Why is there still a debate over transgender rights?, Adele releases '30': 5 Things podcast
On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: Not a 'two-sides issue': Transgender people exist. Why is there a debate over rights? Breaking news editor Susan Miller considers.
Plus, the defense rests its case in the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial, the House gets set to vote on the Build Back Better plan, wellness reporter Jenna Ryu talks about time blocking and Adele releases her fourth studio album.
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Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.
Taylor Wilson:
Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson and this is 5 Things you need to know Friday, the 19th of November, 2021. Today a conversation on transgender rights, plus the defense rests its case in the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial, and more.
Here are some of the top headlines.
- Four people are dead, including children, in what police say are apparent murder suicides of two former Maryland police officers and two children. Authorities say former officer Robert Vicosa violently attacked his estranged wife and took their young daughters. He then carjacked and kidnapped a driver and was accompanied by former officer, Tia Bynum.
- A third day of jury deliberations in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial ended without a verdict yesterday. Rittenhouse is charged with multiple homicides for killing two people during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year.
- And the Major League Baseball team in Cleveland has officially changed its name. The Cleveland Indians are now the Cleveland Guardians.
1.4 million adults in the US identify as transgender. So why is there still a debate over basic rights? Breaking news editor Susan Miller considers.
Susan Miller:
In 2021 there were 75 bills introduced in state legislatures that would block trans youth's participation in sports. There were 40 that would deny them gender-affirming medical care. And then a school board debate had been debating, things from parents who think certain books should be banned, to access to bathrooms, to sports, et cetera. So there's just a lot of issues focusing on trans youth right now.
There is a study done recently by the researchers at The Trevor Project for transgender health, and it just underlined the importance of acceptance, especially for youth. And some of the results are that transgender and non-binary youths who reported gender identity acceptance from at least one adult in their life, had a 33% lower odds of reporting a suicide attempt in the past year. Transgender and non-binary youths had a 33% lower odds of attempting suicide when they were recognized by school professionals. And transgender and non-binary youth who reported high gender identity acceptance from their parents had a 43% lower odds of attempting suicide.
I think the bottom line with all of this is that this is not a two sides issue. The debate over trans rights just undercuts the very existence and the basic humanity of transgender people, so there shouldn't even be a question of whether trans people have rights.
Taylor Wilson:
Transgender Awareness Week continues on USATODAY.com. There you can read stories ranging from the impact of the stalled Equality Act to inclusive healthcare for trans patients.
The defense has rested its case in the trial of three men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery. But that's not before Travis McMichael, the man seen on video shooting and killing Arbery, took the stand again yesterday. He testified for hours on Wednesday and was then cross-examined by prosecutor, Linda Dunikowski, yesterday. Michael admitted that Arbery did not directly threaten him before he pointed a shotgun at Arbery.
Linda Dunikowski:
And at this point right here, hasn't said anything to you.
Travis McMichael:
No, he has not said anything yet. No, ma'am.
Linda Dunikowski:
Hasn't verbally threatened you.
Travis McMichael:
Verbally, no.
Linda Dunikowski:
Still running with his hands at his sides.
Travis McMichael:
Directly towards me, yes, ma'am.
Linda Dunikowski:
Hasn't pulled out a gun.
Travis McMichael:
Hasn't seen a gun, a weapon yet. No, ma'am.
Linda Dunikowski:
And hasn't shown you a weapon this entire time.
Travis McMichael:
He has not.
Linda Dunikowski:
Hasn't said a word the entire time.
Travis McMichael:
Not one time.
Linda Dunikowski:
All he's done is run away from you.
Travis McMichael:
Run past me. Yes, ma'am.
Taylor Wilson:
Prosecutors have also pointed this week to inconsistencies between statements that Travis McMichael initially gave to police and what he's told jurors. He testified on Wednesday that he told Arbery that police were on the way, something he acknowledged in court he did not include in his original police statement. Attorneys for McMichael and his father, Gregory McMichael, have argued that the two men chased Arbery in their pickup truck because they wanted to detain him for police. They said they saw him running through the neighborhood and believed he was responsible for recent break-ins in the area. They have said that Travis McMichael ultimately shot Arbery in self-defense. A third defendant, Roddie Bryan, filmed the altercation.
The House is expected to vote this morning on President Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill. Democrats wanted to vote on the legislation yesterday, after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its full cost estimate, but the vote was held up thanks to a marathon hours-long speech on the floor by Republican Congressman, Kevin McCarthy.
Kevin McCarthy:
That as Americans we're supposed to expect less!
Speaker:
Look at the Chairman.
Kevin McCarthy:
I can look anywhere I want, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe the amount to control one party rule wants! They now want to dictate to a member of the floor of where I can look?
Taylor Wilson:
At times the speech referred directly to the bill, but it also spewed off into a monologue of complaints about what's wrong with the country, and the Democrats who control Washington. Democratic House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, issued a number of news releases in response to the speech. In one, she called it a "temper tantrum."
Users on TikTok swear by time blocking for a productive day. Wellness reporter, Jenna Ryu, is here to break down what that is, and whether it actually works.
Jenna Ryu:
Time blocking isn't a particularly new phenomenon, it's more so the name that's new. But basically it's a time management strategy that some people are saying is more productive than the lengthy to-do list. And what it consists of is you use your calendar or planner to chunk off certain hours of your day for very specific tasks.
It's important to overestimate how long your task will take, just because if you try to get as specific as possible, you might see yourself falling behind, which can cause more stress. Then also, you don't have to chunk off every hour of your day. The goal isn't to block off your entire day and have every hour scheduled to something, it's more to just dedicate certain hours of your day to certain tasks.
I think some people feel like they have to fill out every hour of their day. They have to have something between 10:00 AM and their next 11:00 AM thing. And it's just important to note that that's not the ... The goal isn't to have your day be packed. You can just have two tasks on there that you have to do, but it's more so that you have it planned. You know what you have to do and now you know when you have to do it.
And also, experts I've talked to suggested making room for breaks. Don't be afraid to just put 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM break if you want a lunch break. You can make it longer so that if you know you take an hour for lunch, you could do two, make it more flexible so you don't have things back-to-back. Otherwise, that can cause anxiety.
Taylor Wilson:
You can read more of Jenna's work, ranging from mental health to fitness and beauty on USATODAY.com.
Adele has officially released her fourth studio album. The record called "30" hit stores and streaming today. The album's lead single, "Easy On Me," is already a smash hit. And as entertainment reporter, Patrick Ryan writes, the album shows it's, "never too late to switch things up and fall in love with yourself for a change,." The album comes in the wake of her divorce to Simon Konecki, but in the songs she turns the focus almost entirely on herself as she tries to find her identity outside of romantic and personal relationships.
Thanks for listening to 5 Things. You can find us right here, wherever you're listening right now, seven mornings a week. And if you're on Apple Podcasts, we ask for a five star rating and review if you have a chance. Thanks to PJ Elliot for his great work on the show. And I'm back tomorrow with more of 5 Things from USA TODAY.