5 things you need to know Tuesday
Tight Senate primary could oust Sessions replacement
If the three front runners in Tuesday's special Senate election in Alabama have anything in common, it’s their love and support of President Trump, though the love hasn’t been a two-way street. Trump endorsed former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange multiple times on Twitter in the weeks leading up to the acrimonious Republican primary. Strange was appointed by disgraced former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley to fill Jeff Sessions' seat in February. The other candidates are no political novices either; Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, and former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore are giving Strange a run for his money.
Amid tensions with U.S., North (and South) Korea set to celebrate
North Korea and South Korea will celebrate Liberation Day on Tuesday, which marks the anniversary of the victory over Japan in World War II and the creation of the two independent Korean governments in 1948. The celebration comes amid high tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile tests. On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would watch Washington’s actions “a little more” before making a decision on whether to fire four missiles toward Guam, state media reported. The U.S. military warned that the United States is ready to use the "full range" of its military capabilities to defend itself. (In reality, neither country is taking action on the ground that matches the scary talk.)
Trump to sign infrastructure executive order
President Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday in Trump Tower concerning the environmental review and permitting of infrastructure projects as he continues his brief stop in New York during his 17-day working vacation at his golf course in Bedminster, N.J. Trump has made revitalizing American infrastructure a key part of his agenda in the White House, hosting "Infrastructure Week" earlier this year when he said that infrastructure "is going to take off like a rocket ship." Trump returned to his New York skyscraper for the first time since his inauguration Monday.
DACA supporters to host rally near Trump Tower
The president won't be the only one back at Trump Tower this week either. For a second day in a row, protesters plan to rally Tuesday near President Trump's New York residence. On Monday night, more than 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside the New York skyscraper, and activists supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program plan to protest Trump's immigration policies on Tuesday as a part of a national day of action in support of the Obama-era immigration policy. However the program, which has protected some 800,000 young undocumented immigrants from deportation, has little chance of survival, experts say.
Kenyan opposition leader to announce 'next step'
Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga has said he will announce his “next step” on Tuesday as the country begins to resume ordinary life following last week’s disputed elections. Odinga, who claims the election was fraudulent, urged people to stay home instead of returning to work Monday to protest the election. The Kenyan election commission says its voting and counting process was not rigged and international observers have praised Kenya’s handling of the election. Police have fatally shot 24 people in election violence since the vote.