Get the Need2Know newsletter in your inbox every morning! Sign up here!
Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, April 7, 2022:
PUTIN'S FAM SANCTIONED
The U.S. announced a new slate of sanctions on Russia, as the bodies of civilians are discovered in Bucha, and this time Vladimir Putin’s daughters, Katerina Tikhonova and Mariya Putina, are the ones taking the hit. American officials believe many of the Russian President’s assets are tied to those close to him. Additionally, the U.S. announced sanctions against Sberbank and Alfa Bank, Russia's two largest banks. Stateside, the U.S. is training a few Ukrainian soldiers who were already here on how to use the vehicle-destroying drones it sent to the war zone. Also, the Boston Marathon has banned runners from Russia or Belarus from participating this year. CNN
AG GETS COVID
Attorney General Merrick Garland has tested positive for Covid-19 as a number of Washington A-listers who attended last weekend’s Gridiron Dinner also announce they caught it. Garland is fully vaccinated and boosted and says he's asymptomatic. Reps. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.), and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo also announced they caught it. The high-profile event brought together journalists and a bipartisan mix of politicians. The AG held a press conference with FBI Director Christopher Wray shortly before testing positive but hasn’t been in close contact with the president for over a week. CNBC
BIG OIL TAKES HEAT
As gas prices hit American wallets hard, Democratic lawmakers pressed major oil companies about why prices at the pump are the highest in 14 years, despite a drop in crude oil prices. The oil execs blamed a potential lag between prices at the pump and the price of crude oil, though Democrats pushed back on this, invoking record profits for oil corporations in 2021. Executives say the jump in profits came at the expense of a pandemic-ridden 2020. Republicans joined in on the blame game, more or less siding with the big oil companies, saying environmental policies set in place by the Biden administration are the cause of rising prices at the pump. CHEDDAR
FIRST JAN. 6 ACQUITTAL
Matthew Martin, a former federal defense contractor, became the first person to get acquitted for entering the Capitol with during the riot on Jan. 6, 2020. Martin opted for a bench trial over a jury trial and the Trump-appointed district court judge found that he “reasonably believed” police allowed him to enter the Capitol, as Martin said the two Capitol police officers guarding the doors made no attempt to stop him from going inside. The judge called his conduct "about as minimal and non-serious” as imaginable for someone who entered the Capitol that day, calling Martin a “silent observer.” The acquittal sets a potential precedent for Jan. 6 insurrectionists facing trial in the future. BUZZFEED NEWS
UBER SUPERAPP
Uber is adding planes, trains and car rentals to its U.K. app, with the goal of becoming a one-stop-shop for users’ travel needs. Uber won’t provide the services itself, but to boost business, the tech giant plans to get a cut of each booking. Even with the added features, Uber is sticking to its core product of ride-hailing, with hopes that customers will catch an Uber on the way to the train or airport. Roughly 15% of Uber rides are trips to and from the airport. Though these options will only be available for UK users in the coming months, a successful rollout could bring the added features to Uber’s primary market: the United States. FINANCIAL TIMES
What’s next, Uber? You going to take over yellow cabs too? Wait–
BIRDS INDOORS
Birds at zoos across North America are being forced indoors due to the potentially life-threatening risks of avian influenza. Placing birds in an enclosed area allows complete isolation from wild birds that had the flu and risks posed by other zoo animals. Zookeepers are hopeful they stopped this early, as no outbreaks have been reported yet. Though birds, in general, are at high risk, it’s poultry that’s being wiped out now to avoid a major outbreak: nearly 23 million chickens and turkeys in the U.S. have been euthanized to limit the spread of the virus. It’s a virus so contagious that when bird flu cases are found in poultry, officials order the entire flock to be killed. AP
PINTEREST BANS CLIMATE MISINFORMATION
Pinterest is the latest social media platform to take climate misinformation matters into its own hands. Content that denies climate change is happening or humans' roles in causing it is banned, along with misleading information about climate change solutions. Climate scientists have called on social media giants, Pinterest included, to implement policies curbing misinformation as, unsurprisingly, social media is how the majority of false facts are spread. WSJ
SNAPCHAT SIGN LANGUAGE
In other social media news, it’s been a week of progression (see: Twitter’s edit button). Now, Snapchat is adding a tool to help users learn American Sign Language. The new lens, also called a filter, explains how to fingerspell their name and practice the ASL alphabet. It also has a game to track learning progress, telling Snapchatters what signs they are getting right and wrong. Even cooler? The new feature was designed by an all-deaf team of engineers called the “Deafengers.” ADWEEK
BASEBALL! GOLF!
MLB OPENING DAY: One week behind schedule, baseball returns today. The offseason was a chaotic one, with players and owners failing to reach a collective bargaining agreement that led to a lockout and, ultimately, a league-wide work stoppage. Nonetheless, an agreement was reached, and baseball is back. Heading into the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are a popular pick to win the World Series. THE ATHLETIC
MASTERS: The world’s most famous golf tournament, the Masters, also begins today, albeit a little late as bad weather pushed back the start of Round 1 this morning. Tiger Woods is a go, and the field is as wide open as it’s ever been, setting up what expects to be a wild weekend at Augusta National. Also making the headlines: the absence of the tournament’s famous peach ice cream sandwich, which reportedly had to be taken off the menu due to supply chain issues. However, another Masters staple, the pimento cheese sandwich, has survived the recent economic turmoil. CBS SPORTS
LEFTOVERS: BLUEBERRY MUFFIN KIT KATS
Yep, Kit Kat now comes in Blueberry Muffin flavor. Hershey described the limited-edition candy as a classic crispy Kit Kat, but “with notes of fresh and cooked blueberries, a cake batter-like muffin flavor, and graham cookie pieces folded into the bar.” It’s easy on the eyes too, with a purple-blue coloring that aims to remind you of a fresh-out-of-the-oven blueberry muffin. The Kit Kat spinoff breakfast flavor is available this month and comes in a snack size, standard size, and for the major muffin maniacs: king size. YAHOO
We didn’t think we needed a Breakfast Candy category but here we are.
INSIDE LOOK
Liberty Science Center in Jersey City is hoping that by drawing in fans of the game with its Minecraft: The Exhibition, it can also bring in young women to learn about the value of a career in STEM. Cheddar’s Michelle Castillo takes an inside look into the ways in which the world's best-selling game can drive women into meaningful careers. 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!
