The VICE Morning Bulletin

Everything you need to know about the world this morning curated by VICE.

US News

Trans Military Personnel Respond to Rogue Trump Tweets
Transgender military personnel have spoken of their fear and dismay at President Trump's announcement of a (still pending) ban on all trans individuals from serving in the US Armed Forces. "A lot of people are very afraid for their careers," said Major Bryn Fram, a transgender staff officer. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump thought the Obama-era policy allowing trans personnel to openly serve was "expensive and disruptive."—VICE News

GOP Talks 'Skinny' Repeal After Another Vote Fails
The Senate voted 55-45 against total repeal of Obamacare after seven Republicans rejected the idea of scrapping the landmark legislation with a two-year delay. GOP leaders are now discussing a so-called "skinny" repeal of Obama's Affordable Care Act: Most of the legislation's help for low- and middle-income people would remain intact, but the mandate obliging individuals to hold and employers to supply health insurance would be canned, along with a tax on medical devices.—Reuters

Scaramucci Promises to Report Earnings Leak to FBI
Recently-appointed White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said Wednesday he planned to report an alleged leak about his earnings to the FBI. Scaramucci claimed on Twitter that the disclosure amounted to a "felony," before deleting the tweet. It followed a Politico report claiming he made $4.9 million between January and June of last year from a stake in SkyBridge Capital, the investment firm he founded, along with $5 million salary.—CBS News

One Dead, Seven Injured in Accident at Ohio State Fair
One person was killed and seven more injured when a ride at the Ohio State Fair malfunctioned Wednesday night. A local hospital three of the victims were in serious or critical condition. Ohio Governor John Kasich ordered rides closed and called for an investigation into the accident.—CNN

International News

Russian Intelligence Tried to Spy on Macron, Report Says
Russian spies are said to have attempted surveillance on Emmanuel Macron's presidential campaign using fake Facebook accounts. Roughly two-dozen profiles were apparently created in hopes of gain access to Macron's inner circle and obtain personal details. Facebook eventually sniffed out the accounts and went to law enforcement.—Reuters

Venezuelan President Lashes Out at 'Illegal' US Sanctions
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has decried sanctions imposed by the US government on his top officials as "illegal, insolent, and unprecedented." The sanctions have imposed control over the US assets of 13 officials, including officials organizing Sunday's vote to elect a new "constituent assembly," a move condemned by the US as a power grab. Maduro's government vowed the vote would go ahead.—BBC News

Pakistani Police Arrest 20 in Connection with Alleged Revenge Rape
Police in Pakistan have arrested 20 people suspected of sanctioning the revenge rape of a 16-year-old girl. The sexual assault of the teenager in a Punjab province village followed the rape of a man's 12-year-old sister. A council of village elders is said to have instructed the man to sexually assault the teen relative of the initial alleged rapist by way of retribution. Police are still searching for seven council members.—Al Jazeera

Everything Else

Larry David Says He's Bernie Sanders's Relative
Larry David said he is related to Vermont US Senator Bernie Sanders. David, who impersonated Sanders last year on SNL, said he found out the Democrat was "a third cousin or something" while filming the PBS show Finding Your Roots.—TIME

Michael Jackson's Estate Must Pay Quincy Jones $9.4 Million
Michael Jackson's estate owes Quincy Jones $9.4 million after a Los Angeles jury ruled in Jones's favor Wednesday. The longtime collaborator of Jackson's claimed he never received royalties and fees for the production of Thriller, Bad, and Off the Wall, among other albums.—AP

Jon Stewart Will Return to Stand-Up on HBO
HBO has announced that Jon Stewart has agreed to two new comedy specials for the network. Stewart said he was "thrilled" to be returning to stand-up and said HBO "always set the standard for great stand-up specials."—The Verge

Selena Gomez Chews Lipstick in 'Fetish' Video
Selena Gomez dropped a music video for "Fetish," her collaboration with Gucci Mane. Set mainly in a suburban kitchen, the Petra Collins-directed video sees Gomez chewing on lipstick, glass, and a bar of soap.—Noisey

Police Arrest Drunken, Machete-Wielding Clown
Police in Hollis, Maine, arrested a man found wandering around dressed as clown with a machete taped to his arm. Corey Berry, 31, told officers it was a prank inspired by last year's spate of creepy clown sightings.—VICE

Samsung Security Platform Can Be Hacked, Researcher Claims
A researcher claims to have hacked the security platform used in Samsung smartphones. Di Shen said he would present his findings about the KNOX platform's vulnerabilities at this week's Black Hat cybersecurity conference.—Motherboard

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