Another exodus at Twitter, Qatar World Cup controversies; Webb telescope photographs galaxies

Plus, a look at the politicians who could replace Nancy Pelosi as House Democratic leader. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. Were you looking for Taylor Swift tickets? Too bad. Ticketmaster [canceled sales]( for the general public yesterday due to high demand. 🥇 First up [Twitter in San Francisco. The social media company has laid off thousands of workers and contractors, including many involved in determining whether material on the site broke the site's policies or violated U.S. or foreign laws.]( David Odisho/Getty Images Things aren't looking good at Twitter. Employees [quit in droves yesterday]( after Elon Musk gave them an ultimatum: commit to being "extremely hardcore" or leave. ➡️ The chaos at Twitter since Musk's takeover has eroded trust in the site as a public safety tool. The new account verification process left many confused over [which tweets to trust](. Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman to serve as House speaker, is stepping down as a leader of the House Democrats next year. Now, a new batch of lawmakers is in the spotlight. Here are the [people to watch for](. Republicans have gained control of the House, and one of the first things they've promised to do is investigate the Bidens. Rep. James Comer and Rep. Jim Jordan — who are expected to chair the House Oversight and Judiciary committees next year, say they have evidence gathered from whistleblowers that shows [Hunter Biden engaged in influence peddling]( and Joe Biden may have benefitted financially. The James Webb telescope has taken photos of galaxies formed near the dawn of time, delighting and surprising scientists. The new images reveal that galaxies formed [faster and earlier]( than expected. It's judgment day for Elizabeth Holmes. The disgraced Theranos founder's sentencing hearing takes place today. She faces up to [15 years in prison]( for defrauding investors in her blood-testing company. 🎧 Listen to why her partner, a tech investor and a senator are [asking for mercy](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- 🥪 Food for thought [The English national team during a training session at Al-Janoub Stadium in Qatar this week.]( Lars Baron/Getty Images The World Cup begins this Sunday in Qatar. Cheers erupted in the streets of Doha back in 2010 when it was announced as the 2022 host, but there was also instant criticism, and even the former head of FIFA has [called the decision a mistake](. ⚽ Qatar is the smallest nation to ever host the World Cup, and it lacked the infrastructure needed to stage the tournament. The country relied on migrants to build the needed stadiums, hotels and highways, and working conditions have been exploitative and dangerous — even fatal. ⚽ Concerns over human rights extend beyond the treatment of migrants. Qatar's penal code criminalizes sex outside of marriage, which has led to the prosecution of rape victims. And homosexuality is effectively criminalized. ⚽ The selection of Qatar as World Cup host has long been dogged by allegations of bribery and corruption. ⚽ The tournament is usually held in the summer, but Qatar's summertime temps made that untenable. The winter schedule caused major disruptions in professional soccer, especially in Europe. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎧 Today’s listen [Anna Mordiukova gave birth to her baby Victoria with a Russian doctor while her village was under occupation at the beginning of the war.]( Claire Harbage/NPR In the first two months of the war in Ukraine, 15,000 babies were born. Their parents are raising the next generation of Ukrainians — children now as old as the war. 🎧 Listen to the parents [talk about how it's going]( or [read their stories](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎥 Weekend picks Marvel Studios Check out what [our critics]( are watching, reading and listening to this weekend: Movies: [Blank Panther]( is still dominating the box office, with many stirred by the film's sincere farewell to actor Chadwick Boseman. TV: Fresh Air host Brittany Luse watches a lot of TV, but there's one show she's always caught up on — [Abbott Elementary](. Books: As the World Cup kicks off, we've got [five books about the glory of soccer]( to get you in the mood — plus a magazine article and a podcast. Music: In [Live at the Bon Soir]( fans finally get to hear a young Barbra Streisand's unbridled performance at the Manhattan club. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🛑 Before you go [U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony in August for drug smuggling, is seen on a screen via a video link from a remand prison during a court hearing to consider an appeal against her sentence, at the Moscow regional court on Oct. 25.]( Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images - U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has [arrived in a prison colony in Russia]( to begin serving a nine-year sentence on drug charges. - The FBI is concerned that the Chinese government could use TikTok to i[nfluence American users]( or control their devices. - Author Joan Didion's possessions were auctioned at eye-popping prices this week, netting almost [$2 million](. - Congress held its first hearing about establishing a non-voting delegate seat for the Cherokee Nation Wednesday, in a [historic move]( that's the closest the federal government has come to satisfying a promise it made to the Cherokee Nation nearly 200 years ago. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]