An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: How ‘everywhere chemicals’ threaten your health; new TSA fee; Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir; and more

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By Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell

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Good morning. It's Tuesday, Dec. 2, and Giving Tuesday. If you want to make small donations that have a big climate impact, follow these tips. Now let's get to the news.

Pete Hegseth is trying to distance himself from the boat strike fallout.

What's going on? The Post reported Friday that the defense secretary gave a spoken order in September to kill the entire crew of a vessel thought to be ferrying drugs in the Caribbean.
The latest: Lawmakers have made initial moves to investigate whether the attack constituted a war crime. Officials fear the White House plans to scapegoat a top military commander.
One more thing: The publisher of "Franklin the Turtle" is angry about a Hegseth post on X.

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President Donald Trump unlawfully appointed Alina Habba, a court ruled.

Who is she? Trump's former personal lawyer and his pick to serve as the top prosecutor in New Jersey. Yesterday's appeals court ruling could impact other controversial appointees.
More Trump news: Officials revealed he recently got an MRI scan for a cardiovascular checkup. And a Trump Lego portrait is featured in this year's White House Christmas display.

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The D.C. shooting suspect struggled to adapt to life in the U.S., The Post reported.

Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II with pictures of two National Guard members who were shot last week in D.C. and a photo of the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

The details: Rahmanullah Lakanwal was once a counterterrorism fighter in Afghanistan who worked alongside U.S. forces. But his life began to unravel in the U.S. as a refugee.
What else to know: D.C. residents have been paying tribute to the two National Guard members shot last week, offering flowers and scribbled notes.

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"Everywhere chemicals" still threaten your health despite decades of warnings.

More than 40 years ago: Scientists were awakening to the potential dangers of phthalates as plastics became a way of life. But the U.S. government has done little to limit their use.
Today: Most people are exposed to phthalates when they eat. They also enter the environment through cheap plastic goods. The chemicals have been linked to serious health issues.
Reduce your exposure: Follow these 10 expert tips.

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TSA will start charging travelers without proper ID a $45 fee.

What to know: A new system to verify passengers who are not carrying a Real ID or passport goes into effect Feb. 1. (Check if you have the right ID here.)
Be warned: Even with payment, getting past security is not guaranteed. Yesterday's announcement urged travelers to pay the fee online before traveling.

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Black Friday sales show that "buy now, pay later" services are surging.

The data: Klarna, Afterpay and others drove $747.5 million in spending on Black Friday, an almost 9% increase over last year. If you use BNPL, be aware it can be a debt trap.
Other money news: Costco is suing the Trump administration over tariffs, seeking a full refund. And corporations are expected to claim $16 billion in new tax breaks this year.
One more thing: You hate these companies' ads — that's the point.

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It's a big day for enjoyers of media gossip.

Olivia Nuzzi, then a reporter for New York magazine, with political reporter and her now former fiancé Ryan Lizza in 2019. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post)

Why? The memoir from journalist Olivia Nuzzi, who left New York magazine last year after a romantic entanglement with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is out today.
What's in the book? Our critic says large parts of "American Canto" are "aggressively awful," but it does include some interesting new details. Find our four takeaways here.

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Before you go … shower curtains are gross: Here's how to position yours to prevent mold. Too late? We asked three experts how to deal with mold in your home.

One more good read: The Holocaust museum in D.C. will get a new artifact today — a pen that was used to save twins at Auschwitz.

We want to hear from you: Do you have questions about stories you've seen in The 7? Send them here. We'll find the right person to answer them and share responses in an upcoming weekend edition.

And finally … take a game break: