5 Things for December 18: Atlanta Airport Outage, Tax Overhaul, Russia Investigation

CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire | 12/18/2017, 7:50 a.m.
Say hello to Amy Wright, the newest CNN Hero of the Year. Here's what else you need to know to …
Power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia has travel at standstill

By Doug Criss, CNN

(CNN) -- Say hello to Amy Wright, the newest CNN Hero of the Year. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.

Atlanta airport blackout

Power was restored overnight at the world's busiest airport, but the mess the total blackout left may take all day to straighten out. The power flickered off early Sunday afternoon at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after a fire at an underground electrical facility. That fire took out the backup power, too. It's not clear what caused the blaze. Thousands of passengers were left scurrying around in darkened terminals or sitting for hours on planes on tarmacs. No planes could fly in or out of the airport, leading to more than 1,000 flight cancellations and air travel disruptions across the US.

This morning, the airlines will start untangling the web of stranded passengers, cancellations and delays in an effort to get operations at the airport back to normal. Delta has already announced that more than 300 flights today will be canceled. The outage complicates the already busy Christmas holiday travel week.

Tax overhaul

Some time this week, the Republicans in the House and Senate will hold votes that will likely help them achieve a goal they've pursued for decades: a major overhaul of the US tax code. But in the Senate, they'll have to pass the $1.5 trillion tax bill without Sen. John McCain, who has returned home to Arizona to continue treatment for his brain tumor. Despite the loss of McCain's vote, the bill is still expected to pass because the GOP has a 52-48 vote advantage in the Senate. Vice President Mike Pence can cast a tie-breaking vote if need be.

Russia investigation

Talk of President Trump firing special counsel Robert Mueller hit a fever pitch over the weekend, but the President, returning from a rare trip to Camp David, said he had no plans to dump Mueller. Trump said he was upset though that Mueller's team had obtained tens of thousands of emails from Trump's transition team as part of the Russia investigation. Trump's lawyers wrote a letter to Congress to complain, saying the emails were "unlawfully" obtained. Mueller's team denies this, and the argument has been made that the transition emails are public records. The emails in question involve 13 transition officials, including four senior ones, according to the letter.

Jerusalem

Rejecting the Americans as a possible broker in a Middle East peace process, Palestinian leaders have shifted tactics, aiming for the United Nations to nullify President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, while simultaneously trying to get other countries to recognize a Palestinian state. A UN Security Council resolution trying to annul Trump's announcement, introduced by Egypt, could be put to a vote early this week, according to Israeli officials, though the US will almost certainly veto the resolution. That vote could come as early as today.

CDC banned words

Some words are suddenly off limits at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC officials are reportedly banned from using the words "diversity," "fetus," "transgender," "vulnerable," "entitlement," "science-based" and "evidence-based." It's unclear why the Trump administration will no longer allow the CDC to use the words in its reports, but some analysts there say the blowback to this will be ferocious. A spokesman for Health and Human Services, which supervises the CDC, says it is a "mischaracterization" to say that there's a list of banned words.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.

The Force is strong with this one

It's not quite as potent as "The Force Awakens," but "The Last Jedi" still flexed impressive muscle at the box office during its opening weekend.

Finally at rest

It took almost seven decades, but a US soldier, missing since the Korean War, was properly laid to rest in Hawaii.

Royal return

Will Smith is back as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, with a little assist from Ellen DeGeneres.

Pageant problems

An innocent selfie usually isn't a problem at beauty pageants, but it is when the pic puts Miss Iraq and Miss Israel in the same photo.

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH

Setting a new course

President Trump is set to unveil a new national security strategy (and take some shots at China) during a speech this afternoon.

NUMBER OF THE DAY

332

The number of people who were stricken with a stomach illness during a Royal Caribbean cruise. The Independence of the Seas returned to Florida over the weekend.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Do I need a British accent?"

Former President Barack Obama, joking around with Prince Harry during the ex-commander-in-chief's upcoming interview with the soon-to-be married royal on BBC Radio

AND FINALLY ...

