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
Diane Kruger and Kiernan Shipka on Bringing 'Swimming with Sharks' to Roku
Actors Diane Kruger and Kiernan Shipka joined Cheddar News to talk about their new series remake of the 1994 movie "Swimming with Sharks," premiering exclusively on The Roku Channel on April 15 with a full season drop. The series about the seedier side of Hollywood production had its own shoot interrupted during COVID — but it was worth the wait, according to Shipka. "To see the show in its final form come to light and be received by people well and have people talk about it, it almost feels like a little bit of a fever dream," she said. Kruger also addressed the show's focus on the cutthroat nature of the film industry, noting "It is definitely not an easy job to be an assistant in Hollywood."
Absolut Vodka Brings Coachella to the Metaverse
Ann Mukherjee, the chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America, joined Cheddar News to talk about Absolut Vodka’s decade-long partnership with the music festival Coachella. Perno Ricard's vodka brand has built the virtual world Absolutland in the Decentraland metaverse for users to explore. "We actually have a vending machine where you can actually purchase the cocktails that will be delivered right to your home," she said. The brand will also be featuring festival headliner Swedish House Mafia.
Here's What to Do if You Miss the Tax Day Deadline
The tax deadline in the U.S. is on April 18 this year, and some filers may still not be able to complete their return by then. Cheddar has partnered with Jackson Hewitt to let you know what you can do should you blow the deadline.
Digitally Native Brands Look to Expand Brick-and-Mortar Locations
Digitally native stores like Allbirds and Everlane are beginning to target the suburbs as they look to expand their physical retail locations. It comes as reports show that a large portion of shoppers prefer to make their purchases in store. A new Deloitte report shows that 55 percent of shoppers who began their product search online, ended up making their purchase in store. Nikki Baird, VP of Strategy at Aptos, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Global Fertilizer Shortage Prompts Farmers To Consider More Sustainable Practices
A fertilizer shortage made worse from the Russia-Ukraine war is reigniting the conversation over sustainable agriculture. With the costs of fertilizer rising, weaning off of synthetic fertilizer may be a good option for farmers trying to keep costs low, while keeping crop margins high. But, Damian Mason, farm owner, agricultural economist and author of "Food Fear," says it's not that simple. Mason joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to explain the challenges of greener practices.
Consumer Debt Surges As Inflation Takes Its Toll
Americans racked up the most monthly consumer debt in over a decade in February. According to a report from the Fed, consumer debt rose by nearly $42 billion, an annual increase of roughly 11%, far outpacing expectations. Rebecca Walser, President of Walser Wealth Management. Rebecca, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to break down this data, and discuss how this could impact the consumer moving forward.
Dallas Cowboys Partner With Crypto Platform Blockchain.com
The Dallas Cowboys have joined forces with cryptocurrency platform Blockchain.com as the NFL loosens restrictions on teams making such deals. The partnership won't open the door for crypto use at AT&T stadium but will provide for some exclusive fan experiences.
Load More