Serious News, Health Headlines, and Feel-Good Stories
10 Things You Need to Know: Episode 622
10 Things You Need to Know
1. 🇻🇪 Venezuela Update
2. 🇮🇷 Iran Protests
3. đź’” Minneapolis, MN Tragedy
4. 🤒 Flu Season Takeover
5. đź’‰ Childhood Vaccine Update
6. 🌊 Manatees Making a Comeback
7. ⛸️ Going for Gold
8. 🤩 The Latest at LEGO
9. 🎬 2026 Golden Globes
10. ♿️🚀 Trivia That's Out of this World
RESOURCES
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/flu-2026-states-deaths-cdc-symptoms-superflu-rcna251910
https://people.com/florida-zoo-releases-record-number-of-rehabilitated-manatees-in-2025-11879424
https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/alysa-liu-rcna252418
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2026/01/06/what-is-lego-smart-brick-how-buy/88043597007/
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/11/nx-s1-5671118/golden-globe-awards-2026-winners
https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-wheelchair-rocket-launch-e1b993bc7a66a1d587d94a0fb37aff8f
STAY CONNECTED
🫶 Support news for kids by donating today!
✔️ Subscribe to our newsletter!
📱 Follow us on Instagram @thetennews
📧 Email us at hello@thetennews.com if you have any questions or want to submit audio!
TRANSCRIPT
INT. TEN NEWS STUDIO
<SFX knock knock knock> <SFX door opens>
PAM: Come in!
RYAN: Ummm Pam, we’re like two weeks into the year and I feel like there’s been a LOT of big news already.
PAM: Yeah, there has been a lot of intense stuff happening…but there has been some good news too! Like, the Winter Olympics are almost here…and a record number of rehabilitated manatees were released back into the wild!
RYAN: Ooooh that’s awesome. Oh and Lego just announced some brand new sets and I want ALL OF THEM…! So there’s been some great news and some not so great news.
PAM: Yup! Let’s get into all of it. I’m Pamela Kirkland.
RYAN: And I’m Ryan Willard, it’s Thursday, January 15th.
PAM: This is Ten Things You Need to Know.
RYAN: Before we jump in, we have a quick heads-up for our listeners: the first few headlines of the show talk about some heavier news. If that’s not a great fit for you or your family, feel free to skip ahead to the second half of the show for some lighter stories, and of course, trivia! First up, an update on the United States and Venezuela. <SFX: news sting>
PAM: Earlier this month, Venezuela’s longtime leader Nicolás Maduro was captured. Since then, his vice president, Delcy RodrĂguez, has been sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president.
RYAN: And the United States has backed her — at least for now. But that support comes with some major conditions. The U.S. says Venezuela won’t hold elections in the near future and that it will closely oversee what happens next, especially when it comes to oil, Venezuela’s most valuable resource.
PAM: The U.S. has already seized millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil under sanctions. Trump says that oil will be sold on the global market, with the money controlled by the U.S. government to help push Venezuela toward what the administration calls a quote “stable transition.” But not everyone agrees that this is the right or legal way to do that. Some lawmakers and world leaders say the U.S. is going too far and raising serious questions about international law and global security. And inside Venezuela, the situation is still tense. The U.S. State Department has warned Americans to leave the country immediately, while Venezuela’s government insists things are calm.
RYAN: So what happens next?
PAM: That’s still unclear. The U.S. says this oversight could last months or even years, and countries around the world are watching closely to see what this means not just for Venezuela, but for how powerful countries act on the global stage. For more background on how we got here, check out the special report we put out last week. The link is in the show notes.
RYAN: And now over to Iran (ee-ron). Over the past few weeks, people in many cities across Iran have been protesting. <SFX: low sounds of crowds> At first, the protests were about the economy, things like food costing more money and people having trouble paying for everyday needs. But they’ve grown into something bigger, with many people asking for changes to how their country is run. And the situation has gotten pretty serious.
PAM: Yes. Human rights groups say many people have been hurt or killed, and thousands have been arrested for protesting. To limit the protests, Iran’s government has also shut off or slowed down the internet in many places. <SFX: digital glitch> That makes it harder for people to communicate, and harder for the rest of the world to know exactly what’s happening.
RYAN: Iran’s top leader, Ali Khamenei, says the government will not back down. Iranian officials have blamed other countries for the unrest and warned protesters they could face severe punishment. President Trump has said the U.S. is watching how Iran’s government treats protesters and has warned there could be consequences if violence continues, though leaders have also said they’re open to talks instead of fighting.
