Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
Who Got Pardoned, Bloomberg’s Debate Debut & Kickstarter Union
All the news you need in 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.Blinkist.com/news
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want perusing the latest happenings...
Trump Clemency Spree:
President Trump pardoned seven people and shortened the prison sentences of four others. One of the most well-known cases is that of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was found guilty of corruption for trying to sell President Obama’s vacated Senate seat. Blagojevich was released yesterday after serving eight years in prison (he was sentenced to 14).
Read more: CBS News, The HIll, FOX News, Washington Post, NYT
Bloomberg’s Debate Debut:
Michael Bloomberg will make his debate debut tonight at the ninth Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas. A new poll puts former New York City mayor in second place nationally behind Bernie Sanders. Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will also take the stage. Sanders and Buttigieg came out on top during the first two state contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. The debate starts tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on NBC News and MSNBC.
Read more: NYT, NBC News, CBS News
Top Court’s Landmark Decision:
India’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of equal rights in its armed forces. For the first time, women will be eligible for the same promotions, ranks and benefits as their male counterparts. It’s a big win for women officers who have been campaigning for the change for a long time.
Read more: CNN, BBC
NASCAR Crash Update:
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman is awake and talking, though he is still hospitalized following a crash during the Daytona 500. Newman was leading the race on Monday night when he crashed during the final lap. His car was going about 200 mph when it flipped and eventually caught fire.
Read more: USA Today, CBS Sports
Kickstarter Union:
Employees at the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter just voted to form a union, making them the first workers at a major tech company to do so. Employees will bargain with management for a contract that includes equal pay, diversity in hiring and transparency. Employees at tech companies haven’t often unionized because they’re known to get high salaries and generous benefits.
Read more: Mashable, NBC News
Space Tourism Deal:
SpaceX signed a deal with Space Adventures, a space tourism business that has helped seven private citizens take trips to the International Space Station aboard a Russian spacecraft. Space Adventures will help SpaceX send up to four private citizens into orbit for five days. The trips are expected to begin by early 2022.
Read more: The Verge, Space.com, Engadget
New Autonomous Shuttle:
Jaguar Land Rover revealed its concept for an electric self-driving shuttle known as Project Vector. The shuttle can be adjusted for private or shared trips or for a delivery service. It will have a driver's seat and normal controls. The company hopes to start testing a version of the new vehicle by next year.
Read more: TechCrunch, The Verge
Match.com SOS Text:
Match.com announced another new safety feature: Date Check-In. Users will be able to pick three emergency contacts to receive info about their date. During the date, Match will send a text asking if something is wrong and will notify the contacts if someone says “yes.”
Read more: Engadget, CNET
Disney Castle Gets Makeover:
The iconic Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World in Florida is getting a makeover in honor of the 70th anniversary of the classic animated film, Cinderella. Mock-ups of the new castle show the current blue and gray exterior being replaced by pink, navy and gold. Renovations will start soon and last through the summer.
Read more: AP, Business Insider
Work Wednesday:
Companies in looking for tech workers are expanding their searches from elite universities to include people without college degrees. Some major firms are exploring, or have already put in place, apprenticeship programs for careers in tech. They offer a new way for people without a college degree or other experience to get the training they need for tech jobs. It’s meant to address a shortage of skilled workers in a fast-growing part of the economy.
Read more: CNBC, WSJ, NYT