2022 Super Bowl: Americans will bet an estimated $8B on Rams vs. Bengals:
Americans in line to wager bets (Getty Images)
Americans are estimated to bet $8 billion on this year’s Super Bowl between the Rams and Bengals, according to the American Gaming Association. This would nearly double the current record set by Superbowl LV at $4.3 billion. This $8 billion figure encompasses bets made online and in person and even includes both legal and illegal betting. According to CBS, this massive increase is largely a byproduct of increased legalization of gambling across the states. A total of 19 states have legalized sports betting since a 2018 Supreme Court decision decriminalized it at the federal level. The residents of New York state, which legalized sports betting in January, have already wagered over $1.6 billion, according to the state’s gaming commission. New Yorkers alone are expected to place $160 million on the outcome of Super Bowl LVI, which is still $15 million shy of Nevada’s $175 million. In total, according to the American Gaming Association, over 31 million Americans plan to place wagers on the game.
As states plan to lift school mask mandates, CDC remains vague on updating its guidance:
Many US states are seeing declines in their daily COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations. Due to this, some states have moved to lift mask mandates in schools. This goes against the guidance that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has given, but the agency has yet to comment on this. The Democratic Governors of Connecticut, Delaware, and New Jersey announced on Monday that they will lift the mask requirements in schools in coming weeks. All three referenced declines in case count, transmission, and hospitalization as motivating factors behind their decision. In contrast to this, there are some states such as Kentucky, with high case counts, which have no plan to change their school mask policy. Also on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state’s indoor mask mandate will expire on February 15th for vaccinated individuals. The White House continues to recommend universal mask-wearing in schools.
Republican rift exposes choice: With Trump or against him:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., arrives to speak to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A major rift was exposed within the Republican party following a symbolic move by the Republican National Committee to censure former President Donald Trump’s two largest critics within the party, Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Both sit on a Democrat-led House committee which is aggressively investing the January 6th incident at the US capitol. The RNC resolution accused them of, ““persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse”.” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell called out the RNC for singling out party members with minority opinions and overstepping their role in the process. Trump responded by saying that McConnell does not represent Republican voters and accusing him of bailing out the radical left and RINOs. This burst of infighting comes as Republican leaders are urging party unity to defeat Democrats in the upcoming midterms. This fight is merely a proxy for the larger battle over who will control the Republican party moving forward.
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As states plan to lift school mask mandates, CDC remains vague on updating its guidance - CNN