WNBA Tip-Offs, Tiny Planets & Robo-dogs

Episode
Written By Tracy Kaplan

10 Things You Need to Know: Episode 640

1. 2026 WNBA Season 🏀

2. Endangered Species Day 🐯

3. Armed Forces Day 🇺🇸

4. Obama's Presidential Center 🏢

5. McDonald's Meets Fashion 👛🥤

6. Hantavirus Update 🦠🐀

7. Iran War Update 🇮🇷

8. Space Discovery 🪐

9. Pawsitive News 🐾

10. A New Breed of Robot 🤖🐾

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TRANSCRIPT

EXT. TEN NEWS PARKING LOT<SFX Dribbling> 

RYAN: The division rivals are at it again… Pam versus Ryan… Pam dribbles at the top of the key–

PAM: And she leads this game to 11… 10 points to Ryan’s 7…

RYAN: Fun fact: the Atlanta Hawks are out of the NBA playoffs and Ryan’s team, the New York Knicks are still in it…

PAM: Another fun fact: Pam doesn’t care because the WNBA just started back up–

RYAN: Wait really?! 

PAM: Yup. <SFX cross over dribble> She shoots… <SFX Pam SHOOTS> <SFX SWISH!> She scores! Pam drops the three pointer to win it! 

RYAN: Sweet sassafras C’MON! GGs. Ah well, at least you didn’t dunk on me. 

PAM: There’s still time…Wanna run it back?

RYAN: No thank yoooou. Because we should probably go inside and start the show. I’m Ryan “Let’s go Knicks!”  Willard.

PAM: And I’m Pamela “Ready to dunk on Ryan” Kirkland. It’s Thursday, May 14th.

RYAN: This is Ten Things You Need to Know. 

RYAN: We’re kicking things off in the Wild World of Sports! <SFX Wild World of Sports>

RYAN: The 30th season of the WNBA is officially underway! This season is extra special as the league welcomes two new teams, the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. Each team will play 44 games, including 22 away games and 22 home games. One of the most anticipated matchups of the 2026 season is a rematch of the WNBA’s inaugural game in 1997, with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the New York Liberty on Sunday, June 21st, which is the anniversary of the original game. 

PAM: This year’s WNBA tip-off featured all 15 teams, most notably the New York Liberty, the 2025 defending champs, defeating the Connecticut Sun 106-75, and the Dallas Wings vs. the Indiana Fever, a matchup featuring star players like Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, where the Wings came out on top with a final score of 107-104. 

RYAN: Tomorrow marks an important day for our animal friends, Endangered Species Day! Each year, on the third Friday in May, the world highlights the importance of wildlife conservation and restoration efforts for endangered species. It’s also a time to celebrate the progress made in protecting wildlife since the Endangered Species Act was created in 1973. Did you know scientists estimate that up to one-third of U.S. species are at increased risk of extinction? More than 1,600 U.S. plants and animals have already been federally listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. But we can all help through small actions, such as learning about threatened wildlife, supporting conservation organizations, reducing waste, and protecting natural habitats in our own communities.

PAM: Also coming up on Saturday, May 16th, is Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces Day is celebrated each year on the third Saturday in May, honoring the men and women currently serving in all branches of the United States military, which includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish this single holiday, and on August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day, replacing separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force Days. The first observance dates back to May 20th, 1950, and it was established as an official holiday in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. A big thank you to all of our military members for your service today, and every day!

RYAN: Speaking of presidents, Barack Obama announced last week that tickets to visit his new presidential library, museum, and community hub in Chicago, Illinois, are now on sale. The opening day is set for Juneteenth, and the center will feature a replica of the Oval Office, a basketball court, a public library branch, gardens, playgrounds, and a fountain honoring his late mother, Ann Dunham. It will also include interactive exhibits and personal artifacts from his presidency, designed to inspire young people to get involved with their communities. Obama hopes that the center will become a space focused on leadership, creativity, and bringing people together. 

PAM: McDonald’s is stepping into the fashion world with six limited-edition beaded drink carriers inspired by its new McCafé drinks. The chain teamed up with Susan Alexandra, a New York designer known for colorful beaded accessories, to create the collection, with each carrier matching a different refresher or crafted soda flavor. The bags, priced between $42 and $58, are sold exclusively online and come with a $10 Arch Card while supplies last, and include the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher Carrier, Sprite Berry Blast Carrier, Mango Pineapple Refresher Carrier, Dirty Dr. Pepper Carrier, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher Carrier, and Orange Dream Carrier. 

RYAN: Okay, well that last story made me thirsty for some good old fashioned H 2 the O. Break time!

