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

Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, February 3, 2022:

MORE TROOPS IN EUROPE

President Joe Biden has ordered 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and is moving another 1,000 from Germany to Romania in an effort to bolster NATO's defensive position closer to Ukraine. The Biden administration aims to shore up the administration's commitment to supporting NATO without undermining ongoing diplomatic talks against the backdrop of 100,000 Russian troops massing on the border of Ukraine. While both Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have expressed a reluctance to engage militarily, negotiations have reportedly hit a wall, with Putin claiming NATO is not taking his demands seriously. AP

ARMY BOOTS NON-VACCINATED

As vaccine mandates remain unevenly applied across the country, the U.S. Army has announced that it will soon start discharging soldiers who refuse to get the jab. Those soldiers who get discharged will also not receive involuntary separation pay. This won't be a problem for most soldiers, as 96% of active troops have been completely vaccinated. There are 3,350 hold-outs, and 5,900 who have received temporary exemptions. NPR

WINTER WOES

So Groundhog Day was yesterday, and Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. Whether you believe the folklore or not, this winter is shaping up to be particularly rough, and many across the country are feeling the chill. Nearly a third of Americans are in the path of a winter storm that is predicted to bring ice and snow from Texas to the midwest to New England,. Airlines are canceling thousands of flights for the second time in a week. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, said that "no one can guarantee" there won't be power outages during the storm. The admission likely didn't inspire much hope for Texans fearful of losing power after last year's deadly blackouts. INSIDER

Even the storms are bigger in Texas.

BIDEN'S CANCER MOONSHOT

President Biden on Wednesday doubled down on a "moonshot" initiative to reduce the cancer death rate by 50 percent within the next 25 years. He first announced the effort as vice president back in 2016, and is now upping the ante. Cancer is predicted to kill 609,360 people this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Biden wants to cut that number in half. To do that, he plans to form a "cancer Cabinet" of department heads and host a summit on the topic, but he did not promise any new funding commitments to research or other public health efforts. AP

How about a cancer vaccine, big pharma?

JEFF ZUCKER RESIGNS

CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker has resigned after acknowledging a consensual relationship with a fellow executive which had not previously disclosed. "I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn't. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today," Zucker told employees in a memo. The announcement shocked the company, coming less than two months after the executive fired anchor Chris Cuomo for his improper role in helping his brother, then Governor Andrew Cuomo, in addressing sexual misconduct allegations. CNN

OMICRON SLAMS LABOR MARKET

Ahead of this Friday's big jobs report, ADP data show it's not looking good. The payroll processing firm reported that the U.S. economy cut jobs in January at the highest rate since the start of the pandemic. Private payrolls dropped 301,000, with service workers making up the lion's share of the losses. Economists are pointing to the omicron variant, which is having a bigger impact on the economy — and on public health — than many had initially expected.  WASH POST

MEET THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Goodbye Redskins, hello Commanders. After months of speculation and some detective work from fans who figured out the name ahead of time, the Washington Football Team has made the change official. Other contenders, such as the Warriors and the Red Wolves, were beaten out by the Commanders, which got broad support within the team. As for the fans, not everyone is happy, but that hasn't stopped them from coming up with some new chants. NPR

We say name them the Commandos and have their logo be a guy wearing no underwear.

BUTTERFLY PRESERVE THREATENED

A Texas butterfly preserve targeted by conspiracy groups has decided to close for the foreseeable future over increasing harassment. After fighting the border wall plan back in 2017, which it claimed would have cut its property in two and hurt the environment, wall supporters accused the National Butterfly Center of harboring a sex-trafficking ring. The preserve says staff members were physically attacked last week over the claims and decided to close during a "We Stand America" rally over the weekend. Now it says it will remain closed until it can figure out how to move forward safely.  TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO

META'S STABLECOIN DEBACLE

Meta grabbed headlines on Thursday as shares plunged after it reported a slip in profits, but many are still unpacking the company's failed effort to launch a new digital currency and payment system called Diem. After years of wrangling with regulators and lawmakers, the project came to an end this week. Cheddar spoke with a number of crypto experts about what went wrong and what it means for other stablecoin issuers. Is this the beginning of a regulatory crackdown, or a one-off miss from a company with a history of big swings?CHEDDAR

Not-so-stablecoin.

