Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Why is LIV Golf so controversial?

A Capitol Hill hearing on gun violence; tensions surround the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series; Biden's weary start to the Summit of the Americas and more news to start your Wednesday. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
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Daily Briefing
 
Wednesday, June 8
Why is LIV Golf so controversial?
A Capitol Hill hearing on gun violence; tensions surround the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series; Biden's weary start to the Summit of the Americas and more news to start your Wednesday.

Survivors and victims' families will testify on gun violence before a House committee. The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series has its first event this week, but controversy shrouds the competition amid allegations of human rights abuses by the Saudi Arabian government. President Joe Biden starts a tenuous Summit of the Americas. Russian-Turkish talks involve Ukraine grain exports. The first-ever Muslim superhero from Marvel premieres.

๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿผ‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, and here's Wednesday's news.

๐ŸŒ… Up first:  Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered an emotional appeal to leaders in Washington to address gun violence in the White House briefing room Tuesday. McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were massacred at an elementary school last month. "This moment is different," the actor said, adding that he came to Capitol Hill to share stories of the shooting's aftermath in his hometown. His wife, Camila, held in her lap a pair of green, high-top Converse sneakers with a heart on the right toe that belonged to one of the slain students.  Read more

๐Ÿ”ต Matthew McConaughey for USA TODAY Opinion: There's a difference between gun control and gun responsibility.

Camila Alves McConaughey holds the lime green Converse tennis shoes that were worn by Uvalde shooting victim Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, 10, as Matthew McConaughey, a native of Uvalde, Texas, joins White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Camila Alves McConaughey holds the lime green Converse tennis shoes that were worn by Uvalde shooting victim Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, 10, as Matthew McConaughey, a native of Uvalde, Texas, joins White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Susan Walsh, AP

More news to know now:

❎ Former President Donald Trump's shadow didn't loom particularly large in Tuesday's primary elections in seven states

๐Ÿ’‰ The FDA recommended a fourth COVID vaccine for use in the U.S. by Maryland-based company Novavax.

๐Ÿ”” No candidate for Los Angeles mayor secured at least 50% of the vote in Tuesday's primary, meaning the race will head for a November runoff

Rick Caruso, a Democratic candidate for Los Angeles mayor, celebrates at his primary-night gathering in Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 7, 2022, with his family behind him.
Rick Caruso, a Democratic candidate for Los Angeles mayor, celebrates at his primary-night gathering in Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 7, 2022, with his family behind him.
Alex Gallardo, AP

And also:

๐Ÿญ Bananas stress out male mice due to a compound in the fruit, according to a new study

⚪ Italy seized $256 million of cocaine in a bust linked to a Colombian drug operation.

๐ŸŒฎ A first-of-its-kind Taco Bell with four drive-thru lanes debuted in Minnesota.

Coined "Taco Bell Defy," the restaurant that broke ground last summer will open its doors – but most importantly, its four-lane drive-thru – in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on June 7.
Coined "Taco Bell Defy," the restaurant that broke ground last summer will open its doors – but most importantly, its four-lane drive-thru – in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on June 7.
Courtesy of Taco Bell

๐Ÿ” Here are 15 Father's Day grilling gifts for dads who grill.

๐ŸŽง On today's 5 Things podcastWashington Watchdog Fellow Rachel Looker examines how social media influences the way some people adopt kids. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple PodcastsSpotify, or on your smart speaker.

Uvalde and Buffalo survivors, families to testify before House committee

Nine witnesses will testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday about the mass killings at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and the racially motivated massacre of 10 people at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket in a Black neighborhood. Lawmakers are holding the hearing amid a scourge of gun violence that has resulted in more than 200 mass shootings this year, according to statistics compiled by The Washington Post. In the past three weeks, mass shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde and Tulsa in Oklahoma, have shocked the nation and driven debate. Witnesses will, most notably, include Miah Cerrillo, an 11-year-old who smeared herself with her slain friend's blood and played dead to survive the Uvalde shooting. Victims' parents, a pediatrician, gun safety advocates, the president of a teachers' union and the Buffalo police commissioner also are expected to participate. A package of gun-control legislation is expected to pass the House this week. But it will likely stall in the Senate. Read more

๐Ÿ”ด Shifting opinions: Half of Republicans now support stricter gun laws, poll says.

