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Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Intelligence Committee Subpoenas Bannon for Refusing to Speak Up
The former White House strategist reportedly refused to answer questions about his time in the Trump administration while testifying to the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday, claiming the White House told him not to cooperate. The panel was said to issue a subpoena then and there to force him to testify during the 11-hour session, but he continued to push back. Representative Adam Schiff went on to say the “gag rule” the White House seemed to be imposing on Bannon “obviously can’t stand.” Separately, special counsel Robert Mueller slapped Bannon with his own subpoena.—NBC NewsEx-CIA Officer Charged Over Betrayed Informants
Former CIA officer Jerry Chun Shing Lee, a 53-year-old US citizen, was arrested at JFK airport Monday and charged with unlawful possession of classified information. Lee was said to be suspected of helping China detect CIA informants, many of whom were later imprisoned or killed in the country. VICE News/New York TimesDemocrats Snatch Wisconsin State Senate Seat
Democrat Patty Schachtner beat Republican Adam Jarchow in a race for a Wisconsin State Senate seat the GOP had held since 2000. The Democrats have now turned a red seat blue 34 times so far in the ongoing midterm election cycle.—The Washington PostUS National Park Advisers Resign in Protest
Nine of the 12 members of the National Parks System Advisory Board have quit over Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s refusal to heed their advice on climate change and environmental protections. Tony Knowles, who served as head of the board, said Zinke “appears to have no interest in continuing the agenda of science, the effect of climate change, pursuing the protection of the ecosystem.”—The New York TimesPope Meets with Victims Abused by Priests in Chile
Pope Francis reached out to Chileans sexually abused by Catholic priests and later expressed his “pain and shame at the irreparable damage” the victims suffered. A spokesman for the pontiff said he “prayed and cried with them.” Two Catholic churches were burned after the pope arrived Monday, and police tussled with Chileans protesting the Papal Mass in Santiago Tuesday.—ReutersSaudis to Give Yemen $2 Billion to Stop Currency Collapse
Saudi Arabia’s king Salman sanctioned the massive bailout after Yemeni prime minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghir warned that his country’s currency was close to “complete collapse.” The value of the Yemeni rial has declined 50 percent since internal conflict with Houthi rebels broke out in 2015, leaving the government struggling to provide services.—APNGO Attacks Cuts to Funding for Palestinian Refugees
Human rights groups condemned a US government decision to slash America's contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said the Trump administration’s move to withhold $65 million from the UNRWA was “vindictive."—VICE NewsHong Kong Student Leader Sentenced to Prison
The 21-year-old activist Joshua Wong was given a three-month sentence for his role in 2014's pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. Found guilty of contempt of court, it is Wong’s second sentence in relation to the Umbrella Movement protests. “They can lock up our bodies but they can’t lock up our minds,” Wong said.—BBC NewsTrump's Physical Spawns #Girther Movement
Twitter users began using the #Girther hashtag Tuesday after the president’s doctor said he weighed 239 pounds. James Gunn, director of Guardians of the Galaxy, said he would give $100,000 to charity if Trump steps on “an accurate scale with an impartial medical professional.”—The Hollywood ReporterMatt Damon Vows to Keep Quiet About #MeToo
The actor said he regretted his previous comments about the “spectrum” of sexual abuse and harassment. “I really wish I’d listened a lot more before I weighed in on this,” he told NBC’s Today show. Damon said he would “close my mouth for a while.”—CNNMeteorite Spotted Shooting over Michigan
The National Weather Service said a ball of light seen shooting across southeast Michigan Tuesday night was a meteor. The United States Geological Survey said it caused a magnitude 2.0 earthquake near New Haven.—ABC NewsGrimes Reveals Her Favorite Music
The artist shared five Spotify playlists she listens to for “at home vibes.” Her “depression” playlist features Nine Inch Nails and Taylor Swift, while her “Musiq 4 Drawing” selections include Lana Del Rey and Aphex Twin.—i-D22 States to Sue the FCC for Repealing Net Neutrality
A collective of state attorneys general filed a joint legal petition in a bid to uphold net neutrality. New York AG Eric Schneiderman said the FCC’s decision to repeal the policy would allow ISPs to “put profits over consumers while controlling what we see.”—MotherboardTop Russian Pollster Shuts Down for Election
Levada Center, the country’s leading independent pollster, will close for a few months ahead of March’s presidential election. After being designated a “foreign agent” in 2016, the firm's leaders are worried about legal problems.—VICE NewsMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we’re discussing a video game about abortion access in America.
