after the platform halted trading on popular meme stocks Gamestop and AMC.
Verdict Watch, Patient Zero & Love, Hate, Ate
Jill and Carlo are back to cover the latest in the Rittenhouse trial, new information on the origins of Covid, return-to-office and more. JOIN US FOR THE YOUTUBE WATCH PARTY @ 9aET: http://www.youtube.com/cheddarnow
Migrants Lives 'at Great Risk' in Geopolitical Battle Along Poland-Belarus Border
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has been accused by the EU of manufacturing a migration crisis along his border with Poland. But, even as tensions appear to be stabilizing at the moment, Ali Noorani, the president and CEO of National Immigration Forum and the host of the "Only in America" podcast spoke to Cheddar about the ongoing danger to the migrants who hail from countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. "What is going to happen to folks who are in Belarus who came from these countries? Is Lukashenko going to provide them asylum and protection in Belarus, or are they going to continue to be political pawns in a geopolitical battle," he said. "Real people's lives are being put at great risk."
Crypto Investors Look To Purchase Original Copy Of The U.S. Constitution
A group of crypto investors has come together to raise millions of dollars in the hopes of owning a rare piece of the U.S. Constitution. According to the crypto group, "Constitution DAO" It is time to put the constitution in the hands of the people. CEO and Founder of Metaversal Yossi Hasson, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Here's Why You Might Not Fit in Either Political Party
Polarization is among the defining traits of American politics in the 21st century. Sometimes it seems like the only thing we can all agree on is the fact that we don't really agree on anything. But those divisions don't just stop at whether you vote red or blue. A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds that rather than just two political buckets, we have nine. The "2021 political typology" as it's called distinguishes between different ideological subsets in the Democratic and Republican party. It encompasses everyone from the loudest revolutionary lefties, to the loudest insurrection apologists on the right. Andrew Daniller, research associate at the Pew Research Center, joins None of the Above to discuss.
Load More