Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Friday, September 10, 2021:
TODAY: The chat is back! Join us when the podcast makes its YouTube premiere at 9 am ET. Carlo and Baker will be here to hear what you have to say about the big talkers of the day.
FEDERAL VAX MANDATES
President Biden has ordered sweeping new vaccine requirements that will cover as many as 100 million Americans in both the public and private sectors. An emergency rule will require companies with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccinations or weekly testing. An executive order will mandate vaccines for all federal employees and contractors, with no option to test out. Biden also plans to extend a vaccine requirement for some healthcare workers to the rest of the medical field. All told, two-thirds of American workers will be covered under the new policy, which is expected to face legal challenges from Republicans. The president addressed the 80 million people who have yet to get a vaccine, saying: “We’ve been patient. But our patience is wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us.” CHEDDAR
mRNA BREAKTHROUGHS
The mRNA technology behind the Moderna and Pfizer coronavirus vaccines is already showing promise on a range of new applications. Moderna says it’s developing a combination booster shot that would offer protection against both Covid and the seasonal flu, an announcement that sent its stock jumping. Meanwhile, Pfizer partner BioNTech is reporting promising data on an mRNA cancer therapy. That treatment has shown huge success in blocking tumors in mice and is now moving to human trials. FIERCE BIOTECH
9/11: 20 YEARS LATER
Tomorrow marks two decades since the 9/11 attacks. The annual reading of the names of victims will happen in Lower Manhattan, as will the Tribute in Light memorial, which gets switched on at dusk. At the Pentagon, the president and first lady will attend a ceremony honoring the 184 victims there. In Shanksville, a private observance for family members of the United 93 heroes will take place at the site where that plane went down. Last week, the White House ordered the declassification of documents related to the attacks that victims’ families hope could shed new light on the role of the Saudi government. USA TODAY
DOJ SUES TEXAS
The Justice Dept. has sued Texas over its recent abortion law that bans the procedure at six weeks. AG Merrick Garland called the law “clearly unconstitutional under longstanding Supreme Court precedent.” The lawsuit will not impact Texas’ ability to carry out the new abortion restrictions in the short term. CNN
AMAZON FREE COLLEGE
Amazon is offering to pay 100% of college tuition plus books for all 750,000 of its hourly employees in the U.S., one of the largest employers yet to dangle educational perks as a way to lure and retain employees in a competitive job market. Also covered: GEDs, high school diploma programs and ESL certifications. Amazon will pay the costs in advance for workers who have three months tenure with the company. ENGADGET
FACEBOOK ON YOUR FACE
Facebook has teamed up with Ray-Ban on a pair of $300 smart sunglasses called Ray-Ban Stories. Unlike some of the past attempts at smart glasses, the shades don’t look particularly goofy. They’re almost identical to the iconic Ray-Ban Wayfarers, except they feature two tiny front-facing cameras and speakers that can take video and snap photos that users can then download to their phones. A little red light lets people know the specs are recording. THE VERGE
*Regina George voice* Stop trying to make smart glasses happen. It's NOT going to happen!
TEENS RULE TENNIS
The US Open women’s final is going to be something to watch. British phenom Emma Raducanu advanced after beating Greece’s Maria Sakkari in straight sets. The 18 year old will face 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the championship match tomorrow, making it the first major tennis final between teens since 1999 when Serena Williams beat Martina Hingis at the Open. What’s more, both Raducanu and Fernandez came into the tournament unseeded. ESPN
FREE YOUR MIND
The full trailer for The Matrix 4 has debuted, and fans are buzzing. While it was already known that Laurence Fishburne is not reprising his iconic role as Morpheus in the new installment, footage appears to suggest the movie will feature a younger version of his character played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. It’s still not clear why Fishburne wasn’t invited back into the cast. He recently told an interviewer that “you’d have to ask [director] Lana Wachowski.” The Matrix Resurrections hits theaters and HBO Max on Dec. 22: WATCH THE TRAILER
SPOTTED...
…Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, arriving at the Venice Film Festival. The reunited pair are expected this weekend to make their first red-carpet appearance together since stepping out for the premiere of Gigli in 2003: SEE PICS
...Kim Jong Un, looking tan, rested and remarkably thin during a recent North Korean military parade: SEE PICS
LEFTOVERS: STUCK IN TIME
The search is on for a 19th century time capsule believed to be buried somewhere inside the giant pedestal below the monument to Confederate General Robert E. Lee that stood in Richmond until this week. Virginia state workers have so far been unsuccessful in locating the precise spot of the time capsule, which dates to 1887. According to a newspaper article from the time, the capsule contains Confederate memorabilia, silver dollars and a “picture of Lincoln lying in his coffin.” Historians are eager to see whether that’s an actual photograph -- which would be extraordinary -- or just a print. AP
**LOVE **HATE **ATE
One thing we love: American Crime Story: Impeachment on FX. We’re digging Ryan Murphy's new dramatized look at the Monica Lewinsky scandal, featuring an absolutely stacked cast.
One thing we hate: When the GPS lady’s voice comes on during the best part of the song. We know we need to turn left in 500 feet, we’re trying to rock out over here!
One thing we ate: A full bag of Haribo gummy bears. The problem with gummy bears is by the time you realize you’ve eaten way too many, it’s already too late.
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!
