Morning Must Reads: August 6

Ebola Fears Grip U.S.

Federal health officials are facing a surge in reports of possible Ebola cases from hospitals and health departments, none confirmed but which highlight a moment of growing domestic concern about an outbreak that has claimed over 800 lives in Africa

Missouri Nears Executions Record

An execution Wednesday in Missouri brought the state’s pace near record levels, at a time when problems have led to growing scrutiny

Mixed Bag for Tuesday Primaries

Most results of the ballots in Michigan, Kansas, Missouri and Washington were predictable as the fight for the soul of the Republican Party rages on

Hillary Clinton Makes Surprise Colbert Report Appearance

Hillary Clinton and Stephen Colbert went head-to-head in the name game on Tuesday night when the former Secretary of State made an unannounced visit to the Colbert Report. There was lots of name-dropping, but still no talk of 2016

No Easy Answers to Charges of War Crimes in Gaza

Experts on both sides of the conflict have already drawn their own conclusions about whether international humanitarian law was broken—but investigating and proving war crimes is a lengthy and complex process that could take many months

Target Announces Support for Gay Marriage

The retail giant announced its support for gay marriage on Tuesday, after years of criticism for its neutrality on the issue, by joining a growing list of companies that are signing onto an amicus brief in a case before a federal appeals court

Obama’s Approval Rating at All-Time Low in New Poll

President Barack Obama’s approval ratings have dipped to a new low— 40%—according to a new poll released Tuesday. But the NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey shows even lower support for congressional Republicans

Ricky Gervais to Reprise Office Character in New Film

The comedian who co-created and starred in the mockumentary-style sitcom that was later remade by NBC in 2005, to enormous success, said his famous character David Brent (a prototype for Steve Carell’s Michael Scott) will appear in a new film called Life on the Road

Study: Aspirin Cuts Deaths From 3 Kinds of Cancer

Researchers have found that taking aspirin in late middle age can reduce deaths from bowel, esophageal and stomach cancer by 40%, 35% and 50%, respectively. But you need to take it for at least five years, and probably 10, for the anticancer benefits to be seen

Browns Defenders Wear Boxing Gloves in Practice

To prepare for the NFL’s crackdown on defensive holding this season, the team is making its cornerbacks and safeties wear boxing gloves during training camp practices in order to deter players from latching onto jerseys of wide receivers, a tactic that will now draw a penalty flag

New Post-Snowden Leaks Reveal Secret U.S. Watch List

Documents published Tuesday, which detail the growth of federal terrorist watch lists, were drafted after former NSA contractor Edward Snowden fled prosecution in the U.S. for Russia, when he no longer had access to classified intelligence networks

Thousands of Iraqi Refugees Are Stranded on a Mountain

If they come down, they risk being killed by Sunni militia. If they stay, they risk death from thirst and exposure. “A humanitarian tragedy is unfolding,” says Nickolay Mladenov, special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq

Get TIME’s The Brief e-mail every morning in your inbox