Memorial Day, A Bun-forgettable Race Weekend, and Treat Technology
10 Things You Need to Know: Episode 641
1. Memorial Day šŗšø
2. The 110th Indianapolis 500 š
3. The Wienie 500 Returns š
4. Smoothie King š¤ Grillo's Pickles š„¤
5. Macaws Make a Comeback š¦
6. Redistricting Wars Continue šŗļø
7. Trump's Visit to China šØš³
8. A Two-Headed Snake!? š
9. A Super El NiƱo is Brewing š”ļø
10. Scoop Now, Scroll Later š¦
Plus, some Mario Madness with Ryan š®
RESOURCES
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wienie-500-returns-indianapolis-motor-191642348.html
https://people.com/red-and-green-macaws-return-to-brazilian-forest-after-200-year-absence-11971810
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/15/nx-s1-5822512/trump-china-xi-summit-takeaways
https://people.com/researchers-discover-new-two-headed-snake-species-11971555
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/super-el-nino-global-weather-heat-rcna343928
https://people.com/we-tried-the-spoon-that-puts-your-phone-on-silent-mode-11972880
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TRANSCRIPT
INT. TEN NEWS STUDIORYAN: (sings) Itās finally almost Summer!PAM: I am so ready for it.
RYAN: How are you spending your Memorial Day weekend?
PAM: Iām going to a picnic, a barbecue and aā¦barbecue picnic. How about you?
RYAN: Iām probably gonna go grab a couple pickle smoothies.
PAM: (laughs) Thatās funny.
RYAN: Whatās funny?
PAM: oh, Youāre serious. Pickle smoothies are a real thingā¦?
RYAN: Of course theyāre real and yes, Iād be happy to tell you all about them. Cause Iām Ryan Willard.
PAM: And Iām Pamela Kirkland, itās Thursday, May 21st. This is Ten Things You Need to Know.
RYAN: Pam, we gotta start with one of the best weekends of the yearā¦
PAM: While Memorial Day may feel like the unofficial start of summer, a long weekend filled with travel, cookouts, and pool days, it is, most importantly, a time to honor the service members who lost their lives serving our country. It wasnāt always called Memorial Day. The holiday was originally known as āDecoration Day,ā when mourners placed flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers following the Civil War. It was observed on May 30 each year until Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May.
RYAN: Memorial Day is a huge travel weekend and Triple A predicts that a record-setting 39.1 million Americans will be taking a road trip this year!
RYAN: And speaking of drivingā¦ letās go to the Wild World of Sportsā¦ <SFX Wild World of Sports) With Memorial Day weekend also comes the Greatest Spectacle in Racing: the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24th. Featuring a 33-car field, eyes are currently on Helio Castroneves, a 51-year-old who has won the Indy 500 four times, and if he secures a fifth win, heāll be alone at the top and the oldest winner in race history.
PAM: Thereās also Kathryn Legge, who is the only female in the field, and she will be the first woman to attempt āThe Doubleā by racing in the Indy 500 and Charlotteās Coca-Cola 600 on the same day! Both of her cars that day will be sponsored by e.l.f. Cosmetics, the first beauty brand to be a motorsports sponsor since partnering with Legge a few years back. Stay tuned to see who will get to chug the traditional glass of milk in Victory Lane!
RYAN: And before that all is the iconic Wienie 500, which will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for its second year in a row. Six Wienermobiles will be competing and will include: Slaw Dog from the Southeast, Chi Dog representing the Midwest, New York Dog for the East, Chili Dog for the South and Seattle Dog for the Northwest.PAM: And Ry you canāt forget the Wienermobile making its debut this year: Corn Dog representing the Nation. Good luck to all of the drivers in this wiener-take-all showdown!
RYAN: Can you imagine being the winner of the Wienie 500? Iād relish that moment forever. Speaking of relish, Grilloās pickles and Smooth King are doing a collab. Just ahead of International Pickle Day, Smoothie King added a limited-edition Pickle Smoothie to their menu. The drink is made with garden-fresh ingredients and no artificial ingredients.
Itās a blend of Grillo's pickles, bananas, organic kale, and coconut water, making for an electrolyte-packed smoothie with a ārefreshingly tangy tasteā. The collaboration was inspired by both the growing popularity of pickles and their nutritional benefits, as pickle juice is known to support hydration, help with muscle cramps, and promote gut health. So yes Pam, I will be drinking three of them this weekend!
PAM: While Ryan is talking about tangy pickles, Iām talking about tropical feathersā¦weāve got some great news about red-and-green macaws!
RYAN: Did you say red and green (bird like sound) MACAWS MACAWS!
PAM: Yes I did. Two chicks recently hatched in Brazilās Atlantic Forest, marking the first documented reintroduction of the species in the area in 200 years. Once found throughout Brazil, red-and-green macaws declined due to deforestation and illegal capture for the pet trade. This prompted a reintroduction program in 2022, and by 2024, 35 captive birds were chipped, quarantined, and rehabilitated in specialist nurseries. Before release, conservationists also trained the birds to recognize predators and forage on their own. Now, with the arrival of these two chicks, researchers say the program has reached a major milestone in restoring the species to the region.
RYAN: The only thing I like more than good animal news isā¦ <SFX GGs!>. You could probably guess that the Super Mario Galaxy movie was one of my favorite films of the yearā¦And naturally, I wanted more. Iād already beaten Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 on my Switch 2 and it still wasnāt enoughā¦so I got a sneak preview of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and it was awesome. You play as Yoshi and you explore the pages of Mr. E, who is a living book. I donāt think you can die in the game, itās more about solving puzzles and finding different ways to interact with the world. Itās super cozy, the art style is really cool and I think this game is as fun to watch as it is to play. And another character had his big screen debut in the Super Mario Galaxy movieā¦ Fox McCloud will get his own Switch 2 game on June 25thā¦Itās called Star Fox, which is a remake of Star Fox 64 and follows Fox and his crew on a space adventure piloting arwings. Fox is my favorite character to use in Smash bros, so needless to say, I. Am. HYPED!
