1. WikiLeaks revealed thousands of CIA files describing hacking tools
WikiLeaks published thousands of documents yesterday described as secret files about CIA hacking tools the government employs to break into users' computers, mobile phones and even smart TVs from companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung.
The documents describe clandestine methods for bypassing or defeating encryption, antivirus tools and other protective security features intended to keep the private information of citizens and corporations safe from prying eyes. U.S. government employees, including President Donald Trump, use many of the same products and internet services purportedly compromised by the tools.
2. Conservative backlash is threatening to sink the new GOP health bill
A powerful conservative backlash threatened to sink the new Republican health care bill yesterday, less than 24 hours after its launch, even as President Donald Trump and congressional leaders began trying to sell the legislation as the long-promised GOP cure for "Obamacare."
"We're going to do something that's great and I'm proud to support the replacement plan released by the House of Representatives," Trump declared at the White House as he met yesterday with the House GOP vote-counting team. "We're going to take action. There's going to be no slowing down. There's going to be no waiting and no more excuses by anybody."
3. Trump is set to roll back federal fuel-economy requirements
The Trump administration is moving to roll back federal fuel-economy requirements that would have forced automakers to increase significantly the efficiency of new cars and trucks, a key part of former President Barack Obama's strategy to combat global warming.
The Environmental Protection Agency is close to an announcement reversing a decision made in the waning days of the Obama administration to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks through 2025.
Automakers asked EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to discard a Jan. 13 decision that requires the fleet of new cars to average a real-world figure of 36 miles per gallon. The automakers said the Obama rules could add thousands of dollars to the price of new cars and cost more than a million jobs.
4. Eating bacon, drinking soda & not eating enough nuts is tied to big portion of US deaths
Overeating or not eating enough of the 10 foods and nutrients contributes to nearly half of U.S. deaths from these causes, the study suggests.
"Good" foods that were under-eaten include: nuts and seeds, seafood rich in omega-3 fats including salmon and sardines; fruits and vegetables; and whole grains.
"Bad" foods or nutrients that were over-eaten include salt and salty foods; processed meats including bacon, bologna and hot dogs; red meat including steaks and hamburgers; and sugary drinks.
The research is based on U.S. government data showing there were about 700,000 deaths in 2012 from heart disease, strokes and diabetes and on an analysis of national health surveys that asked participants about their eating habits. Most didn't eat the recommended amounts of the foods studied.
Starting July 2, Sunday beer runs to Wisconsin will be a thing of the past for most Twin Cities residents. Minnesota is one of a dozen states with so-called “blue laws” that ban liquor stores from operating on Sundays.
Dayton said in a statement, “This new law reflects the desires of most people in Minnesota, who have made it clear to their legislators that they want to have this additional option.” He noted that polls have shown two-thirds of residents support allowing liquor stores to operate on Sundays.