Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, May 18, 2021:

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

COVID cases have declined in all 50 states for the first time since the pandemic started, with the declines particularly notable in the Northeast. New York is lifting some mask requirements, while New Jersey is mandating that students return to classrooms in the fall. President Biden said the government will donate 20 million doses of the Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines, the first time the U.S. has dipped into its own approved vaccine supply to send abroad. REUTERS

GAZA CONFLICT

President Biden has expressed support for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for the first time, while also stressing Israel’s right to self-defense. Biden discussed a ceasefire with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the UN Security Council met but made no progress on ending the conflict. Gen. Mark Milley, the top U.S. military commander, said he’s worried the fighting is risking a broader destabilization in the region if it continues much longer. Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas continue to trade fire without signs of abating. AP

MAJOR ABORTION CASE

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on abortion rights that, given the Court’s 6-3 conservative “supermajority,” could dramatically change the right to an abortion under Roe v. Wade. The case involves a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy and has been blocked by lower courts under the landmark precedent set in Roe. The justices are expected to hear the case in the fall and issue a ruling next year. SCOTUSBLOG

EXPANDED CHILD CREDIT

Parents: keep an eye on your bank account starting July 15. That’s when the IRS will distribute the first expanded child benefits passed as part of President Biden’s stimulus package to about 39 million American families. The direct cash payments -- $300 per child under 6 and $250 per child aged 6-17 for qualifying families -- will come via direct deposit on or around the 15th of each month through the end of the year. The benefit tapers off for single parents with incomes above $75,000 or couples making $150,000. Democrats have said they want to make the cash payments permanent. SEE IF YOU QUALIFY

MEDIA CONSOLIDATION

With the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger official, AT&T is getting out of the content business entirely and effectively admitting that its 2018 acquisition of Time Warner was a failed experiment. The new joint venture will be run by Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who has not said whether he’s planning to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ or whether they will stay as two separate streaming platforms. There’s a major consolidation happening in media right now as the remaining content companies try to compete on streaming with the likes of Netflix and Disney, with the latest reports that NBCUniversal is sniffing around ViacomCBS and MGM is trying to sell itself to Amazon. AXIOS

HIGH FIDELITY

Apple is bringing high-fidelity “lossless” audio to Apple Music’s entire catalog starting next month at no additional cost for subscribers. The premium audio allows you to hear music in a wider dynamic range, as it was intended to be heard in the studio by the artist. Lossless audio is noticeable if you’re a true audiophile listening via high-quality wired headphones in a quiet place, but for the ways most people listen to music it’s hard to tell the difference. That’s especially true because Apple even admits that its AirPods can’t support true lossless technology. Spotify is also prepping a hi-fi format to debut later this year. 9TO5MAC

NBA POSTSEASON

At long last, the NBA playoffs are upon us. The league is doing a play-in tournament to secure the final two spots after finding success with the format during last season’s bubble. Tonight, it’s Charlotte vs. Indiana followed by Washington vs. Boston. Tomorrow is the West play-in, with San Antonio taking on Memphis followed by the Lakers defending their title against the Warriors and red-hot Steph Curry. The first-round games start Saturday (and yes, the Knicks are in for the first time since 2013). ESPN

NOT FUNNY 

NBC has a funny problem. For the first time in at least 50 years, the Peacock Network has no 30-minute comedies on its fall schedule. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the series that NBC rescued after Fox canceled it, is premiering its final season after the Olympics. When that’s done in September, the network will go heavy on the drama-- three hours straight of Law & Order on Thursdays -- for the fall season. At the same time, NBC’s stalwart SNL just put up its worst ratings ever for last weekend’s episode, with just 3.5 million viewers tuning in. The season finale is Saturday. THR

SPOTTED...

...Ariana Grande, marrying boyfriend Dalton Gomez in a “tiny and intimate” ceremony last weekend at her Montecito estate. PEOPLE

…two of the child stars from School of Rock, dating in real life. A fan went deep into the bowels of Instagram to discover that Caitlin Hale and Angelo Massagli, who played students Marta and Frankie in the 2003 Jack Black comedy, are a (very cute) couple: SEE PICS

LEFTOVERS: WORK 'TIL YOU'RE DEAD

Working long hours is killing hundreds of thousands of people a year, according to the WHO. In a new study, researchers found that people working 55 hours or more a week are 35 percent more likely to suffer a stroke and 17 percent more likely to die of heart disease compared to people putting in 35 to 40 hours a week. That amounts to about 750,000 people a year across the world -- and that was before the pandemic rejiggered work-life balance for millions. NPR

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.
Load More