Today’s edition of quick hits.
* The latest on Hurricane Melissa: “The monster storm had winds of up to 185 mph and killed at least nine people in Jamaica and 27 more across the Caribbean this week. The storm was making its way to Bermuda on Thursday afternoon, where conditions will ‘rapidly deteriorate,’ according to the NHC’s 2 p.m. update.”
* I don’t think he’s thought this one through: “In the middle of a high-stakes diplomatic tour of Asia, President Trump threatened on social media to resume nuclear testing for the first time in more than 30 years. He made the threat just minutes before he was scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping of China, who is overseeing one of the fastest buildups of a nuclear arsenal on earth.”
* A rapidly growing list: “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the Pentagon carried out another ‘lethal kinetic strike’ at President Donald Trump’s direction on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean that killed four men. … It’s the 14th known time the Trump administration has launched a military strike against alleged drug-carrying boats in recent months.”
* Speaking of the DOD: “The Pentagon has ordered the National Guard to create ‘quick reaction’ forces in every state and territory by January that are trained and equipped to respond to riots and civil unrest within the U.S., according to internal Defense Department memos.”
* On Capitol Hill: “Bipartisan discussions are picking up momentum this week as lawmakers face building pressure to end the partial government shutdown ahead of critical deadlines for food stamps and health care, senators said Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said there’s been an increase in conversations among rank-and-file senators to reopen the government, though he indicated talks at the leadership level remain stalled.”
* Sanctions relief for Milorad Dodik: “The Trump administration on Wednesday lifted sanctions against a Serbian nationalist leader who had been accused of undermining a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that ended bloody sectarian fighting in the 1990s in the Balkans.” * Bryce McFerran is the latest in a series of failed nominees: “The Trump administration’s nominee for a top federal position promoting international commerce has withdrawn his candidacy amid scrutiny of his role as a senior executive at a steel-trading business co-owned by one of Russia’s richest oligarchs, and his relations by marriage to a Russian family with extensive ties to the Kremlin.” * If you’re going to miss a congressional hearing, have an excellent reason: “The Senate confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s pick for surgeon general, Dr. Casey Means, has been postponed after she went into labor, a spokesperson for the Senate committee set to consider her nomination said.” See you tomorrow.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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