The shooting at a congressional baseball practice reminds us of something we too often forget: We are one country, and we’re all in this together. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.
1. Congressional shooting
North Korea responded by threatening to hit Guam, home to US military installations. American B-1B bombers had flown over the Korean Peninsula as a show of force. What set Trump off was a report from US intel groups that the North can now miniaturize a nuke and put it on top of a missile.
So there’s a lot of concern about what’s happening – and what could happen next. The mixed messaging from the White House (remember, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been trying to lower the temperature around the rhetoric) has lots of folks worried that an effort to put “peaceful pressure” on North Korea, and bring it to the negotiating table, is in serious jeopardy.
North Korea has responded to President Trump’s “fire and fury” threat – with a threat of its own. The North says it’s finalizing a plan to attack Guam and will present it soon to leader Kim Jong Un. Under the plan, North Korea would fire four missiles into the sea about 20 miles off Guam’s coast. It’s not clear if the missiles would have nuclear warheads. The regime also called Trump’s fiery threat “a load of nonsense.” US Defense Secretary James Mattis said North Korea must “cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and destruction of its people.”
2. White House
The Trump team also refuses to declare the opioid epidemic a public health emergency, something a bipartisan commission on the topic has requested.
3. The Weinstein effect
South Africa’s President lives to fight another day. A no-confidence vote against Jacob Zuma in the country’s National Assembly failed. Zuma has won two presidential elections, but he’s been dogged by criminal probes and corruption allegations and still faces public pressure.
And in Kenya, the votes have been cast, and now everyone is awaiting the results in the heated presidential election between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Kenyans could find out as early as today who the winner is, but more than likely it’ll take a few days.
5. Fried potatoes study
5. Trump in Asia
The first Atlantic hurricane of the season has been downgraded to a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Franklin weakened after it hit the east coast of Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane. It’s still bringing heavy rains and strong winds to an area known for mudslides and flash flooding. Franklin is expected to move inland over the mountains in central Mexico. Forecasters expect a busy hurricane season in the Atlantic this year, with a prediction of as many as 19 named storms developing.
NUMBER OF THE DAY
President Trump’s approval rating in the latest CNN poll, his lowest showing in the poll
The number of job openings in the US right now, which is a record high
“It’s very strange”
BREAKFAST BROWSE
People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
Netflix just bought a comic books publisher, because we obviously don’t have enough superheroes in the movies just yet.
Yes, he was the “Rhinestone Cowboy,” but country singer Glen Campbell was so much more than that. He passed away at age 81.
The Mouse is out
If you have little ones in your house, you may want to have them sit down for this: Disney’s pulling its stuff off Netflix.
Sidewalk sale
That time some of the richest people in San Francisco woke up to find that someone had literally bought their street right out from under them.
‘Gender tax’
Well, this is one way to fight for equality: A cafe in Australia charges male customers more to highlight the pay gap between men and women.
Road trippin’
Pretty much everybody in suburban DC freaked out when a “driverless” van hit the streets.
Fast fail
Pencils … check. Paper … check. Guns … what?
AND FINALLY …
A rampaging rhino runs cars off the road in India. And yes, we love alliteration. (Click to view)
He orders his fast food sounding like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. And we’re sure the teens at McDonald’s are super-impressed. (Click to view)