LEFTOVERS: METAVERSE LAND GRAB

The real estate market is hot, even in the metaverse. A new analysis from MetaMetric Solutions found that sales of digital property across the four major metaverse platforms hit $501 million in 2021, and remained elevated into the new year, with $85 million in sales in January alone. Facebook's rebranding as Meta and its commitment to the metaverse has boosted sales, and analysts are predicting the market could reach $1 billion by 2022. CHEDDAR

Need2Know Podcast Note: The Need2Know podcast is taking a break for now. We're looking forward to bringing you more context and analysis on the big stories of the day in a few weeks. In the meantime, check out our archive on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Culture
How Wyoming Became a Top Tax Haven With Its 'Cowboy Cocktail'
The Cowboy State has become one of the world's top tax havens, according to the Pandora Papers, a trove of more than 11.9 million documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and The Washington Post. The papers reveal, among other things, how ultra-wealthy people from around the world move money into the U.S., invest, and spend it under a shroud of secrecy. Allison Tait, University of Richmond law professor, joined Cheddar to talk about Wyoming's laidback tax laws, their impact on the nation's economy, and provided some details on the financial arrangement known as the "cowboy cocktail."
Sticking to Your New Year's Resolutions
With the New Year just around the corner, many people will be making new health and fitness goals. However, after the initial January push, it's easy to drop your resolutions and go back to your old habits. Joan Ifland, CEO of Food Addiction Reset, discusses her best tips for following through with New Year's Resolutions.
How Crunch Fitness Grew Its Membership Despite The Pandemic
Despite the pandemic and the home workout revolution, many brick and mortar fitness companies have been able to stay afloat. Some even increased their membership during the pandemic, including Crunch Fitness. The Crunch franchise is celebrating 128% growth from pre-COVID membership levels as its 400th club enters pre-sale. Ben Midgley, CEO of Crunch Franchise, joined Cheddar to discuss how the company has been able to succeed during this time.
Jillian Michaels on Sticking to Your New Year's Goals
The pandemic prompted a shift toward personalized at-home workouts, and made health and wellness even more of a priority. In the early months of the pandemic, sales for fitness equipment, shoes and apparel skyrocketed as people adapted to working out in the solitude of their own homes. Even as gyms have reopened, some of these trends have stuck around. Jillian Michaels, personal trainer and creator of The Fitness App by Jillian Michaels, joined Cheddar to discuss the home workout revolution and give her advice on how to stick to your 2022 fitness goals.
NYPD Reports Increase in Anti-Asian Hate Incidents Since 2020
A recent report finds that from March 2020 to September 2021, a total of 10,370 hate incidents against Asian American and Pacific Islander persons were reported to 'STOP AAPI HATE,' a non-profit organization that tracks incidents of hate and discrimination against AAPI in the U.S. Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of AAPI Equity Alliance & co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
The Real Reason American Colleges Look (Way) Older Than They Are
When you take a look at American universities, you’ll find one thing most have in common, besides crazy high tuitions. If you look closely, you’ll notice that most of them look quite similar – like they’re straight out of the Middle Ages. Funny thing is, most of these school were established in the 1800s. So if these universities aren't as old...why is their architecture?
Latest "Spiderman" Installment Saves Theater Stocks, But is it Enough Amid COVID-19 Variant?
Both AMC and Cinemark shares rose Friday after a pandemic-era record number of moviegoers attended the 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' opening night. The movie is expected to pull at least $150 million in box office sales opening weekend. But is this momentum enough for theater chains as the COVID-19 omicron variant poses new threats? Daniel Loria, Editorial Director at Boxoffice PRO, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Future of Space: Humankind's Leap Forward
The billionaire space race took off in 2021, making major strides in space tourism. That growth is only expected to skyrocket in the next year, as the government and private institutions and companies look to shape the final frontier's exploration. Cheddar News dives into the biggest moments of the year in space, and what comes next for space travel and tourism.
Load More