Kid News This Week: US election debate, Paris Paralympic wow, Harry Potter back-to-school “boo,” Fins to take tree-loving
In wacky world news for kids this episode, the US election and the debate over THE debate, Paris Olympic wow continues, Harry Potter back-to-school “boo” in London and “leaf” it to the Fins to take tree-loving to new heights – all that and more in this packed episode!
EPISODE- 183
LEELA: This week… the US election and the debate over THE debate, Paris Olympic wow continues, Harry Potter back-to-school “boo” in London and “leaf” it to the Fins to take tree-loving to new heights.
OPENING STING – LEELA: “Hey, hey, hey. Listen up. New, new, newsy – Newsy Pooloozi!”
LEELA: Hello and welcome to Newsy Pooloozi – the news pool for curious kids and adults!
I’m your host Leela Sivasankar Prickitt and, as ever, I’m joined by the big story explainer and sound effects finder – otherwise known as my… mama!
MAMA: Hello hello, I’m also known as Lyndee Prickitt.
LEELA: This week…
MUSIC UP
We give you the low-down on the US election – peppered with tons of fabulous background facts, of course, and all you need to know about the debate on the… debate.
Olympic wow continues in Paris – yes, we’re talking about the Paralympics, we’ll give you the highlights.
In London Harry Potter fans boo as a long back-to-school tradition at King’s Cross Train station ends.
And, turning a new leaf in Finland – where they take their love of trees very seriously by… well, you’ll just have to listen to the end to find out what!
OK then, let’s dive on in. First up, it’s the…
BIG NEWS STORY STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “The big news story of the week!”
MAMA: Well, my dear, we’d been putting this off a tad... the elephant ... and donkey... in the room. But I think it’s time we dive into this topic head on.
LEELA: Uh… OK… And what topic would that be?
MAMA: Why the U.S. election of course! It’s quite the story in the U.S. right now. And it seems like everyone, and their mother is talking about the NEW nominee to represent the Democratic Party... I’m talking about –
LEELA: Oh, oh, I know this – Kamala Harris!
MAMA: Yes, You got that right! And there’s a TON of talk right now about Harris and that’s because it was only a few weeks ago that she became the nominee for the Democratic Party!
LEELA: Yeah - what a whirlwind of activity there’s been!
MAMA: So, just to break it down a little for folks who may not be familiar with the ins and outs of this story, the U.S. presidential elections are held every…
LEELA: Four years.
MAMA: Yes, and while there can be a number of candidates on the ballot, typically just TWO people from the two main parties get all the attention.
LEELA: The Democrat and Republican nominees.
MAMA: That’s right. The Republican party, also known as the “Grand Old Party” have an elephant as their symbol and their main color is red.
LEELA: Ah! Hence your earlier reference to the elephant in the room…
MAMA: Ahh haa, you were listening – great. So, they’re up against the person who represents the Democratic Party...
LEELA: Let me guess – THEIR symbol is a donkey?
MAMA: And their color is…
LEELA: Blue.
MAMA: Correct again! So, typically a sitting president who’s only done one term is chosen to run again by their party.
LEELA: That would be President Joe Biden.
MAMA: Yes. But after months and months of criticism from people outside and then even inside his party that he was getting too old and, well, kinda frail and forgetful to take on such an important and, frankly, demanding, never mind super tiring job, he decided to… drop out of the race!
LEELA: Duh-duh-duuuuuuh!
MAMA: Drama indeed. Because had he come up with this decision months ago there would have been a run-off of the best Democrats in the country, which a lot of people think would have been fair, the right thing to do in a democracy. But, well, coming to the decision just a few months before people were set to vote, well, there’s not really time for that as the Dems just want to focus on beating…
LEELA: Former President Donald Trump! Who was in office from 2016 to 2020.
MAMA: Right, so almost by default the new Democrat nominee is Biden’s Vice President Kamala Harris.
LEELA: And what was a race between two old dudes is now just something altogether different. I mean, Harris is 59-year-old woman of color compared to 78-year-old rich white guy.
MAMA: I know! And there’s the former author-turned-banker-turned-senator, JD Vance, up against a former…
LEELA: Soldier-turned-high school coach-turned governor – Joe Walz – in the VP part of the race.
MAMA: Yep, and all of these factors have made it a rather unusual, and now, quite a pumped-up, exciting election!
LEELA: And, of course, there’s the debate about… well the debate. That’s where the nominees go face-to-face answering questions about important issues, right?
MAMA: Correct again, my dear! They have to state their views and policy ideas for everything from the economy and jobs to foreign wars and, of course – that hot topic in America right now – immigration.
LEELA: And when Biden took on Trump during the first debate it didn’t go so well, did it?
MAMA: Correct. Not for either candidate. But because Biden appeared so, well, old and frail and… forgetful, he was seen as the debate loser and that’s probably what made him finally decide to drop out of the race.
LEELA: So, will Trump take on Harris in a debate?
MAMA: Well, he seems a bit reluctant… But let’s head over to the U.S. to our new correspondent, Matthias, in California – Harris’s home state in fact – for the story.
LEELA: Well, welcome on board, Matthias. Take it away!
MATTHIAS: Thanks, Leela!
Yes, believe it or not, there is a debate about the debate – over issues that I’m pretty sure will “debated” right up until the actual date, which is supposed to be September 10th in Philadelphia.
Back when Joe Biden was the nominee, Trump had agreed to a second debate hosted by ABC News.
But things started to get a little fuzzy when Biden dropped out with Trump saying he’d agreed to debate Biden not someone else…
He also became increasingly unhappy with the arrangements at ABC, saying the network’s journalists who will act as the debate moderators probably won’t be fair to him.
And now there’s the question about microphones.
To mute or not to mute?
You see, during the last debate between Trump and Biden, the candidates’ microphones were muted or turned off when it wasn’t their turn to speak.
But Team Harris says they want the candidates’ microphones to be live – or always on – during the entire debate.
Why?
Well, muted microphones prevent debaters from interrupting their opponent.
That sounds good, right?
But when they’re not muted called "hot mics" – well, that can catch off-hand comments, or even emotions, that might not be meant for the public.
But Trump’s team are saying, the rules to mute the mics were already established before Harris took over the ticket, so... no can do!
There might even be more debate over the debate by the time the two candidates actually take to the stage.
So, watch this space!
In California I’m Matthias, reporting for Newsy Pooloozi!
LEELA: Hey, thanks a lot for bringing us the low-down on this part of the story, Matthias. It’s one that’s likely to rage on until the actual debate, never mind election day.
MAMA: Which is November 5th – so watch this space or listen to this space for all the cool updates on this exciting election race.
https://edition.cnn.com/abc-news-trump-harris-presidential-debate-back-out/index.html
SPORTS STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “It’s time to play ball… Score… Sports News!”
MAMA: So, you might have thought the sporting action in Paris was over…
LEELA: But oh, no. The Paralympics Games 2024 are underway until the 8th of September. And if you thought the regular old Olympics was full of impressive feats of human athleticism and determination, think again.
MAMA: Yep, it’s quite stunning what athletes who are differently abled are capable of achieving. Blind soccer, anyone?
LEELA: What?! How? That’s amazing!
MAMA: Well, here’s how it works. First of all, you know most stadiums are full of noisy crowds, right?
SFX OF NOISY SOCCER GAME
LEELA: Right.
MAMA: Well, not in this league. Silence must be kept, so that the players can hear the slightly small ball that has rattles sewn into the slightly smaller ball, so that the players can HEAR where it is.
LEELA: I see. Or ummm no, I hear.
MAMA: Plus, while most of the players are completely or partially blind and all the outfielders must wear eye masks to ensure an even playing field – get it – you know because some people see more lights and shadows than others well, the goalie however can see and plays a crucial role in guiding the players.
LEELA: That is so so cool. Anyway continue…
MAMA: Well, there are tons of other rules, but other cool one is the players must shout “voy” which means “I’m going” in Spanish where the game took root – when? When making a tackle of course
LEELA: Well, I never… That’s one I want to see.
MAMA: Yep, and there is another event that’s pretty spectacular wheelchair basketball anyone.
LEELA: That’s so cool.
MAMA: I know. And there is also Wheelchair tennis too, And get this Archery without arms.
LEELA: I can’t even… I mean, feet?
MAMA: Well, Mouth, mostly.
LEELA: Wow. I mean, wow.
MAMA: Yep. If you want to see what pure grit and determination looks like – then tune in.
LEELA: Did you know the first Paralympic Games took place almost 64 years after the first modern-day Olympics game in 1896?
MAMA: So let me do the math… you mean it was in 1960.
LEELA: Indeed. In Rome as it happens. And since the prefix para means alongside, ‘paralympics’ means it’s a second Olympics for especially abled athletes to bring out their talents.
MAMA: Ahh thank you for that. Although, did you know, paralympic athletes are often called “adaptive athletes,” because they’re constantly altering their equipment or prosthetics to excel in their specific sport. Although I just called them amazing athletes.
LEELA: Well, here’s to adaptive athletes. I know what we’re watching this weekend…
https://www.britannica.com/sports/Paralympic-Games]
WORLD WRAP STING – LEELA: “What’s that? I’ll tell you what. That’s the halftime bell! Which means… it’s time to hear what’s making news around the rest of the world. Hold on tight, it’s around the world in 80 seconds.”
MAMA: War rages on in Eastern Europe with a fresh wave of deadly Russian attacks on Ukraine's western city of Lviv, as Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip also continues, with more bodies of the Israeli hostages being released.
In Brazil, X, formally known as Twitter, is still in the doghouse as Brazil's Supreme Court judges voted unanimously as in they all agreed to uphold a ban on the social media platform. Why? They allege X of spreading disinformation.
Off the coast of Bermuda, a really big shark – a pregnant porbeagle shark – was gobbled up by another, massive shark a great white in 1st known case of its kind. How do we know? Well, the larger shark swallowed the tracking device the smaller one was wearing.
In happier news… a 102-year-old military veteran becomes Britain’s oldest skydiver. Yes, you heard that right – 102-year-old Manette Baillie jumped out of plane, raising money for charity to boot!
[SOURCE: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/03/europe/ukraine-poltava-russia-attack-intl/index.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkmpe53l6jo
LEELA: Why thank you so much for that whippity-whappity-zippity-zappity wrap of what’s making headlines elsewhere in the world, Mama. Gosh, I’ve missed saying that!
MAMA: And I’ve missed doing it, actually. Good way to ensure we don’t miss any news! And now…
ACE STING – LEELA/MAMA: “Now it’s the ace part of our podcast: Arts, Culture and Entertainment. Darling.”
MAMA: Yes, big news this week for Harry Potter fans disappointed by the end of a much-loved tradition at a train station.
LEELA: As any Potter-head knows, Harry and his friends used to depart from a very Gothic-looking train station from a steam train.
MAMA: Not just any steam train.
SFX OF MAGIC WAND
LEELA: But a magic train.
MAMA: The Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade station that left from Platform 9… and three-quarters.
LEELA: Oooooooooh…
MAMA: And for years fans would show up at London’s very Gothic Kings Cross train station on 1 September.
LEELA: Around when most British school kids go back to school.
MAMA: Right. And the train station would play along…
LEELA: The Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade would show up on the King’s Cross departure board.
MAMA: Showing it was leaving from Platform 9 and 3/4, of course.
LEELA: And there would be an announcement for “witches and wizards boarding the magical steam train.”
MAMA: But not this year.
LEELA: Bummer.
MAMA: See, when we say fans showed up, we’re talking lots of them.
LEELA: Like thousands.
MAMA: To an already pretty busy and bustling train station –
LEELA: Which we know all too well… Well, more people standing around to hear the announcement could be downright disruptive.
MAMA: So, this year there was no announcement.
LEELA: Well, there were announcements from Warner Bros Discovery, which owns the Harry Potter franchise, urging fans to avoid travelling to King’s Cross – as the tradition was off.
MAMA: Alas, hundreds of hopefuls showed up anyway, only for nothing but their “boos” to be heard at 11am.
LEELA: And with that – poof – a tradition is hexed.
SFX OF HEX
LEELA: Kinda sad, really.
MAMA: Yes… But… I guess all good things must come to an end.
SFX OF POOF
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgedp5rv27po]
LEELA: And finally, let’s see what the lucky dip machine has for us this week.
ODDBALLEELA: STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “Step right up, step right up… Have a go at the lucky dip machine… What’s it gonna be today, eh? An oddball, no doubt!”
LEELA: Today’s oddball is about a really special competition in Finland.
MAMA: Oh Finland! The land of Santa Claus! As you know, he supposedly lives in Lapland, which is way up at the top of the world, near the Arctic Circle?
LEELA: Actually, this competition also takes place in Lapland! In the Halipuu Forest, in fact.
MAMA: Oooh, does the competition have something to do with trees then?
LEELA: It does indeed! It’s the annual World Tree Hugging Competition as it happens.
MAMA: Tree hugging? In my day a “tree hugger” was another name for someone who wears Birkenstocks sandals and listens to the hippy band called the Grateful Dead!
LEELA: The grateful who?
MAMA: Never mind, dear. Please tell me more about the tree hugging competition in Finland.
LEELA: Well, actually, for this we’ll go to our favorite Finnish correspondent, the trusty Ameyaa Kohli, who has the story.
AMEYAA: Thanks, Leela.
So, there’s this family who owns a little forest, the Halipuu Forest, and normally they cut down their trees to sell for lumber. The grandpa in the family is a retired lumberjack, so it’s no wonder.
But one day, the grandpa – who loved the forest dearly – decided to, well, “turn a new leaf,” so to speak!
He just couldn’t bear the thought of cutting down trees anymore.
He felt the family needed another way to keep the business going and thought, why not ask people to adopt, or even HUG a tree?
So, just after COVID the family held their first Tree Hugging Competition, which has grown in popularity every year.
And just how does one go about winning a competition like this?
Well, the challenge has three parts.
First, there’s a race to see how many trees, can you hug in a minute.
SFX OF TICK-TOCK CLOCK
Secondly, participants are judged on the most heartfelt hug – full of intention, love and respect.
And finally, there’s the “freestyle hug” ... as in, the most unique and creative tree hug, which can be pretty funny to see.
And it’s not just Finnish people.
Folks from the U.S., Europe, even South America, Asia and Australia traveled to Lapland for this year’s competition.
And now, I’m just going to make a like a tree... and “leaf!” Get it?
I’m Ameyaa Kohli, reporting for Newsy Pooloozi!
LEELA: Oh, I get it alright. I heard what you did there – we’ll just “leaf” the puns right there before you-know-who climbs up the pun tree.
MAMA: Hang on a minute – are you trying to truncate me? As in cut it short like a, you know, lumberjack...
LEELA: Ameyaa! See what you unleafed.
MAMA: Should we “branch out” a bit?
LEELA: Oh, yeah, I’m “rooting” for you!
MAMA: OK, well, I fernly be-leaf this report was top quali-tree.
LEELA: Yep, nothing left to “spruce up” here.
[SOURCE: https://www.halipuu.com/treehuggingworldchampionships/
FAB FACTS STING – LEELA: “And it’s time to wrap up the podcast with the top five fab facts heard today. Here goes…”
MAMA: FAB FACT NUMBER 1 – The US Presidential election is underway with current VP Democrat Kamala Harris up against former Republican president Donald Trump. What are the symbols of both parties?
The Republican party symbol is an elephant, and the Democrats is a donkey.
LEELA: FAB FACT NUMBER 2 – There is a debate about the debate – in particular whether the mics should be left on, which is known as what?
Hot mics
MAMA: FAB FACT NUMBER 3 – The Paralympics 2024 Games are underway until the 8th of September in Paris. When did the first Paralympic Games take place?
1960
LEELA: FAB FACT NUMBER 4 – The Paralympics is for specially-abled athletes to bring out their talents. How else can we refer to such athletes?
Adaptive athletes (because they’re constantly altering their equipment or prosthetics to excel in their specific sport)
MAMA: FAB FACT NUMBER 5 – In Finland a tree hugging competition near Lapland offers an alternative to cutting down forests. What is Lapland nearby?
The Arctic Circle
And, and, and… don’t forget, if you want to test yourself later on, then go to the Lucky Dip page of our website, newsypooloozi.com, that’s pool-o-o-z-i, and take this quiz online in your own time!
LEELA: And that brings us to the end of this episode of Newsy Pooloozi!
THEME MUSIC
LEELA: If you enjoyed this dip in the coolest pool of news and information then HIT that subscribe button on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Alexa or wherever you get your podcasts.
MAMA: While you’re at it… Give us a good rating. Or better still, leave us a review! Go on – we’ll read it out loud if you do…
LEELA: OK then, see you next time in the happy, splashy giant Newsy Pooloozi!
-ends-