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Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Wednesday, June 1, 2022:
UKRAINE: U.S. SENDING ADVANCED ROCKETS
President Joe Biden announced the U.S. will provide Ukraine with "more advanced rocket systems and munitions" in its war against Russia. The new systems reportedly will enable Ukraine to precisely hit targets 50 miles away — its greatest range yet. Meanwhile, the European Union shifted its focus to helping Ukraine revitalize its economy by exporting millions of tons of grain that are currently held up by a Russian naval blockade. And Russia has taken most of Ukraine’s eastern city of Sievierodonetsk; if it is lost, Russia would gain complete control over the Luhansk region. CNN
UVALDE DISASTER DECLARATION
Exactly one week after a shooting at an elementary school left 19 students and two teachers dead, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration in the town of Uvalde, ramping up state and local assistance and suspending regulations that would "prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action." The Texas Division of Emergency Management will continue providing crisis response resources, including a “family resource center” for those seeking mental health services and other assistance. AXIOS
CANADA AIMS FOR TIGHTER GUN CONTROL
Following the Buffalo and Uvalde massacres, as well as a rise in his own country’s violence, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he will introduce legislation that would ban the sale and transfer of handguns nationwide, with exceptions for relevant businesses and licensed individuals who prove they require handguns for their profession or protection. The legislation would also expand red flag laws, increase penalties for perpetrators of gun violence, and launch an assault rifle buyback program that compensates individuals who return them. It would also ban toys that resemble guns, and require long-gun magazines to hold no more than five rounds. THE HILL
SHANGHAI EASES LOCKDOWNS
After a strict two-month Covid lockdown, Shanghai will gradually begin opening back up today, as full bus and train services will be restored, schools will partially reopen, and shopping malls, supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies will reopen at a maximum 75% capacity. Leaders in China’s largest city were determined to stick to a “zero-Covid” policy, which called for mass testing and strict quarantine protocols, isolating many of its 35 million citizens and leading to major economic setbacks. Of the 35 million, just 29 new cases were reported earlier this week, with Shanghai Vice Mayor Zong Ming declaring, “The epidemic has been effectively controlled.” AXIOS
SEARCH FOR ROE LEAKER INTENSIFIES
Nearly a month after a draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked to Politico, Supreme Court officials are planning to require law clerks to provide cell phone records and give statements under oath. The court’s unprecedented moves have alarmed clerks to the point where some are considering hiring outside counsel, and lawyers outside the court warn of potential intrusiveness on the clerks' personal activities. Each Supreme Court justice hires four clerks, usually Ivy League graduates who serve one year before typically joining prestigious law firms or taking on top government jobs. CNN
Ivy Leakers?
CLINTON LAWYER FOUND NOT GUILTY
Michael Sussman, a cybersecurity lawyer for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, was acquitted of lying to the FBI when he provided FBI General Counsel James Baker with computer data indicating secret communication between the Trump Organization and Russian bank Alfa Bank — after which the FBI found no evidence of illegal conduct. Prosecutors argued that Sussmann intentionally lied to Baker by saying he was passing on the information as a concerned citizen — not on behalf of Clinton in an attempt to help her win the election — in order to increase the chances that the FBI would investigate. Sussman denied lying to the FBI “and the jury clearly recognized that with their unanimous verdict today.” AP
KEVIN SPACEY HEADING TO UK TO FACE CHARGES
To avoid extradition, Kevin Spacey said he will travel to the U.K. to face sexual assault charges. In a statement to the ABC News show “Good Morning America,” the 62-year-old actor said, “I will voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.” Spacey is accused of sexually assaulting three men from 2005 to 2013, when he was the artistic director of the Old Vic Theater in London. VARIETY
THE RISE OF BLOCKCHAIN GAMING
Venture capitalist William Quigley predicts that the majority of the world’s wealth will be non-physical. The industry at the forefront of digital wealth? Video games. Blockchain or Web3 games, which incorporate cryptocurrencies or NFTs into their gameplay, have become a favorite of venture capitalists like Quigley. In the first quarter of 2022, 128 blockchain games raised $1.2 billion in capital. While blockchain gaming is relatively new to many investors, in-game economies have been around for decades. Cheddar’s Alex Vuocolo takes a deep dive into the history of gamers making money, and previews how the relationships between video game developers and gamers themselves will intensify as the industry evolves into an economic force. CHEDDAR
AAPI AWARENESS: COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS
As Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month drew to a close, the Stop AAPI Hate coalition was working to ensure that a message of unity and support extends beyond the month of May. The organization formed as animosity toward the Asian community grew during the pandemic; to change that, members look to implement community-based solutions, such as integrating Asian American studies into school systems nationwide. Cheddar’s Lawrence Banton spoke with the STOP AAPI Hate coalition to discuss how on top of monetary funding, “community-based efforts, education, and civil and human rights enforcement” are the best solutions for addressing hate. CHEDDAR
‘STRANGER THINGS 4’ SMASHES RECORD
The newly released fourth season of “Stranger Things” shattered Netflix’s record for an opening weekend, as viewers watched nearly 287 million hours of the ’80s sci-fi series. The previous record for an opening weekend was 193 million viewing hours, set by “Bridgerton” in March. After three days, “Stranger Things 4” was already nearly halfway to breaking the record for Netflix’s most watched English-language series of all time over its first month of release, set by “Bridgerton” at 656 million viewing hours. On top of that, “Stranger Things 4” has two more episodes arriving in July. CHEDDAR
Bonus points for anyone who watched and didn’t say, “Look how old the kids have gotten!”
SAY WHAT??
“Our surveys indicated that 1 in 3 users were receiving these pics, and of that number, 96% of them didn’t want it."
— Payton Iheme, Bumble's head of public policy for the Americas, discussing “cyberflashing,” the online practice of sending unsolicited nudes to someone. Iheme joined Cheddar News to talk about how Bumble is pushing lawmakers to criminalize cyberflashing, as well as other forms of harassment that take place beyond dating apps. 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!
