Plus three other things you need to know today.
Iran fires missiles on bases housing U.S. troops
During a national address this morning, President Trump said there were no reported casualties following an Iranian strike that launched more than a dozen missiles at the al-Asad airbase and Erbil early Wednesday. The attack was in response to the U.S. killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad last week, whom the president called “the world’s top terrorist.” He also added: “Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world.”
Pelosi hangs onto articles of impeachment, but GOP-led Senate may not need them
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she won’t release the articles of impeachment until Republicans reveal their plans for the president’s Senate impeachment trial. Pelosi has been fighting to see witnesses (who were barred from testifying in the House impeachment proceedings) called for the Senate trial, but Sen. Mitch McConnell said the opposing party has enough votes to proceed without any agreement with Democrats.
Bloomberg takes heat for refusing debates
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg says his decision to finance his own campaign without donations recuses him from participating in debates, but critics say he’s obligated to defend his record alongside other Democratic challengers. He’s facing accusations of trying to buy his way in. The New York Times reports Bloomberg will run a 60-second ad during the Super Bowl next month—costing him at least $10 million.
Disability benefits more difficult to maintain under Trump administration’s proposed plan
While recipients already must prove continued disability, the proposal—which came out in November but has largely gone under the radar until now—would require additional examinations and reviews, and add a new category, “medical improvement likely,” which would target older disabled workers. Critics say it could potentially cull thousands of qualified people from the rolls.
Emiene Wright Emiene Wright is associate editor at Cardinal & PIne. Before that she was on the 24-hour news desk of the Miami Herald and the Detroit Free Press, and her writing has been featured in Crisis, the Charlotte Observer, and Our State magazine.
