Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, April 15, 2021:

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The CDC’s advisory panel asked for more time to look at the possible link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and a rare but serious blood clotting disorder, meaning the pause on the J&J shot will continue for now. Some countries that have been giving the shot are already reporting that the pause has added to skepticism about the vaccines and a sense that, between J&J and AstraZeneca, developed countries are dumping second-rate vaccines on poorer nations. In the African nation of Malawi, a doctor says people have been asking “how do we get rid of the vaccine in our body?” NY TIMES

POLICE BRUTALITY

WRIGHT KILLING: Kim Potter, the former Minnesota police officer who shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop, apparently by mistake, has been arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter. Potter posted bond and will be arraigned today. Protests continued for a fourth night in Brooklyn Center, with police using flash grenades to disperse the crowd. CNN

CHAUVIN TRIAL: Derek Chauvin’s defense team called a former medical examiner who testified that he believed George Floyd died of a combination of a pre-existing heart condition, drug use, and exposure to the carbon monoxide from the tailpipe of the police car he was next to as Chauvin kneeled on him. The defense could wrap its case as early as today. STAR TRIB

CAPITOL RIOT

There’s a Congressional hearing today to go over a scathing report from the Capitol Police department’s inspector general about the Jan. 6 riot. That report found that the Capitol Police ignored intelligence warnings that “Congress itself is the target” of Trump supporters who believed the election was stolen from him and that they were “actively” promoting violence. Meanwhile, the Justice Dept. will not charge the officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt during that riot, finding that it was reasonable to believe he was protecting the House chamber. NBC NEWS

AFGHAN WAR

President Biden, as expected, announced that he would pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, starting next month and finishing by Sept. 11, calling his decision “absolutely clear” and that the “forever war” was no longer worth the cost in blood and treasure. Following the announcement, NATO said it would follow suit and pull out all its troops from the country. There are some 7,000 coalition troops in Afghanistan, more than twice the number of American boots on the ground. AP

MADOFF DEAD

Bernie Madoff, the New York financier who ran the largest Ponzi scheme in history that defrauded thousands investors out of a total of $65 billion, has died of natural causes in federal prison at 82. Madoff was serving a 150-year sentence for that fraud, which came to light when his investors started pulling money out while the financial markets were crashing in the fall of 2008. Both of Madoff’s two sons died in the aftermath of their father’s crime, one from suicide and one from cancer. His family has always maintained that they were not aware of the Ponzi scheme. OBIT

COINBASE IPO

In a landmark moment for the maturing cryptocurrency space, the crypto exchange Coinbase went public in a direct listing on the Nasdaq. Shares soared as high as $425 before closing at $328 in the debut, giving the company a valuation of $86 billion. Coinbase is profitable but its business model is directly tied to the price of Bitcoin and other volatile digital currencies. Bitcoin has been on fire in preparation for the listing, hitting a new all-time high above $64,000. Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase who is now one of the 100 richest people on the planet, started the company when Bitcoin was at $6. CHEDDAR

INSTA LIKES

Instagram is launching a feature that lets users decide if they want to hide “likes”, whether it’s their own posts or someone else’s. Instagram had been testing a feature that automatically hid likes as a way to see if it cut down on the pressure to post certain types of content. The Facebook-owned platform said the reaction to that test was mixed, so now wants to see how users react to being given the option to see their likes. REUTERS

'BACHELOR' COMES OUT

Colton Underwood, the former star of The Bachelor, came out as gay on Good Morning America, saying he came to terms with his sexuality this year. The 29-year-old contestant on season 23 of the hit dating show was known as the “virgin Bachelor.” He gave his final rose to Cassie Randolph and they dated for a period after the show aired but had an acrimonious break up last year in which she filed a restraining order against him. Underwood is now shooting a Netflix series about his life as a gay man. VARIETY

SPOTTED...OPENING CEREMONY EDITION...

...Team USA’s official athlete uniform for the Tokyo Olympics, an all-white ensemble designed by Ralph Lauren: SEE IT

…Team Canada’s uniform, featuring spray-painted jean jackets: SEE IT

LEFTOVERS: WHITE CLAW SUMMER

White Claw is introducing a new line of hard seltzers with a higher alcohol content -- just in time for what’s already expected to be a raucous summer. White Claw Surge bumps up the booze level from 5 percent to 8 percent and comes in a larger 16 oz. can in two new flavors, blood orange and cranberry. MLIVE

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