These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Friday, October 4, 2019.
  • AND NOW…CHINA: President Trump is now urging China to investigate political rival Joe Biden and his son, saying “what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine.” The president made the comments while speaking to reporters yesterday at the White House, essentially saying in public what he told the Ukrainian president in private. NY Times
  • BIDEN’S RESPONSE: Former VP Joe Biden tweeted, "Mr. President, you cannot extort foreign governments to help you win re-election. It’s an abuse of power. It violates your oath of office..." He also wrote, “The idea of Donald Trump attacking anyone’s integrity is a joke.” See tweet
  • BANKSY AUCTION RECORD: A Banksy painting has sold for $12.2 million a London auction, a record price for the mysterious painter who has kept his identity hidden. The painting, called “Devolved Parliament,” depicts British members of Parliament as chimpanzees: See it
  • JOKER OPENS: Joker, the controversial origin story of the Batman villain starring Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role, opens nationwide today. The movie’s depictions of an alienated young man’s descent into madness are raising concerns that it could inspire real-world violence. Police in many cities are dispatching officers to theaters this weekend, and some theaters have banned movie-goers from wearing costumes. Despite (or because of) the controversy and mediocre reviews, Joker is tracking for a $75 million-plus domestic opening. Vulture
  • INSTA THREADS: Instagram has taken another direct shot at Snapchat with the launch of Threads, a companion app meant for sending messages and short videos between close friends. Only people deemed “Close Friends” in Instagram show up in the app, and users can set a status, like “on the move” or “at home” to let their friends know where they are throughout the day. Techcrunch
  • UBER FOR WORKERS: Uber is branching out. The company has launched an app to connect shift workers with employment opportunities. It’s called “Uber Works” and for now is only available in Chicago. The company says it’s seeking to make it easier to find jobs — positions like prep cooks, warehouse workers and event staff. The app will give users information about the various shifts’ pay, locations, and work attire. NPR
Cheddar's Azia Celestino and Jill Wagner get into the latest.
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