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It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving season without some serious travel complications, and it looks like two big storms are ready to snarl holiday travel in the Midwest and Western US.
Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. (You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)
1. Impeachment investigation
The public impeachment inquiry hearings have wrapped up for now, but not before delivering a few final blows to the GOP’s impeachment defenses. Fiona Hill, the former senior director for Russia and Europe at the National Security Council, did not mince words in her testimony. She called President Trump’s pressuring of Ukraine a “domestic political errand” and called out several GOP conspiracy theories, including the idea that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election to harm Trump’s campaign. She also recalled telling Ambassador Gordon Sondland (who delivered his own explosive testimony this week) that the whole issue was “going to blow up.” And Hill warned that the Kremlin is prepared to strike US elections again in 2020, a serious threat to American democracy. Now, Democrats have an important choice to make: They can either start drafting articles of impeachment or pursue more testimony and key documents to reinforce their case.
2. Immigration
The Trump administration is starting deportations under its new “safe third country” asylum agreement with Guatemala. Essentially, the deal allows the US to turn away legitimate asylum-seekers and redirect them to another approved country to make their case there. So far, it seems only one person has been deported under the new system, and a Homeland Security official says the program is being phased in. In other immigration news, the Trump administration has sent letters to dozens of residences in California, New Mexico and Texas, informing people that the government will survey their land for, you guessed it, the President’s much-touted border wall. That’s eminent domain at work – the idea that the government may acquire private land for public use.
3. Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now has a lot more to worry about than his country’s election stalemate. The Israeli attorney general leveled charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust against Netanyahu in connection with three separate corruption cases. It’s the first time in the country’s history that a sitting PM has faced indictment in criminal investigations. The cases allege Netanyahu made expensive deals with rich and powerful friends, trading gifts and money back and forth for political favors. Netanyahu has ignored calls to step down and says the charges against him are an attempt at a coup.
4. Colombia
Colombia has closed its borders and initiated curfews in anticipation of a nationwide strike. The demonstrations were launched by members of several social movements to protest President Ivan Duque. In recent months, Duque has faced condemnation over rising unemployment, economic reforms and deteriorating security. Overall, the protests appeared to unfold without any major incidents, and Colombia’s national police director described them as peaceful and under control. Several South American countries recently have been rocked by similar, often more violent waves of unrest. Protesters in Ecuador, Chile and Bolivia have taken to the streets with similar economic and social grievances as the Colombians have.
5. WeWork
WeWork, the embattled co-working company, is laying off 2,400 employees around the globe. And that doesn’t include the roughly 1,000 cleaners and building maintenance staffers whose jobs are now outsourced by the changes. In its heyday, WeWork’s workforce ballooned to 12,000 employees, but it all went south when the company failed to pull off an initial public offering. Employees since then have been bracing for a massive culling. These layoffs look even worse when you remember the company got a multi-billion dollar bank bailout that also sent ousted CEO, Adam Neumann, home with a massive payout.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Victoria’s Secret is cancelling its fashion show
Sorry folks, you’ll have to get your “ladies wearing nothing but wings and elaborate underwear” fix elsewhere.
‘Star Wars’ Baby Yoda toys are coming to a store near you
To see Baby Yoda is to love Baby Yoda. And to love Baby Yoda is to want MORE BABY YODA.
Edible Arrangements is now selling CBD-laced edibles. Really.
As if there could be anything more delicious and calming than pineapples cut to look like flowers.
Twitter now lets you hide replies to your tweets
Let’s keep the trolls under the bridge.
TOTAL RECALL
Quiz time!
Numbers of deaths and cases of this type of cancer are increasing in the US, according to a new study.
A. Colon cancer
B. Anal cancer
C. Lung cancer
D. Skin cancer
Play “Total Recall,” CNN’s weekly news quiz, to see if you’re correct.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“The easiest thing to do in the face of uncertainty is to put investment projects on hold. And that’s what we’re seeing in the United States and all around the world.”
Janet Yellen, the former chief of the Federal Reserve, voicing concerns that the US-China trade war could end the longest economic expansion in American history
TODAY’S NUMBER
2,290
The number of cases of lung injury linked to vaping in the US as of Wednesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking the sobering stat, and the numbers are piling on week after week. The CDC also reports 47 confirmed deaths in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
TODAY’S WEATHER
AND FINALLY
A different kind of magic
Some circuses are using holograms instead of real animals in their performances, and the result is pretty darn fascinating! (Click here to view.)