AP is a not-for-profit organization. Your donation supports independent reporting that serves the public interest, not corporate shareholders. Donate today.
|
|
|
Welcome back. In the news today: The U.S. military says it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in response to missile attacks on a Navy warship; Trump reportedly gave $45,000 holiday gifts to Natalie Harp and two other aides; and thousands of mail ballots in Washington and Oregon have been rejected because of late postmarks. Also, all the details and standout moments from the Venice Film Festival so far.
|
A motorboat travels past commercial vessels anchored amid haze in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
|
US military says it destroyed 5 more Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on its warship
|
In response, Tehran hit back at American targets in Jordan. It’s the latest burst of back-and-forth strikes that have lurched the sides back toward open hostilities. Jordan’s military said its air defense systems intercepted 18 ballistic missiles. It said it has no reports of casualties. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Trump gave $45,000 holiday gifts to Natalie Harp and two other White House aides
|
A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said President Donald Trump “has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides, both in government and in his time in the private sector.” Read more.
|
|
|
The administration released details of these gifts in the staffers’ annual financial disclosure forms published last week. Natalie Harp and the two other aides make $150,000 annually, according to the White House’s salary disclosure report to Congress. The official did not say if any other staffers were given similar gifts from the president, but added that the cash gifts were not related to the “individuals’ official government duties, and therefore are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards.” The disclosures of the gifts were first reported earlier on Tuesday by The Washington Post.
|
|
|
Ballots discounted for late postmarks surged in vote-by-mail states Washington and Oregon after Postal Service changes
|
Newly released data highlights concerns about recent changes in the U.S. Postal Service operations ahead of this fall’s pivotal midterm elections, especially in some Western states where the method is universal and widely popular. Read more.
|
|
|
President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked mail-in voting, falsely claiming it’s riddled with fraud, despite having voted by mail himself. The Postal Service has been consolidating its operations with an emphasis on regional hubs in an effort to save billions of dollars.
Some U.S. senators and election officials have warned that the changes could delay the application of postmarks and would prevent otherwise valid votes from being counted. That prediction is being borne out, they say, with thousands of voters having their ballots rejected during this year’s primaries.
|
|
|
Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz pose for photographers at the red carpet for the film ‘Bunker’ during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Tuesday. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
|
|
|
|
That's all for today. Know someone who would enjoy Morning Wire? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. - Nadja
|
|
|
|
|
That's all for today. Know someone who would enjoy Morning Wire? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. - Nadja
|
|
|
|
|
*Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in advertising, contact us here.
|
|
|
|
|
