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
Roy Moore’s Senate candidacy was already a controversial one for the GOP; now it’s a full-blown problem. Moore, the Republican nominee in a December 12 special election in Alabama, is accused of sexual misconduct with underage girls in allegations that go back more than three decades. Moore denied the allegations and blasted The Washington Post, which published the bombshell report, calling the story “a desperate political attack.”
The GOP response was, believe it or not, rather mixed. Sen. John McCain said Moore should drop out of the race immediately. The White House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other DC Republicans said Moore should quit the race if the claims are true. But some Alabama state lawmakers said they still support Moore, with one going so far as to use the Bible to excuse Moore’s alleged behavior. At this point, it doesn’t look like Moore is dropping out, and CNN’s Chris Cillizza says that creates a huge headache for the GOP because there’s no process to replace him outside of a write-in campaign.
2. Democratic National Committee
Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she believes that the Democratic National Committee was “rigged” in favor of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 primary.
Members of the House intelligence committee raised the matter because of salacious allegations laid out in a dossier compiled by former British agent Christopher Steele, an opposition research document funded by Democrats detailing alleged ties between Trump and his associates with Russians.
Meanwhile, White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller has been interviewed as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The interview brings the special counsel investigation into Trump’s inner circle in the White House. Miller is the highest-level aide still working at the White House known to have talked to investigators.
3. The Weinstein effect
President Trump dusted off his “America First” speech and took it to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam. The President issued a strong rebuke of trade practices that he feels harm American workers. But, like he did yesterday in China, Trump said he didn’t blame business leaders in the Pacific Rim – he blamed his predecessors. He said the US wasn’t going to be “taken advantage of” anymore.
4. Russian investigation
Former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page privately testified Thursday to lawmakers that he mentioned to Jeff Sessions he was traveling to Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign – as new questions emerge about the attorney general’s earlier comments to Congress about Russia and the Trump campaign.
This sets up a dramatic showdown on tax policy with the House. The Senate and the House are working with an uber-aggressive time line to meet President Trump’s deadline of delivering him a tax bill to sign before the end of the year.
Another day, another round of sexual allegations against powerful, famous men. Eight women have come forward in a Washington Post story to accuse longtime broadcaster Charlie Rose of sexual harassment, including accounts of groping, exposure and inappropriately intimate conversations. In response, CBS has suspended Rose, who is currently a co-host on “CBS This Morning,” a correspondent for “60 Minutes” and the star of the PBS interview program bearing his name.
5. Trump in Asia
Comedian Louis C.K. is the latest Hollywood heavyweight to face sexual misconduct allegations. The New York Times reported the allegations of five women, who said C.K. acted inappropriately, including fondling himself in front of them. CNN has not confirmed the women’s stories independently. The fallout has been swift: the premiere for his new movie was canceled, a “Late Show” appearance was ditched, HBO kicked him off a comedy special, and FX, where he’s had several shows, said it would conduct a review. The comedian’s publicist said he’s “not going to answer any questions.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Everything is in such grief mode right now in this church (that) these decisions will have to unfold as they come for the people there.”
Southern Baptist Convention spokesman Roger Oldham, talking about the suggestion by the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Spring, Texas, that the church should be demolished after the mass shooting there killed 25 people and an unborn child
BREAKFAST BROWSE
People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
‘i’ fixed it
iPhone users, your long national nightmare is over. Apple finally released a fix for the dreaded “i” autocorrect issue.
Divine decree
If you’re headed to the Vatican, you might want to put your cell phone away, because Pope Francis is fed up with seeing them during Mass.
RIP, John
Actor John Hillerman played many wonderful characters during his career, but none as lovable as the eccentric Jonathan Higgins on “Magnum, P.I.”
At least you’ve got 280 characters
Still waiting for a blue check mark from Twitter for your profile? Don’t hold your breath.
Up in the air
Uber’s pretty much conquered the roads. Now, it wants to team up with NASA to rule the skies, too.
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH
The first time I knew I wanted to serve
Fighting terror. Giving back. A sense of duty. Ahead of Veterans Day, CNN asked active duty military members and veterans to describe the first time they knew they wanted to serve in the armed forces.
NUMBER OF THE DAY
600,000+
That’s how many people signed up for Obamacare in the first four days of open enrollment, far outpacing last year
CNN NEWS QUIZ
Total recall
Which former US President showed up for jury duty this week? Take CNN’s weekly news quiz and find out.
AND FINALLY …
Giggle girl
Hundreds are dead after a powerful earthquake rocked the Middle East over the weekend. At least 300 were killed and more than 2,500 injured when the 7.3 magnitude quake hit the border region between Iran and Iraq. The quake’s epicenter was in Iraq, but it devastated the Iranian border town of Sarpol-e Zahab, where at least 100 people died. Part of a dam was cracked in another town. The tremor was felt across the region as far away as Pakistan, Lebanon, Kuwait and Turkey.