Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.
But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)
Trump May Declare a ‘National Emergency’ to Build His Proposed Border Wall
As the partial government shutdown prepares to become the second-longest closure in recent history, President Trump is still adamant about getting funding for his border wall. On Sunday, he went as far as threatening to declare a national emergency to secure the funds. “I may declare a national emergency dependent on what’s going to happen over the next few days,” Trump told reporters, per CNN.
According to The New York Times, Trump first raised the possibility on Friday, right after the Department of Homeland Security requested additional support for temporary barriers between the United States and Mexico. At the time, he was questioned about his intentions regarding the statement, and whether or not he was trying to scare Democrats. “I never make threats,” Trump replied.
A White House official expanded on the possible national emergency declaration, telling CNN that in doing so, Trump would use military funding for the wall. In the past, he’s wanted Congress to produce the necessary funds, and the dispute that resulted from Democrats’ refusal to do so is what prompted the partial shutdown. The Washington Post reported that Trump is prepared to continue the shutdown for “months or even years.” Currently, 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or are working without pay.
Kevin Spacey to Plead Not Guilty to Assault Charge
Actor Kevin Spacey is reportedly expected to plead not guilty to charges of indecent assault and battery after allegedly groping an 18-year-old busboy at a bar, CNN reported. He’ll make the plea in a Nantucket court on Monday, where he’ll have to be physically present despite a request from his lawyers that he be allowed to waive that right since he lives out of state. They also said his presence would “amplify the negative publicity already generated.”
According to the criminal complaint — which you can read more about here — the busboy caught a short part of the alleged groping in a Snapchat video. The victim’s mother went public with the allegations against Spacey in November 2017. The same month, actor Anthony Rapp told BuzzFeed News that Spacey made a sexual advance toward him when he was 14 years old and Spacey was 26. Spacey responded with a Twitter statement, claiming he didn’t remember the incident, though he still apologized. He also came out as a gay man, which many criticized as a deflection from the serious accusation.
Meanwhile, Spacey is reportedly still getting acting offers, per Page Six.
California Bowling Alley Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 4 Injured
An alleged brawl at a Los Angeles-area bowling alley and karaoke bar erupted into gunfire late Friday night, leaving three men dead and four people wounded. A spokesman for the Torrance Police Department didn’t reveal any information about a suspect or motive, The New York Times reported.
One witness told the Times that a fight broke out within a group of about 10 men and women, and when he and his niece went to leave after hearing someone slam into one of the arcade’s machines, they heard a series of about 15 gunshots. Another witness told RMG News that the bowling alley was home to a family league, so many kids present began looking for their parents when the gunfire started.
Just last November, a gunman opened fire at a bar in Thousand Oaks, CA, killing 12 people. Democratic Senator of California Kamala Harris tweeted that her heart breaks for the victims of the bowling alley shooting. “We must do more to address gun violence,” she wrote. “Americans should be able to go to a bowling alley and be safe.”
What to look for…
The winners of this year’s Golden Globes.