Wild weather is making its way across the country. And can TikTok stars become Hollywood stars? It’s happening.
👋 Hey friends! Laura here. It’s Tuesday. Here’s the news you need to know.
But first, the truth is out there. 👀 What lies beyond our solar system? Over 5,000 planets including ‘super-Earths,’ NASA says.
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No survivors found after Chinese plane crash
After more than 18 hours of searching, response teams found no survivors at the scene of a Chinese airliner carrying 132 people that crashed in the southern province of Guangxi, Chinese state media reported Tuesday. The Boeing 737-800, operated by China Eastern Airlines, crashed Monday afternoon in a mountainous region near the city of Wuzhou in Teng county. The crash sparked a fire big enough to be seen on NASA satellite images, that was later extinguished. Rain and steep terrain hampered efforts by hundreds of firefighters and rescue crews that were dispatched to the scene. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Here’s how the fatal descent unfolded.
Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks on abortion, her faith, CRT in hearing
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson faced a second day of senators’ questions on impartiality, her sentencing patterns, her defense of Guantanamo Bay detainees, abortion and more in Wednesday’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing. President Joe Biden’s nominee for the lifetime appointment told senators she believed Roe v. Wade, the legal case that protects abortion, is a settled issue. Republicans pressed Jackson on her beliefs on critical race theory, her faith and the sentences she has handed down in a number of criminal cases she handled when she was a U.S. District Court judge for nearly a decade.
👉 Day 2 highlights – the grilling begins: Jackson fights back against GOP criticism over sentencing, Gitmo defense.
What everyone’s talking about
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Zelenskyy wants to talk to Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated Tuesday that he was prepared to negotiate a deal directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end a war that he said has left cities across his country bombed beyond recognition. In an interview, Zelenskyy said he would be willing to discuss a commitment from Ukraine to not seek NATO membership in exchange for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Russian troops and a guarantee of Ukraine’s security. “It’s a compromise for everyone,” Zelenskyy said. Without direct talks with Putin, he said, it remains unknown whether Russia even wants to stop the war.
👉 More coverage: The Russian military has lost more than 10% of combat forces sent to Ukraine; new sanctions coming. Tuesday’s latest updates.
Millions under threat of severe weather
A storm system that caused at least one reported death, several injuries and widespread damage in Texas and Oklahoma on Monday was expected to shift east and bring severe thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes to millions across the South Tuesday and Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center said. The weather could affect more than a dozen states from the southern Plains to the southeastern coast, including “violent and life-threatening thunderstorms” and tornadoes, according to AccuWeather. Forecasters warned of “extremely dangerous” “rain-wrapped tornadoes” that occur when heavy rain reduces the visibility of a tornado, making it difficult for residents to spot a twister and see where it’s headed. Go here for the latest weather updates.
Real quick
From TikTok to Hollywood
Can TikTok stars make it big in Hollywood? Oh yeah. In dozens of conversations with USA TODAY reporters, Hollywood agents, casting directors, film producers, cultural observers and influencers suggested we’re seeing the early tremors in what promises to be a massive shift in the way celebrities are mined and minted. Look no further than Addison Rae. The 21-year-old went viral on TikTok in 2019 after posting videos of herself dancing with her mother. By 2021, Rae had nabbed a multipicture deal with Netflix, cementing the notion that, with talent and a touch of luck, you can travel from your bedroom to Hollywood on the back of selfie videos. These stars may very well, like supernovas, burn hot and then out. But in the meantime, there is money to be made as studios and brands wake up to the selling power of these grassroots stars. Read more here.
A break from the news
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