Daily Briefing: US announces new efforts to protect South Korea from nukes

The U.S. is ready to step up its efforts to deter a North Korean attack on South Korea. Also in the news: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's debt limit plan would mean major education cuts and "The Flash" highlighted many of the new movies previewed at 2023 CinemaCon.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Biden's favorite dessert will get a Korean twist at the White House state dinner tonight.

Now, here we go with Wednesday's headlines.

What to know about South Korean president's state visit with Biden

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said President Joe Biden will announce specific new nuclear deterrence efforts as well as a new cybersecurity initiative, economic investments, and educational partnership amid this week’s celebratory state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon's state visit is meant to highlight the two countries' relationship as they mark the 70th anniversary of their alliance. But the encounter also comes just as leaked Pentagon documents surfaced suggesting the U.S. had been surveilling the longstanding ally. Read more

• Where in the world is Ron DeSantis? The Florida governor met with South Korea's prime minister on Wednesday.

Mastermind behind deadly bombing killed by Taliban

The Taliban has killed the Islamic State terrorist who plotted the deadly attack at Kabul's airport during the chaotic evacuation of Afghanistan in 2021, an assault that fatally wounded more than 170 people and 13 U.S. troops, according to a U.S official.

A suicide bomber killed Afghans who had clustered near one of the entrances to Hamid Karzai International Airport and the U.S. troops screening them. The attack on Aug. 26 was one of America's deadliest days in the nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan and came days before President Joe Biden's Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing troops. Read more

More news to know now

• Alabama birthday party shooting investigator testified of seven guns and 89 shells recovered at the scene.

• Chief Justice John Roberts declined to testify on ethics and revelations about Clarence Thomas.

• As Biden pushes an assault weapons ban, GOP senator wants armed "guardians" in every K-12 school.

• A New York jury is considering whether Donald Trump raped and defamed E. Jean Carroll.

• On today's 5 Things podcast, here are three clues to track how well Biden will do in his bid for reelection. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

What McCarthy budget's means for education

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona slammed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for a Republican budget proposal the White House estimates would cut 22% from the nation's budget.

The GOP plan would tighten funding for America's schools, which Cardona said amounted to an attempt to "undermine education."

• McCarthy last week revealed the GOP's plan to raise the debt ceiling, which proposes $4.5 trillion in cuts. The plan would in part reallocate unspent COVID-19 relief money and limit other government spending and return discretionary funding to fiscal year 2022 levels.

• Biden has threatened to veto the GOP debt limit bill and has insisted that the debt limit be raised without conditions as it has been under past presidents, including Donald Trump.

• The Education Department says the GOP's proposal would also "eliminate" Biden's student debt relief plan and would affect the most disadvantaged students.

Keep reading: Should Biden negotiate with McCarthy? These Democratic lawmakers want him to strike a deal.

VP Harris opens 2024 campaign with  speech on abortion rights

Appearing before Democratic activists and young voters, Vice President Kamala Harris launched the 2024 presidential campaign with a fiery attack on Republican-led states and anti-abortion groups that have been making use of legislatures and friendly courts to limit access to the procedure. Speaking at Howard University, a historically Black institution that is also Harris' alma mater, Harris said she trusts women to make their own decisions: "So don't get in our way, because if you do, we're going to stand up and we're going to organize, and we're going to speak up and we're going to say we're not having it." Read more

• GOP Sen. Tuberville blocked 184 military promotions in his ongoing abortion fight with the Pentagon.

Just for subscribers:

• It won't be easy for President Biden to repeat his 2020 formula in a 2024 reelection bid.

• For kids, going under anesthesia can be scary. This nurse made a video game to ease fears.

• Solutions for youth sports safety: How one state used data to make a difference.

• 'Our people can get to know themselves again': Repopulating bison on Native American land.

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. 

'Barbie' and 'The Flash' highlight CinemaCon

An unfinished cut of the eagerly anticipated DC superhero film "The Flash" premiered at CinemaCon Tuesday night, winning the hearts of a packed house of theater owners, studio executives and journalists in Las Vegas. The film's narrative centers on the Flash, played by Ezra Miller, who uses his super-speed to save his parents and in the process accidentally breaks the world and meets his 18-year-old self. Meanwhile, "Barbie" star Margot Robbie brought her much-anticipated comedy to CinemaCon and wowed the convention with a new look at her portrayal of the fantastic plastic doll and Ryan Gosling's Ken. Read more about "The Flash" and here's our look at "Barbie."

• Michael Keaton's Batman returns in ''The Flash'' to help reset DC universe.

• Timothée Chalamet meets Oompa Loompa Hugh Grant in new ''Wonka'' footage and debuts ''Dune 2'' trailer.

Quick Hits

• US Olympian Tara Davis-Woodhall was stripped of her national title after a positive cannabis test.

• Who needs a QB in NFL draft? Ranking all 32 teams from least to most likely to pick a passer.

• Daniel Radcliffe is a dad: the ''Harry Potter'' star welcomed his first child.

• Rainn Wilson explained how a Julianne Hough headline inspired his new book on spirituality.

Photo of the day: Jill Biden previews State Dinner honoring South Korea's president

Only the Bidens' second state dinner following last fall's fete for France, Wednesday's event is timed in part to celebrate this year's 70th anniversary of the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. Click here for more photos of the State Dinner decor.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Korea, Taliban kills Kabul airport bomber, McCarthy's budget plan, abortion, CinemaCon, state dinner: Daily Briefing