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
This summer has been terrible for floods, not just for south Texas but the whole world. Parts of South Asia were pounded by historic rainfall during the height of monsoon season. More than 1,200 people have been killed in India and Bangladesh, with some 41 million affected by flooding since June. A massive mudslide sparked by heavy rains and flooding in an area of Freetown, Sierra Leone, has killed around 500 people and left hundreds more missing.
And, unfortunately, a new threat is looming: Hurricane Irma has been rapidly intensifying in the Atlantic. It’s now a Category 3 storm and could pose a major threat to the Caribbean and potentially the United States next week.
North Korea said it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb over the weekend – its sixth nuclear test and the most powerful weapon the country’s ever tested. Reaction around the world was strong: President Trump condemned it, saying the North continues “to be very hostile and dangerous” to the US. The President also threatened any country (that would be China) that trades with North Korea. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said Kim Jong Un was “begging for war” and urged the UN Security Council for more sanctions.
2. Democratic National Committee
After North Korea performed another missile test this week and directly threatened Guam, the United States and South Korea staged their own show of force with state-of-the-art stealth fighters. They conducted a mock bombing drill, which simulated a surgical strike of key enemy facilities. In a statement, US Pacific Command said the flyover was a “direct response to North Korea’s intermediate range ballistic missile launch.”
The display of power was denounced by Pyongyang as a “rash act.” Russian President Vladimir Putin also weighed in on the once-again-burgeoning crisis, saying the escalation was a “dead-end road.” “Russia believes that the policy of putting pressure on Pyongyang to stop its nuclear missile program is misguided and futile,” Putin said in an article released by the Kremlin.
3. The Weinstein effect
President Trump is expected to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program as soon as today. The controversial program, started under President Obama, gave qualified applicants, dubbed “Dreamers” – undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children – protection from deportation and the ability to work and study in the US. Trump reportedly plans to put a six-month delay on any DACA action to give Congress time to come up with a fix that would let “Dreamers” stay. Trump vowed during the campaign to dismantle DACA but signaled a softer stance once he took office.
5. Fried potatoes study
It’s not often you see one Nobel Peace Prize winner go after another, but that’s what’s going on with Malala Yousafzai and Aung San Suu Kyi. Yousafzai called out Suu Kyi over her failure to condemn the “tragic and shameful treatment” of Myanmar’s Rohingya people. Yousafzai, 20, is the youngest Peace Prize winner in history; Suu Kyi is the de facto leader of Myanmar.
5. Trump in Asia
David Clarke, the controversial Milwaukee sheriff with the cowboy hat and the authoritative facial hair, has resigned. Known for his often jaw-dropping rhetoric and incendiary conservative commentary, Clarke had served as one of the country’s more well-known sheriffs since 2002, but he raised his national profile as a regular surrogate for the Trump campaign. So far, Clarke has not given a reason for his abrupt resignation.
Scientists may have developed a blood test that can accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences details the experimental test, which researchers say helped them ID Alzheimer’s patients with up to 86% sensitivity and specificity. Right now, the only way to conclusively diagnose someone with Alzheimer’s is after the person has died. But the test will have to be further evaluated, a process that will take years, before it can be used by doctors.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
The average age for American dads has increased to about 31 years old, which means they’ll be even more out of touch when the kids turn into teens.
A Chick-fil-A regular called his Houston store … for a rescue boat
Yes, the story behind this heartwarming Harvey rescue pic has it all.
A GA police officer told a woman at traffic stop, ‘We only kill black people’
In a shocking turn of events, he is most likely going to lose his job.
Prince’s sister says purple wasn’t his favorite color. It was orange.
But “Orange Rain” just sounds so, so wrong.
Mysterious, eight-legged metallic object washes up in Rhode Island
Finally, the age of the robot spiders is here!
Did you know today is “Force Friday?”
RIP, Walter
QUOTE OF THE DAY
The August jobs report is set to drop at 8:30 a.m. ET
Things are supposed to be looking pretty good – and any temporary jobs toll from Hurricane Harvey won’t show up yet.
New sanctions on North Korea
AND FINALLY …
Think you’re good at the flip-cup game? Well, you’re not as good as this parrot. (Click to view)
‘Become one with the vegetable’