Quite an 'achomlishment'

Ashley Shaffer
Updated
A sneak peek at Trump’s notes. The "American Taliban" is free. Here’s Thursday’s top news.

An American slave ship is found, police secrets are uncovered and President Donald Trump shows us his accomplishments in spelling. That and the rest of Thursday's top news in today's Short List.

But first, applaud this dad: Ian Sohn, a single father of two, implores employees to stop apologizing for "having lives." 👏

*Checks notes* 'Achomlishments'

Photographers captured President Donald Trump's handwritten notes before he addressed reporters in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday. The lines seen jotted down – misspellings and all – include:

  • "Dems have no achomlishments."

  • A reference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying, "The president of the U.S. is engaged in a cover-up." Beside that were the words "most transparent."

  • "They want to impeach over acts that they did."

  • "I'm going to keep working for the American people."

  • "Intentially had a meeting before."

Trump spoke with the notes unfolded after he walked out of a meeting with Democratic leaders, demanding they stop investigating his administration and finances. "I want to do infrastructure. But you know what, you can’t do it under these circumstances," Trump said during the meeting, calling the investigations "phony."

The 'American Taliban' is free

A California man called the "American Taliban" was released from prison Thursday, despite accusations of his continued adherence to extremist views. It’s been a minute, so let’s back up: John Walker Lindh was with the Taliban at the time of the 9/11 attacks, and he was captured in Afghanistan during a battle in 2001. He was convicted of providing support to the Taliban, though he denied taking up arms against Americans. His release in Indiana came three years early – for good behavior, officials said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed Lindh's release, calling it "unexplainable and unconscionable" because Lindh is still "threatening the United states of America."

Real quick

A recliner sucked to the ceiling

Larry Jett was dozing in his recliner when tornado sirens went off. It was too late to scramble for shelter as a massive twister that tore through Jefferson City, Missouri, descended on his home. The storm sucked the recliner to the ceiling before dropping Jett to the floor – part of what police called a "chaotic situation" that left 20 people injured, scores of buildings damaged and residents trapped in their homes. The Midwest has been hammered by tornadoes in recent days, leaving at least seven people dead and a trail of wind and flood damage. Forecasters warned of more severe weather through Friday.

Damaged buildings in Jefferson City, Missouri on May 23, 2019 following an overnight tornado that struck the area.
Damaged buildings in Jefferson City, Missouri on May 23, 2019 following an overnight tornado that struck the area.

The last American slave ship is found

Remains of the last known U.S. slave ship were found nearly 160 years after its illegal voyage from Africa to Alabama, officials said. In 1860, the Clotilda transported more than 100 people from Benin, Africa, to Alabama, a voyage that took place 52 years after the United States banned importing enslaved people. Its wreckage was found near Mobile on the Gulf Coast after months of excavation and verification of the vessel. Lisa Demetropoulos Jones, director of the Alabama Historical Commission, called it "a profound discovery of the tangible evidence of slavery."

Secret records on police misconduct. Well, formerly secret.

Police misconduct records are often kept secret. After Leticia de la Rosa's son was killed by California police in 2014, she fought for greater transparency of police records. The result: a new state law that could make more police conduct public. California isn’t the only state where misconduct records stay under wraps. A USA TODAY investigation found examples coast to coast of powerful forces working to keep records about law enforcement officers’ conduct – and misconduct – secret. We found 85,000 cops who’ve been investigated for misconduct. Now you can read their records.

It's basically Memorial Day

The Short List is taking Monday off in honor of Memorial Day, but we'll be back in action Tuesday. If you've served our country, you have our thanks.

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Quite an 'achomlishment'