Georgia executes a woman. ISIS is still getting U.S. fighters. And a wet week looms.
It’s Wednesday, and here are the five things to know for your New Day.
IRAN
Revealed: Iran is flexing some military muscle. Yesterday it broadcast pictures from underground missile bases, buried deep inside a mountain. This comes after state media in the country reported that Iran had test-fired new long-range ballistic missiles. That’s a likely violation of a U.N. resolution, but not of the new Iran nuclear deal, because the deal’s not in effect yet.
Russian plane crashes in Egypt
GEORGIA EXECUTION
Executed: Kelly Gissendaner is dead. The death row inmate was executed early this morning after the Supreme Court denied three requests for a stay of execution. Gissendaner was convicted of murder for convincing her lover to kill her husband in 1997. She was the first female convict put to death in Georgia in 70 years.
OBAMACARE
Taxing: Somebody wants to repeal part of Obamacare again, but it’s not who you’d expect: It’s Hillary Clinton. The former secretary of state wants to get rid of the so-called “Cadillac tax,” an Obamacare tariff on premium health care plans that helps fund the law. Clinton said yesterday that while Obamacare – in her view – is “working, plain and simple,” there are improvements that can be made, so she wants Congress to repeal it. She says her other proposed reforms to Obamacare will more than cover the cost of repealing the tax.
ISIS
Failure: A bipartisan task force didn’t mince words: the U.S. has failed to stop Americans from traveling abroad to join ISIS. A congressional report, released yesterday, said more than 250 Americans have joined the ranks of the Islamist militants. The task force calls for an overhaul of the U.S. strategy to stem the flow and threat of foreign fighters.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
Grilled: Republicans duked it out with Democrats yesterday over Planned Parenthood, and Cecile Richards, the organization’s president, was in the crossfire. During a heated and emotional congressional hearing, House Republicans blasted Richards and other Planned Parenthood leaders, accusing them of spending the organization’s funds lavishly: hosting pricey parties, flying first class and spending large amounts of time fundraising. Democrats shot back, saying the GOP was more interested in scoring political points than improving women’s health care.