TOP STORIES
(Get this roundup directly in your inbox each weekday ― sign up for The Morning Email here.)
DEMOCRAT CONOR LAMB HOLDS A SLIM LEAD IN PENNSYLVANIA TRUMP COUNTRY Lamb was ahead by 579 votes, meaning the race will likely end in a recount. Trump won this district in 2016 by over 20 points. Fellow Republicans blamed the close race on GOP candidate Rick Saccone, saying he “came across as establishment” and had a “porn stache.” [HuffPost] [Tweet | Share on Facebook]
THE AFTERMATH OF A SECRETARY OF STATE BEING FIRED Via tweet. Trump called Rex Tillerson to tell him the news personally three hours after the tweet went out. Tillerson’s top aide was also fired after contradicting the White House on the timeline. Here’s what to watch for as CIA Director Mike Pompeo becomes the next secretary of state and takes over a “shattered department.” His replacement, Gina Haspel, is under firefor running a torture program. And the musical chairs in the Trump administration may not be over, as Trump is eyeing Rick Perry to replace the embattled Veterans Affairs head. [HuffPost]
TRIBUTES ARE POURING IN FOR LEGENDARY PHYSICIST STEPHEN HAWKING Who died from complications due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the age of 76. [HuffPost]
KRIS KOBACH’S OWN EXPERT WON’T SUPPORT THE CLAIM THAT THE PRESIDENT WON THE POPULAR VOTE “One of the academics that Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) picked to back up his claims of widespread voter fraud said in sworn testimony on Tuesday that he could not support Kobach’s claim that illegal votes may have swung the popular vote during the 2016 presidential election.” [HuffPost]
A DOG DIED ON A UNITED FLIGHT AFTER OWNER WAS FORCED TO PLACE THE CARRIER IN OVERHEAD BIN Which likely did not have proper air circulation. Turns out that 18 of the 24 pets that died flying on U.S. carriers last year were on United planes. [HuffPost]
THESE STUDENTS AREN’T JOINING THE NATIONAL WALKOUT TO PROTEST GUN VIOLENCE TODAY “Politics, safety concerns and threats of disciplinary action are just some of the reasons these teens won’t demonstrate with their classmates on Wednesday.” [HuffPost]
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BERNIE SANDERS HATER IS BOOSTED BY A BOT NETWORK All revolving around a Democratic consultant. [HuffPost]
TRUMP’S PERSONAL ASSISTANT REPORTEDLY FIRED AS HE’S BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ‘SERIOUS FINANCIAL CRIMES’ By the Department of Homeland Security. [HuffPost]
INDIA’S PRIME MINISTER PLEDGES MASSIVE PUSH TO FIGHT WORLD’S TOP INFECTIOUS KILLER Global health experts consider Modi’s commitment to stop tuberculosis to be a game-changer. [HuffPost]
WHAT’S BREWING
HUFFPOST OPINION: ‘HOMELESS WOMEN SAY “ME TOO,” BUT NO ONE LISTENS’ “I don’t have to return if I decide not to. But where can these women go?” [HuffPost]
THE DARK SIDE OF TECH ADDICTION “Nearly all of the [kids] become anxious and upset when they’re asked to surrender the thing that led them there: their smartphones. A few have even threatened to kill themselves at the prospect of having their internet cut off.” [Variety]
TURNS OUT EVEN THE QUEEN GETS PAID LESS Outrage is growing over the news that Matt Smith was paid a higher salary as Prince Philip than Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II. [HuffPost]
WE HAVE ALL THE FEELS About the return to Hogwarts in the trailer for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald.” [HuffPost]
A ‘BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER’ REBOOT IS POSSIBLE Under this one condition. [HuffPost]
BECAUSE IT’S A LONG TIME UNTIL ‘GAME OF THRONES’ RETURNS, HERE ARE SOME JUICY TIDBITS TO TIDE YOU OVER We finally know what Ned Stark said in those pivotal moments, and Rose Leslie is kicking Kit Harington out of the house for one rather scary reason. [HuffPost]
BEFORE YOU GO
Prosecutors are seeking in the death penalty in the Parkland school shooting.
Only half of Trump voters say an affair with a porn star would be immoral.
A mosque terror attack suspect put in a detailed plan to build Trump’s wall.
Angela Merkel has been re-elected chancellor of Germany for a fourth term.
The internet had a fit over The New York Times election needle last night.
Facebook is defending its use of private courts to address sexual harassment issues in the workplace.
The parents of the slain DNC staffer are suing Fox News over coverage of their son’s death.
Activists on Tuesday placed 7,000 pairs of shoes across the Capitol lawn as a powerful symbol of the children lost to gun violence.
After news dropped of Tillerson’s firing Tuesday, people began to share their best stories of being “Tillerson’d,” which means finding out you’ve been dumped via social media.
The typo in this Sean Spicer tweet about Rex Tillerson is one for the record books.
The British media is astir over Prince Harry’s eyebrow raising, but these memes are everything about royal style.
The internet thinks Taylor Swift ripped off this Spike Jonze ad.
Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik have called it quits.
Even we couldn’t believe how extra Oprah’s bathtub is.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s company is adding inclusion riders to all its films.
We don’t know if we can handle the potential horror in those “This is Us” season finale flash forwards.
The side-by-side photos of the Chinese Paris knockoff are unbelievable.
“Meet the tutors of the ultra-rich.”
Even the original Wonder Woman has a Me Too story.
A flight attendant lays out how to join the mile high club.
No, you don’t want to know what’s lurking in your pedicure tub.
And love this newsletter? Share it with a friend!