Georgia executes a woman. ISIS is still getting U.S. fighters. And a wet week looms.
It’s Wednesday, and here are the five things to know for your New Day.
GEORGIA EXECUTION
Executed: Kelly Gissendaner is dead. The death row inmate was executed early this morning after the Supreme Court denied three requests for a stay of execution. Gissendaner was convicted of murder for convincing her lover to kill her husband in 1997. She was the first female convict put to death in Georgia in 70 years.
KIM DAVIS
Meeting: Did Kim Davis meet the Pope? That’s what her legal team said yesterday. The controversial Kentucky county clerk had a private, 10-minute meeting with Pope Francis Thursday in Washington, according to her lawyers. They said pictures were taken, but as of this morning they hadn’t been released yet. The Vatican would neither confirm nor deny the story, but remember Francis was asked a question about public officials refusing to carry out their duties as a matter conscience during a Sunday news conference on his flight from Philadelphia to Rome.
OBAMACARE
Taxing: Somebody wants to repeal part of Obamacare again, but it’s not who you’d expect: It’s Hillary Clinton. The former secretary of state wants to get rid of the so-called “Cadillac tax,” an Obamacare tariff on premium health care plans that helps fund the law. Clinton said yesterday that while Obamacare — in her view — is “working, plain and simple,” there are improvements that can be made, so she wants Congress to repeal it. She says her other proposed reforms to Obamacare will more than cover the cost of repealing the tax.
ISIS
Failure: A bipartisan task force didn’t mince words: the U.S. has failed to stop Americans from traveling abroad to join ISIS. A congressional report, released yesterday, said more than 250 Americans have joined the ranks of the Islamist militants. The task force calls for an overhaul of the U.S. strategy to stem the flow and threat of foreign fighters.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
Grilled: Republicans duked it out with Democrats yesterday over Planned Parenthood, and Cecile Richards, the organization’s president, was in the crossfire. During a heated and emotional congressional hearing, House Republicans blasted Richards and other Planned Parenthood leaders, accusing them of spending the organization’s funds lavishly: hosting pricey parties, flying first class and spending large amounts of time fundraising. Democrats shot back, saying the GOP was more interested in scoring political points than improving women’s health care.