TODAY'S TALKING POINTS 09-03-15

TODAY'S TALKING POINTS

President Barack Obama clinched the Iran deal. Maryland Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski was the 34th vote that the president needed to keep the Iran deal alive in Congress. Mikulski, the longest-serving woman in congressional history, said no deal is perfect, but it’s “the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb.”

A judge refused to drop the charges against six Baltimore officers. DuringWednesday’s hearing, Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams denied a motion to dismiss charges against six officers implicated in the death of Freddie Gray, and ruled they all be tried separately. He also said that State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby doesn’t have to recuse herself. Despite fears that protests could get out of hand, they remained peaceful, with officers making just one arrest.

Planned Parenthood will be a hot topic for Congress after the recess. The House Judiciary Committee scheduled its first hearing after conservatives called for defunding the agency. The controversy started with heavily edited secret videos, created by an anti-abortion group, of Planned Parenthood officials talking about fetal tissue research. After the videos debuted online, five states launched investigations. All of them came up empty-handed.

The controversy has already had a huge impact in the medical world. Last month, six clinics allowed women undergoing abortions to donate their fetal tissue for medical research, and now only two clinics do. While there are new technologies that will allow for less dependence on fetal tissue, some researchers say that right now, those donations are essential.

Kentucky's controversial clerk faces contempt. A federal judge will decide today whether Kim Davis should be held in contempt for blatantly defying the Supreme Court's order to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

China plans to cut 300,000 military personnel. As the nation marked the 70th anniversary of Japan's WWII defeat, President Xi Jinping announced the biggest cut since 1997 because, he said, China is committed to peace.

Guatemala's president resigned amid scandal. Otto Pérez Molina stepped down days before a presidential election (he wasn't running, but authorities issued a warrant for his arrest). Pérez Molina, accused of taking bribes from companies in exchange for lower import taxes, is being investigated for bribery, fraud and illicit association. Protesters have been calling for his resignation.