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
When Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein visited the White House in December for a meeting with President Donald Trump, the President wanted to know where the special counsel’s Russia investigation was heading. And he wanted to know whether Rosenstein was “on my team,” according to sources familiar with the meeting.
The episode is the latest to come to light portraying a President whose inquiries sometimes cross a line that presidents traditionally have tried to avoid when dealing with the Justice Department, for which a measure of independence is key. The exchange could raise further questions about whether Trump was seeking to interfere in the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into potential collusion by the Trump campaign with Russia and obstruction of justice by the White House.
Meanwhile, House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff is accusing chairman Devin Nunes of sending a different version of the memo alleging FBI surveillance abuses to the White House than what the committee approved. Trump is mulling publicly releasing the memo amid FBI objections.
Special counsel Robert Mueller has indicated interest in questioning President Donald Trump about his dismissals of former FBI Director James Comey and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. The sources cautioned against presuming the President would sit down with Mueller in the next few weeks, saying there is still much to be negotiated.
2. Democratic National Committee
Just before this year’s Winter Olympics, everyone’s worried about the flu – like they were about Zika in Rio in 2016. In North Korea, which is sending some athletes to the Games, they’re dealing with a potentially deadly strain of flu that’s sickened thousands and killed at least four. In South Korea, where the Games will take place, there’s concerns about a strain of bird flu. Health officials so far haven’t imposed travel restrictions for athletes or tourists.
The end of the government shutdown finds Republicans and Democrats moving even further apart on immigration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer withdrew an offer that would have approved funding for President Trump’s border wall. And the White House indicates it wants more than just the wall and additional resources on the Southern border in exchange for a DACA fix. It wants Homeland Security to have more power to remove undocumented immigrants. These changes in positioning risk losing the support of very conservative and very liberal lawmakers. Which means we’ll probably be facing another immigration-fueled shutdown come February 8.
3. The Weinstein effect
The leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is out after buying tobacco stock. Brenda Fitzgerald stepped down after a news report detailed the stock purchase in “at least a dozen companies” about a month after she took the job. Investing in tobacco companies is obviously at odds with the mission of the CDC, and Fitzgerald was already in hot water over potential conflicts related to other investments she’d made. She reportedly also invested in pharmaceutical and health insurance companies.
They’re planning prayer vigils today at Marshall County High School in western Kentucky after a shooter killed two students and wounded 16 others. The suspected gunman is a 15-year-old male student who was nabbed on the scene. He’ll probably be charged as an adult on murder and attempted murder charges. Shocked students described utter chaos as gunfire broke out in the school’s commons area right before classes started. Some kids jumped fences and ran into the woods for safety.
4. Russian investigation
A GOP legislative retreat will go on today in West Virginia, after a train carrying Republican members of Congress and their families hit a garbage truck on the way. The driver of the truck was killed and several others were injured. Everyone on the train is OK. President Trump speaks to the group later today.
What does Kim Jong Un really want? CIA Director Mike Pompeo thinks the North Korean leader is developing nukes for more than just preserving his regime. Pompeo says Kim’s ultimate goal is to take over the entire Korean Peninsula, and he’s prepared to use both nuclear weapons and conventional military forces to do it. So could the US do a limited military strike to stop him without risking a full-scale war? Pompeo wouldn’t answer that, but President Trump has said in the past that all options are on the table when it comes to dealing with North Korea.
5. Trump in Asia
Australia’s trying to find out how a decade’s worth of government secrets ended up being sold – in second-hand furniture. Thousands of files spanning five governments were found in drawers at a furniture store in Canberra. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation got its hands on the files and reported some of what they contained, including allegations that a former Prime Minister discussed removing Australians’ rights to remain silent while in custody. Intelligence officers delivered safes to the broadcaster to secure the files.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“If I went there, I think it would take me back, and I’m trying to move forward.”
Gymnast Simone Biles, on why she didn’t attend Larry Nassar’s sentencing
BREAKFAST BROWSE
People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
(Not) lost in space
NASA lost track of a satellite 12 years ago. Lucky for them, an amateur astronomer was on the case.
He’ll just watch the game
America’s tradition-busting President offers up another one: Donald Trump’s skipping the Super Bowl Sunday interview this year.
DVD diplomacy
UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s trying to get on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s good side by giving him the box set to “Blue Planet II.”
A little less talk
While we were all fighting about the National Anthem, Colin Kaepernick quietly fulfilled his pledge to donate $1 million to worthy causes.
NUMBER OF THE DAY
That’s President Trump’s approval rating, which has risen in step with support for his tax overhaul.
“We step up every single day and have been doing so for a long time. The fact that you don’t realize this means it’s time for you to step down.”
AND FINALLY …
1,033
Keep those counters clear or this cute little cockatoo will happily do it for you. (Click to view.)