Celebrate Black History Month, 2026 Winter Olympics, and Flying Cars

Episode
Written By Tracy Kaplan

10 Things You Need to Know: Episode 625

10 Things You Need to Know

1. 100 Years of Black History Month 🤎

2. Trailblazer Carter G. Woodson ✊🏾

3. MLB Legend Jackie Robinson ⚾️

4. Political Pioneer Shirley Chisholm 🏛️

5. Literary Icon Toni Morrison 📚

6. Gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles 🤸🏾‍♂️

7. 2026 Winter Olympics 🏂

8. Big Cat in the Big City 🙀

9. Social Media in the Hot Seat 📱

10. Flying Cars!? 🚘

Trivia: History of Punxsutawney Phill 🦫

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TRANSCRIPT

INT. TEN NEWS STUDIO

<SFX door opens>

PAM: Goooood morning, Ry! It is February…do you know what that means? 

RYAN: That it’s too cold to have my toes out, outside?

PAM: Yes, but no. 

RYAN: That the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are about to start? 

PAM: Yes, but still not what I was referring to–

RYAN: That it’s Black History and a historic one, at that?!

PAM: There we go! And I have a great way to start the celebration. Because I’m Pamela Kirkland.

RYAN: And I’m Ryan Willard, it’s Thursday, February 5th.

PAM: This is Ten Things You Need to Know. 

PAM: Black History Month is back, and this year, it’s extra special. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of federal recognition honoring Black history in the United States. What began as Negro History Week, a time dedicated to learning and recognition, has grown into a month-long celebration of Black culture, achievements, and contributions every February. 

RYAN: So, today, we’re kicking the episode off by commemorating five Black trailblazers from the last century who have helped and continue to shape history as we know it.

PAM: First up is the man who paved the way for Black History Month, Carter G. Woodson. Known as the “Father of Black History,” Woodson believed that the accomplishments of Black Americans deserved to be taught and celebrated. So, in 1926, he launched Negro History Week during the second week of February to educate people about Black achievement and make sure that those stories became a part of American history. 

RYAN: Up next is Jackie Robinson, a major league baseball player who broke barriers on and off the field. In 1947, he became the first African American to play Major League Baseball. Before that, Robinson was a standout multi-sport athlete at UCLA, becoming the first four-sport letter winner at the university.   He also served in the US Army during World War II, where he stood up for his rights after refusing to move to the back of a segregated military bus. Robinson went on to make history with the Brooklyn Dodgers, helping lead the team to win its first World Series championship in 1955. And later, he became a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, furthering human rights and changing the landscape of race relations in the U.S.

PAM: Now, onto a trailblazer whose political courage helped expand opportunity and representation in American government: Shirley Chisholm. Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968 and served seven terms, introducing more than 50 pieces of legislation to support racial and gender equality, economic justice, and the end of the Vietnam War. She also became the first Black woman and second woman to serve on the House Rules Committee. And, she didn’t stop there. Living by her motto, “unbought and unbossed,” Chisholm made history yet again by seeking the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 1972. Her fearless leadership reshaped American politics and continues to inspire others to challenge barriers and stand up for a more inclusive democracy. 

RYAN: And just a few years later, another Black woman stepped forward and became a living legend... Toni Morrison, one of the most celebrated authors around the world became the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Morrison published her first book, “The Bluest Eye,” when she was 39 years old. And just 3 years later, she published her second novel, “Sula,” which went on to be nominated for the National Book Award. Her third novel, “Song of Solomon,” was published in 1997 and earned critical acclaim, including the National Book Critics Award. And finally, leading up to her Nobel Prize, she published her novel “Beloved,” which was a bestseller for 25 weeks and won countless awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She was later named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress and even won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

PAM: And for our fifth and final trailblazer, we turn to the one and only Simone Biles, a mover and shaker for mental health and the GOAT of gymnastics. As the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles has won 11 Olympic medals, including 7 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze across just three Olympic games. When combined with her World Championship medals, she has earned an incredible total of 41 medals.

RYAN: 41?! GOOD GRAVY!

PAM: But sometimes even the best athletes in the world need a mental health break. After having a case of “the twisties”, when a gymnast loses awareness of their body in the air, Biles withdrew from the women’s team gymnastics final at the 202 Tokyo Olympics. She emphasized the importance of putting mental health first. By speaking up and stepping back, she showed that taking care of your mind is just as important as training your body, and that true strength means knowing when to put your health first.

RYAN: Okay, I think we need to take a quick break so I can go watch some Simone Biles clips. BRB!

PAM: Hey Ten’ers, we want to hear from you. We’re prepping our special report on Minnesota and the situation with ICE, the immigration and customs agents. What would you like to say to your elected officials? And do you have a Valentine’s Day message to send to people in communities impacted by the immigration crackdown. You can send us an email at hello@thetennews.com or leave us a voice mail at 877-TEN-NEWS, that’s 877-TEN-NEWS Now, let’s get back to the show.

RYAN: The 2026 Winter Olympics are FINALLY here and will take place in Italy, which is the country’s third time hosting the Winter Games. They’ll be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 6 to February 22. The Milano Cortina 2026 Games will feature new events like ski mountaineering, including a women’s sprint, a men’s sprint, and a mixed relay. And for the first time in Olympic history, the Games will feature two Olympic cauldrons, one in Milan at the Arco della Pace and another in Cortina d’Ampezzo at Piazza Dibona, whose lighting and extinguishing symbolize unity, shared humanity, and the global spirit of athletics. You can catch all of this year's Winter Olympics streaming on Peacock, and NBC will broadcast some of the games live. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Winter Paralympic Games beginning March 6th!

