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A quick update on the future of Hot Mic, and details on where to find more great reporting and journalism. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Police identified the woman who died in Charlottesville when a car slammed into a group of anti-racism protesters. President Trump was heavily criticized for his vanilla statement condemning violence during the protests. Links: • Heather Heyer, 32, named as slain victim in Charlottesville car attack • Trump gets slammed “on many sides” as David Duke rips Charlottesville response See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

President Donald Trump told reporters that he is declaring the opioid crisis a national emergency, but there’s no official word yet from the administration. Ivanka Trump’s label is opening a stand-alone store in Trump Tower after getting dropped by other retailers. Links: • Donald Trump on opioids: “We’re going to make it a national emergency” • Ivanka Trump is opening a stand-alone store in NYC this fall See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

President Donald Trump warned North Korea that any threats to the United States would be met with “fire and fury,” further escalating tensions between the two nations. A Norwegian agency is trying to use mobile games to educate Syrian children displaced by the country’s civil war. Links: • When Donald Trump threatens “fire and fury,” he ratchets up the tension that could cause nuclear war • Inside the mission to bring educational mobile games to children in conflict zones around the world See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

About 90% of members in the House of Representatives don’t regularly offer paid internships. Two “real news” videos have been posted to Trump’s Facebook page as part of his re-election campaign. Links: • Mic Investigation: About 90% of US House members don’t pay their interns • “And that is the real news”: Trump TV is realized as part of re-election campaign See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chicago will sue the Trump administration over its policies on sanctuary cities. Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough is getting roasted online for a tweet about gaming obsessions in today’s youth. A European design company faced fierce backlash for its swastika emblazoned products. Links: • Chicago is suing the Trump administration over its policies on sanctuary cities • Joe Scarborough criticized young people for choosing video games over war. It didn’t go over well. • No, the swastika will never be fashion See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.