What's happening in the political world:
Bannon out as White House chief strategist
-- According to multiple media reports, President Trump has decided Steve Bannon will be out as White House chief strategist.
Details on the decision were not immediately released. ABC News, citing a source, reported Bannon had resigned from his position on August 14, but White House officials have not confirmed the move.
JUST IN: White House on Bannon: "John Kelly and Steve Bannon have mutually agreed today would be Steve's last day." https://t.co/4n07J8PHiT pic.twitter.com/DUvVuocuSE
— ABC News (@ABC) August 18, 2017
Bannon is the latest person to leave the White House after a shakeup that has seen Reince Priebus, Anthony Scaramucci and Sean Spicer all leave their respective positions.
Trump says US "on alert" in light of Barcelona attack
-- President Trump assured the nation that "our borders are far tougher than ever before" and said "Radical Islamic Terrorism must be stopped by whatever means necessary!"
Trump's series of tweets come one day after a van plowed into a crowd on a busy Barcelona, Spain, street. The terror attack left 13 people dead and more than 100 others injured.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
Homeland Security and law enforcement are on alert & closely watching for any sign of trouble. Our borders are far tougher than ever before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2017
The Obstructionist Democrats make Security for our country very difficult. They use the courts and associated delay at all times. Must stop!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2017
Radical Islamic Terrorism must be stopped by whatever means necessary! The courts must give us back our protective rights. Have to be tough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2017
Heading to Camp David for major meeting on National Security, the Border and the Military (which we are rapidly building to strongest ever).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2017
The president was scheduled to meet with national security leaders on Friday at Camp David, Maryland.
Congress members push for Trump to be censured
-- Several members of Congress have proposed censuring President Trump after his comments following the events in Charlottesville, Virginia.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed the move, tweeting: "Congress must censure @realDonaldTrump for his repulsive defense of white supremacy in the wake of #Charlottesville."
Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) issued their intention to introduce the resolution. The resolution has 79 co-sponsors.
Secret Service investigating lawmaker's "assassination" post
-- Online comments made by Democratic Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal of Missouri are being investigated by the Secret Service.
According to a published report, Chappelle-Nadal's commented stated: "I hope Trump is assassinated!"
She has since deleted the comment and apologized for the language she used, telling CNN affiliate KMOV that the comment arose from her frustration with the current political climate.
"No, I don't want to see anyone assassinated, but he should not be president, he should be impeached," Chapelle-Nadal told KMOV. "Someone wrote a statement on my Facebook and I responded with something that shouldn't have been put up there."
3 nonprofits cancel fundraisers at Trump's Mar-A-Lago
-- Three nonprofit groups -- the Cleveland Clinic, the American Cancer Society and the American Friends of Magen David Adom -- have canceled plans to hold events at President Trump's Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida.
The groups were not specific in their reasons for changing their plans, but the timing of their cancellations coincides with the abrupt end of Trump's business councils this week and comes after his remarks on the events in Charlottesville, Virginia.
21st Century Fox CEO critical of Trump's Charlottesville comments
-- James Murdoch, CEO of 21st Century Fox and son of the company's co-chairman Rupert Murdoch, criticized President Trump's response and comments to the events in Charlottesville, Virginia.
According to an Associated Press report, Murdoch said the incident in Charlottesville and the president's response "concern all of us as Americans and free people."
Murdoch also said: "I can't even believe I have to write this: standing up to Nazis is essential; there are no good Nazis. Or Klansmen, or terrorists … Democrats, Republicans, and others must all agree on this, and it compromises nothing for them to do so."
CNN and The Associated Press contributed to this report