Brad Fowler of San Antonio lights candles June 3 at a memorial dedicated to the victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two teachers were killed May 24.
Brad Fowler of San Antonio lights candles June 3 at a memorial dedicated to the victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two teachers were killed May 24.
Alex Wong/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images

Biden's Summit of the Americas begins, with notable absences

President Joe Biden's Summit of the Americas kicks off Wednesday in Los Angeles, but is already off to a rocky start after Mexico's President Andrรฉs Manuel Lรณpez Obrador announced he would not attend the high-profile meeting of leaders from North, Central and South America. Lรณpez Obrador's objection stems from the White House's decision to exclude Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela from the gathering because of their autocratic governments. Newly elected Honduran President Xiomara Castro indicated she would boycott the summit for the same reason. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden and the other leaders in attendance plan to discuss a wide range of policy issues, including the economy, climate change and migration. Biden will be the first U.S. president to attend the summit since 2015. Read more

๐ŸŸง "Documented Dreamers'': Children of immigrants fear deportation when they turn 21.

๐ŸŸง Previous coverage: April saw record encounters at the southern border, but some data points dipped. Here's what that means.

Migrants rest as they take part in a caravan, heading to the US-Mexico border, in Huixtla, Chiapas state, Mexico, on June 7, 2022.
Migrants rest as they take part in a caravan, heading to the US-Mexico border, in Huixtla, Chiapas state, Mexico, on June 7, 2022.
PEDRO PARDO, AFP via Getty Images

Just for subscribers:

๐Ÿ“ฐ The Texas AG is taking on Twitter bots for Elon Musk in the wake of the horrific school shooting in Uvalde.

๐ŸŒˆ Hiding behind rainbow flags: These companies' political donations don't match their support of LGBTQ issues.

๐ŸšฉThe Jan. 6 committee hearings will begin Thursday. Here's what we don't know about that day.

๐Ÿ”ด GOP views on gun laws are shifting. After the Uvalde shooting, could that push Congress to a deal?

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here

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Russia's Lavrov in Turkey to discuss a plan to ship tons of Ukrainian grain

Top Russian official Sergey Lavrov will hold talks Wednesday with Turkish officials on a plan that could allow Ukraine to export its grain through the Black Sea amid an escalating food crisis. Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but the war and a Russian port blockade have halted much of that flow, endangering food supplies to many developing countries. An estimated 22 million tons of grain are sitting in Ukraine silos. Turkey is involved in the creation of a U.N.-led corridor for the Ukrainian grain shipment — and for Russia to export food and fertilizer. A top Russian official said Ukraine needs to remove sea mines near Odesa for exports to resume. In other developments, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russia is trying to procure more troops and equipment to overcome unexpected resistance as the "heroic defense of the Donbas continues." Zelenskyy appealed for more longer-range weapons that could counter Russia's missile strikes. Read more

๐ŸŸก More news from yesterday: Russia's Foreign Ministry said it's sanctioning 61 U.S. nationals "in response to the ever-expanding U.S. sanctions against Russian political and public figures."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu shake hands after a joint news conference in Ankara, Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu shake hands after a joint news conference in Ankara, Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
Burhan Ozbilici, AP

USGA will allow LIV golfers to compete at 2022 US Open

The United States Golf Association said Tuesday that players slated for the 122nd U.S. Open were allowed to participate in the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series outside London. The governing body said it's "not appropriate, nor fair" to pull players who earned a spot in the U.S. Open out of competition for their decision to play in another event. The move paves the way for Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and other players who have qualified for the U.S. Open and are playing in this week's LIV Golf event to participate. However, the USGA made it clear it does not endorse the new tour. Questions of ethics and morals are facing players and executives who have joined the new league, in light of multiple accusations against the Saudi Arabian government of alleged human rights violations. Read more

 Dustin Johnson resigns his PGA Tour membership to play in Saudi league.

⛳ ''I'll be there'': Phil Mickelson plans on playing U.S. Open, all LIV Golf Invitational Series events.

 Opinion: Here's why the LIV Golf Tour is so damn gross.

