Michael Bloomberg Takes on the Coal Industry (The New Yorker)
“As the only person not representing a country, Bloomberg, in his new role as the U.N.’s special envoy for climate action, seemed like a substitute for American leadership.”

James Comey Has a Story to Tell. It’s Very Persuasive (New York Times – Book Review)
Former FBI chief James Comey goes on the book promotion trail with his new book, A Higher Loyalty. The New York Times review says while it reveals no hard news revelations about current investigations, the book gives readers “near-cinematic accounts of what Comey was thinking” in key meetings he had with President Trump.

Trump’s Tweet response:

@realDonaldTrump: James Comey is a proven LEAKER & LIAR. Virtually everyone in Washington thought he should be fired for the terrible job he did-until he was, in fact, fired. He leaked CLASSIFIED information, for which he should be prosecuted. He lied to Congress under OATH. He is a weak and…..

@realDonaldTrump: ….untruthful slime ball who was, as time has proven, a terrible Director of the FBI. His handling of the Crooked Hillary Clinton case, and the events surrounding it, will go down as one of the worst “botch jobs” of history. It was my great honor to fire James Comey!

Mickey or Madness – He Chose Mickey: Bob Iger was in the process of seriously exploring a run for President when the deal for Disney to acquire 21st Century Fox sealed his fate, keeping him at Disney through 2021. Disney CEO Bob Iger on Taking the Biggest Risk of His Career (Vogue)

Goldman Brexit Surprise: Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein told Politico the economic impact of Britain’s decision to leave the EU was not as bad as he had feared — for now. “We would’ve thought decision-making would’ve been altered by now,” he said in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

Different takes: Papers less effusive about Brexit picked up different lines. The Independent: “Goldman Sachs might not have built European HQ in London if it had known about Brexit, says Lloyd Blankfein.” The FT: “Goldman’s Blankfein decries ‘bitter and negative’ U.S. politics.” (Politico London Playbook)

Teacher Walkouts Threaten Republican Grip on Conservative States (New York Times)

The National Enquirer, a Trump rumor, and Another Secret Payment to Buy Silence (The New Yorker)

Yesterday, The National Enquirer released this statement:
The Enquirer could not prove the story (about the doorman’s allegations that Trump has a love child) to be true and opted not to publish it because the “determined was not credible.”

Also yesterday, this headline in The National Enquirer:
MICHAEL JACKSON – SHOCKING CLAIMS THAT HE’S STILL ALIVE — Woman Claims Contact with Decidedly Undead King of Pop!

Headlines from around the world.

Times of London: Biggest task force since Iraq on course for Syria

South China Morning Post: China to stage surprise live-fire navy drill ‘to warn Taiwan and show support for Russia’

The Globe & Mail: Nafta deal is far off despite U.S. compromise on auto demand

China Daily: Xi reviews display of China’s naval prowess

Times of India: Apple may soon start making one of its highest-selling iPhones in India

Laugh (don’t cry) section.

Best of Late Night:

On Facebook hearings in Washington:
“So all lawmakers can really do is just chastise Facebook publicly and ask them nicely to go and think about what they’ve done. That’s all they can do. Basically, Congress has to deal with big corporations the way rich white people punish their kids. ‘Young man, there’s going to be consequences for this! Now you go to one of your bedrooms and figure out what the consequences should be. And give me your iPhone! Here’s the newer one.’”
— Trevor Noah

On Trump hush money:
“A former Playboy bunny just became the oldest lingerie model at 83 years old. When asked why she went back to work, she said, ‘My Trump hush money ran out.’”
— Jimmy Fallon

On best places to live in the U.S.:
“A new report did not name New York City as one of the 25 best places to live in the country. ‘I’m shocked,’ said an adult New Yorker with six roommates.”
— Seth Meyers

Onion soup:

Onion-like Headline of the Day:
Amazon apologizes for shipping 10,000 copies Former FBI Director Comey’s book to the White House

Real New York City Headline of the Day:
Report of Tiger Running Amok in Manhattan Turns Out to be a Raccoon