What We’re Following
Dismantling DACA: Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program with a six-month delay, a decision that strongly aligns with the attorney general’s personal views on immigration. Supporters of reduced immigration praised the White House but questioned what would happen next as Congress works to draft immigration legislation among its myriad other responsibilities. And David Frum argues that Trump’s actions will only end up hurting efforts at tougher immigration laws in the long run.
Going Nuclear: North Korea’s latest nuclear weapons test emphasizes just how theatrical the country is being about its developments in warfare—a departure from the secrecy that typically shields such advancements. Trump took aim at South Korea for what he called their attempt at appeasement with their neighbors to the north, but some think South Korea’s policy is a better possible solution than Trump’s current aggression tactics. Krishnadev Calamur lays out the previous options that have been tried with North Korea and their respective outcomes.
Hurricane on the Horizon: Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are bracing for Hurricane Irma to hit sometime tonight or tomorrow, following closely behind the destruction of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana. The newly upgraded Category 5 storm could reach Florida by the end of the week. Meanwhile, Harvey’s aftermath is still being studied, with new research showing that the amount of water from the hurricane caused deformations in the Earth’s crust.