10 things you need to know today: May 5, 2019

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1. Netanyahu orders 'massive strikes' in Gaza
2. Kim Jong Un oversees 'live-fire' military exercise, possible launch of ballistic missile
3. Biden criticizes Trump, praises Obama in South Carolina rally
4. Country House wins Kentucky Derby in controversial fashion
5. Rachel Held Evans, best-selling Christian writer, dies at 37
6. Warren Buffett bashes Bitcoin at Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting
7. Bernie Sanders calls Barr's no-show 'unacceptable'
8. Turkey refuses to back down from U.S. sanctions threat
9. George R.R. Martin teases HBO's 3 potential Game of Thrones series
10. Adam Sandler hosts SNL for the first time

published 5 May 2019

1. Netanyahu orders 'massive strikes' in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he has ordered "massive strikes" in the Gaza Strip following the escalation of tensions between Israel and Hamas over the last two days. The violence resulted in the deaths of nine Palestinians and three Israelis. In addition to the increased number of strikes, Netanyahu also instructed Israeli forces stationed around the Gaza Strip to "be stepped up with" enhanced tank, artillery, and infantry forces, saying that Hamas is "paying a heavy price" for its own strikes against Israel. Hamas, in turn, vowed to "extend its response," especially if Israel acts with aggression.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly oversaw a live-fire military exercise on Saturday that may have included North Korea's first ballistic missile launch since 2017. If the reports of the ballistic missile are true, it would violate United Nations resolutions imposing sanctions on North Korea. Experts argue that Kim is utilizing a 'push-the-line' strategy to see how much leeway President Trump allows before attempting to intervene again. The two leaders have had on-and-off negotiations over the past year surrounding the destruction of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, but talks stalled in February when they could not agree on proper concessions.

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Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) was in South Carolina, a key primary state, on Saturday afternoon for the second rally of his newly-launched presidential campaign. Biden reportedly took the stage in front of an an enthusiastic crowd at a small community center gymnasium in Columbia, the state capital. Biden's speech reportedly tried to balance pragmatism and progressive energy, with a focus on what The New York Times describes as the candidate's "working-class Joe" brand. Biden spoke frequently about his close relationship with former President Barack Obama (D), but he also took quite a few shots at President Trump. At one point, while countering Trump's penchant for giving his political rivals nicknames, Biden dubbed the president simply "clown."

Maximum Security, the favorite entering the Kentucky Derby, crossed the line first during the opening leg of the Triple Crown races on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky. But long shot Country House, the horse that finished second, ended up the official winner after the jockey for another horse, War of Will, filed an objection argung Maximum Security impeded War of Will's progress resulting in Country House's victory. Code of Honor crossed the finish line next. The Kentucky Derby is the first of the three Triple Crown races and will be followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Last year saw just the second Triple Crown winner since 1975 when Justify emerged victorious in all three races.

Rachel Held Evans, the best-selling author known for challenging conservative Christianity, died on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 37. The cause of death, her husband Daniel Evans said in a statement, was extensive brain swelling. Evans, an Episcopalian, wrote books about faith and doubt. The New York Times writes that Evans' "unique writing voice" fostered a community of marginalized believers who felt many conservative Christian groups were exclusionary. Evans had been in a medically induced coma since April 19. Dan Evans said his wife's "presence in this world was a gift to us all and her work will long survive her.

During Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday, billionaire investor and Berkshire Hathaway's CEO Warren Buffet criticized Bitcoin, calling it a "gambling device" with limited use. Buffett warned people to avoid investing in the cryptocurrency. "There's been a lot of frauds connected with it," Buffett said. "Bitcoin hasn't produced anything." Bitcoin has shown some resiliency lately, however, rising from $3,736 at the start of the year. But The Daily Hodl writes Buffet's words could reportedly go a long way due to his astonishing track record when it comes to investment.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on Saturday during a presidential campaign stop in Iowa that he would vote to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt if he were in the House. "We had an attorney general of the United States who refused to come to a hearing that the House Judiciary Committee called," Sanders said. "He was asked to testify, he refused to testify, he refused to provide the information that the House wanted, and that is unacceptable." Of course, Sanders is in the Senate so he is unable to vote on the matter, given that Barr did testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. The House is giving Barr one last chance to comply with their request.

Turkey announced on Sunday it will not adhere to United States sanctions over its agreement to purchase Russian S-400 defense systems. The U.S. said the S-400s could compromise the capabilities of its F-35 fighter jets — for which it had a separate deal with Turkey. Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan warned on Friday that the Pentagon would cease manufacturing support for the F-35 in Turkey if Turkey purchases a Russian system, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he plans to do so regardless. Turkey takes part in the production of the jet because of its NATO membership. Erdogan said NATO's F-35 program would collapse without Turkish participation.

George R.R. Martin, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire, the series that inspired HBO's Game of Thrones, announced on his personal blog on Saturday that HBO is going ahead with the production of three Game of Thrones-based series. Martin added that one of the shows will begin filming later this year, while the other two remain in the script stage. Martin did not divulge any information on plot specifics, but he did hint that those interested should read a copy of his recent book, Fire and Blood, to come up with their own theories. Game of Thrones will wrap up its final season later in May.

Comedian Adam Sandler returned to Saturday Night Live on Saturday evening, hosting the sketch comedy show for the first time since he was a member of the cast from 1990 to 1995. Sandler opened the show with a monologue, during which he performed a song parodying his time on the show and how he was "fired." The episode also saw some major cameos, including other SNL alums Chris Rock, Kristin Wiig, and Jimmy Fallon. The episode paid tribute to numerous characters Sandler routinely portrayed during his tenure and Sandler also had a solo performance on stage paying tribute to his friend and fellow SNL alum Chris Farley, who died in 1997.

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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.