Happening Today: John Kelly, ISIS, Weinstein, Pollution, Playboy

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Senate Backs GOP Budget in Step Forward for Tax Revamp

Republicans muscled a $4 trillion budget through the Senate in a major step forward for President Trump's ambitious promise of "massive tax cuts and reform." The 51-49 vote sets the stage for debate later this year to dramatically overhaul the U.S. tax code for the first time in three decades, cutting rates for individuals and corporations while eliminating trillions of dollars of deductions and special interest tax breaks. The tax cuts would add up to $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the coming decade, however, as Republicans have shelved fears about the growing budget deficit in favor of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rewrite tax laws. Trump tweeted his approval of the vote early Friday: "Great news on the 2018 budget @SenateMajLdr McConnell - first step toward delivering MASSIVE tax cuts for the American people! #TaxReform." The White House hailed the bill's passage.

Evoking Slain Son, Kelly Defends Trump on Condolence Calls

He started by describing the reverent handling of America's war dead, bodies packed in ice and shipped home in the dark to Dover Air Force Base. From that opening, White House chief of staff John Kelly delivered a raw and searing monologue about the reality and pain of war sacrifice, praising those who serve and summoning the 2010 death of his own son to defend President Trump against accusations of insensitive outreach to a grieving military family. In an unannounced appearance at the White House, Kelly, a retired three-star general whose son was killed while serving in Afghanistan, dressed down the Democratic congresswoman who had criticized Trump for comments she said he had made in a condolence call to the pregnant widow of a Green Beret killed in Niger. Kelly called Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida an "empty barrel" who "makes noise," but he did not deny the lawmaker's account of the phone call, as the president had this week. Throughout his remarks, Kelly lamented what he said was lost respect for military service, women, authority and more.

US-Backed Force Declares Raqqa Free of ISIS

A U.S.-backed Syrian force declared victory over the Islamic State group in its former "capital" of Raqqa, declaring the northern Syrian city free of any extremist presence. At a press conference held inside the city, the Kurdish-led force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces formally handed over administration of the devastated northern city to a council made up of local officials and tribal leaders. In a highly symbolic move, the press conference was held inside the city's sports stadium which Islamic State militants had turned into an arms depot and a huge prison where they incarcerated and tortured their opponents. Standing before a backdrop of shattered buildings, Sillo urged the international community and aid organizations to assist with the city's reconstruction. Associated Press drone footage from Raqqa showed the extent of devastation caused by weeks of fighting between Kurdish-led forces and the Islamic State group and thousands of bombs dropped by the U.S.-led coalition.

Los Angeles Police Open Weinstein Sex Assault Investigation

Police in Los Angeles have launched an investigation of Harvey Weinstein involving a possible sexual assault in 2013, authorities said. Detectives have interviewed a possible victim who recently reported she was sexually assaulted by the film mogul, police spokesman Sal Ramirez said. He said he could not answer any questions about where the incident took place or when the woman was interviewed by detectives. The Los Angeles Times reported the woman is a 38-year-old Italian actress who spoke to the newspaper. She was not named in the story, but told the Times that Weinstein raped her after bullying his way into her hotel room. The woman's attorney, David M. Ring, planned to release further details on Friday.

Study Finds Pollution Is Deadlier Than War, Disaster, Hunger

Environmental pollution — from filthy air to contaminated water — is killing more people every year than all war and violence in the world. More than smoking, hunger or natural disasters. More than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. One out of every six premature deaths in the world in 2015 — about 9 million — could be attributed to disease from toxic exposure, according to a major study released in the Lancet medical journal. The financial cost from pollution-related death, sickness and welfare is equally massive, the report says, costing some $4.6 trillion in annual losses — or about 6.2 percent of the global economy. The report marks the first attempt to pull together data on disease and death caused by all forms of pollution combined.

Ready for Her Close-Up: Meet Playboy's First Transgender Playmate

Since Hugh Hefner passed away in September, there's been a lot of talk about all the boundaries his magazine has pushed in its 64 years of production. Playboy has always been closely linked to the public's perception of women and sex, and the magazine doesn't seem to be changing that any time soon. Meet Ines Rau. The 26-year-old French model of North African descent has been named Playboy's first openly transgender Playmate. The newcomer is New York based and has close to 240,000 Instagram followers. Transgender individuals have posed for Playboy in the past, though none of them were official Playmates at the time, which is a title reserved for the centerfold models of the magazine. Rau herself posed for Playboy in a 2014 nude feature called "Evolution," which launched her modeling career. Rau posed for the spread shortly after her coming out and then signed with an agency after the acclaim the feature brought. Rau will accompany her upcoming spread with an interview about her journey and struggle with identity. Rau's photo editorial will be featured in the November/December 2017 issue, which will also pay tribute to the late founder on its cover.