Happening Today: Russia Probe, Billy Bush, Flu Season, CVS, Met Opera

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Trump Takes to Twitter to Criticize FBI, Special Prosecutor

Amid a rush of weekend tweets taking aim at targets old and new, President Trump criticized the FBI and raised questions about the special prosecutor's investigation into Russian election meddling and possible ties to his campaign. The Twitter storm — more than a dozen tweets — came after his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. In one his messages, Trump again denied that he directed FBI Director James Comey to stop investigating Flynn. Trump questioned the direction of the federal law enforcement agency and wrote that after Comey, whom Trump fired in May, the FBI's reputation is "in Tatters — worst in History!" He vowed to "bring it back to greatness." The president also retweeted a post saying new FBI Director Chris Wray "needs to clean house." Former Attorney General Eric Holder tweeted in response: "Nope. Not letting this go. The FBI's reputation is not in "tatters". It's composed of the same dedicated men and women who have always worked there and who do a great, apolitical job. You'll find integrity and honesty at FBI headquarters and not at 1600 Penn Ave right now."

Billy Bush Reaffirms Trump’s “Access Hollywood” Comments Are Real

Former "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush confirmed again that it was Donald Trump's voice on the famous 2005 video that recorded Trump bragging about crude and degrading behavior toward women. The New York Times reported that Trump has told at least one U.S. senator and other people that he didn't believe the voice on the tape was his — even though he directly confirmed the remarks and apologized for them a month before the presidential election last year. The video shows Trump, who was the star of "The Apprentice," riding on an "Access Hollywood" bus with then-host Bush. At one point, Trump describes trying to have sex with a married woman. He also brags about women letting him kiss and grab them because he is famous. The recording of the lewd conversation between Bush and Trump emerged during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump later said he never did any of the actions described on the tape, and dismissed his words as locker room talk.

U.S., S. Korea Fly Stealth Jets in Combined Air Force Exercise

Hundreds of aircraft including two dozen stealth jets have begun training as the United States and South Korea launched a massive combined air force exercise. The war games come a week after North Korea test-fired its most powerful missile ever, an ICBM that may be able to target the eastern seaboard of the United States. The five-day drill, which is called Vigilant Ace, is meant to improve the allies' wartime capabilities and preparedness, South Korea's defense ministry said. The U.S. Seventh Air Force sent major strategic military assets, including an unusually large number of the latest generations of stealth fighter jets, for the annual training in the Korean Peninsula. They include six F-22 and 18 F-35 stealth fighter jets. About 12,000 U.S. military personnel are participating. In total, 230 aircraft will be flying at eight U.S. and South Korean military installations in the South. An official at the South Korean Defense Ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of office rules, corrected his earlier statement that the exercise was the biggest ever.

Flu Is Spreading Fast This Season, Officials Say

This year’s flu season is off to a fast start and early indications suggest that it may be more severe than the previous season, NBC News reported. Widespread flu activity is currently in four states where last year there were none at this time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A doctor, who is involved in the CDC’s flu surveillance network in Tennessee, has noticed cases of influenza picking up "dramatically" in the last week. Even worse, it appears the dominant strain will be H3N2, which can produce more severe illness, said the doctor, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Unfortunately, the flu vaccine available in the United States this year was only 10 percent effective in preventing illness from H3N2. However, while vaccinated people can still get sick, generally they get a milder and less dangerous form of the illness. Also, the vaccine protects against other flu strains.

CVS Agrees to Buy Insurance Company Aetna in $69B Deal

Drugstore operator CVS is making a $69 billion offer for insurer Aetna as it tries to position itself as a one-stop shop for Americans' health care needs with prescription drugs, clinics and insurance plans to cover those goods and services. The companies announced that CVS Health Corp. will pay about $207 in cash and stock for each share of Aetna Inc., a 29 percent premium over Aetna's stock price before the first report about a possible deal in October. The mammoth acquisition pairs a company that runs more than 9,700 drugstores and 1,100 walk-in clinics with an insurer covering around 22 million people. CVS Health Corp. is also one of the nation's biggest pharmacy benefit managers, processing more than a billion prescriptions a year for insurance companies, including Aetna. The deal's impact on prescription drug prices is uncertain.

Met Opera Suspends Ties to Conductor James Levine Over Sexual Abuse Allegations

The Metropolitan Opera has suspended its relationship with longtime conductor James Levine while it investigates "multiple" allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Peter Gelb, the opera's general manager, made the announcement in a statement. The Met says it's hiring a former U.S. attorney to lead a "full and complete investigation." The allegations against Levine took place from the 1960s to the 1980s, which included part of Levine's conducting career at the Met. Levine served as music director there from 1976 to 2016, when he assumed the position of music director emeritus. The suspension means Levine won't be involved in any Met activities, including conducting scheduled performances at the Met this season. Levine has struggled with health problems including Parkinson's disease in recent years but was scheduled to conduct several productions this season.