Monday Morning Briefing: U.S. Democrats set the stage for impeaching Trump with key hearing

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December 2, 2019 Reuters News Now Top Stories Democratic lawmakers in Congress will take a big step this week in what appears to be a now inexorable march toward impeaching President Trump, with the start of hearings seen as a precursor to formal charges being announced within weeks. With opinion polls showing Americans bitterly divided over whether to impeach Trump, the Democratic-controlled Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives will hold a hearing on Wednesday to explain to the American public what constitutes an impeachable offense. Trump leaves for a NATO summit in London and he is under pressure from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resist the temptation to wade into the British election campaign coming up later in December. As a presidential candidate in 2016 and then as president since early 2017, Trump has shown no restraint in showing support for Britain’s exit from the European Union and critiquing the politicians involved in the country’s long-running Brexit debate. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear its first major gun rights case in nearly a decade in a challenge backed by the National Rifle Association over a now-amended New York City handgun regulation that had prevented licensed owners from taking their handguns outside the city. Clashes sparked by suspected cartel gunmen in a northern Mexican town killed 20 people this weekend, authorities said, putting more pressure on Mexico’s president to curb gang violence after the United States vowed to label the gangs terrorists. The killings clouded celebrations marking Lopez Obrador’s first year in office, which were buffeted by a march in Mexico City by thousands of people protesting the violence. Heavy snows in the United States closed roads and canceled nearly 900 flights on what was forecast to be the busiest day of the year for highways and airports, stranding hordes of travelers trying to head home on Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday. The storm was expected to dump 12 inches of snow on the western part of the Boston metro area by Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. World China said U.S. military ships and aircraft won’t be allowed to visit Hong Kong, and also announced sanctions against several U.S. non-government organizations for encouraging protesters to “engage in extremist, violent and criminal acts.” Hundreds of office workers in Hong Kong’s business district gathered for the first in a week of lunchtime protests backing the pro-democracy movement after its resounding victory in district polls held last week in the Chinese-ruled city. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would strengthen prison sentences, vowing to boost security after an attack in London by a man jailed for terrorism who had been released early. Less than two weeks before Britain heads to the polls, law and order has taken top billing since Usman Khan, wearing a fake suicide vest and wielding knives, killed two people on Friday before being shot dead by police. London held a vigil for Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, both former students active in a program on prisoner rehabilitation, who were killed by Usman Khan near London Bridge. Venezuela’s opposition vowed to investigate alleged wrongdoing within its ranks after a media outlet reported that a group of opposition lawmakers had unduly advocated for a businessman linked to the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Pope Francis defended the display of nativity scenes in town squares and other public places, which has become an annual contentious issue at Christmas time in countries such as the United States and France. The pope traveled to the town of Greccio, east of Rome, to visit the spot where St. Francis of Assisi started the tradition by setting up the first nativity scene in 1223. At least 14 people were shot dead in an attack on a church in eastern Burkina Faso on Sunday morning, the government said. The identity of the gunmen was not immediately clear and further details on the attack had yet to emerge. Burkinabe armed forces were caring for the wounded and searching the area, the government said in a statement. Business Off the radar: U.S. CEOs' jet perks add millions to corporate tax bills As U.S. corporate jet use approaches pre-financial crisis levels and chief executives take an increasing number of personal trips on the company tab, many investors are being kept in the dark about the true cost of the perk. 6 min read Exclusive: U.S. digs deeper into Deutsche role in Danske money laundering scandal - sources The U.S. Department of Justice has in recent weeks stepped up its investigation into Deutsche Bank’s role in the $220 billion Danske Bank money laundering scandal, four people familiar with the inquiry told Reuters. 5 min read Saudi Arabia wants OPEC+ to deepen oil cuts due to Aramco IPO OPEC and its allies plan to deepen oil cuts and have the deal in place so it runs at least until June 2020 as Saudi Arabia wants to deliver a positive surprise to the market before the listing of Saudi Aramco, two sources familiar with the talks said. 4 min read Top Stories on Reuters TV A sinking Indonesian island faces climate change Environment   1:53 Malta's prime minister says he will resign Europe   1:39 Real news for busy people More Newsletters Reuters News Reuters TV               © 2019 Thomson Reuters. 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The complicated significance of Tyler Perry

Plus, the judge in the Larry Nassar case is risking everything survivors fought for ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

By Erin E. Evans Enterprise reporter Taryn Finley recently analyzed the complicated significance of director Tyler Perry’s career. The film mogul, amid his deal with Viacom, launched two new shows on cable network BET, and he also opened an impressive studio lot in Atlanta for his and other producers’ film and TV productions.  For Finley, these big moments provided an opportunity to assess Perry’s work and his impact in Hollywood. Must Reads talked to her about the piece in this interview. What inspired you to write this story? Tyler Perry’s work has been divisive among Black viewers since he began his steady ascension to the top. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve argued about the fact that his work is a double-edged sword. The back and forth would address the harmful stereotypes he’s leaned on to create his empire and also the value that he places on Black talent who often go overlooked in mainstream Hollywood. For me, the argument would always end with a “it’s complicated.”   What were the challenges you faced while reporting and writing the piece?   I had to set a lot of my own biases aside about Perry’s work in this analysis. Since I was 13, I’ve watched his work, going back and forth on my views about him. In reporting, I had to watch his work with fresh eyes and take on both perspectives of his critics and his loyal fanbase. The latter was the hardest for me, but one point Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman made during our conversation helped in that: Those who genuinely enjoy his work also deserve to be seen since there are already so few of our stories being told.   If Tyler Perry were to read this article, what ultimately do you hope he would learn from it?   I hope that he would really understand the critiques he’s gotten come from a place of hurt and to dismiss them would be like dismissing the history tied to these narratives. I truly hope that he understands that so many people are rooting for him to put out good content with Black female characters who don’t need to find a man to save them.   There was a line in one of your drafts that said, "We don't have to be Black excellence all the time." Why do you think it is important for Black film and TV creators to embrace all sides of their art?   Black excellence puts the pressure of perfection on Black creators. That pressure is dangerous, as it causes creators to limit themselves to so few lenses rather than the full scope of life. That pressure also causes only a few to rise to the top. White TV and film creators are given the grace of mediocrity all the time. They’re given the grace to fail and fail up. Black creators shouldn’t have to always be excellent to get our stories told. Tyler Perry was able to fail at depicting us but still have the room to create more content because he created a platform that gave him that leeway. But building your own estate shouldn’t have to be the condition for making bad movies and shows. Read More 🔥 More Must Reads 🔥 ‘Watchmen’ Is A Powerful Exploration Of Black Trauma, And Everyone Needs To Watch ‌ The Judge In The Larry Nassar Case Is Risking Everything Survivors Fought For ‌ She Didn’t Know Her Autistic Son Could Be Tasered At School HuffPost is now a part of Verizon Media Group. On May 25, 2018 we introduced a new Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn more. ‌ Does somebody keep forwarding you this newsletter? - Subscribe here!   ©2019 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost ‌ Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe