Arrests in connection with Matthew Perry's death and Kamala Harris' economic agenda: Morning Rundown

Five people have been charged in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry. Kamala Harris will outline economic policy proposals in a speech in North Carolina. And a viral but unconfirmed rumor claims that Americans' Social Security numbers have been leaked.

This is what you should know today.

Prosecutors claim Matthew Perry's addiction spiraled out of control before his death

“Friends” actor Matthew Perry suffered from an out-of-control ketamine addiction in the weeks before his death. In the month before his death, he injected the drug six to eight times a day and paid at least $55,000 for it, prosecutors said in court documents.

Prosecutors announced yesterday that five people have been charged in connection with Perry's death. Dr. Salvador Plasencia was accused of giving the drug to Perry and his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Iwamasa was accused of injecting Perry on the day of his death.

Others charged in connection with his death included Mark Chavez, a San Diego doctor who owned a ketamine clinic; Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry's who was charged with trafficking the drug; and Jasveen Sangha, a major underground seller who was known as the “ketamine queen.” Read more about the suspects and the allegations made against them.

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Before his death, Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety, but it was not the supervised doses of therapy that killed him. According to prosecutors, Perry had sought out unsupervised doses of the controlled substance and developed an “uncontrollable” dependence on it.

On the day of his death, Perry had been given his third ketamine injection in six hours. Iwamasa went to run errands, the documents say, and when he returned home, he found Perry lying face down in his pool.

Court documents provide further insight into Perry's final weeks. You can read the whole story here.

Harris wants to focus her economic message on cost reductions

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to sharpen her message to Americans on the economy in two major speeches as her campaign team seeks to move away from the Biden administration's emphasis on low unemployment and strong economic growth and instead call for policies that would lead to lower prices for consumers.

A preview of Harris' remarks at a rally in North Carolina today shows she will support a federal ban on price gouging in the food and food processing industries. She will also propose cracking down on takeovers of food companies if they could lead to higher food prices. Harris has previously spoken out in favor of a higher minimum wage and expanded child tax credits. The vice president will again press her message on the economy at the Democratic National Convention next week.

Inflation is showing signs of cooling and the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates soon, providing some relief to Americans. There were mixed signals about the economy in the last few weeks.

Further coverage of the 2024 elections:

• Follow our live blog for the latest updates from the election campaign.
• The Secret Service will use ballistic glass to protect Donald Trump so he can resume his outdoor campaign rallies, sources say.
• Trump is intensify his false attacks to the integrity of the election and to provide preemptive excuses for a possible second defeat while his standing in the polls is declining.
• Trump's personal finance disclosure form shows that he owns over $1 million worth of cryptocurrency and has made $300,000 from branded bibles.

A hacker claimed that Americans' social security numbers had been leaked, but experts warn not to panic.

A lawsuit has sparked the viral but unproven claim that the Social Security numbers of every US citizen were leaked in a data breach this year. The alleged data leak was first reported in April, but concerns intensified after a class-action lawsuit was filed earlier this month. Since then, the claim that a huge amount of Social Security numbers may have been exposed has echoed through social media. Preliminary expert analysis suggests that the leak may contain incomplete and false data alongside some legitimate information, leaving the extent of the leak and the authenticity of the claim unclear.

Security experts say the leak of Social Security numbers is no reason to panic. Given the frequency of data thefts, Americans should simply assume their information is already in the hands of criminals.

Technology reporter Kevin Collier explained what is known so far about the data theft and spoke to experts about how to protect your personal identity. You can read the whole story here.

Politics Compact

Politics in Pennsylvania: A dispute between two prominent Pennsylvania politicians – Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator John Fetterman – recently became publicand their feud has the potential to influence state and Democratic politics for years to come.

Biden’s fiercest defender: First Lady Jill Biden will honor President Joe Biden on the first night of the DNC – an appearance that should have been completely different just a few weeks ago.

Trump investigations: Trump's lawyers demand a New York judge postpone the verdict in his civil fraud case until after the November election.

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Selection of personnel: Some doctors prefer compounded versions of weight loss drugs

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are not only popular, but they are also expensive and difficult to obtain. So what happens when there is a shortage of a drug, as is currently the case with semaglutide and trizepatide? The FDA allows compounded versions that are “essentially a copy.” Many members of medical practices are turning to these alternatives, but not everyone is comfortable with the unknowns. Experts on both sides of the argument explains why. — Elizabeth Robinson, Newsletter Editor

NBC Select: Online shopping, simplified

Snorers in your life? These Anti-snoring devices recommended by experts can help them (and you) sleep well. And while you are at it, these Dermatologist-recommended pimple patches are perfect for overnight use.

Sign up for The Selection Newsletter with practical product tests, shopping tips from experts and a look at the best deals and sales every week.

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