PAM: And while people are speaking out in places like Iran and Venezuela, there are also big protests happening right here at home in the United States. That’s because earlier this month in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a 37-year-old woman named Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, better known as ICE, during a federal operation. Her death has sparked demonstrations in cities across the country, with people gathering to call for change and justice and to talk about how immigration enforcement should be handled. Some marches have been peaceful, while others have led to clashes with police and a few arrests.
PAM: There have been videos circulating on social media of the incident, and we’d like to remind our Ten’ers that just because something is out there, you don’t need to watch it. AND not everything on social is real these days. There have been reports of AI videos circulating that show different versions of what happened. What is clear in the videos is that Good was trying to leave the scene, and according to many in law enforcement, the ICE officer did not follow proper training and did not need to act with lethal force. An investigation is ongoing, but there are concerns about it being done fairly since the Trump administration was quick to condemn Renee Good and support the actions of the ICE officer right after the incident.
RYAN: So just like in Venezuela and Iran, here in the U.S., people are raising their voices because they feel strongly about how the government and law enforcement treat people every day. And we want to hear from you. Let us know how you feel about the latest news by sending us an email at hello@thetennews.com or leaving us a voice message at 877-TEN-NEWS.
RYAN: Ok, it's now time to talk about germs. It’s flu season, but this one seems to be hitting a bit harder than usual. <SFX: Sneeze> According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu-like symptoms, including fevers, sore throat, fatigue, and body aches, have prompted the highest level of doctor’s visits in nearly 30 years. The flu alone has accounted for over 11 million illnesses and 120,000 hospitalizations, and it shows no signs of slowing. 45 out of 50 states are experiencing high to very high levels of flu activity, and this data doesn’t yet include illnesses caused by holiday travel and gatherings, which could further impact the flu season.
PAM: This all comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced they are reducing the number of vaccines routinely recommended for children from 11 to 17. Vaccines that had long been recommended for all children, like the rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and, you guessed it, seasonal flu, are now more restricted on this new schedule. These vaccines are now recommended only for those at high risk, or after discussing them with a health care provider, as part of what is now called, quote “shared decision-making.” The CDC says the change is meant to give families and doctors more flexibility and mimic the schedule of other developed countries, but public health experts and pediatricians warn that these changes were rolled out without the usual scientific input, a move they say could create confusion about routine childhood protection and potentially allow dangerous diseases to spread again.
PAM: So make sure to wash your hands everybody and try to stay healthy this winter season!
RYAN: <SFX SNEEZES> Ummm, yeah, let’s take a quick break so I can wash my hands.
PAM: Great idea, Ry.
RYAN: Before we get back to the show, I think we need a little vibe cleanse. So, here are some sounds that I find oddly satisfying…SOUNDS TO PLAY:
Lego Click
Game controller clicks
Bubble wrap pop
Page flip
Netflix ding
Cat meow
RYAN: Ahhhh, ok, now I’m ready to get back to it.
RYAN: We are BACK. For 10 points, what animal is this…? <SFX Manatee Sound> <SFX tick tick tick ding!>
If you guessed a MANATEE, you are correct and I’m incredibly impressed. The ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Florida, is a family attraction, a rescue, rehab, and a care facility for animals, and they announced that they released 26 rehabilitated manatees back into Florida waters in 2025. <SFX: water splash> This is the highest number for the park in a single year! One of those manatees was Mudonna, rescued in November 2024 following the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Mudonna was trapped in just five inches of water, with temperatures dropping to 30 degrees and very limited food. At only 345 pounds, far below the typical 1,000-pound adult manatee, Mudonna made a remarkable recovery and returned to the wild weighing a healthy 700 pounds.
