Get the Need2Know newsletter in your inbox every morning! Sign up here!

Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, November 4, 2021:

ELECTION DAY FALLOUT

Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy has been narrowly reelected in New Jersey, according to the AP. Murphy prevailed in a shockingly close race that, combined with broader gains by Republicans across the country on Tuesday, signals serious problems for Democrats ahead of the midterms next year. The GOP made significant inroads in the suburbs of Virginia, N.J. and NYC among voters who had previously been turned off by Donald Trump. Exit polls in Virginia illustrate the shift: white women swung 15 points to the GOP just a year after they helped President Biden carry the state by 10 points. NY TIMES

SCOTUS GUN CASE

The Supreme Court seems prepared to strike down a New York handgun law in a big Second Amendment case that would determine whether Americans have a constitutional right to carry a loaded and concealed weapon in public. In oral arguments, all six conservative justices appeared inclined to side with a challenge to the N.Y. law backed by the NRA. If the law is overturned, people would have an essentially unfettered right to carry guns in public spaces like the subway. LAW & CRIME

JURY SET FOR ARBERY MURDER SUSPECTS

A nearly all-white jury has been seated in the trial for the three men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery. The Georgia judge overseeing the trial acknowledged that the defense appeared to be intentionally discriminatory in repeatedly striking qualified potential jurors who were Black, but allowed the case to go forward. Opening arguments start tomorrow in the highly charged Georgia trial. The jury will consist of 11 white people and one Black man. CNN

KABUL DRONE STRIKE

A U.S. military drone strike that killed 10 civilians, including seven children, in August did not violate any laws of war, according to a Pentagon review. The DOD is not recommending any disciplinary action for the mistaken strike, calling it a “mistake” but “not negligence.” Officials also confirmed that surveillance video showed at least one child in the area two minutes before the drone launched the missile, but said it would have been easy to miss in real time. NBC NEWS

FED TAPER

The Federal Reserve has announced plans to start “tapering” its monthly bond-buying program that is widely seen as having kept the economy from collapsing during the pandemic by regularly injecting billions of dollars into the financial system. Other central banks around the world are also starting to scale back their monetary support. The process of unwinding those asset purchases is a possible precursor to raising interest rates, which would typically have the effect of curbing rising inflation. CHEDDAR

RETURN OF THE MEME TRADE

Shares of Bed Bath & Beyond jumped more than 50% after the retailer announced a new partnership to sell products in Kroger stores, part of a broader reorganization of the struggling retailer. The stock took off because of a short squeeze, similar to how shares of AMC and GameStop traded in the “meme stock” frenzy earlier this year. Short sellers also got crushed this week in a squeeze of Avis Budget that sent shares of the rental-car company up more than 100%. WSJ

RODGERS IN TROUBLE

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has tested positive for Covid and will have to sit out Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. That essentially confirms that he is unvaccinated, because vaccinated players don’t have to automatically isolate under the NFL’s Covid protocol. Rodgers is under fire not just because he didn’t get the vaccine, but because he appears to have misled the league and the public about his vaccination status. When asked in August if he got the shot, the quarterback responded that he was “immunized.” Since then, he’s been observed flouting the NFL’s rules for unvaccinated players -- he hasn’t been wearing a mask indoors or on the sidelines -- suggesting that he was vaccinated. ESPN

MARVEL SEX SCENE

The first sex scene in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is coming to a theater near you this weekend. Eternals, directed by Oscar-winning indie auteur Chloe Zhao, includes a brief but unmistakable love scene between superheroes, but still skates by with a PG-13 rating. It’s a first for the MCU, where sex is famously often implied but never shown. Eternals will open with another first -- the first Marvel movie to be “certified rotten” on Rotten Tomatoes. The flick is getting decidedly mixed reviews in spite of a diverse, all-star cast. THE RINGER

SPOTTED...

