Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, October 8, 2020:
VP DEBATE
Last night’s debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris was largely a referendum on the White House’s pandemic response, though the candidates also sparred on issues like the Supreme Court vacancy and climate change. Harris opened by calling the coronavirus response “the greatest failure of any presidential administration,” while Pence defended the president’s record. If anything, the debate stood out for being a relatively civil contest between two skilled politicians that focused heavily on policy. Here are some highlights: WATCH
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
There is a growing sense among infectious disease experts that the U.S. and Europe are now in the opening stages of the much-feared fall/winter wave of the pandemic. After Paris shut down bars, city hospitals are warning that they’re seeing an influx of new patients, while the EU is noting that infections are starting to rise among older people across the continent. In the U.S., Boston has delayed the reopening of public schools after the city’s positive-test rate rose above 4 percent, and a field hospital has been activated in Milwaukee. Dr. Fauci, who's been calling this a continuation of the first wave, is warning that deaths could hit 400,000 if “we don’t do what we need to do” in the coming months. USA TODAY
WEST WING OUTBREAK
In a new video posted from the White House, President Trump says getting infected with the coronavirus was a “blessing from God.” He credited a therapeutic antibody cocktail from Regeneron for his recovery and said he would make it available for free to anyone who needs it. That drug is still in trials, but shortly after the video posted Regeneron announced it would seek emergency FDA approval. The White House outbreak has infected at least 34 people, according to an internal memo. ABC NEWS
CHAUVIN POSTS BOND
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis cop charged with killing George Floyd, has been released on a $1 million non-cash bond. Chauvin will stay on a conditional release -- not allowed to leave the state -- until his next court appearance in March. STAR TRIB
FACEBOOK ELECTION ADS
Facebook will remove all political and social issue ads as soon as polls close on Nov. 3, its latest effort to get ahead of the possibility that a candidate would use the platform to declare victory before the results have been called by news organizations or otherwise try to manipulate the outcome. Facebook is telling advertisers they should expect the ban to last “at least a week.” CNBC
IPHONE PRIVACY FEATURE
If you’ve updated your iPhone’s software, you may have noticed a little green or orange dot that appears on the top right of the screen sometimes. Those “warning dots” are meant to alert you if your phone’s camera or microphone is turned on. Green means the camera has been activated, and orange means the mic is hot. The Control Center will tell you which app is using either. THE SUN
NFL OUTBREAK
As the Bears and Bucs prep for Thursday Night Football, the NFL is once again scrambling to deal with the fallout of new positive COVID-19 tests. Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore has tested positive, as have two more members of the Tennessee Titans. Sunday’s Bills-Titans game is now in jeopardy, and the Pats-Broncos game could be, too, if more tests come up positive in New England. The Miami Dolphins have been given the go-ahead by the Florida governor to have a capacity crowd going forward, though the team says it will stick with keeping attendance to 13,000. ESPN
SPOTTED...
...Taylor Swift, making her first presidential endorsement. In a new magazine interview posted on her social media accounts, Swift says she’s backing the Biden-Harris ticket: SEE IT
...Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman and more celebrities in various states of undress for a new PSA meant to raise awareness about “naked ballots.” There are 16 states that require voters to put their ballots into two separate envelopes in order to be counted, raising fears that many of those ballots will be disqualified: WATCH
NOT SO FAST
Country music singer Morgan Wallen was supposed to be the musical guest on SNL this weekend, but the show has rescinded his invite for breaking its COVID protocols. Wallen was seen in TikTok videos partying without a mask and kissing multiple women while hanging out at the University of Alabama last weekend. Wallen has apologized to his fans, saying he takes full responsibility for his actions. No new musical guest has been announced. VARIETY
LEFTOVERS: SURVIVAL OF THE FATTEST
Alaska’s annual contest to crown the state’s fattest bear has concluded and a champion has been crowned. After a week of online voting, 747 was anointed the winner after years of coming in as runner-up. The absolute unit of an animal pulled ahead with 47,300 votes to second-place Chunk’s 22,000 votes. 747 lives in Alaska’s protected Katmai National Park, which is home to some 2,200 brown bears, and park rangers say he got so big this summer because fewer tourists gave him more opportunities to catch salmon: SEE HIM
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