What's Happening

Politics

VP Harris to Release Economic Plan Today

What's going on: VP Kamala Harris is expected to give voters insight into how she’d tackle the economy if elected president. Today’s speech in Raleigh, North Carolina, will introduce her first major policy proposal since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. What’s expected on the economic agenda? A federal ban on “price gouging” for food and groceries, a proposal to grant up to $25,000 to support first-time homebuyers’ down payments, tax breaks to encourage the construction of 3 million new housing units, among other efforts to lower costs for middle-class families. The upcoming announcement will come after Harris recently vowed to cut taxes on tips (a promise former President Trump also made, though it has been met with skepticism) and to raise the minimum wage.

What it means: Harris’ economic policy is expected to largely follow President Biden’s. However, she’s expected to put a greater focus on issues like paid family leave. Her plan to tackle price gouging also suggests she might be taking a more aggressive approach to address voters’ top concern: inflation — even if it has eased recently. Still, many don’t expect Harris to roll out a ton of specific details about her proposals — something the media has called her out on. Whether her economic plans will be enough to win voters over is TBD. A recent CBS News poll showed about 45% of registered voters believe they’d be better off financially with Trump as president, compared to only a quarter who feel that way about Harris.

Related: JD Vance Says Women Care About “Normal Things,” Not Abortion (The Cut)

US News

Should You Be Worried About the Social Security Number Breach?

What's going on: A new lawsuit claims that hackers have obtained the personal information of “billions of individuals,” including Social Security numbers, addresses, birthdays, and phone numbers belonging to people in the US, UK, and Canada. It’s unclear how many people could be affected and whether the stolen data is even accurate, but it’s sparked concerns about the potential for fraud and identity theft. News of the alleged breach spread on social media and online after a California man filed a lawsuit earlier this month alleging his info was leaked to the dark web. The suit said his info became available after a breach at National Public Data (NPD), a data broker company that sells personal data for background checks. The NPD told The Los Angeles Times it’s investigating the claims.

What it means: Unfortunately, security breaches are common. While some experts urge people not to panic, that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to protect yourself. So, what does that look like? Security experts recommend freezing your credit files with each of the big three bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. It’s free to do and can prevent scammers from opening credit cards or taking out loans in your name. The NCA director also recommends a few additional steps to safeguard your data and finances: Use passwords that are at least 16 characters long, enable multi-factor authentication, and keep your security software up to date on all your devices.

Related: What To Do if Your Identity Was Stolen (Business Insider)

US News

Several People Charged in Connection to Matthew Perry's Death

What's going on: New details are emerging about those allegedly involved in supplying the ketamine that led to Matthew Perry’s death last October. So far, the Friends actor’s personal assistant, two doctors, an alleged supplier known as the “Ketamine Queen,” and one other person have been charged. The assistant allegedly injected Perry with at least 27 ketamine shots in the days leading up to his death. The doctors and suppliers were accused of causing harm for financial gain by giving Perry tens of thousands of dollars worth of ketamine despite knowing he struggled with substance use. The charges reveal the high-profile case helped investigators uncover an underground network of drug suppliers and sellers.

What it means: Martin Estrada, the US attorney on the case, said they are sending a clear message: “If you are in the business of selling dangerous drugs, we will hold you accountable for the deaths that you cause.” Meanwhile, the case has put a spotlight on ketamine. The drug, which has psychedelic properties, has gained popularity as an alternative therapy for depression and anxiety, though more research needs to be done on its effectiveness in this area. Some people use it as a recreational drug. Authorities said Perry was on an official ketamine infusion therapy at the time of his death, but the levels found in his blood were too high to be from only that. Perry struggled with addiction for most of his life, writing about it in his memoir.

Related: The FDA Just Rejected MDMA-Assisted Therapy (CNN)