Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Friday, April 23, 2021:

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The coronavirus vaccines are safe for pregnant women, according to the preliminary results from a large CDC study. A separate study found that a Covid infection creates an increased risk of negative outcomes for pregnant women and their babies. Earlier this week, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine endorsed vaccination for pregnant women. Meanwhile, the pause of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine could be coming to an end. The panel of experts that will make the recommendation is believed to have found few additional examples of vaccine-related blood clots since the popular inoculation was pulled. NY TIMES

CLIMATE PLEDGE

The U.S. has an ambitious new climate goal. President Biden announced that the country will try to cut emissions in half by the end of the decade. That’s about double the commitment made under the Paris Agreement. At the Earth Day climate summit, leaders from Brazil, Japan and Canada also made new pledges to cut their own emissions, while those from India, Russia and China reaffirmed past commitments or made non-specific pledges. CHEDDAR

D.C. STATEHOOD

The House passed a bill to make Washington D.C. the country’s 51st state. The statehood bill would establish a state called Washington Douglass Commonwealth in honor of Frederick Douglass, giving congressional representation to D.C’s 700,000 residents, most of whom are people of color. The bill has virtually no chance of passing the Senate, where Republicans say it’s an unconstitutional power grab by Dems. NY TIMES

RUSSIA TENSIONS

The Czech Republic has kicked out dozens of Russian diplomats -- the most ever by a single country since the end of the Cold War -- in retaliation for Russia’s suspected involvement in a 2014 explosion. Even though Putin showed up to the White House’s climate summit, Moscow’s relationship with the West has been getting dramatically worse of late. At the same time, Russia did order many of the troops it had been amassing at the Ukraine border back to their bases, in a sign of de-escalation with its neighbor. BBC

TAXING THE RICH

The stock market tanked on reports that President Biden is getting ready to propose a significant hike in the capital gains tax. The plan is said to call for nearly doubling the capital gains tax rate for people earning more than $1 million, to 39.6 percent. When added to the existing Obamacare tax on investment income, investors would be giving as much as 43 percent to the federal government. Top earners in places like California and NYC would pay more than half their investment income in taxes. BLOOMBERG

AMAZON SALON

Amazon is opening a brick-and-mortar hair salon in London’s hip East End neighborhood. The company says Amazon Salon is an experiment meant to test “the latest industry technology,” like an AR app that lets you see different hairstyles on your head before you commit. Customers can also point their phones at products in the store to learn more about them. Actual haircuts will be available, too. THE VERGE

ANGRY BRADY

The NFL’s new rule about which players can wear which numbers does not have a fan in Tom Brady. The reigning Super Bowl MVP took to Instagram to knock the rule change, which allows linebackers to wear any number between 1 and 59 defensive backs to wear any number between 1 and 49. Brady’s issue is that it will make it harder for players to know who to block. ESPN

We’re no football geniuses like Touchdown Tom, but maybe just block the guy who's wearing the different color shirt?

OSCAR PREVIEW

The 93rd Academy Awards will attempt on Sunday to break the streak of pandemic-era award shows suffering from some of their worst ratings ever. The show is coming live from L.A.’s Union Station and the Dolby Theater this year. The guest list and red carpet will be pared back significantly, and the majority of the films this year barely made it into theaters at all. Still, the ceremony goes on: Nomadland is a near-lock for Best Picture and the late Chadwick Boseman is the heavy favorite for Best Actor for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The Best Actress race is probably the night’s biggest wild card. PREDICTIONS

SPOTTED…

…Lourdes Leon, Madonna’s daughter, opening up to Vanity Fair about growing up famous, and her first boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet: READ IT

LEFTOVERS: LEASE ON LIFE

When Jonathan Frostick realized he was having a heart attack, his first thought was that he had an important meeting the next day, and his impending cardiac arrest wasn’t “convenient.” The British investment banker, now recovering from his brush with mortality, recently wrote a viral LinkedIn post vowing to reprioritize his life. No more spending all day on Zoom. No more getting involved with petty work dramas. More time with his three young kids. The post has received 12,000 comments and counting from other people who said that either their own health scares or the pandemic have led them to re-evaluate what’s important:  READ IT

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