Rocket to the moon? Not today

NASA's Artemis I rocket won't be going to the moon today, after all. How the Republican rallying cry "defund the FBI" could backfire. And it's now inevitable that a massive melting ice sheet will raise sea levels up to a foot (and probably more).

👋 It's Laura Davis. It's Monday. Y'all ready for the news? 

But first, after 26 years of isolation, a man who was the last living member of an Indigenous tribe in the Brazilian Amazon has died. He earned the moniker "Man of the Hole" because he would construct deep holes, including some with spikes to catch animals and others to protect himself. Read more about him here.

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NASA scrubs moon rocket launch

NASA's Artemis I mission, scheduled to launch Monday to take a capsule with three test dummies to the moon and back, was scrubbed during final preparations. The next flight window from Florida's Kennedy Space Center is Friday if NASA determines the rocket is ready, which is far from certain. What happened? NASA said problems with the engine's cooling system, plus weather concerns, were part of the decision to scrub. This will be the first flight in NASA’s Artemis project, a quest to put astronauts back on the moon for the first time since the Apollo program ended 50 years ago. Here's what NASA plans to do next about the mission.

• Astronaut Nicole Mann to be first Native American woman in space.
• What to know about NASA's plan to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid.

Melting Greenland ice sheet will raise seas by nearly a foot

Even if the entire world stopped burning fossil fuels today, a new study finds the Greenland ice sheet would still add nearly a foot to rising sea levels. Melting over the past century has altered the ice sheet's equilibrium, according to the National Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland study. To level out, it will lose an estimated 100 trillion tons of ice, adding at least 10.8 inches to global average sea levels. But even that is a very conservative estimate, the study's authors said, and it could be decades before the world reaches net zero emissions. Read more about the study here.

• Extreme heat is here to stay. Who's looking out for the most vulnerable?
• Secretary-general of the U.N.: Five steps to kick our fossil fuel addiction and save the planet.

What everyone's talking about

• 🎶 MTV VMAs recap: Brutally honest rankings of the best (and worst) performances. Plus, Johnny Depp's awkward surprise appearance divides viewers.
• A pregnant inmate went into labor. Her baby died after a Starbucks stop.
• Column: 'I paid off $65K in student debt just before Biden's forgiveness plan. Here's how I feel.'
• 'Death in slow motion': Women's lives have changed in unthinkable ways under Taliban rule.
• 'They treated me like nothing': Britney Spears shares revelations from 13-year conservatorship.
• Black student must cut his hair for the dress code, high school says.

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Defund the FBI? Why Republican rallying cry could help Democrats

Many Republicans have pushed a mantra of "defund the FBI" in the aftermath of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's search of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence – a stark contrast to the party's typical messaging about police. Threats against law enforcement, particularly the FBI, have reached levels not seen since the 1990s. It's created an opening for Democrats to frame the slogan as the latest example of an increasingly extreme "ultra-MAGA" GOP. A look at how this could impact the midterms.

• Lindsey Graham warns of 'riots in the street' if Trump is prosecuted.
• DOJ: Some privileged documents identified in seized Mar-a-Lago records.
• Judge rejects Ga. Gov. Kemp's effort to quash election probe subpoena.

Sleepy hurricane season may wake up soon

Danielle, Earl and Fiona have been patiently waiting their turn. Now there are signs they may come alive, possibly disrupting Labor Day weekend. The next three available names on this year’s list of tropical storms and hurricanes may not be used this month, which would mark only the third time since 1960 without a single named storm in August. But increasing activity in the Atlantic basin suggests this unusual pattern may be about to end. Forecasters are keeping an eye on three systems that could develop into storms as early as Wednesday. Read all about the hurricane outlook here.

🌤 What's the weather up to in your neck of the woods? Check your local forecast here.

Real quick

• Cockpit fistfight: Two Air France pilots suspended after midflight brawl.
• Man paralyzed after stun gun shock from officer awarded $100 million.
• Commanders RB 'doing well'; wrestled gun away during robbery, shooting.
• Beto O'Rourke's illness puts campaign for Texas governor on pause.
• Oregon police seek motive in Safeway shooting after suspect found dead.
• MLB Players' Association announces effort to unionize minor leaguers.

All eyes on Serena at US Open

Serena Williams means a lot to a lot of people – as a tennis player, a woman, an African American, a mother. And they showed up in droves to honor her at the U.S. Open. Folks lined up early to watch, or just think about watching, Williams swing her racket the way she did to 23 Grand Slam singles titles, because she said she's ready to move on from her playing days. Williams was scheduled to play her first-round match in Arthur Ashe Stadium against Danka Kovinic sometime shortly after 7 p.m. Monday. While she didn't exactly declare that the U.S. Open would be her last tournament, she has made it sound as if it would be. Read more here.

• Vogue article: Williams says she intends to retire from tennis after US Open.
• Opinion: Serena Williams is the GOAT, but that isn't enough to describe her.

A break from the news

• 👩‍💻 Weak Wi-Fi signal? It might be time to replace your router.
• 🏔 Best national parks for seniors based on accessibility, affordability.
• ☕️ Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte is back! A peek at fall menu treats.
• 💌 Advice: "My sister-in-law ruined my first baby's gender reveal. Am I wrong to be mad?"

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at Paste BN. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to Paste BN here.

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