PAM: But, before we rush ahead to tomorrow, for 10 points, what animal is this <SFX Mountain Lion roar> <SFX Tick Tick Tick DING!> That was a mountain lion, which roamed the streets of San Francisco last week. 

RYAN: Okay that is awesome aaaaand terrifying all at the same time. I don’t even know what I would do if I saw one–

PAM: –Warnings were issued to people to slowly back away if they encountered the mountain lion, as dozens of officials worked to capture and tranquilize it. The 77-pound male cat was first spotted on Monday morning and was eventually captured on Tuesday when it was found hiding in a garden between 2 apartment buildings, where authorities safely detained the animal. It was then taken to the San Francisco Zoo for examination and will receive further testing to make sure it’s healthy, and then released back into the wild!

RYAN: Over In Los Angeles, California, Big Tech is facing a legal showdown… <SFX Tech Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself> For the first time ever, giant social media companies are being taken to court over how their apps affect kids and teens. More than 1,600 people are involved in the case, including hundreds of families and over 250 school districts. They say that apps like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube were designed to be addictive—and that those designs can harm young people’s mental health. The trial hasn’t officially started yet, but two companies, TikTok and Snap, have already agreed to settle one of the California cases. Even so, they’re still facing many more lawsuits that could go to trial later this year. The CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, and the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, are expected to testify this month. If the jury sides with the families and schools, the companies could have to pay a lot of money—and even change how their apps are designed.

PAM: Up next: flying cars. Yes, actual flying cars. Marty McFly, you were just a few decades early. A California startup called Alef Aeronautics has officially started building its first Model A flying cars. The vehicles are being hand-built using ultra-light materials like carbon fiber and use multiple electric motors and propellers. Unlike airplanes, these cars don’t need a runway. They take off straight up, kind of like a helicopter—just with wheels. On the road, they can drive up to 25 miles per hour for about 200 miles. In the air, they can fly around 110 miles at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour. Before you start looking for a sky lane to school, there’s still a lot of testing ahead. Right now, the cars are only approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for demonstration and research flights. Even so, the future is calling. More than 3,500 people have already pre-ordered one. The price tag? A cool $300,000. Pretty expensive and no hoverboard included for you Back to the Future fans.

RYAN: I  like the idea… but I’m gonna let other people test those out first. 

PAM: And for the last thing you need to know, let’s go to our Trivia Master, Owen. 

<SFX: What is going on Trivia intro>

OWEN: Thanks Pam! On Monday, February 2nd, Groundhog Day, the world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil took center stage once again, leaving us all wondering about the upcoming weather. But, before the big reveal, do you know what year Punxsutawney Phil made his first prediction? Was it:

  1. 1903

  2. 1885

  3. 1887, or

  4. 1910

The answer is… C, 1887! 

Believe it or not, Groundhog Day has been a thing since 1887. Every February 2nd in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a groundhog named Phil pops out to make one very important call: winter… or spring? Here’s how it works. If the sun is out and Phil sees his shadow—boom. That means six more weeks of winter. If it’s cloudy and no shadow? Congrats, spring is coming early. This year, after all the wild winter weather, a lot of us were seriously hoping Phil would give us some good news. But nope. Phil saw his shadow, grabbed his tiny meteorologist clipboard, and officially called it: six more weeks of winter. So bundle up, and maybe we should ask ourselves, why are we trusting a groundhog anyway?

RYAN: Thanks for NOTHING Punxsutawney Phil. I don’t want another 6 weeks of winter…it’s been SO COLD my teeth hurt when I smile!

PAM: Well at least we have Black History Month AND the Olympics for the rest of Feb.

RYAN: Speaking of, I’ve been studying this Simone Biles clip, and I think I can do this back flip. 

PAM: Oh, no, not again. No no no no no no–

RYAN: I’m just gonna try! After we give out Ten News Snaps. 

PAM: And before that, here’s a quick note for the grownups. 

<AD BREAK> 

RYAN: It’s time for Ten News Snaps!

PAM: A Ten’er named Ollie Ollie auction free left us a five star Apple review and said, “You’re my favorite show you should do more episodes. I’m just giving you advice How about an episode on axolotls and ocelots and just animals in general? I just love them. They’re just so cute. I have four pets, it's hard to keep careful of all of them. You are the best podcast ever. Thank you Ollie Ollie - We can definitely do an episode on animals, but if you want an animal podcast check out the Weekly Roar!

RYAN: A Ten’er named Owain left us a review and said, “Best show ever. 67” and Lego Master 67, said “Caterpillar and I love the show.” Thank you Owain! And thank you Lego Master, though I don’t know if I want to meet your friend…

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 training to be their own bobsled team 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, and it’s time for my backflip–

PAM: Ryan no! 

<SFX jumps> <SFX crashes epically> 

RYAN: No I didn’t land it. And yes, I’m okay. Thanks for listening to the Ten News.,

Tracy Kaplan
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International LEGO Day, TikTok Update, and a Clever Cow