Pop life

Want to review the year in music? You can go with a stale, tired countdown, or you can groove to this fresh mashup of 2017's 25 biggest pop hits.

YouTube

DJ Earworm Mashup - United State of Pop 2017 (How We Do It)

Download mp3 for free here: https://soundcloud.com/dj_earworm/uni... Twitter.com/DJEarworm Facebook.com/Earworm Djearworm.com A mashup of the 25 biggest U.S. hits during 2017 Featuring: Bruno Mars - That's What I Like Camila Cabello Featuring Young Thug - Havana Cardi B - Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This Charlie Puth - Attention DJ Khaled Featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper & Lil Wayne - I'm The One Ed Sheeran - Perfect Ed Sheeran - Shape of You French Montana Featuring Swae Lee - Unforgettable Future - Mask Off Imagine Dragons - Believer Imagine Dragons - Thunder James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go Kendrick Lamar - Humble. Lil Uzi Vert - XO TOUR Llif3 Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber - Despacito Migos Featuring Lil Uzi Vert - Bad And Boujee Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage - Rockstar Post Malone Featuring Quavo - Congratulations Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay This is how we do it down in Puerto Rico This is how we do it all the time Down in Vegas, in Miami, Down in Paris, in Manhattan, in Havana, down in L.A. This is how we do it in the boondocks, In the Cadillac in the backseat Out here underneath the rising sun (hey) In the club, in the street, in the dark, in the dawn, In the future I want something just like this. Oh I oh I oh I oh I Although my heart is looking at the truth, Just picture everybody Discovering something brand new. Just picture everybody Seeing the beauty through the darkest days. I feel it still. Is it me? Is it you? (na na na) I don’t wanna choose. I want all of the above. (na na na) I don’t wanna choose. Is it fake? Is it true? (na na na) Don’t get comfortable. You can hate all the hate (na na na) If you wanted too. Look: This is how we do it down in Puerto Rico This is how we do it all the time Down in Vegas, in Miami, Down in Paris, in Manhattan, in Havana, down in L.A. This is how we do it in the boondocks, In the Cadillac in the backseat Out here underneath the rising sun (hey) In the club, in the street, in the dark, in the dawn, In the future I want something just like this. I don’t really care if you lie (Sit down, Mask off) Manipulate my decisions, Look me in the eye (Sit down, Mask off, Sit Down) I don’t really care if you go crazy (Mask off, Sit Down) I don’t really care if you Push me to the edge (Sit down) Push me to the edge (Be Humble) Push me to the edge. Who can relate? Woo! I knew from the start the way that things have been will change will change will change will change. I said I already told you It can be hard. the way that things have been will change will change will change will change. Yeah Yeah Yeah. skrrrrt! Bring me back back back. Pop it like a pop star, rock like a rock star Party in Manhattan, in Havana, down in L.A. Singing to our favorite song In the Cadillac in the backseat Out here underneath the rising sun (hey) Shining so bright in the dark, in the dawn, In the future I want something just like this. Feel the thunder This is how we do it all the time Thunder, feel the thunder I want something just like this Feel the thunder Underneath the rising sun (hey) Thunder, feel the thunder I want something just like this Is it me? Is it you? (na na na) I don’t wanna choose. C’mon, c’mon, take a look in the mirror (na na na) Don’t get comfortable. Say it’s us, say it’s us (na na na) If you wanted too. Say it’s us, say it’s us and I’ll agree, baby. Oooooo Say it’s us Oooooo Just say you won’t let go Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito The face of the future, poquito a poquito Y es que esa belleza es un rompecabezas Pero pa' montarlo aquÌ tengo la pieza Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito You make me a believer, poquito a poquito The only words I wanna hear is “Sube, Sube, Sube!” Now they only say congratulations Oh I oh I oh I oh I This is how we do it all the time Down in Vegas, in Miami, Down in Paris, in Manhattan, in Havana, down in L.A. This is how we do it in the boondocks, In the Cadillac in the backseat Out here underneath the rising sun (hey) In the club, in the street, in the dark, in the dawn, In the future. Why not right now?