Christine romans. Good morning. Good morning, im dave briggs. Wednesday, august 21st, 4 00 a. M. In new york city. Its been 18 days since the el paso shooting that killed 22, and 17 days since the dayton shooting that killed nine. Already it seems momentum for meaningful changes to gun laws is fading. A source confirms President Trump told nra chief Wayne Lapierre that universal background checks are, quote, off the table. A source says there is more emphasis on passing red flag laws, allowing people to ask a court to intervene if they see a warning sign. A senior white house official tried to downplay the president s comment to lapierre saying he was only talking about universal checks. Yesterday the president downplayed any hopes of changes to background checks. We have very, very strong background checks right now, but we have sort of missing areas and areas that dont complete the whole circle, and were looking at different things. And i have to tell you that it is a mental problem, and ive said it 100 times, its not the gun that pulls the trigger, its the person that pulls the trigger. That doesnt square with what he said after the el paso and dayton shootings. Well, im looking to do background checks. I think background checks are important. I think we can do meaningful, very meaningful background checks. I want to see it happen. President trumps change of tone not sitting well with the 2020 democrats or senator joe mnuchin of West Virginia who spoke with the president about the issue. I said, mr. President , you cant blast a keg of dynamite your base. Theyre not leaving it. They didnt leave you on bump stocks. Theyre not going to leave you on common sense background checks. Even this president says hes going to do something about background checks, and then word comes out today that he has consulted with his masters at the nra, and theyve told him, sorry, you cant do that. It raises the simple question, whos in charge . We need not to let this be a time of impotent empathy where we dont feel enough pain for our brothers and sisters across this country that are suffering from the ravages of violence, but we all begin to demand it. Republican and democrat. One republican operative close to the white house says the issue is likely to reemerge when Congress Returns from recess in september, noting that some gop lawmakers in swing districts are hearing from voters who want to see action on the gun issue. Law enforcement cracking down on threats since the el paso and dayton shootings. At least 25 arrests across the country in connection with alleged mass shooting threats. Three of the latest, a 15yearold Florida High School student arrested for threatening a School Shooting during a video game chat. I adultond bernhart vow to bring my fathers m15 to school and kill hes just a little kid playing a video game. Thats what the fbi and the Law Enforcement is spending time because how do we know hes not going to be hitting parkland . The Volusia CountySheriffs Department received a tip from the fbi. Confronted by police, the teen insisted it was a joke. 35yearold eric linn was arrested friday. He used Facebook Accounts to threaten a south florida resident and their family. He also made prohitler statements and called for the extermination of all hispanics. And in tennessee, a truck driver was arrested for threatening a mass shooting at a church when a friend asked Thomas Matthew mcvicor why, he told police they put spiritual snakes and spiders in my bed at night. Another friend says he has Mental Health issues. Mental health is something that, you know it doesnt discriminate, and it it it against all. Mcvicors mother says she is being treated for schizophrenia. An aboutface before the president s trip to denmark. Hes postponed his visit after the Danish Foreign minister refused to discuss the sale of greenspanland calling his interests greenland calling his interests absurd. The leaders met before the trump announcement yesterday. Translator greenland is not for sale in any way. Im not saying it as a joke. Greenland is not for sale. Translator of course greenland is not for sale. I agree, and by the way, greenland does not belong to denmark, so its not a case for us. Cnns Fred Pleitgen just back from assignment in greenland joins us live from moscow. Good morning to you. The president said greenland was not a priority. So why then was he going to denmark, and why cancel the trip . Well, originally it was supposed to be a diplomatic meeting and a visit to denmark. I just am receiving news here that apparently the danish royal family say theyre completely surprised by President Trumps move. Who as you said said that this was not a frontburner issue. This was something he was thinking about, was not necessarily a priority. And i think just yesterday, dave, we were talkin about the fact that President Trump seemed to be joking about all this when he tweeted a picture of what seemed to be trump tower on greenland and said i promise never to do this to greenland. Obviously the danes are trying to figure out what exactly President Trump is trying to do. The interesting thing in all this is that President Trump obviously snubbing one of americas key and longterm alliance. The danines in iraq and afghanistan, sending troops to both places, a staunch ally of the united states. At the same time trying to court one of americas adversaries. Cnn learning President Trump and french president macron were talking about getting russia back into the g7 which, of course, was the g8 before russia got kicked out. Russia got kicked out after invading ukraine and annexing crimea. This wasnt just americas decision under the Obama Administration, this was the decision of the majority of the g8. Back then the g8 countries decided with russia doing that it no longer belonged in that organization. However, President Trump, like in many other cases in the past, trying to pin this on the Obama Administration, the same as the Paris Climate Accord when the u. S. Left that and the Iran Nuclear Agreement saying he believed president obama at the time had been outsmarted by Vladimir Putin. Lets listen in to what President Trump had to say. Putin outsmarted him. President obama thought it wasnt a good thing to have russia in, so he wanted russia out. But i think its much more appropriate to have russia in. If somebody would make that motion, i would be disposed to think about it very favorably. Reporter President Trump, dave, is expected to broach this topic with other g7 members at the upcomin g7 summit come is taking place in france this weekend. Of course, the main reason why President Trump and Emmanuel Macron, the president of france, spoke there yesterday trying to prepare that meeting. Macron himself met with Vladimir Putin a couple of days ago and praised relations between europe and russia, as well. An interesting one to monitor. Also diplomacy seems to be all over the place now. It does indeed, no mention of russian interference in our elections. Fred pleitgen on another extraordinary day in moscow. Thanks. The white house looking to boost confidence in the economy. Could other tax cut be the answer . The President Trump keeps touting tali tax reductions, thats of the reasons were in such a strong position. President trump keeps touting a strong economy, but he and his officials are sending mixed signals about a payroll tax cut. Is it payroll tax cut being considered its not being considered at this time. Payroll tax is something that we think about, and a lot of people would like to see that. Ive been thinking about payroll taxes for a long time. Yes, the u. S. Economy and job market strong in part to trumps 2017 tax cuts. But thats been largely driven by consumer demand. Hour however, that demand is being threatened by a global slowdown. There are a few questions here. Would a payroll tax cut help the economy . According to moodys analytics chief economist, each 1 that you cut in payroll taxes would increase gdp by 80 cents. You look back in 2011, the payroll tax cut added a notable half a percentage point to gdp. The question is, would it be worth ballooning the deficit. Several economists say no. In 2011 and 2012 the economy was struggling to emerge from the great recession. You look at the economy now, unemployment is at historic lows, and wages are rising. So analysts argue that a payroll tax cut would be a waste of ammunition in the event of a future downturn. Yet another move by the white house targeting migrants at our southern border. The Trump Administration expected to announce a rule making it easier to keep families locked up longer. The move seeks to replace the socalled flores settlement by removing the 20day limit on the detention of children. An Administration Official says families who know theyll be released soon by making it to the u. S. As a family could exploit the loophole. Theyll be held at a Family Residential center run by i. C. E. Throughout the parents immigration proceedings. The official claims there will be lenient provisions for parole. The regulation is expected to be met with legal challenges. President trump tapping into some of the very same antisemitic tropes hes railed on democrats for in the past. He was lashing out at democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib questioning her sincerity as she teared up talking about her decision to not travel to israel to see her elderly grandmother in the west bank. Then he said this where is the Democratic Party gone . Where have they gone where theyre defending these two people over the state of israel . And i think any jewish people that vote for a democrat, i think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty. The dual loyalty claim echoing historic antisemitic tropes. Democrats pounced. Its outrageous. Its offensive. And its dangerous. It creates an environment that puts jews at risk. The president should know that. I think thats a profoundly antisemitic statement by the president. Its disgusting, it ought to be condemned by republicans as well as democrats. I am a proud jewish person. [ cheers ] and i have no concerns about voting democratic. The head of the Antidefamation League saying, quote, its long overdue to stop using jews as a political football and the Jewish Democratic council adding this is yet another example of donald trump continuing to weaponize and politicize antisemitism. This is about jews being loyal to him, then trump needs a reality check, end quote. Jewish voters went democrat by about a 31 margin in the midterms. That is the question, did he mean loyalty to him, to israel, just a lot of the questions being asked after another stunning statement. It really does make your jaw drop. Yeah. If you thought american politics was messy, wait until you see whats going on in italy. Cnn is live in rome next. Here you go little guy. A cockroach can survive submerged underwater for 30 minutes. Wow. Yeah, wow. Not getting in today. Not on my watch. Pests never stop trying to get in. We never stop working to keep them out. Terminix. Defenders of home. Its something we take personally, and believe in passionately. Its the idea that if our mothers were diagnosed with cancer, how would we want them to be treated . Thats exactly how we care for you. With answers and actions. To hear your concerns, quiet your fears, lift your spirits. With teams of cancer experts and specialists, delivering advanced Treatment Options and compassionate support every step of the way. All here in one place, with one purpose. To fight your cancer, together. Thats the mother standard of care. This is how we inspire hope. This is how we heal. Cancer Treatment Centers of america. Appointments available now. They have businesses to grow customers to care for lives to get home to they use stamps. Com print discounted postage for any letter any package any time right from your computer all the Amazing Services of the post office only cheaper get our special tv offer a 4week trial plus postage and a digital scale go to stamps. Com tv and never go to the post office again political turmoil roiling italy. Its Prime Minister resigning after a scathing speech condemning a far right coalition partner. So who is in charge now, and can they calm the political waters . Cnn has more live from rome on the latest. You know, italy is known for its political drama, but many are saying, barbie, that is the most dysfunctional Italian Government weve seen in decades. No, thats absolutely right. Even by italian standards this really is a doozy of a political crisis. And i dont really know that anyone sees a way out of it short of snap elections. Of course this Coalition Government was born out of an election in march of 2018. They were estranged bed fellows from strange bedfellows, from day one. Now they have to figure out what to do next, whether he can take the Election Results from 2018 and turn them into a government that does work, or if he has to just throw it all away and call new elections. That could give rise to the far right leader who pulled the plug on this government to begin with. So weve got a lot of political backroom dealing going on now over the next two days. By tomorrow afternoon, we should have a way forward, whatever that way forward may be, though it could cause more confusion than certainly calming these political waters. And this political chaos happening with the backdrop of financial turmoil, as well. I understand growth is sitting at 0 , public debt is skyrocketing, over 2 trillion. How is how is all of that being handled in the middle of all this political crisis . Well, its it is worrying to italians worried about their savings. Also comes against the backdrop of brexit. Weve got a halloween deadline for brexit. So youve got one of the anchor economies in europe in this political, financial turmoil right now just as europe is facing one of its biggest challenges. This really does extend far beyond the italian borders. This is going to create a huge problem for all of europe. This is going to be a one country to watch. Thank you so much. Ahead, a texas school forced one student to color part of his head with a sharpie. 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Parents of a texas middle schooler Say School Officials used a sharpie to color in their sons haircut which the staffer said violated the school dress code. Dante trice and angela washington have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the texas school district. The suit says back in april their 13yearold son got a fade ha ha haircut with a design line. He was given two options, use a black permanent marker to cover his scalp, or get inschool suspension. Not wanting to affect his track team eligibility, he chose the sharpie option. The suit claims they laughed as they colored in his scalp which the parents say took many days of scrubbing to come off. A detroit family is mourning the loss of their 9yearold daughter who was mauled to death by dogs. Police say Emma Hernandez was attacked by three pit bulls while riding her bicycle on monday. Its not clear what set the dogs off, but witnesses tried to save hernandez, and someone actually shot one of the dogs. The girls aunt says her father recently confronted the dogs owner. I had actually had an argument with them that they needed to be properly fenced. They couldnt just be roaming out. And he just didnt do anything. No word yet if the dog owner will face charges. Animal care and control says the dogs will likely be euthanized. Walmart is taking tesla to court claiming solar panels installed by the electric carmaker caught fire. Walmart accuses tesla of breach of contract, claiming it lost hundreds of millions of dollars. Theyre seeking to recover the costs related to the fires at seven stores and have tesla remove the panels. No comment yet from tesla, though just days ago tesla tried to spark interest in its Solar Panel Business with the plan to let consumers rent rooftop systems rather than buy them.