Facing Off

Who's taking the stage at the G.O.P. debate. [For the best experience, read in browser.]( August 9, 2023 Chris Noth is speaking out about the abuse allegations against him for the first time — [here’s his long-awaited response](. In political news, the first G.O.P. presidential debate is weeks away, and we’ve got [the latest on who will be up on the stage](. We’ve also got an interesting discussion about [whether you should delay menopause]( from two doctors with opposing views. We’ll end on a low-steaks — er, stakes — take with [a guide to the perfect burger](. Thanks for waking up with us!   In the News [Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott ]( Clockwise from left: Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott. (Getty Images/KCM) Facing Off The stage is nearly set for the first Republican presidential primary debate. So far, eight candidates have qualified. Here’s [what you need to know]( ahead of the GOP face-off: Making the cut: Contenders must meet a few requirements to take part in the Aug. 23 event in Milwaukee. They need a minimum of 40,000 donors, to hit at least 1% in certain polls, and to sign a loyalty pledge to support whoever wins the nomination. Who’s in? In a surprise twist for the man who was recently the party’s second in command, former Vice President Mike Pence spent weeks struggling to satisfy the criteria. After lots of hand-wringing over whether he’d make it, Pence officially hit the donor benchmark yesterday, making him the eighth candidate to announce they’ve qualified. (And, according to his campaign, the first one to submit the information to the RNC for verification.) Here’s a look at who else will be squaring off, [why Donald Trump may not show up](, and the long shots who are still trying to make it. [READ MORE]( PASS THIS STORY ALONG: mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Wake-Up%20Call%21&body=https%3A%2F%2Fkatiecouric.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-and-policy%2Ffirst-republican-debate-2024-election%2F   More Stories [Man's face concealed behind voting booth]( Getty Images Victory for abortion rights: Ohio voters have overwhelmingly rejected a GOP-backed effort to raise the threshold of support required to amend the state constitution. It's a huge win for abortion rights advocates as the measure, called Issue 1, came ahead of a November referendum in which voters will decide whether to enshrine the right to choose in Ohio's constitution. Had Issue 1 passed, it would've thrown up a new obstacle to direct democracy, and weakened the power of citizens to bypass the state legislature. "Mushroom poisoning" mystery: What started as an apparently normal family meal in a quiet Australian town has ballooned into an extraordinary homicide investigation. On July 29, Erin Patterson, 48, hosted four family members, all linked to her former partner, for lunch. Within days, three of them were dead. Ian Wilkinson, a 68-year-old reverend, remains critically ill. Their symptoms are consistent with poisoning by death cap mushrooms. [Here's more on this bizarre tragedy — plus Patterson's response.]( Gun watch: The Supreme Court on Tuesday froze a lower court order that barred the federal regulation of “ghost guns” — untraceable homemade weapons that can be bought online — as firearms. The 5-4 vote, which saw Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett side with the court's three liberals, means manufacturers and sellers must be licensed, give their products serial numbers, and conduct background checks. More revelations: Per NBC News, lawyers for the ex-Lizzo dancers suing the singer say they've been vetting new accusations from at least six people since she was [accused of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and weight shaming last week](. Attorney Ron Zambrano says they concern a “sexually charged environment” and failure to pay employees — and that some of the claims may be actionable.   In Focus You’ve probably never heard the names Annie Huang, Preethi Padmanaban, Shaina Charles, or Helen Bailey, but they’re all working behind the scenes to help cancer patients get the answers they need. [This inside look at the work of the cancer treatment team]( at Exact Sciences offers inspiring insights into how this boundary-pushing company is changing the medical game. [READ MORE]( [Supported by Exact Sciences](   Must-Reads [Chris Noth]( Speaking Out Chris Noth is breaking his silence in his first interview since the sexual assault allegations against him surfaced in 2021. [Read More »]( [Hourglass turned on its side on light pink background]( Point/Counterpoint Should you delay menopause? Two doctors on both sides of this debate sound off on the benefits and drawbacks. [Read More »]( [White and black hands reaching into box of water bottles and cans]( Summer of Service It’s never too late to give back to your community. Author Natalie Silverstein shares a few ways to make a significant impact right now. [Read More »](   Extra Credit On the outs: What do Mean Girls, Sleepless in Seattle, and The Italian Job have in common? You only have a limited amount of time to watch them on Netflix! Here’s [everything leaving at the end of the month](. Meat your match: Spend some time around the grill at your next barbecue, and you’ll notice people have a lot of opinions about how a beef patty should be served up. Famous butcher [Pat LaFrieda dishes on how to cook the perfect burger](. Run for it: Get a step up with [lululemon’s brand new sneaker](, the Chargefeel 2. It has all of the performance capabilities of its predecessor (and it was designed specifically for the female foot), but it’s more versatile than ever.   Take It From Us [Dailybird tinted moisturizer on green and yellow gradient background]( KCM "I’m all about a multi-tasker when it comes to beauty products, and [Daybird’s vegan tinted moisturizer]( does four jobs in one sleek bottle. It’s an SPF 50 mineral sunscreen (with UVA/UVB protection), serum, moisturizer, and sheer foundation. Talk about doing it all!" — Alaina Mancini, Managing Editor [SHOP HERE](   One More Thing New guidelines call for mammograms to begin at age 40, but that doesn’t account for the growing number of women in their 30s who are being diagnosed with breast cancer. We want to hear your stories: If you or someone you know fought the disease before their first screening, drop us a line at ask@katiecouric.com.   [The Shop Edit. Love shopping as much as we do? Subscribe to our latest newsletter and you'll never miss another trend, money-saving sale, or hard-to-find gem!]( Thanks for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! [Alternate text] Update your preferences or [unsubscribe]( If you buy something through this email, KCM may earn a commission. Katie Couric Media, 75 Varick St, Ste 12, New York, NY - 10013-1917 Copyright © 2023 Katie Couric Media, All rights reserved.