PAM: You know what Iām hyped for?
RYAN: What?
PAM: A quick break! BRB!
RYAN: Hey grownups! Itās almost the Summer time which means weāre almost at the end of Season 6 of the Ten Newsā¦which also means, weāre gearing up for Season 7! And we need your help. To stay independent and unbiased, we are crowd funded. So if youād like to make a tax deductible donation, we have a link in our show notes. No gift is too small or large and we greatly appreciate it. We couldnāt do this show without you. Speaking ofā¦back to it!
PAM: Weāre back with news out of Washington. The Congressional Black Caucus is raising concerns about a recent Supreme Court decision that could affect how congressional districts are drawn. The CBC says the ruling weakens parts of the Voting Rights Act that help protect Black representation in Congress. Meanwhile, lawmakers warn it may allow some states to redraw maps in ways that reduce the number of majority-Black districts. Supporters of the decision say it creates a more race-neutral approach to redistricting. Members of the CBC have already held sessions to plan their fight against the rulingās impact on voting rights, both in the courts and on the campaign trail.
RYAN: And last week, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing in hopes of improving relations between the United States and China, discussing trade, security, and global conflicts. While no concrete agreements have been announced, President Trump has indicated business deals for American companies and farmersā¦ and Chinese leader Xi Jinping has hinted at a new era of stability in China-U.S. relations. They also covered the ongoing war in Iran. President Trump stated that they both feel similarly about how they want the war to end.
PAM: Also, researchers from China recently discovered a new species of snake with two heads!?
RYAN: WHAT IN THE NIGHTMARE FUEL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
PAM: Okay, well not technically two heads, but the reptile has a unique way of defending itself from predators, which makes it seem like it does. Itās called the Guangxi Reed Snake, and because its tail and head have the same markings, it coils its body into a figure-eight or raises its tail to mimic a second head to confuse its enemy. This newly discovered species can be identified by its slim, brown scales and seven dark stripes running along its back, and it measures just under 8 inches long. While itās non-venomous, the Guangxi Reed Snake proves that even tiny creatures can have mighty defense tactics.
RYAN: And a little <SFX Weatherā¦or not> The world may be on track for warmer-than-normal temperatures, hurricanes, drought, and other extreme weather through the end of 2026. For the last several months, forecasters have been predicting what is called a āsuper El NiƱo,ā and new forecasts show that the odds are increasing.
PAM: A super El NiƱo is super-strong and is defined by sea surface temperatures that are at least 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above average in the Pacific Ocean. If we do end up with a super El NiƱo this year, scientists say global temperatures in 2027 could reach record-breaking highs. El NiƱo can reduce hurricane activity in the Atlantic by creating strong upper-level winds that disrupt storms as they form. Itās also linked to hotter, drier conditions across parts of the southern United States, above-average heat and humidity in the western United States, and heavier rainfall in parts of Asia and the Middle East.
RYAN: Iām sweating just thinking about thatā¦ And for the last thing you need to know, letās go to our Trivia Master, Owen.
OWEN: Thanks, Ry! Todayās trivia is about a tasty treat that can keep you cool during a super El NiƱo. There are lots of ways to enjoy ice cream, but do you know which object can put your phone on silent while you eat it? Is it:
An ice cream bowl
A cherry on top
A spoon, or
A straw
The answer isā¦ C! Halo Top, a better-for-you ice cream company, has created the āSilent (a la) Mode Spoon that puts your phone on silent, encouraging eaters to disconnect while they enjoy a pint of ice cream. The golden spoon is sold online for just $4.90 and uses Near Field Communication to put your iPhone or Android phone on do-not-disturb. Finally, a gadget that can help you enjoy your ice cream before it melts!
PAM: And that was Ten Things You Need to Know.
RYAN: You know Pam, I was trying to make something to pair with a pickle smoothie at a barbecueā¦
PAM: A big bowl of āno thank you?ā
RYAN: CLOSE! Hot dog flavored, ICE CREAM. You could even put ketchup on top! <SFX squeeze bottle>
PAM: Yeah, Iām gonna stick to the classics this Memorial Day.
RYAN: But hot dog flavored ice cream COULD be a NEW classic. Cāmon, just try a bite!
PAM: Instead of a bite, Iād like to give Ten News Snaps outā¦
RYAN: But before that, hereās a quick note for the grownups!
<AD BREAK>
RYAN: Time for Ten News Snaps!
PAM: A Tenāer named The Gamesmith 508 left us a 5 star Apple Podcast review and said, āI built a skittle/M&M dispenser out of LEGO and it works well.ā Wow, that sounds absolutely awesome. Iām surprised Ryan hasnāt built that yet.
RYAN: Because I didnāt know that was possible! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?! Where are the blueprints?!
PAM: And two extra notes for the grown-ups, you can now get ad-free versions of our episodes when you join the Tenāers 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! āThe Ten Newsā is a co-production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts, and part of the Airwave Podcast Network.
PAM: The Ten News creative team is not eating Ryanās homemade hot dog ice cream 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.
RYAN: Our Production Director is Jeremiah Tittle, and our Executive Producers are Donald Albright, Albright, Albright! and show creator Tracy Takes the Leeds Kaplan. Iām Ryan Willard.
PAM: And Iām Pamela Kirkland, thanks for listening to the Ten News.