PAM: We’ve got another great comeback story, but instead of wildlife, we’re spotlighting an Olympic figure skater! <SFX Wide World of Sports> Alysa Liu had already retired at the age of 16 after winning bronze at the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships and representing the United States in the Olympics at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Liu also modeled for the iconic fashion brand, Ralph Lauren, and was a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. <SFX: small crowd cheer> Despite these accomplishments, Liu felt something was missing: the chance to have a normal childhood, with all her time dedicated to training. So, she stepped away, taking her first vacation, getting her driver’s license, and spending time with family and friends. <SFX: upbeat horn honk> But after a ski trip to Lake Tahoe in 2024, she realized how much she missed the adrenaline rush and was inspired to get back on the ice. Since then, she’s won gold at the 2025 World Championships and now has her sights set on returning to the Olympic Games. <SFX: Ice skating blade noise>
RYAN: Drumroll, please, for the latest unveiling at LEGO…<SFX Drumroll> the brand new Lego Pokemon sets have been announced and include: Pikachu, Evee and an epic 3 in 1 set with Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise. The 3 in 1 set will have 6,838 pieces and will retail for $649.99. Which is nuts because that’s more expensive than a PS5 or a Switch 2. The Lego Pokemon sets will drop on February 27th. Lego also announced the new SMART Play bricks, tags, and mini figures! <SFX: digital beeps> LEGO SMART Play uses a custom-made chip that makes LEGO bricks more interactive for children, families and…people named Ryan. Ahem. These interactive bricks are paired with LEGO SMART Tags and LEGO SMART Minifigures to add sound effects to your LEGO creations, almost bringing your builds to life! <SFX: hello?> “Star Wars” LEGO SMART Play sets are available for preorder now, but won’t hit stores until March 1st. And I am saying this hoping that SOMEONE FROM LEGO IS LISTENING AND WANTS TO GIVE ME A HANDS-ON PREVIEW BEFORE MARCH 1st. Please?
PAM: Hollywood’s biggest party, the 83rd Golden Globe Awards are officially wrapped. <SFX: someone yelling cut or the sound of a film reel> The annual awards ceremony honors excellence in film and American television productions, and 2026 was a big year. Some top takeaways from this year’s winners include: <SFX: dings at the start of each>
Timothy Chalament for best performance by a male actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy – for his role in the film, “Marty Supreme”. Beating out big-name actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney!
The best motion picture - animated award went to none other than “KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix), which was up against productions like Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ Elio and Zootopia 2.
And, last but certainly not least, Owen Cooper made history as the youngest person to win the award for best supporting actor in a TV series for his role in “Adolescence”. Cooper is JUST 16-years-old! We love people named Owen.
RYAN: Yes we do, and for the last thing you need to know, let’s go to our Trivia Master, who we love: Owen.
OWEN: Thanks, Ry. And congratulations Owen Cooper. This week’s trivia is out of this world, but before we blast off…what was the year that the first person ever traveled into outer space? Was it:
1993
1957
1961, or
1934
OWEN: The answer is… C. 1961, when Soviet pilot Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin completed one orbit of Earth on the Vostok 1. But let’s fast-forward to today. An engineer from Germany, Michaela Benthaus, became the first wheelchair user to travel into outer space, taking off from West Texas on a Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital mission. After her accident, she thought there was no chance of her ever going into space, but she experienced a 10-minute period of weightlessness in a capsule designed with accessibility in mind.
PAM: And that was Ten Things You Need to Know.
<SFX Switch 2 Sounds> (first 4 or 5 seconds)
RYAN: <GASP>! Sweet sassafras!
PAM: You okay?
RYAN: Yeah! I just saw that a free update for Animal Crossing just dropped… so I think I should download it and do some research to see what it’s all about.
PAM: That sounds like a good idea, but you still gotta give out Ten News Snaps.
RYAN: Of course! And before that, here’s a quick note for the grownups.
<AD BREAK>
RYAN: Time for Ten News Snaps!
PAM: A Ten’er named Messi left us a review on Apple podcasts and said, “I love this podcast. 67.”
RYAN: I don’t think that’s the real Messi but I will pretend that it is.
PAM: And a Ten’er named L-vi24 said, “Great show. This is an amazing show, and Ryan, I won’t mention buBleRRfWyyYy.”
RYAN: Thank you my friend, I appreciate that. Shoutout to your cat, Biff!
PAM: And two extra notes for the grown-ups, you can now get ad-free versions of our episodes when you join the Ten’ers Club on our website.
RYAN: And if you want to help support the Ten News, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link in our show notes. The whole team thanks you for your support!
PAM: “The Ten News” is a co-production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts, and part of the Airwave Podcast Network.
RYAN: The Ten News creative team is getting their flu shots and includes Tracey Not a Crooks, Adam the Great Bambino Bernard, Brian Not Ryan Douglas, the Duke of Earl Davis, and Carson Not So Harry Potter. Big thanks to Owen, Not Slowin Down for Anybody.
PAM: Our Production Director is Jeremiah “On Fyaaah” Tittle, and our Executive Producers are Donald “Albright, Albright, Albright!” and show creator Tracy Takes the Leeds Kaplan. I’m Pamela Kirkland.
RYAN: And I’m Ryan Willard, thanks for listening to the Ten News.
