The Food and Drug Administration banned July from selling its e-cigarettes. The Jan. 6 committee’s fifth hearing focused on the Justice Department. And the planets are aligning. I’ll tell you when to wake up so you can see it for yourself.
👋 Hey! Laura Davis here. Like the parade of planets, Thursday’s news is out of this world.
But first, keep hearing about BeReal? 🧐 I thought I was already being real, but then I signed into this app and found out I could be even more real. Here’s what to know about the social media app without filters. It’s kinda cool!
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🌤 What’s the weather up to in your neck of the woods? Check your local forecast here.
Juul tarnished by FDA ban
Citing “insufficient and conflicting” data in Juul’s application to continue selling non-fruit-flavored products, the US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced a nationwide ban on the sale and marketing of Juul Labs Inc. vaping and e-cigarette products. The company must cease marketing and sales of the Juul vaping device and its four types of liquid pods. The sales and marketing ban does not restrict consumer possession or use of the popular devices. The FDA has reviewed marketing applications from Juul and hundreds of other companies amid calls from anti-tobacco groups to crack down on products that led to a surge in youth vaping in the past decade. But advocates of these nicotine-delivering devices say they can help adult smokers kick the habit of smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products. Read more about the ban here.
Investigation into insurrection continues
During its fifth hearing on its findings Thursday, the Jan. 6 committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol focused former President Donald Trump’s threat to oust his attorney general in favor of someone more willing to pursue his baseless claims of election fraud. Catch-up: Everything that happened in Thursday’s hearing.
What everyone’s talking about
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Title IX, 50 years later
As the country commemorates the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark law banning sex discrimination in education, President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday released a proposal that would provide stronger protections against sex and gender discrimination on college campuses as well as for anyone who claims they were the victim of sexual assault on campus. The changes seek to overhaul Title IX, which mandates federal regulations that affect men’s and women’s college athletics teams, how universities investigate sexual assault on their campuses and protections for transgender or gay students. Read about the women who are part of the puzzle that is 50 years of Title IX.
And even though they’re 50 years in, top US colleges and universities still fail to live up to the ban of sexual discrimination in education, a USA TODAY investigation found. Read the investigation:Title IX: Falling short at 50.
Supreme Court strikes down New York gun law
The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a New York law that required state residents to have “proper cause” to carry a handgun — a decision that could make it far easier for millions of Americans to arm themselves in public. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion for a 6-3 majority, holding that the New York law violated the Constitution and signaling other gun regulations disconnected from “historical tradition” would face similar scrutiny in court. Thomas’ opinion had the potential to upend the legal landscape around Second Amendment rights at a time when Americans remain divided over access to guns. Congress, meanwhile, is racing to pass a sweeping package of restrictions in response to recent mass shootings. The decision drew a fiery response from Democrats. Keep reading.
real quick
🪐 Parade of planets
Set your alarm clock for early! Five of the planets in our solar system will appear in a line across the Friday morning sky, astronomers say, in a parade of planets that won’t be seen again for nearly 20 years. And you don’t even need a telescope to see it. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will line up in the pre-dawn sky, a planetary procession that could be seen above the eastern horizon every morning through the end of June, AccuWeather said. To see it best, head outside and look up about 45 to 60 minutes before sunrise. As long as the clouds stay away, you’ll be greeted by five planets lined up across the sky, in their natural order from the sun. Read more here.
A break from the news
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism