The Breakdown: YouTuber James Charles Called Out for Predatory Behavior

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The One Big Thing

Sick Teachers Forced to Pay for Their Own Substitutes, Even While Undergoing Cancer Treatment

A story last week broke that a second-grade teacher would have to pay for her own substitute, while undergoing breast cancer treatment. Community backlash was swift against the California state law that says after exhausting paid sick leave, a substitute’s wages are deducted from the teacher’s salary. “The teachers have sort of shrugged — like, yes, that’s how it is, a mother at the school told Buzzfeed News. “That makes it even more sad, because teachers expect to be treated poorly.” The news comes on the heels of an unprecedented year in teacher strikes demanding better wages and better conditions for students like you. It’s time to give teachers what they deserve.

(Pop) Culture Shock

YouTuber James Charles Loses 3 Million Subscribers in 72 Hours During Feud With Tati Westbrook

YouTube sensation and makeup guru James Charles is embroiled in another controversy. On Friday, Tati Westbrook, a long-time beauty influencer and one of Charles’s mentors, called out the 19-year-old for promoting a competitor’s beauty line. In a tell-all video, she also created space for many young straight men to explain how Charles, who identifies as gay, used his power, money, and fame to try and convince them to experiment sexually with him. Many loyal subscribers are defending James, but nearly 3 million have unsubscribed from his channel as a result of this toxic and inappropriate behavior. Ultimately, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity, pressuring others into sexual activity is disgusting and wrong.

The Good News Is...

United Kingdom Gets Serious About Climate Change As First Country to Declare Climate Emergency

In response to the rise of youth climate activism and demands from established organizations like Extinction Rebellion, the UK parliament declared a climate emergency, becoming the first country to do so. “We cannot solve an emergency without treating it like an emergency,” 16-year-old climate activist and Nobel prize nominee Greta Thunberg after the announcement. The youth climate strikes across the globe have demonstrated the power of young people, forcing leaders of countries to take action and preserve the future of our world. To all those young people, I want to say that I’m inspired and revved up to take action. Get started by getting involved with the Youth Climate Strike.

That's What She Said

“Yes, your honor.”

-Felicity Huffman, former actress and one of the key people involved in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, pleading guilty to the charges of fraud conspiracy.

Quick Hitters

Why aren’t more people talking about... the huge pile of unsold food from Amazon, found in a Seattle landfill, despite the fact that in 2015, Seattle banned food waste in garbage?

Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka… government officials have blocked social media sites after a Facebook post started anti-Muslim riots.

My hero today is... Hailey Richman, a 12-year-old Alzheimer’s care activist who is changing lives (when she’s not sneaking ice cream behind her mom’s back).

I’m obsessed with... Billie Eilish (AGAIN and STILL), who is one of the new faces in Calvin Klein and spoke out about why she wears baggy clothing as a way to protect herself. 36 days until I get to see her live!!