The Atlantic

<em>The Atlantic</em> Daily: Kelly Speaks

The White House chief of staff’s defense of Trump, what wildfires mean for California winemakers, a catfishing story with a happy ending, and more
Source: Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

What We’re Following

Political  News: Amid controversy over President Trump’s condolences for fallen soldiers’ families, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly gave a deeply personal defense of the president, condemning those who politicize military deaths—but implicitly criticizing Trump, who started the scandal by doing just that. And California Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill that would have made Obama-era federal guidance on campus sexual assault into state law, becoming an unexpected ally for the Trump administration’s effort to change these policies.

As deadly wildfires continue to burn in Northern California, their destructive effects will be felt not only in lives lost and property decimated, but that anchors the region’s economy. Meanwhile in western Germany, scientists found an 80 percent over the last 30 years, pointing to a potential crisis for other species—including humans.

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