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Happening Today: Trump, Wildfires, Travel Ban, Amazon

What to Know

  • A U.S. Rep. said she overheard Trump tell the widow of Sgt. La David T. Johnson that her husband "must've known what he signed up for"
  • A federal judge in Hawaii blocked most of President Trump's latest travel ban, just hours before it was set to take effect
  • Amazon Studios chief Roy Price has resigned after sexual harassment allegations surfaced, CNBC has confirmed

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Trump Told Widow Soldier “Must've Known What He Signed Up for”: U.S. Rep. Says

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., said she overheard President Trump tell the widow of Miami Gardens native Sgt. La David T. Johnson, a U.S. soldier killed in Niger, that her husband "must've known what he signed up for." Johnson, 25, was one of four U.S. Special Forces soldiers killed in Niger by Islamist militants on Oct. 4. The casket carrying his body recently reached South Florida. Wilson, who represents the Miami Gardens district, said she overheard Trump's comment on speakerphone while riding with Myeshia Johnson, the late soldier's pregnant widow. Johnson's body reached the Miami International Airport for a brief ceremony before a funeral procession took the flag-draped casket to a funeral home in Hollywood. When she heard Trump's comment, Wilson said Myeshia did not react.

Judge in Hawaii Blocks Latest Trump Travel Restrictions

A federal judge in Hawaii blocked most of President Trump's latest travel ban, just hours before it was set to take effect, saying the revised order "suffers from precisely the same maladies as its predecessor." It was the third set of travel restrictions issued by the president to be thwarted, in whole or in part, by the courts. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson issued the ruling after the ban on a set of mostly Muslim countries was challenged by the state of Hawaii, which warned that the restrictions would separate families and undermine the recruiting of diverse college students. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the ruling "dangerously flawed" and said it "undercuts the president's efforts to keep the American people safe." The Justice Department said it will quickly appeal.

As Officials Seek Motive Behind Massacre, Security Guard's Disappearance Draws Attention

The cancellation of scheduled TV interviews last week by a hotel security guard wounded by the Las Vegas shooter has raised questions about the location of a key witness to the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history. Jesus Campos "wants to tell his story at a time and place of his choosing," MGM Resorts International spokeswoman Debra DeShong said in response to questions from The Associated Press about Campos' whereabouts. "He's asked that everyone respect his request for privacy." The company statement didn't say where Campos is. It came after union leader David Hickey of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America said he last heard about Campos from a union member who texted that he was with him. Hickey said Campos had been scheduled for a series of news interviews with five network shows when he got a message from the union member with Campos. The TV appearances were canceled.

Wine Country Fires Dim, But New California Fires Break Out

As crews gained on the wildfires in California wine country, new blazes broke out in other parts of the state, including a fire in the mountains above Los Angeles that threatened a historic observatory and more flames in the Santa Cruz mountains. In the state's hard-hit wine-making region, tens of thousands of people began drifting back to their neighborhoods. Some returned to find their homes gone. The deadliest wildfires in California history have been burning for more than a week, killing at least 41 people and destroying nearly 6,000 homes. About 34,000 people remained under evacuation, down from 40,000. "It's never going to be the same," said Rob Brown, a supervisor in Mendocino County, where all 8,000 evacuees were cleared to go home. "You're going to have to seek a new normal." The thousands of calls coming from concerned residents in neighboring Sonoma County "have shifted from questions about evacuation to questions about coping," Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane said.

Senate Health Care Deal in Doubt as Trump Says He's Opposed

A bipartisan Senate deal to curb the growth of health insurance premiums is reeling after President Trump reversed course and opposed the agreement and top congressional Republicans and conservatives gave it a frosty reception. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., announced their accord after weeks of negotiations and five days after Trump said he was halting federal subsidies to insurers. Under the lawmakers' agreement, the payments would continue for two years while states were given more leeway to let insurers sidestep some coverage requirements imposed by President Barack Obama's health care law. In remarks in the Rose Garden, Trump called the deal "a very good solution" that would calm insurance markets, giving him time to pursue his goal of scrapping Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act, the target of Republican derision since it was signed into law. Although top Democrats and some Republicans praised the Alexander-Murray compromise agreement, Trump backed off after a day of criticism from many in the GOP.

Amazon Studios Chief Resigns Following Sexual Harassment Allegations

Amazon Studios chief Roy Price has resigned after sexual harassment allegations surfaced, CNBC has confirmed. Price was put on a leave of absence "effective immediately" when reports emerged that he allegedly sexually harassed an Amazon TV producer. "The Man in the High Castle" producer Isa Hackett said Price made lewd comments toward her and propositioned her while she was promoting the show in 2015, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hackett's allegations follow multiple complaints of sexual harassment and assault lodged against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. In a statement last week, Amazon said it was reviewing options for projects it has with the Weinstein company.

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