More details emerge about the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump. Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested and now faces federal charges. And a storm moves up the East Coast after drenching North Carolina.
Here’s what to know today.
Secret Service chief makes remarkable admission after apparent threat to Trump’s life
The U.S. Secret Service needs a “paradigm shift,” the agency’s acting director said a day after an apparent attempt on Donald Trump’s life, the second in two months. The comments from Ronald Rowe are a remarkable admission about the 160-year-old agency, which has been under scrutiny since a gunman managed to fire several rounds at Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in July, striking the former president’s ear.
The suspected gunman arrested in Florida on Sunday, Ryan Wesley Routh, made a court appearance yesterday on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Routh has not been charged with trying to kill Trump.
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Court documents revealed that in Sunday’s incident, Routh had been camped in a wooded area with an SKS-style rifle for 12 hours near the Florida golf course before a Secret Service agent fired at him. Trump wasn’t in Routh’s line of sight when the agent “engaged” him, Rowe said.
In a self-published book, Routh said he voted for Trump in 2016 and came to regret it after the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Read more about Routh’s background.
Now, Congress is considering boosting Secret Service funding. One possibility would be to attach emergency funding to a short-term funding bill that Congress must pass by Sept. 30 to avert a government shutdown. But some lawmakers, including a close Trump ally, are adamant that the agency doesn’t need any more money. Read more about what lawmakers had to say about Secret Service funding.
The Secret Service has dramatically increased Trump’s security since the July 13 shooting, including more people and more technology. Yesterday, the Trump campaign asked for even more increased security, two sources said. Read more about Rowe’s comments in the wake of Sunday’s incident.
More coverage of the apparent Trump assassination attempt:
- Bodycam video shows Routh being taken into custody.
- Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, ignored appeals for unity and claimed that rhetoric used by Democrats is responsible for threats and violence against the former president.
- Elon Musk said his now-deleted X post about how “no one is even trying to assassinate” President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris was intended to be a joke.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested in New York
A federal indictment for Sean “Diddy” Combs is expected to be unsealed this morning after the arrest of the rapper-turned-music mogul yesterday in New York, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. A person familiar with the situation said Combs was caught off-guard by the apprehension. Combs had “voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges,” said his attorney Marc Agnifilo, who expressed disappointment in the arrest. Combs “is an imperfect person but he is not a criminal,” the statement said.
It was not immediately clear on what charges Combs was arrested, but since November, he has faced a wave of lawsuits, one as recent as last week, accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct. Here’s what else we know.
Storm moves inland after flooding parts of North Carolina
An unnamed storm that dumped more than a foot of rain in parts of North Carolina is expected to travel today across Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, then bring showers to eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and southern New York tomorrow, meteorologists said. The National Hurricane Center called the disturbance Potential Tropical Cyclone 8. Odds are that it’ll weaken as it travels over terrain and have virtually no chance of earning a name.
Still the disturbance soaked the southeastern coast of North Carolina, leaving a measured 18 inches of rain at Carolina Beach and more than 14 inches of rain in Southport, the National Weather Service said. Officials also reported damaged buildings and weather-related road closures.
Amazon tells workers to return to office full time
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is putting an end to the company’s hybrid model, telling workers in a note published yesterday that they must return to the office full time. The policy kicks in starting in January, and the company said it would still respect pre-approved arrangements. Amazon joins a growing list of major U.S. firms returning to a five-days-a-week office policy.
Jassy said he wants Amazon to operate as if it were “the world’s largest startup,” echoing a sentiment that founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos often stressed. The note also includes a mention of reducing “bureaucracy” within the firm, which possibly opens the door for layoffs.
Politics in Brief
Harris interview: Three members of the National Association of Black Journalists will interview Vice President Kamala Harris today. Six weeks ago, Trump questioned Harris’ ethnicity and clashed with a journalist at the organization’s national convention.
Third-party candidates: Battleground states Michigan and Wisconsin will have the most crowded presidential ballots, which could matter a lot in a close election. Here’s how other battleground states stack up.
Health care: Donald Trump has tried to depict himself someone who chose to protect the Affordable Care Act, rather than repeal it. A look at his actions and quotes while in office show the facts are being misrepresented.
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Read All About It
- These 10 Americans, including “The Bear” actor Liza Colón-Zayas and NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns, have had quite a year of recognition and growth — and their Hispanic heritage is intrinsically tied to their work. Read more about the Latino 10.
- A pipeline erupted in flames near Houston, prompting evacuations and shelter-in-place orders for thousands of nearby residents.
- Meta has banned RT after the Biden administration accused the Russian media outlet of acting as an arm of Moscow’s spy agencies.
- Two former high-ranking New York City Fire Department Chiefs were indicted on federal bribery charges.
- Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince died last week at the age of 29, within a day of her mother’s death during a routine surgery.
Staff Pick: Sandy Hook shooting survivors are ready for change
The first graders who survived the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting are now 18 — and they’re weeks away from voting in their first presidential election. It’s a monumental moment, nearly 12 years after one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. I spoke to four survivors who told me voting gives them hope that they can effect change in a country where mass shootings have only become more frequent. — Melissa Chan, reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
The best sales to take advantage of this week include bedding from Parachute and clothing from retailers like Aerie, Adidas and more. Plus, Target announced the dates for its next Target Circle Week, and it’s less than a month away. Here’s what you need to know.
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