⛳ The LIV Golf Invitational Series press conference got heated before the inaugural event: Here's how it unfolded.

Who is Arlo White? And why is he a surprise announcer for the controversial LIV golf tour?

Opinion: Golfers taking Saudis' cash ignores the realities of a complicated world.

Phil Mickelson headlines a field of 48 golfers at this week's LIV Golf Invitational London -- the inaugural event in a breakaway series threatening to tear the sport apart.
Phil Mickelson headlines a field of 48 golfers at this week's LIV Golf Invitational London -- the inaugural event in a breakaway series threatening to tear the sport apart.
ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP via Getty Images

ICYMI: Some of our top stories yesterday

๐Ÿ“ฐ Family of Andrew Brown Jr., who was killed by North Carolina deputies, to get $3M settlement.

๐Ÿ“ฑ European Union officials agreed on new rules requiring a uniform charging cord for smartphones and other devices.

⛽ Gas prices surged again to record highs, but the driver is refineries, not oil prices.

๐ŸŸฃ ''This is our time'': How women are taking over the labor movement.

๐ŸŽต Here's how to use the new Spotify Pie Chart feature, which allows users to see their top genres and artists.

⛸ Figure skating raised the minimum age for the 2026 Olympics to 17 on the heels of the Kamila Valieva saga earlier this year in Beijing

Russia's Kamila Valieva competes on Feb. 6, 2022 in the women's single skating short program of the figure skating team event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing.
Russia's Kamila Valieva competes on Feb. 6, 2022 in the women's single skating short program of the figure skating team event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing.
MANAN VATSYAYANA, AFP via Getty Images

๐Ÿ“ฑ How are we doing? USA TODAY just launched a subscriber-exclusive texting experience. By joining, you'll be able to discuss the news of the day, give feedback and participate in Q&As with some of our best reporters and editors. It's an up-close look at the newsroom curated by USA TODAY Audience Editor Sallee Ann Harrison. Sound good? You can learn more here

Promotional image for USA TODAY's new SMS campaign exclusive to subscribers.
Promotional image for USA TODAY's new SMS campaign exclusive to subscribers.
Sallee Ann Harrison

'Ms. Marvel': Disney+ show introduces first Muslim superhero

Iman Vellani stars as the first Muslim superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in "Ms. Marvel," which premiered Wednesday on Disney+. Vellani plays Kamala Khan, a Jersey City, New Jersey, teenager – and devoted Captain Marvel superfan – who mysteriously becomes endowed with superpowers and has to figure out how to use them. "Kamala just represents everything about nerd culture," says Vellani. "She's a fan just like us, which is why we root for her when she gets her powers." Kamala gets help from close friends Bruno (Matt Lintz) and Nakia (Yasmeen Fletcher) and her loving parents (Zenobia Shroff and Mohan Kapur). USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler has "Ms. Marvel" as one of the six new TV shows you need to watch this summer. Read more

๐Ÿ”ฅ Heading to New Jersey: Take a look inside the school that inspired the "Ms. Marvel" Disney+ story.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Summer superheroes: All the superhero shows to watch this summer.

Inspired by the Avengers and their world-saving exploits, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) debuts as Marvel's first Muslim superhero in the Disney+ series "Ms. Marvel."
Inspired by the Avengers and their world-saving exploits, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) debuts as Marvel's first Muslim superhero in the Disney+ series "Ms. Marvel."
DANIEL McFADDEN/MARVEL STUDIOS

๐Ÿ“ท Photo of the day: Class of 2022 graduates sport their customized caps during commencement ceremonies ๐Ÿ“ท

Trinity Richie, a Fern Creek high school 2022 graduate, sports her graduation cap that was decorated with a message of confidence at Broadbent Arena on May 31, 2022 in Louisville.
Trinity Richie, a Fern Creek high school 2022 graduate, sports her graduation cap that was decorated with a message of confidence at Broadbent Arena on May 31, 2022 in Louisville.
Jeff Faughender,Louisville Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK

Graduation season is in full swing, and with the return of many in-person ceremonies comes the chance to see customized caps that celebrate graduates' hard work and personalities.

Click here to see more photos of unique graduation caps from this year's graduating classes

Associated Press contributed reporting.

 

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