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
The shutdown showdown is over … for now. President Trump signed a bill last night that ends three days of deadlock and keeps federal funds flowing through February 8. Senate Democrats ended the shutdown after getting assurances from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the GOP will pursue action on immigration, including possible work on a DACA fix. The Dems’ liberal wing is furious about this. They think Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer caved and gave up all the leverage they had to help the Dreamers.
Plus, they say there’s no guarantee that whatever the Senate comes up with on immigration will be taken up in the House, which is full of hard-line GOP members opposed to any DACA deal. CNN’s Stephen Collinson says that yes, getting out of the shutdown so quickly is a win for President Trump, but it only delays what will be one of the biggest decisions of his young presidency: whether to let 700,000 people brought to the US as children without proper documents stay.
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
The US embassy may move to Israel a lot faster than we first thought. Vice President Mike Pence told Israel’s parliament that the embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of next year, after officials earlier said it would take three to four years. President Trump upended decades of US policy, inflamed tensions in the region and sparked outrage across the world when he said last month that the US recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The recognition complicates the Mideast peace process because Palestinians also consider the city their capital.
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
Top executives of USA Gymnastics stepped down as the sentencing hearing for ex-gymnastics physician Larry Nassar continues. Chairman Paul Parilla, Vice Chairman Jay Binder and Treasurer Bitsy Kelley all resigned from the USA Gymnastics board of directors, and the organization’s president said the resignations will help the group implement changes. Nassar is to be sentenced this week after pleading guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct. He’s admitted to assaulting young women under his care, including the more than 140 brave girls and young women who are speaking out during his sentencing.
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
The Transportation Security Administration is rolling out a stricter screening program for air cargo into the US from five Mideast countries. Cargo from seven airports in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will be subject to additional screening. Those countries were picked because terror groups indicate they want to attack airplanes and other aviation targets from there, the TSA said.
TSA is looking at your 'micro-expressions'
5. Trump in Asia
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.
Pope Francis apologized to sex abuse victims for comments he made defending an embattled bishop. Francis had said last week that there was no “proof” of wrongdoing against Chilean Bishop Juan Barros, who is accused of covering up for a priest convicted of sexual abuse. Supporters of victims of clerical sex abuse challenged his suggestion that “proof” is a prerequisite for believing a victim’s account. Francis said he was sorry and that it was a poor choice of words, but he maintained his defense of Barros.
So who’s going to win? Looks like “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” have all the momentum in the best picture race, but don’t be shocked if a dark horse like “Lady Bird” nabs the Oscars’ top prize. And maybe this year it won’t be so #OscarsSoWhite, with three African-Americans and a black English actor getting nominations in the acting categories, and “Get Out” director Jordan Peele grabbing writing and directing nods. Sadly for superhero movie fans, there was nothing for much-loved “Wonder Woman.” Check out the complete nominations list and get reactions from the nominees. The Academy Awards are March 4.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“And every friend that I know has a story like mine.”
Singer Halsey, who moved the crowd at New York’s Women’s March with her poem recounting her experiences with sexual assault
“If they try to send us back there now, we will not go.”
BREAKFAST BROWSE
People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
Hugh Masekela was more than a musician. The father of South African jazz provided a soundtrack to the ’80s anti-apartheid movement. He died at age 78.
Bottoms up
Come hang out at the Portland, Maine, bar that’s famous for not serving alcohol.
Off the road
Crushing news for music fans: Singing legend Neil Diamond has Parkinson’s disease, and he’s retiring from touring.
Out over inclusivity
She made history wearing a hijab in a hair care ad campaign. Now, she’s out – over old tweets she wrote dissing Israel.
Love is in the air
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t the only royal couple getting hitched this year. Princess Eugenie is tying the knot, too, with her longtime boyfriend.
Super downer
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH
Jobs report
Academy Award nominations come out this morning. Sunday’s SAG Awards gave us some hints on how things might go.
NUMBER OF THE DAY
That’s how much Netflix lost when it cut ties with Kevin Spacey
61%
Former President George W. Bush’s approval rating now. It was just 33% when he left office in 2009.
34
AND FINALLY …
Tricky Tuesday