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Straight To It: Congress averts shutdown, Facebook under fire, and Olympic change


Jimmie’s picks for Thursday, September 30 include:

  • Facing a midnight deadline, Congressional lawmakers pass a continuing resolution and reach a last-minute deal to avert a federal government shutdown.
  • Facebook exec testifies on Capitol Hill about Instagram’s harmful impacts on teens’ mental health in the wake of The Wall Street Journal reporting.
  • The International Olympic Committee (IOC) laid out new Covid-19 guidelines ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. No fans outside mainland China will be allowed to purchase tickets.

HEY EVERYONE, HAPPY THURSDAY TO YOU. WE HAVE LOTS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. 

TIME CRUNCH ON CAPITOL HILL, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM UNDER FIRE, AND NEW COVID PROTOCOLS FOR THE WINTER OLYMPICS. LET’S GET STRAIGHT TO IT. 

FIRST, UP, LAWMAKERS WERE PRESSED FOR TIME TODAY, JUGGLING COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. ANNIE IS IN DC WITH THE DETAILS. 

A FACEBOOK EXEC WAS IN THE HOT SEAT ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY. 

DURING A HEARING, LAWMAKERS GRILLED THE FACEBOOK EXECUTIVE OVER REPORTS LEAKED FROM THE COMPANY OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS INSTAGRAM HAS ON TEENS. 

SENATOR MARSHA BLACKBURN ALSO BROUGHT UP CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE APP MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO FACILITATE SEX TRAFFICKING. 

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE LAID OUT NEW COVID-19 GUIDELINES AHEAD OF THE 2022 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES IN BEIJING.  

TWO BIG TAKEAWAYS: ATHLETES NOT FULL-VACCINATED WILL HAVE TO SERVE A 21-DAY QUARANTINE UPON THEIR ARRIVAL AND ONLY CHINESE RESIDENTS CAN ATTEND THE GAMES AS SPECTATORS.