Wednesday Scoop: Polar Vortex

The big story…

The Midwest Suffers Extreme Cold During Winter Storm Jayden

Winter Storm Jayden is currently hitting the Midwest and other parts of the U.S. bringing record cold temperatures and plenty of snow. Because of the frigid temperatures, at least six people have died, more than 1,000 flights were canceled yesterday, and several colleges have canceled classes. Meanwhile, Atlanta is preparing for the biggest sporting event of the year this Sunday and the snow is not doing the city any favors. 

In national news…

FBI Closes Investigation on Las Vegas Shooting

The FBI have just closed the investigation on the Las Vegas shooting that left 58 concertgoers dead in 11 minutes on Oct. 1, 2017. In trying to identify the motivation of the killer, the report finds that there was “no single or clear motivating factor,” leaving the country without a reason for this terrible tragedy.  

In global news…

PM Theresa May to Negotiate New Brexit Deal

On Tuesday, British MPs said that they still want to leave the EU on March 29, but they want a new deal and a renegotiation of the Irish border. However, the EU has already said it will not negotiate a new deal, leaving Theresa May with quite a problem.

In politics…

Stacey Abrams Will Give State of the Union Response Address

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has accepted an invitation to give the Democratic response to the State of the Union address. CNN reports, “Abrams has been talked about as a rising star in the Democratic Party. She gained a national following during her unsuccessful bid to become governor of Georgia last fall. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday […] he called Abrams three weeks ago to discuss the idea and that she has since accepted.” Abrams said she is “honored” to give the counter address and will be the first black woman to give the Democratic response to the State of the Union.

In music…

Drake Announces ‘Assassination Vacation’ European Tour

Drake took to Twitter and Instagram last week to announce his 2019 Assassination Vacation European Tour. The anticipation has been high for an announcement since Drake’s busy 2018, in which he dropped Scorpion and toured across the U.S. and Canada with Migos.  Read more in Zach Luben’s report for CMN.

In books…

Logic to Release Debut Novel in March

Logic has announced that his first novel, Supermarket, is set to be released on March 26, through publisher Simon & Schuster. The 1-800 rapper explained the details of his book, characterizing the novel as a “gripping exploration into madness and creativity,” and a “darkly funny psychological thriller.” The plot follows a “depressed” character named Flynn, who must deal with the revelations inside of his “tortured mind.” Read more in Ryan Feyre’s report for CMN.

Trending today…

Do You Still Have a Job at Buzzfeed?

One Buzzfeed contributor used the company’s recent layoffs as inspiration for a new quiz. 

Last but not least…

Track Review: ‘Conspiracy Theories’ by Gauche

The entertainment industry has undergone a great deal of change since Donald Trump became the President of the United States back in 2016, specifically in music. The political strife generated by his election has ushered in new material for artists to work with. Now more than ever, musicians use their voice as a mechanism for expressing their deepest concerns. This voice represents a nihilistic assessment of a nation in turmoil, tuned to the genre of post-punk. Read more in Ryan Feyre’s review for CMN.

Today’s Morning Scoop was made possible by Natalia Kolenko, Zach Luben, Ryan Feyre, and the CMN Staff. Also, the biggest game day rivalry this Sunday may just be Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola. P.S. Was this newsletter forwarded by a friend? Subscribe here to get the Morning Scoop straight to your inbox every day.