These are the headlines you Need2Know:
* **Joining Forces to Fight Cartels:**
The United States and Mexico will cooperate to fight drug cartels amid tension between the two countries over President Trump’s immigration policies. The anti-drug plan calls for more aggressively attacking the cartels’ financial infrastructure. For more on this story, [click here](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-mexico-to-announce-new-plans-to-tackle-drug-cartels-ap/).
* **Dozens Overdose at Park Near Yale:**
At least 70 people overdosed Wednesday on a synthetic cannabinoid substance called K2, which was laced with fentanyl. There has not been a reported fatality in the New Haven, Conn., park, but two people are in life-threatening condition. One person has been arrested in connection with selling the drugs. For more, [click here](https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/15/health/new-haven-overdoses/index.html).
* **Cake Shop Owner May Go Back to the Supreme Court:**
The owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, Jack Phillips, is suing the state of Colorado because he didn't want to make a cake for a transgender woman. Earlier this year, Phillips won a 7-2 Supreme Court decision over his refusal to bake a cake for a same-sex couple because it went against his religious beliefs. Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is named in Phillips' suit, said the new case could also make it to the Supreme Court. For more on this story, check out [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2018/08/16/639147599/colorado-baker-sues-state-again-after-refusing-to-make-cake-for-transgender-woma).
* **Jury to Decide Paul Manafort's Future:**
Deliberations are underway in the trial of President Trump's former campaign chairman. Manafort pleaded not guilty to all 18 counts of tax evasion, financial fraud, and concealing of foreign accounts. The verdict could possibly determine the course of the investigation by the special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference with the 2016 presidential campaign. For more on this story, [click here](https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/16/politics/paul-manafort-trial-robert-mueller-donald-trump/index.html).
Cheddar's Jill Wagner gets into the latest.
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If you're in China you may have noticed that the 1999 film "Fight Club" which features Brad Pitt has somehow got itself a new ending. In the new ending on the streaming service Tencent, the narrator is killed and the explosions are replaced with a black screen saying "the police arrested criminals".It's unclear as to exactly why the changes were made. However, it is the latest example of China playing by its own rules when it comes to entertainment and attempting to control everything its citizens watch. Media Reporter at Axios, Sarah Fisher, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Some of Tiktok's biggest stars have a message for the platform: It is time to pay up! As the platform has skyrocketed in popularity, many content creators have been given the opportunity to garner millions of fans and even sometimes billions of views. In 2020, the company launched a creator fund in order to incentivize the platform's users. However, while the group of creators has grown larger, the pool of money has remained the same, and creators are fed up, they claim as Tiktok becomes more successful. Senior Editor at Engadget, Karissa Bell, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
In 2021, QAnon, the community which traffics in conspiracy theories saw a rapid growth in its numbers. As a result of vaccine rollouts, a number of conspiracies surrounding them also began to circulate which then led to the rise of "Anti-Vaxxers". As a result, the QAnon and anti-vax communities have become increasingly intertwined and the results could be costing lives. Senior Researcher at Media Matters Alex Kaplan, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Neil Young gave the streaming service Spotify an ultimatum demanding that his music be removed if the Joe Rogan experience remained on the platform. Joe Rogan's platform has been questioned a number of times as a result of some of his takes on covid treatment strategies and at times downright misinformation. Ultimately, Spotify decided to stick with Joe Rogan's podcast. The Director for the Business and Entertainment Program at American University, John Simson, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Nutritional supplement beverage company Athletic Greens has achieved unicorn status. The company announced a new $115 million funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.2 billion. The company's flagship product AG1 combines 75 different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients into one daily serving. Athletic Greens says it is poised to reach the millions of consumers who are currently driving the health and wellness market's exponential growth. Athletic Greens founder and CEO Chris Ashenden joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Michael Mitchell, senior director of brand at Mailchimp, joins Cheddar News to discuss the launch of Bloom Season and what every BIPOC entrepreneur needs to know to succeed.
Janet Jackson shared that she had a conversation with Justin Timberlake who had asked her if he should make a statement during the scandal over her Super Bowl XXXVIII wardrobe malfunction, in her new self-titled Lifetime documentary. The musical icon said that she viewed the incident as an accident and remains "good friends" with Justin Timberlake.
The gaming industry has seen multiple large scales deals this month alone, including Microsoft's megadeal for Activision Blizzard. And, seemingly in response, rival Sony, picked up Bungie for $3.6 billion, a studio once owned by both Microsoft and Activision. The sector is reportedly on track to spend $150 billion on mergers and acquisitions just this year alone, a record-breaking total, according to investment firm Drake Star Partners. Michael Metzger, a partner at the firm specializing in technology, media, and communications, joined Cheddar to discuss the flurry of deals in the gaming space and what might be behind the hot M&A activity.