...a rare photo of Carl Dean, the reclusive husband of Dolly Parton. The country music legend posted a throwback pic of her with Dean, whom she married in 1966. He was photographed in public last year for the first time in 40 years: SEE PIC

...Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, reportedly on a dinner date in Manhattan a day after they were seen eating together on Davidson’s native Staten Island: DETAILS

LEFTOVERS: LONDON AIRLIFT

Three Boeing 747s landed at Heathrow this week, reportedly filled entirely with PlayStation 5 consoles. Sony has been chartering decommissioned jumbo jets to deliver the un-gettable gaming console to store shelves in the UK, bypassing the delays at the ports ahead of the holidays. PS5 restocks have been increasing at U.S. stores too, though automated bots have made it near impossible to snag one online. No signs yet of any PS5 planes coming to American airspace. METRO UK

Listen to the N2K Podcast! Looking for more context and analysis on the big stories of the day? Check out our podcast! Hosts Jill and Carlo break down the headlines, every weekday morning Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Culture
W. Kamau Bell on Key Takeaway From 'We Need to Talk About Cosby' Docuseries
After premiering at the 2022 Sundance Festival, Showtime is slated to drop the four-part docuseries "We Need to Talk About Bill Cosby" this Sunday. Director W. Kamau Bell joined Cheddar to discuss the sensitive project and about coming to grips with the reality of who Bill Cosby is following the numerous allegations of sexual assault. Bell said the biggest takeaway from the project is that survivors are not only looking for the 84-year-old comedian to be held accountable, they also want to prevent future assaults. "Maybe the key thing to learn is how do we create a society that is more supportive and accepting particularly women in this case who are survivors of sexual assault," Bell said.
What To Know About 2022 Tax Season
Tax season is now underway, and it's going to be a bit different than in years past. For starters, the deadline is April 18, instead of the typical April 15th, and many Americans will need to account for advance child tax credit payments, the return of the recovery rebate credit, and a special break for charitable contributions, among other things. Brent Weiss, Co-Founder and certified financial planner at Facet Wealth, tells us what we need to know about filing our taxes this year, and when we can expect to receive our returns.
College Enrollment Down Nearly 7% Since The Pandemic
College enrollment has been on a steady decline for years, and the pandemic hasn't helped. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a 6.6% — more than 1 million students — drop in undergraduate enrollment, according to a recent report. Douglas Belkin, higher education reporter at the Wall Street Journal, joined Cheddar to discuss the long-term implications of students sitting out of college, and what institutions can do about it.
As Midterm Elections Loom, Biden's Approval Rating Continues Decline
As the midterm election looms, things aren't looking too promising for President Joe Biden. One year into his term as president, Biden is facing one of the lowest approval ratings of any modern-day president, threatening his party's control of the House in 2022. Brian Bennett, Senior White House Correspondent for TIME, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
The Biden Administration: One Year Down, Three to Go
A full one year into his term as President of The United States, President Biden addressed the nation on Wednesday, facing questions on everything from inflation to chip shortages and covid-19. As Biden enters his second year in office, he is facing one of the lowest approval ratings of any modern-day president. Kate Davidson, Reporter, POLITICO joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
New San Diego Law Funnels Grocery Waste To Food Banks
San Diego has just implemented a new law that could set the stage for how the country deals with food waste. This new law hopes to make a dent in that. Businesses and groceries stores out in San Diego will need to put a plan in place to *donate edible food rather than toss it straight to the trash. Food Rescue Manager at Feeding San Diego, Kate Garret
Bronx Twin Parks Apartment Fire Leaves 17 People Dead
Earlier this month, New York City experienced one of the deadliest fires it has seen in decades. 17 people lost their lives in the Fordham section of the Bronx. This was due to a faulty space heater which reportedly began on the lower floor of the 120 unit building. Thanks to the F. D. N. Y. And heroic neighbors, many were able to get out in time. Unfortunately, the toxic smoke surged upwards through a safety door. Now, many advocates say negligence by policymakers and landlords has led to the deaths in black and brown communities from fires that honestly could have been preventable. Legislative Director of Citizen Action of New York, Rebecca Garrard, and the Chair of Journalism and New Media Studies at St. Joseph's College Theodore Hamm, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Clari Raises $225 Million to Deliver Predictable Revenue for Every Business
Revenue operations platform Clari recently raised $225 million in a Series F financing round led by Blackstone, bringing the company's valuation to more than $2.6 billion. Calri says more than 450 companies from around the world use its A.I.-powered platform to make their revenue operations more connected, efficient, and predictable. Clari CEO Andy Byrne joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Load More