Thursday’s top story: Trump accused of ‘incitement to violence’ over unhinged response to inquiry. Plus, the UN secretary general on the climate fight

This article is more than 11 months old

This article is more than 11 months old

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Good morning, I’m Tim Walker with today’s essential stories.

Democrats warn Trump: ‘We’re not fooling around’

Donald Trump has been accused of “incitement to violence” after a day in which he appeared to unravel over the impeachment inquiry: again accusing the congressman Adam Schiff of treason at a bizarre press conference with the visiting Finnish president, while denouncing the inquiry as “BULLSHIT” on Twitter. Schiff, the chair of the House intelligence committee, said on Wednesday that Congress was “not fooling around,” and insisted the inquiry would not be slowed by presidential “stonewalling”.

White House tapes? As it emerges that the attorney general, William Barr, discussed discrediting the Mueller investigation with Italian officials, David Smith asks how many other compromising conversations Trump might have had with foreign leaders.

Fundraising haul. Trump’s re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee raised $125m in the third quarter of 2019, comfortably outmatching his Democratic rivals. Is that in spite of impeachment, or because of it?

Amber Guyger sentencing ends with show of forgiveness

Play Video 3:07 Brother of murdered Botham Jean hugs ex-officer Amber Guyger after her sentencing – video

The brother of Botham Jean, an innocent black man murdered in his apartment by a former Dallas police officer, made an extraordinary show of forgiveness after the 26-year-old accountant’s killer was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday. With permission from the judge, Brandt Jean hugged Amber Guyger in the courtroom, telling her: “I love you just like anyone else, I’m not going to say I hope you rot and die just like my brother did, but I personally want the best for you.”

Act of healing. The judge also embraced Guyger, in scenes that prosecutor John Creuzot later described as an “amazing act of healing”.

Administration’s war on science at ‘crisis point’, experts warn

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Trump holds a map altered to show Hurricane Dorian threatening Alabama last month. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

The Trump administration is manipulating research findings and targeting scientists for political gain while handing improper influence to special interests, according to a nonpartisan taskforce of former government officials who warn that the White House’s war on science is at a “crisis point”. In a report published on Thursday, the National Task Force on Rule of Law and Democracy said the administration was trying, “at times, to undermine the value of objective facts themselves”.

EPA cites SF. The EPA has made good on a threat by the Trump administration, issuing an environmental notice of violation to San Francisco over an inaccurate claim linking water pollution to the city’s homeless crisis.

Johnson pushes Brexit border plan despite Brussels dismay

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Johnson will outline his plan in the House of Commons on Thursday, the last chance for MPs to challenge him for three weeks. Photograph: Vickie Flores/EPA

Boris Johnson will outline his plan for the Northern Irish border in the House of Commons on Thursday, giving MPs a final chance to challenge his Brexit proposals before a crucial European council summit on 17 October. The UK prime minister has said he wants a deal in place to present at the summit, but the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has already privately described the proposal as a trap, while the Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said Johnson’s plans “do not fully meet the agreed objectives of the backstop”.

Close friend. Jennifer Arcuri, the American businesswoman facing scrutiny over her close friendship with Johnson and grants her firm received while he was mayor of London, has insisted “all the allegations are false”.

Cheat sheet

World markets fell on Thursday as the US opened a new front in its trade wars by announcing $7.5bn of tariffs on European exports including whisky, wine and aircraft, in retaliation for subsidies awarded to the Airbus group by a WTO ruling.

The Trump administration intends to expand the collection of DNA from migrants at US borders, and to pass that information to the FBI for inclusion in a national criminal database.

Senator Bernie Sanders is recovering and “in good spirits” following a heart procedure for an artery blockage, his presidential campaign has said. He has nonetheless cancelled all his campaign events and appearances until further notice.

Officials say at least five people have been killed after a second world war B-17 bomber crashed in an aborted takeoff at Bradley international airport in Connecticut on Wednesday. According to reports, there were 13 people onboard the plane.

Must-reads

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Prada Marfa has weathered the elements, a legal threat, and repeated acts of vandalism - not to mention Instagram. Photograph: Alamy

Prada Marfa artists return to their capitalist parody

Fifteen years ago, when Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset erected Prada Marfa, a non-functioning replica of a Prada boutique on a remote Texas highway, they thought news of its existence might spread quietly, like “a rumour”. But that was before Instagram and the rise of selfie culture, they tell Janelle Zara.

The year’s most personal look at immigration

Coverage of Trump’s immigration crackdown has rarely focussed on those most affected. A new Netflix documentary series, executive produced by Selena Gomez, aims to change that, writes Adrian Horton. Living Undocumented focuses on eight families living outside the skyscraping walls of American citizenship.

How the alt-right co-opted the OK hand sign

The once-innocuous OK hand sign has now been officially recognised as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League, just like Pepe the Frog and the milk emoji. Co-opting such mundane icons as emblems of fear is all part of the alt-right’s hunt for attention, explains Poppy Noor.

What their pop culture tastes say about the 2020 Democrats

In a recent interview, Pete Buttigieg revealed a fondness for Rick & Morty and Rebel Wilson’s new Netflix movie. Stuart Heritage rounds up the pop culture preferences of the Democratic presidential candidates, including Elizabeth Warren’s surprising affection for Ballers.

Opinion

Young activists are right when they say global leaders have failed to meet the challenge of climate change, says the UN secretary general, António Guterres. The recent climate summit in New York was designed to jolt countries into taking action – and to shine a light on those that refuse.

Our planet needs action on a truly planetary scale. That cannot be achieved overnight, and it cannot happen without the full engagement of those contributing most to the crisis.

Sport

Liverpool and Chelsea both claimed hard-won Champions League victories on Wednesday night, over Salzburg and Lille respectively, while two goals from Luis Suaréz helped Barcelona overcome an early scare against Inter.

A former collegiate cheerleader who suffered multiple brain injuries during her time on the cheer squad at the University of California, Berkeley, is suing the school, the sport’s national governing body and her former coaches for failing to implement concussion protocols.

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