Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Monday, August 30, 2021:
IDA MAKES LANDFALL
Ida made landfall in Louisiana just before noon Sunday as a category 4 hurricane, but is now a tropical storm. Hundreds of thousands of residents in the Gulf region are without power as the storm brings life-threatening flooding, including storm surge of over six feet in some areas. Ida had winds of up to 150 mph when it made landfall, and as it moves north, it will continue to pose threats of flooding, high winds, and tornadoes. THE WEATHER CHANNEL
AFGHANISTAN LATEST: U.S. DRONE STRIKE
Just one day before President Biden’s withdrawal deadline, U.S. anti-missile defense systems intercepted five rockets that were fired at Kabul airport earlier this morning. That’s one day after a U.S. drone strike killed an ISIS-K suicide car bomber who Pentagon officials say was prepping to strike Kabul airport again Sunday. This was the second U.S. drone strike since the Thursday bombing at Kabul airport which killed 13 U.S. troops. The Pentagon released their names Saturday. REUTERS
COVID-19 UPDATES
CASE NUMBERS: The U.S. has reached 100,000 average daily hospitalizations for the first time since winter. Hospitals nationwide have been experiencing a surge in cases, and southern states, in particular, are seeing a shortage of ICU beds. According to HHS data, 16,457 people in Florida are hospitalized, the most in any state, followed by Texas. NY TIMES
EU RESTRICTIONS: Starting today, the European Union is set to advise member countries that they should reintroduce travel restrictions on the U.S. due to the surge in cases and hospitalizations. The U.S. will be removed from a “safe list” of countries whose residents can travel to the EU without quarantine or testing requirements. The EU restrictions will not be required; it will be up to each member country to put them back into place. NY TIMES
SCHOOL MANDATES: Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN that mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for children heading to school is a “good idea” due to a strong benefit-risk ratio. Fauci also emphasized that vaccine requirements for school are nothing new. “We have mandates in many places in schools... that if in fact you want a child to come in -- we've done this for decades and decades requiring (vaccines for) polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis," Fauci said. CNN
HAITI AIRLIFTS
U.S. military aircraft are now airlifting food, tarps, and other essential goods into southern Haiti about two weeks after the August 14 earthquake there. Most of the supplies are destined for remote mountain communities impacted by destructive landslides; many farmers in the area lost their plots of land. The airlifts are part of a $32 million U.S. relief effort. AP
KEY ECON DATA THIS WEEK
The August jobs report is out this week, and it will give us an updated look at exactly how the spread of the Delta variant is impacting economic activity. Economists expect to see a semi-robust jobs market, with 750,000 jobs added in August, which would be a decline from July’s increase of 943,000 jobs. Unemployment is expected to improve further, down to 5.2% compared to 5.4% in July. This comes just before pandemic unemployment benefits are set to end nationwide the first weekend of September. YAHOO FINANCE
ELIZABETH HOLMES TRIAL
Jury selection in the trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes begins tomorrow, but unsealed documents show the former so-called biotech wiz’s defense strategy. Holmes and her attorneys will likely argue that abuse by her ex-boyfriend Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani (who also served as Theranos’ president) rendered Holmes incapable of making her own decisions, and controlled her life. Holmes is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for allegedly defrauding Theranos investors and patients after the company repeatedly failed to deliver on their many promises. WASHINGTON POST
ED ASNER DIES
Seven-time Emmy-winning character and voice actor Ed Asner has died at the age of 91. Asner is perhaps best-known for playing the character Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and the hour-long drama “Lou Grant.” Asner also voiced the main character in Disney’s “Up” and has also voiced characters for shows like “American Dad!” VARIETY
PAUL VS. WOODLEY
Social media star Jake Paul jumped in the ring for the second time this year to box MMA fighter Tyron Woodley, and Paul battled through all eight rounds with the former UFC champion, but won in a split decision victory. Two judges gave Paul the fight 77-75 and 78-74, with the third giving it to Woodley with a score of 77-75. MMA FIGHTING
SPOTTED…
… 11-year-old drummer Nandi Bushell, who once challenged Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl to an online drum duel, joined the band onstage and played drums during their performance of “Everlong.” WATCH
… a cow seen in the backseat of a car going through a McDonald’s drive-thru in Marshfield, Wisconsin. WATCH
… Kanye West’s long-awaited album “Donda” finally dropped Sunday, but the rapper took to social media to say that things didn’t go quite as he had planned. SEE IT
LEFTOVERS: R. KELLY’S CATALOGUE
Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly is apparently strapped for cash and looking to sell his entire catalogue for below market value just to keep up with legal fees. He’s currently on trial in New York for criminal conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, and will eventually face other cases in New York, Illinois and Minnesota. Kelly’s lawyer said earlier this month that the singer’s funds are “depleted” and requested free trial transcripts. Kelly’s catalogue generates about $1.7 million a year in the U.S. but only a small fraction goes to Kelly himself. COMPLEX
Note: The N2K Podcast will return Tuesday, September 7! 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!
Updated Friday, September 3, 2021 at 9:10 am ET to note the Need2Know podcast will return Tuesday, September 7, not Monday.