US News
The former White House strategist reportedly refused to answer questions about his time in the Trump administration while testifying to the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday, claiming the White House told him not to cooperate. The panel was said to issue a subpoena then and there to force him to testify during the 11-hour session, but he continued to push back. Representative Adam Schiff went on to say the “gag rule” the White House seemed to be imposing on Bannon “obviously can’t stand.” Separately, special counsel Robert Mueller slapped Bannon with his own subpoena.—NBC NewsEx-CIA Officer Charged Over Betrayed Informants
Former CIA officer Jerry Chun Shing Lee, a 53-year-old US citizen, was arrested at JFK airport Monday and charged with unlawful possession of classified information. Lee was said to be suspected of helping China detect CIA informants, many of whom were later imprisoned or killed in the country. VICE News/New York Times
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Democrat Patty Schachtner beat Republican Adam Jarchow in a race for a Wisconsin State Senate seat the GOP had held since 2000. The Democrats have now turned a red seat blue 34 times so far in the ongoing midterm election cycle.—The Washington PostUS National Park Advisers Resign in Protest
Nine of the 12 members of the National Parks System Advisory Board have quit over Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s refusal to heed their advice on climate change and environmental protections. Tony Knowles, who served as head of the board, said Zinke “appears to have no interest in continuing the agenda of science, the effect of climate change, pursuing the protection of the ecosystem.”—The New York Times
International News
Pope Francis reached out to Chileans sexually abused by Catholic priests and later expressed his “pain and shame at the irreparable damage” the victims suffered. A spokesman for the pontiff said he “prayed and cried with them.” Two Catholic churches were burned after the pope arrived Monday, and police tussled with Chileans protesting the Papal Mass in Santiago Tuesday.—ReutersSaudis to Give Yemen $2 Billion to Stop Currency Collapse
Saudi Arabia’s king Salman sanctioned the massive bailout after Yemeni prime minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghir warned that his country’s currency was close to “complete collapse.” The value of the Yemeni rial has declined 50 percent since internal conflict with Houthi rebels broke out in 2015, leaving the government struggling to provide services.—AP
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Human rights groups condemned a US government decision to slash America's contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said the Trump administration’s move to withhold $65 million from the UNRWA was “vindictive."—VICE NewsHong Kong Student Leader Sentenced to Prison
The 21-year-old activist Joshua Wong was given a three-month sentence for his role in 2014's pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. Found guilty of contempt of court, it is Wong’s second sentence in relation to the Umbrella Movement protests. “They can lock up our bodies but they can’t lock up our minds,” Wong said.—BBC News
Everything Else
Twitter users began using the #Girther hashtag Tuesday after the president’s doctor said he weighed 239 pounds. James Gunn, director of Guardians of the Galaxy, said he would give $100,000 to charity if Trump steps on “an accurate scale with an impartial medical professional.”—The Hollywood ReporterMatt Damon Vows to Keep Quiet About #MeToo
The actor said he regretted his previous comments about the “spectrum” of sexual abuse and harassment. “I really wish I’d listened a lot more before I weighed in on this,” he told NBC’s Today show. Damon said he would “close my mouth for a while.”—CNN
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The National Weather Service said a ball of light seen shooting across southeast Michigan Tuesday night was a meteor. The United States Geological Survey said it caused a magnitude 2.0 earthquake near New Haven.—ABC NewsGrimes Reveals Her Favorite Music
The artist shared five Spotify playlists she listens to for “at home vibes.” Her “depression” playlist features Nine Inch Nails and Taylor Swift, while her “Musiq 4 Drawing” selections include Lana Del Rey and Aphex Twin.—i-D22 States to Sue the FCC for Repealing Net Neutrality
A collective of state attorneys general filed a joint legal petition in a bid to uphold net neutrality. New York AG Eric Schneiderman said the FCC’s decision to repeal the policy would allow ISPs to “put profits over consumers while controlling what we see.”—MotherboardTop Russian Pollster Shuts Down for Election
Levada Center, the country’s leading independent pollster, will close for a few months ahead of March’s presidential election. After being designated a “foreign agent” in 2016, the firm's leaders are worried about legal problems.—VICE NewsMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we’re discussing a video game about abortion access in America.