PAM: Hey Ten’ers, we’re doing a deep dive on Artificial Intelligence and we want to hear from you… Do you have any thoughts or questions about AI? If you drop us an email, hello@thetennews.com or leave us an Apple podcast or a Spotify comment, we might have you on the show! Speaking of…let’s get back to it. 

RYAN: And we. are. BACK. 

RYAN: Several people aboard a cruise ship traveling near South America and Africa got sick with a rare illness called “hantavirus.”. Scientists believe the virus may have begun after an elderly couple aboard the cruise came into contact with rodents or rodent poop, during a recent land excursion. The Hantanvirus is rare and usually passed to humans through contact with contaminated rodent waste or saliva. But the strain identified in this outbreak is the Andes virus, the only known hantavirus to spread person-to-person close contact. So far, there have been at least 10 confirmed or suspected cases connected to the ship, including three deaths. While investigations and containment protocols are underway, health experts are stressing that this is NOT expected to become a pandemic and the risk to the public is very low. 

PAM: Iran and the United States remain at odds during ongoing peace talks, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei accusing the U.S. of making “unreasonable” and “excessive demands,” while defending Iran’s proposals as fair and aimed at regional stability. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response as “totally unacceptable,” though he did not provide details of the U.S. proposal. Iran’s peace proposal included stopping Washington from blockading Iranian ports and called for releasing assets belonging to the Iranian people that are held abroad, as well as Iran’s safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. While negotiations are at a standstill, this leaves operations in the Strait of Hormuz at a standstill and the global economy scrambling.

RYAN: Alright I think it’s time to get… <SFX Out. Of. This. WORLD!> A new study suggests there is a tiny icy world beyond Pluto. According to a lead researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, this “mini-Pluto” may be one of the smallest known objects in the outer solar system at just about 300 miles across. The so-called minor planet is considered a plutino, meaning it orbits the Sun twice for every three orbits Neptune completes. Scientists think it may have been shaped by an ancient collision or icy activity beneath its surface, and it even appears to have an atmosphere that is five to ten million times thinner than Earth’s!

PAM: I actually love the name, “Plutino.” It would be great for one of these… <SFX dogs barking> We’ve got some good news for some very good doggos! Over 1,500  beagles have been rescued from a Wisconsin breeding and research facility after months of animal welfare concerns. Animal rescue organizations like Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy, helped secure the pups and are working to transport them across the country, provide medical care, and find them loving new homes. President of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Lauree Simmons describes the beagles as super sweet, and that they’ve already received more than 700 adoption applications for the pups. 

RYAN: Furry friends are just THE BEST. And for the last thing you need to know, let’s go to our Trivia Master, Owen. 

OWEN: Thanks, Ry. Robots are on the rise, and one popular household name is unleashing a new prototype. But before we get into that, do you know when the iRobot Roomba was first launched? Was it:

  1. 1997

  2. 2006

  3. 2002, or 

  4. 1990

The answer is…C! 2002! Robotics pioneer Colin Angle led iRobot as it made Roomba the first widely adopted home robot. And now, he’s transitioning from a cleaning tool to a companion. 

Angle recently introduced the ‘Familiar’, a four-legged prototype of a plush robot that could one day follow you around the house. The pet robot can make animal-like sounds and has audio-input ears and an AI system that can understand and learn from its humans. These furry friends aren’t on the market yet, but they hint at a future where robots don’t just help us with daily tasks, but also keep us company! 

EXT. TEN NEWS PARKING LOT

PAM: And that was Ten Things You Need to Know. 

<SFX Ryan dribbling>

RYAN: I think I can I think I can I think I can…

PAM: You think you can do…what, Ry?

RYAN: I think I can dunk this basketball!

PAM: Oh…yeah that’s probably not a great idea. Maybe we should just give some Ten News Snaps out…

RYAN: Nah, I’m gonna give it a go! <SFX Ryan running, dribbling, jumping> <SFX CRASH> <SFX hits the ground>

PAM: Ry…you alright?

RYAN: Yup! I just…ummm, missed. I just need a little more practice, and while I do, here’s a quick note for the grownups. 

<AD BREAK>

RYAN: Time for Ten News Snaps!

PAM: A Ten’er named Fatfood123 left us a 5 star Apple Podcast review and said, “Amazing podcast! Please post more episodes.” Thank you so much Fatfood! We have an extra episode coming out on May 22nd, which is our Deep Dive about AI!

RYAN: And a Ten’er named Work of Stars left us a 5 star review and said, “I finished Astrobot.” Okay Work of Stars, I’m impressed because I still haven’t finished Astrobot... My friend Grayson might’ve already platinumed the game and I’m not even halfway through! GGs!

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 practicing their three pointers 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 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.

Tracy Kaplan
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AAPI Heritage Month, FIFA World Cup Prep, and Animals Around the World