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Hot Mic: Bite-Size News Brief

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A chemical plant just outside Houston is in danger of exploding. The State Department has announced that it will force Russia to close three diplomatic locations in the United States. Links: • Here’s what’s going on with that dangerously flooded chemical plant near Houston • State Department forces closure of Russian diplomatic hubs in U.S. in retaliatory move

Chemical Plant Near Houston May Explode & Russia Must Close Diplomatic Hubs In U.S.

Defense Secretary James Mattis made it clear that transgender military members who are still serving won’t be affected by Trump’s ban...at least for now. Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren is joining Fox News as a contributor. Links: • Defense Secretary Mattis says transgender military members will continue to serve, for now • Pro-Trump commentator Tomi Lahren joins Fox News

Defense Secretary Clarifies Transgender Ban & Tomi Lahren Joins Fox News

North Korea launched a ballistic missile early Tuesday morning local time that flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific Ocean. With Trump’s decision on DACA looming, immigrant rights groups are making a last-ditch appeal to the president: They say deporting immigrants is bad for the economy. Links: • North Korea launches missile over Japan • Study: If Trump suspends DACA, more than 1,400 people a day could lose the ability to work

North Korea Missile Launch & Trump’s DACA Decision

At least 35 people have left their government jobs or advisory roles since President Trump’s response to Charlottesville. The ACLU is suing Trump over his decision to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. Links: • Nearly 3 dozen have abandoned White House roles over Trump’s Charlottesville response • ACLU sues Trump over transgender military ban

Trump Loses More Advisers & ACLU Sues Trump Over Transgender Ban

The first pardon of Trump’s presidency went to former sheriff Joe Arpaio. A far-right rally in San Francisco was shut down by thousands of anti-racist protesters. Links: • Trump pardons former sheriff Joe Arpaio • Thousands in San Francisco shut down yet another far-right rally

Trump Pardons Arpaio & Another Right-Wing Rally Shut Down

Hurricane Harvey, the first major hurricane the U.S. has seen in 12 years, is expected to hit southeast Texas tonight. Amazon announced that some of the best selling grocery items at Whole Foods Market will have their prices lowered.

Hurricane Harvey & Cheaper Whole Foods

President Donald Trump hinted at his rally in Phoenix that he’s going to pardon a former anti-immigration sheriff Joe Arpaio. A GoFundMe campaign is trying to raise enough money to ban Trump from Twitter. Links: • At Phoenix rally, Trump hints at his intentions to pardon Joe Arpaio, goes after media • Valerie Plame Wilson is attempting to buy Twitter so she can ban Trump

Trump Will Probably Pardon Sheriff Arpaio & GoFundMe Campaign Tries To Ban Trump From Twitter

President Trump laid out his military strategy for the war in Afghanistan. Nearly 10% of Americans say it’s “acceptable” to have neo-Nazi or white supremacist views. Links: • Trump won’t withdraw troops from Afghanistan, but offers no details on time frame, additional troops • 9% of Americans say it’s acceptable to hold “neo-Nazi or white supremacist views,” according to poll

Trump’s Afghanistan Strategy & New Poll Asks Americans About White Supremacist Views

The oldest Christopher Columbus monument in the U.S. was vandalized by protesters. Scientists invented milk and creamer capsules that you can drop right into a cup of hot coffee. Links: • Oldest Christopher Columbus monument in the US vandalized in Baltimore • Scientists invented edible coffee creamer capsules to stop plastic waste pollution around the world

Columbus Monument Vandalized & Edible Coffee Creamer Capsules

Steven Bannon, chief strategist at the White House and one of President Donald Trump’s top advisers, is out. Just a week after the violence in Charlottesville, a conservative rally in Boston was shut down by thousands of counterprotesters. Links: • After leaving White House, Steve Bannon returns to ‘Breitbart News’ as executive chairman • Thousands of protesters shut down controversial “Free Speech Rally” in Boston

Bannon Resigns & Boston Protesters Shut Down Conservative Rally

At least 13 people are dead after a van swerved into pedestrians in Barcelona. Steve Bannon’s candid interview with a progressive magazine gave us a rare look into his agenda. Links: • Everything we know so far about the apparent terror attack in Barcelona. • 4 key takeaways from Steve Bannon’s surprising ‘American Prospect’ interview

Barcelona Terror Attack & Bannon’s Interview

President Donald Trump announced that he would be ending two business councils following a series of resignations by a number of CEOs. A White House official confirmed that Hope Hicks will act as interim director of communications. Links: • Trump tweets that he is disbanding two CEO councils after spate of high-profile departures • Hope Hicks named White House interim director of communications

Trump Disbands CEO Councils & Hope Hicks Named Interim Director of Communications

President Donald Trump, once again, blamed both sides at the protests in Charlottesville for being violent. Links: • In stunning turn, President Donald Trump admonishes “alt-left” for violence at Charlottesville

Trump Goes Back to Blaming “Both Sides” at Charlottesville

The white supremacist website Daily Stormer can’t find a new home after GoDaddy gives it 24 hours to find a new host. President Trump condemned specific white racial hate groups two days after the protests in Charlottesville. Links: • Google says it will not host domain name for neo-Nazi site ‘Daily Stormer’ • After weekend of violence, Donald Trump rebukes racism as evil; names specific hate groups

‘Daily Stormer’ Can’t Find a Host & Trump Condemns Hate Groups

Direct from Mic's newsroom, stay current with a daily run-down of top stories, breaking news and analysis from our team of journalists. In a world where information spreads at the speed of light, this show provides listeners with the most important narratives and relevant updates to start your weekdays off on the right foot - Monday through Friday at 6 A.M. Eastern.

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Hot Mic: Bite-Size News Brief

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