Stacking bags. Selling guns. Getting fired. It’s Friday (the 13th!!!!) and here are the five things you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.
1. TSA
The TSA’s had trouble getting us through airport security lines and onto our plane. Now it can’t seem to get our bags on there either. At Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport computer issues took down the machines that screen luggage. So 3,000 bags missed their flights and ended up in a parking lot. Eventually tractor-trailers carried some of them to other airports. Maybe we’re all just better off driving.
2. George Zimmerman
You’d think he’d just take his freedom and go away quietly, but George Zimmerman keeps sulking back into the spotlight. This time, he says he wants to auction the gun used in killing Trayvon Martin with — and use the money to fight Black Lives Matter. He calls it “an American firearm icon.” Yeah, really. Two gun auction websites said ‘no thanks’ yesterday, but one of them is reconsidering.
3. Obamacare
Let’s see if we can explain the latest Obamacare skirmish in a simple way: One of the things the law does is make insurers provide coverage on the cheap for low-income Americans. Uncle Sam then reimburses them for some of that added cost. House GOP leaders say this is unconstitutional because you can’t just draw money from the Treasury without getting their OK. And, said they, this is so not OK. Yesterday, a federal judge agreed. Victory? Not so fast. The administration will appeal, of course.
4. Detained U.S. sailors
Remember when 10 U.S. sailors accidentally sailed into Iranian waters and Iran took the opportunity to score some propaganda points by airing pix of them with their hands behind their back, making a female sailor wear a headscarf and broadcasting their apology? Well, a Navy commander is out of a job thanks to that. Cmdr. Eric Rasch was responsible for the training and readiness of sailors. The Navy said the incident resulted in a “loss of confidence” in him.
5. Catholic church
Ask Pope Francis a question, and he’ll answer it. And his answer to a question yesterday about the role of women in the Catholic Church could be groundbreaking. Francis said the Vatican should study the possibility of ordaining women as deacons. That’s a big deal because if it happens, it could open the door for women into the all-boys clergy club.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
Quote of the day:
“It’s a coup”
Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, telling us how she really feels, after Brazil’s Senate voted to begin an impeachment trial against her.
Pop life
Sure, acetaminophen dulls your pain. But you know what else it dulls? Your empathy. (Oh, and it sucks the joy out of life for you).
Raising your Twitter game
Dilemma: You’re Russia and you want to illustrate your claim that Syrian rebels have chemical weapons? Solution: Tweet a screenshot from a video game.
Star crossed
Remember where Britney Spears was about nine years ago? The weird and volatile behavior? Justin Bieber has officially entered that stage.
Riverdale 90210
The CW’s newest show, “Riverdale,” based on the “Archie” comics, will be a cross between that and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Heck, even Luke Perry is in it.
Heart of cubes
He fell in love with her. He expressed it with 840 Rubik’s cubes to express it. She said ‘Hard pass.’ He was heartbroken. (But we think she dodged a bullet.).
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH
Here’s what’s happening today.
Bathroom breakdown
Obama administration to public schools: let transgender students use the bathroom they want. That’s the guidance that’ll be issued today.