promoearn: How not to silence a porn star

Thursday, July 18

Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels speaks outside US Federal Court with her lawyer Michael Avenatti (R) in Lower Manhattan, New York on April 16, 2018. Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claims to have had a consensual sexual encounter with Donald Trump a decade ago, said April 17, 2018 that she is pursuing legal action against the president because she is "done being bullied.""I'm tired of being threatened, intimidating me, and trying to say that you'll ruin my life and take all my money and my house," Daniels said on ABC's "The View.""I'm done being bullied," Daniels said of legal threats from Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen, who is now embroiled in his own legal troubles."I'm done," Daniels said.

The FBI drops a hush-money scheme bombshell and the U.S. destroys an Iranian drone: Thursday's news

America shot down a drone, the FBI linked Trump to payments for a porn star and Democrats were warned about FaceApp. It's Ashley. Here's Thursday's top news.

But first, ice cold beer: A boy selling "beer" had police called on him for a clever marketing strategy. This kid is going places.

Trump denied knowing, FBI says otherwise

Court records unsealed Thursday show FBI agents gathered evidence that President Donald Trump participated in an effort to pay off Stormy Daniels, the adult-film actress who claimed to have had an extramarital affair with him. The newly unsealed documents offer an account of the extent of Trump's involvement. The documents, part of the FBI's investigation of a hush-money scheme, laid out a timeline of emails, text messages and phone calls – some involving Trump himself – that "concerned the need to prevent" Daniels from going public with her story. Trump denied knowing about the payments. Court filings last year stated Trump lawyer Michael Cohen orchestrated payments to Daniels "in coordination with" Trump.

Prosecutors ended hush money investigations partially because of a policy that sitting presidents cannot be charged with a crime

Iranian drone down

President Trump said the U.S. "immediately destroyed" an Iranian drone Thursday that threatened the USS Boxer in the Strait of Hormuz. "This is the latest of many provocative and hostile actions by Iran against vessels operating in international waters," the president said. Trump called on other countries to condemn Iran's "attempts to disrupt freedom of navigation and global commerce." The drone's destruction followed Iran's seizure of an oil tanker, which was announced Thursday by Iranian state media. Tensions have escalated since the United States backed out of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed economic sanctions.

What I'm reading: Lindsay Deutsch, newsletter content strategist

Once a week, we'll feature some 🔥 story picks from my USA TODAY colleagues. Today's guest: Lindsay, our newsletter pro.

•	Is this a toupee or rare albino porcupine? This critter confuses everybody.
•	If you're traumatized by the rats in "Stranger Things," don't head to NYC. The city removed 110 trash cans, and rats are apparently "running wild."
•	Here's where you can retire nicely on just $30,000 a year. The catch: It might be time to think outside the USA.
•	The Corvette gets a big-time makeover. Here's how the new Corvette Stingray could morph into a "fire-breathing monster."
•	Take that, pink tax. New Hampshire passed a bill to provide free tampons and other menstrual products in public schools.

'Send her back': Trump fans decry a onetime refugee in Congress

Outrage and expressions of support for Rep. Ilhan Omar flooded social media after a crowd of Trump supporters chanted, "Send her back" during a fiery rally in North Carolina on Wednesday. Trump criticized Omar for comments about Israel that some lawmakers called anti-Semitic when the chants erupted. In response, Omar tweeted a quote from the poet Maya Angelou: "You may kill me with your hatefulness. But still, like air, I'll rise." Though Trump did not object to the "send her back" chants during the rally, he said Thursday that he "wasn't happy with that message."

•	How Republicans are reacting to the "send her back" chants.
•	Trump's false claims about Rep. Ilhan Omar get fact-checked.
•	"Where are you in this?": Meghan McCain calls out Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is a U.S. citizen who came from Somalia.

J. Scott Applewhite, AP

Epstein probably won't get a life-size doll in jail

A federal judge denied bail Thursday for wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who must await trial on sex-trafficking charges in a jail cell rather than his Manhattan mansion (complete with a life-size doll and artificial eyeballs) . Prosecutors argued that Epstein was a flight risk, and some of his accusers testified Monday that he is a threat to other young women. Epstein's indictment comes 11 years after he avoided what could have been a lengthy prison sentence when he pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting and procuring a person under 18 for prostitution.

Real quick

•	The FDA says to avoid the sexual enhancement supplement called "Big Penis."
•	"Delete the app immediately": 2020 presidential candidates were told to stop using Russia-based FaceApp.
•	At least 33 people are dead after a man burst into a Kyoto animation studio and set off a fire.
•	"Cambodia is not a dustbin": The country returns 1,600 tons of plastic waste to the USA and Canada.
•	$15 minimum wage? The House passed a bill that would give low-wage workers a raise.
•	He threatened to bomb Harvard's first black commencement. Now, he's getting prison time.

These copycat terrorism bills are based on conspiracy theories. Why do states keep passing them?

A conspiracy theory about radical Muslims infiltrating the U.S. government is false. But dozens of states are passing laws in response anyway. An investigation revealed that six states – Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina and Tennessee – passed anti-terrorism measures drummed up by a far-right think tank. Special interest groups say the copycat bills keep Americans safe from Islamic extremism. Civil rights groups say they're state-sanctioned Islamophobia. Here's what a USA TODAY and Center for Public Integrity investigation found out.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this snappy news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for "The Short List" newsletter here.

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