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Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Friday, November 19, 2021:

VERDICT WATCH

RITTENHOUSE: Jurors in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial will resume deliberations this morning, having now gone 23 hours and counting without delivering a verdict in the highly-charged murder case. Five public schools that are near the courthouse in Kenosha have moved to virtual classes in anticipation of unrest when a verdict is reached. The judge in the case has banned MSNBC from the courtroom after a freelance producer for the network was pulled over for running a red light while following the jury van. NBC says the producer never intended to contact jurors. WASH POST

MCMICHAEL-BRYAN: In Georgia, closing arguments are set to begin on Monday in the trial over the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. The defense has rested its case after it gambled by putting Travis McMichael, the man who shot Arbery, on the stand. McMichael admitted under cross-examination that Arbery did not speak or threaten him in any way before McMichael shot him. CNN

'BUILD BACK BETTER' VOTE

The House plans to vote on President Biden’s $1.7 trillion social spending and climate change bill today after the first attempts at a vote were delayed when the minority leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, held up the floor with an eight-hour speech blasting Biden’s agenda. McCarthy broke the record for the longest floor speech in the history of the House, previously held by Speaker Pelosi. Still, Dems think they have the votes to send the bill to the Senate after a cost estimate eased the concerns of some centrist holdouts. POLITICO

HUNT FOR PATIENT ZERO

A comprehensive new study on the origins of the coronavirus theorizes that the virus did, in fact, start at the infamous Wuhan wet market. Dr. Michael Worobey, a scientist from the U. of Arizona who traces the evolution of viruses, has published his analysis in the prestigious journal Science. Worobey’s study suggests that the first known person who contracted Covid was a seafood vendor named Wei Guixian who worked at that market. That would conflict with the “lab-leak" theory, as well as the WHO’s official theory that patient zero was an accountant who had no connection to either the lab or the market. NY TIMES

LAST MINUTE CLEMENCY

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has granted clemency to the inmate Julius Jones, commuting his death sentence to life without parole just hours before Jones was scheduled to be executed. Jones was convicted of a 1999 murder and has maintained his innocence throughout his 20 years on death row, as his case drew attention from celebrities and other advocates. Oklahoma’s parole board had recommended that Jones’ death sentence be commuted to life with the possibility of parole, so the governor’s decision means he will be spared death but will likely remain behind bars for the rest of his life. Jones’ lawyers had filed a last-ditch motion to stay the execution after another Oklahoma death row inmate convulsed and vomited during his lethal injection. OKLAHOMAN

RETURN TO OFFICE

Apple is the latest big company to bump back its return-to-office once again. Apple employees are being told to report back to the office on Feb. 1, at which point they will start a “hybrid” model that includes four weeks a year to work remotely. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling for workers in NYC to go back in the new year, saying the Big Apple’s office buildings are “still too empty.” THE VERGE

CHIP SHORTAGE

The latest victim of the global semiconductor shortage: heated seats and steering wheels, which are no longer included on new Chevy models due to the lack of chips that make those features work. Now Chevy parent GM and its Detroit rival Ford are looking to take matters into their own hands. Both companies have announced separate partnerships with chipmakers intended to boost supply and strengthen supply chains, especially as newer cars are needing even more of those chips to run. GM will co-develop chips with a handful of companies, while Ford is partnering with an American chipmaker to eventually bring the entire design and manufacturing process entirely in-house. WSJ

TOM BRADY WHO?

The New England Patriots shut out the Atlanta Falcons in Thursday Night Football, 25-0, for the team’s fifth consecutive win. Mac Jones is proving himself as the most successful quarterback of the stacked 2021 draft class, having become just the third rookie QB in NFL history to win his first five starts on the road. ESPN

ADELE SEASON

If last weekend belonged to Taylor Swift, this weekend is all Adele. The singer’s hugely anticipated album 30 dropped overnight on streaming services, and the first reviews call it a “masterpiece of heartbreak and honesty” from an artist “at the top of her game.” Adele has been making the media rounds all week, opening up about everything from her divorce to post-partum depression and body image issues. BBC

SPOTTED...

...a Miami mansion once owned by Madonna, on the market for $32 million. The property is currently owned by a dog that inherited it from a German countess: SEE IT


…Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, holding hands while out and about in Palm Springs: SEE PICS

LEFTOVERS: WHO IS MIKE?

A vandal in Washington D.C. acted out a revenge fantasy familiar to anyone who’s had a philandering ex. The problem is, they got back at the wrong person. Police are looking for whomever spray-painted “MIKE IS A CHEATER” all over a red SUV in Northwest D.C., smashing the front and back windshields and snapping off the mirrors for good measure. But the owner of the SUV is a woman named Nedra, who most certainly is not the Mike in question, and doesn’t even know anyone named Mike. Here’s veteran WRC reporter Pat Collins on the case: WATCH

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!

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