Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, October 22, 2020:
COVID-19: SCHOOLS IN DISARRAY
Boston’s public school system is going entirely remote as of today after the city’s test positivity rate hit 5.7 percent. The superintendent of schools says students will be remote until there’s a “downward trend” in cases. This comes after San Francisco’s school superintendent said public schools won’t reopen before the end of the year, even though that city’s positivity rate is just 0.88 percent. BOSTON GLOBE
DEBATE NIGHT
On the eve of the final debate, national security officials announced that Iran and Russia had obtained U.S. voter registration data in an effort to influence the election in its final days -- though the information they reportedly got a hold of is publicly available to anyone who knows where to look. The feds say Iran sent spoofed emails to Democratic voters in swing states meant to intimidate them into voting for President Trump. The president will square off against Joe Biden tonight in Nashville for the second and final debate, starting at 9 pm ET. NBC’s Kristen Welker moderates. AP
POPE BREAKS WITH CHURCH
A documentary about Pope Francis that just premiered in Rome has shaken up the Catholic Church over comments the pope made in support of same-sex civil unions. In the film, Francis says: "Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They are children of God and have a right to a family...What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered.” The Church’s official doctrine still opposes civil unions for same-sex couples, and Francis’ support for such unions could upend that position, though it does not represent a formal change in policy. CNA
ANTI-GOV PROTESTS
Nigeria and Thailand are both in the throes of massive organized protests that have spilled over after building up for weeks. In Nigeria, people have been out in the streets demonstrating against the country’s special-police force, known as SARS, which has long been accused of operating as an extrajudicial hit squad for the government. In Thailand, where military coups are common, the populace appears to have turned against the country’s monarchy and the harsh rules that criminalize dissent against the royal family. Both protest movements are being fueled by young people. REUTERS
OPIOID SETTLEMENT
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma will plead guilty to criminal charges related to how the company pushed the extremely addictive drug that accelerated a national opioid crisis. The bankrupt Purdue will pay out more than $8 billion in penalties, and the Sackler family -- its wealthy owners -- will personally be on the hook for $225 million. The settlement with the government importantly does not preclude the Sacklers, or Purdue executives, from being criminally charged. CHEDDAR
QUIBI CALLS IT QUITS
The Quibi experiment is over. The short-form streaming service that wanted to change how we consume video on mobile is shutting down after failing to catch on, six months after it launched. Co-founder and media mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg says he and his partner, Meg Whitman, made a “clear-eyed decision” to cut their losses. The startup had raised $1.75 billion in funding, making it one of the most high-profile media failures in years. DEADLINE
WORLD SERIES
The Tampa Bay Rays evened up the World Series with a 6-4 win against the L.A. Dodgers in Game 2. Rays slugger Brandon Lowe finally found his swing, hitting two opposite-field homers to give Tampa the edge. If you’ve been listening to the series on the radio, you may have noticed a new voice as an analyst: retired softball player Jessica Mendoza, who just became the first woman to ever call a World Series game on any nationally broadcast platform. ESPN
SPOTTED...
…Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in a throwback photo from their engagement. Kanye posted the pic to wish his wife a happy 40th birthday: SEE IT
'BORAT' SEQUEL
The buzzed-about Borat sequel drops on Amazon tomorrow. The movie, which features an embarrassing scene with Rudy Giuliani that’s been making the rounds on social media, is getting good reviews, though some critics have noted that the whole Borat routine feels a little stale at this point, despite Sacha Baron Cohen’s best efforts. ROTTEN TOMATOES
LEFTOVERS: ONE SMALL HOP FOR MANKIND
NASA has released a video of its OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly making contact with the asteroid Bennu, 200 million miles away in space. The mission was to “pogo-stick” off the surface of the space rock with the hope that the maneuver would kick up and trap enough dirt and rocks for scientists to study. It appears to have worked: 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!
