Happy Independence Day! Here's what's happening politics today, July 4, 2017:
North Korea reportedly tests missile that can reach 'anywhere in the world'
-- North Korea has reportedly tested a missile capable of reaching the United States, according to the country's state-run media Korea Central Television (KCTV).
The tested missile reportedly reached a height of 2,802 kilometers (1,741 miles), the highest altitude ever reached by a North Korean missile - if indeed true.
President Donald Trump responded to the news on Twitter, saying "North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life?"
He continued in another tweet, "Hard to believe that South Korea and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!"
North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? Hard to believe that South Korea.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017
....and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017
Early Tuesday, both China and Russia proposed that Pyongyang halt nuclear and missile test, and that the U.S. and South Korea refrain from large-scale drills, according to the Associated Press.
Trump, Putin will hold official meeting at G20
-- Officials from the Kremlin and White House confirmed Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a bilateral meeting Friday.
"It is planned as a fully-fledged, 'seated' meeting," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, CNN said.
The meeting is set to take place on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany.
More than 40 states have refused to give up voter data
-- According to a CNN inquiry to all 50 states, 41 states have refused the Trump Administration's request for voter information.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, vice chairman of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity created in May, sent a letter to all 50 states last Wednesday requesting the data. The data will eventually be made available to the public, according to Kobach.
Trump called out states that have refused to hand over the data, saying "what are they trying to hide?"
Numerous states are refusing to give information to the very distinguished VOTER FRAUD PANEL. What are they trying to hide?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017
Virginia lawmaker posts 'Hillary for U.S. Ambassador to Libya' sign, deletes it
-- Virginia Rep. Dave Brat walked back a photo posted to his Instagram account, showing him beside a constituent with a sign reading "Hillary for U.S. Ambassador to Libya."
"Sign says it all," the deleted post's caption read.
Brat told a local television station he did not put the photo up himself and that he has some new staffers working for him.
"If this can be interpreted in any way as negative in that way -- I apologize for that," Rep. Brat told WWBT NBC 12.
The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.
