Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, October 15, 2020:

DUELING TOWN HALLS

Over in a parallel universe, the two presidential candidates are preparing to answer questions from voters at tonight’s second debate, in what’s expected to be a spirited but polite exchange of ideas. Here in reality, after President Trump refused to do a virtual debate, he and Joe Biden will take their cases to separate primetime audiences. ABC had booked Biden for a town hall event tonight at 8 pm ET,  at which point NBC booked Trump to do his own town hall, scheduled for the same time. The Peacock network is facing blowback from former execs, current stars and media critics alike, who say that the decision to counterprogram the candidates against each other is bad for voters. The dueling events go live at 8 pm ET. LA TIMES

COVID-19: EUROPE TIPPING POINT

Residents who live in and around Paris and eight other French cities will soon be under a nightly curfew for at least four weeks, part of a major crackdown from the French government to limit the spread of cases. Germany will also toughen restrictions as it records its most new cases since March. The mayor of London is calling for a “circuit breaker” -- a short national lockdown meant to cut off transmission -- as surging cases in the northern UK have spread south. London will go into Tier 2 restrictions, with a ban on households mixing indoors. BBC

STIMULUS SHIP SAILED?

It is increasingly unlikely that a new economic stimulus bill will be here before the election. Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin said as much, accusing Speaker Nancy Pelosi of being unwilling to make a deal that could give the White House a win. Pelosi says the $1.8 trillion offer on the table isn’t enough and doesn’t include funds for a national coronavirus testing strategy. WASH POST

SCOTUS CONFIRMATION HEARINGS

The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin the process of debating Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court today following two marathon days of questioning. Barrett has wrapped up her testimony, and is all but ensured to be confirmed before Election Day, cementing the most conservative Court in 30 years. AP

WALMART BLACK FRIDAY

Walmart says it will spread out its Black Friday deals over three weekends in November in an attempt to limit crowds at its stores. The retailer is offering more doorbuster sales online, and will introduce curbside pickup for the first time for Black Friday orders. NBC NEWS

SOCIAL MEDIA THROTTLING

Facebook and Twitter have taken steps to limit the reach of a disputed New York Post article about Joe Biden's son, Hunter, and his relationship with Ukraine. Facebook said it would reduce the ability to share the story until third-party fact checkers looked at it, while Twitter banned the ability to link to the story because it violated the policy against posting hacked material. Republican officials and others are outraged, saying the social media giants are suppressing conservative content. THE VERGE

PLAYOFF BASEBALL

The Astros and the Dodgers aren’t going down without a fight. Houston edged out a win against Tampa Bay in the ALCS to keep its postseason alive, but it was Game 3 of the NLCS that’s headed for the history books. The Dodgers put on an offensive clinic, scoring 11 runs in the first inning, before the Braves even had a chance to bat. That’s the most runs ever in a single inning in a postseason game. L.A. won, 15-3, to keep its season alive. ESPN

SPOTTED...

...Matthew McConaughey and his kids in a candid shot taken for the new issue of People: SEE PICS

'HILLBILLY ELEGY' MOVIE

Glenn Close has been nominated for an Oscar seven times, and hasn’t won once. Is this finally her year? Close isn’t pulling any punches in the trailer for the upcoming Ron Howard adaptation of Hillbilly Elegy, the 2016 bestseller from J.D. Vance. The movie streams on Netflix on Nov. 24: WATCH

LEFTOVERS: WORKING MOM

How hard is it to be a working mom right now? Cheddar anchor and N2K founder Jill Wagner writes candidly about the struggles of raising a toddler and working full-time in the midst of a pandemic -- while admitting the guilt that comes along with knowing that she’s actually one of the lucky ones: 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
Small Steps to Improve Your Finances
Sonali Divilek, Head of Digital Products & Channels at Chase, joins ChedHER to discuss what consumers can learn from the Chase Challenge, and easy ways that people can tidy up their finances this holiday season.
Why the Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Is Jumping 21 Percent This Year
If you're planning to host Thanksgiving dinner this year, be prepared to shell out more cash for your bird. Kristin Myers, Editor-in-Chief at The Balance, joined Cheddar to talk about the rising cost of food due to a number of factors like drought, inflation, and supply chain issues. She noted that families can expect to pay 21 percent more for their holiday meal compared to last year.
Verdict Watch, Patient Zero & Love, Hate, Ate
Jill and Carlo are back to cover the latest in the Rittenhouse trial, new information on the origins of Covid, return-to-office and more. JOIN US FOR THE YOUTUBE WATCH PARTY @ 9aET: http://www.youtube.com/cheddarnow
Roundhill Investments' 'META' ETF Targets Investments in the Metaverse
Roundhill Investments is investing in the metaverse, and it wants consumers to as well. The firm launched a metaverse exchange-trade fund called Meta back in June - the first ETF in the U.S. targeting investments in the next era of the internet. The fund's launch came months before the company formerly known as Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms. Since the launch of Roundhill Investments' Meta ETF, it has grown significantly, reaching $500 million in assets. Roundhill Investments Vice President Mario Stefanidis joined Cheddar News to discuss.
Re-Examining Janet Jackson's Wardrobe 'Wardrobe Malfunction'
At the turn of the century, a group of female pop stars, actors, influencers began to dominate Hollywood in every conversation in the entertainment industry, whether it was Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, we watched their lives unfold in real-time, seemingly right in front of our eyes. But perhaps the most glaring example of the misogyny these women face came in 2004 when Justin Timberlake tugged at Janet Jackson's booster in the closing seconds of the Super Bowl 38 halftime show. Now 20 years later, that moment in history is being re-examined. Senior Reporter at Vox Constance Grady, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Evolving Trans Representation in TV Past Common Narratives
'General Hospital' actor and activist Cassandra James joins Cheddar News to talk about recent transphobic comments made by her co-star Ingo Rademacher. She also discusses trans rights and the importance of having fair and accurate stories of trans lives portrayed in the media.
Innovation in Cold Therapy Training; Robotics to Transform Dishwashing
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Ice Barrel CEO breaks down the physical and mental health benefits to cold therapy training; Dishcraft CEO explains how its robotics is transforming the role of a dishwasher in restaurant kitchens; A look at Curiosity Stream's original series 'The Year That Rocked The World.'
Load More