Good Tuesday afternoon. The first six jurors have been selected in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, Speaker Mike Johnson says he is not resigning as the push within the GOP to oust him gains momentum, and Al Roker is tracking severe storms across parts of the South and Midwest.
Good Tuesday afternoon. The first six jurors have been selected in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, Speaker Mike Johnson says he is not resigning as the push within the GOP to oust him gains momentum, and Al Roker is tracking severe storms across parts of the South and Midwest. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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Six jurors selected in Trump hush money trial |
The first six jurors have been selected to serve on former President Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial, after the selection process entered Day 2. The six were seated after a dramatic moment in court, in which the judge admonished Trump for appearing to say something while a potential juror was being questioned about her Facebook posts in the wake of the 2020 election. “I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom. I want to make this crystal clear," Judge Juan Merchan said. A number of potential jurors were sent home today, after dozens were dismissed on Day 1 for saying they couldn’t be “fair and impartial” in the former president’s case. In a new court filing, Manhattan District Attorney Alan Bragg has asked the judge to hold Trump in contempt for allegedly violating the gag order preventing him from attacking witnesses or court staffers. The jury will ultimately consist of 12 people and six alternates, and the selection process is expected to take up to two weeks. Trump has pleaded not guilty. |
Supreme Court hears January 6th case that could impact Trump |
The Supreme Court heard arguments today in a high-stakes case challenging a law that federal prosecutors have used to charge more than 300 rioters for the January 6th attack. The case questions whether January 6th defendants can be charged with obstructing an official proceeding — the certification by Congress of Joe Biden’s election victory — under a 2002 law designed to prevent financial crimes. Trump is charged with violating the same law, as well as conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, as part of a four-count federal election interference indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith. Also today, Justice Clarence Thomas was back on the bench, after an unexplained absence on Monday. |
Speaker Johnson says “I am not resigning” amid Ukraine, Israel funding backlash |
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he will not step down as the push to oust him from leadership gains momentum among hardline Republicans, after he unveiled a plan to pass aid to Ukraine and Israel. “I am not resigning,” Johnson told reporters. “And it is, in my view, an absurd notion that someone would bring a vacate motion when we are simply here trying to do our jobs.” Johnson spoke after a second Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said he would co-sponsor Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resolution to remove Johnson from the top job. Massie suggested Johnson “pre-announce his resignation” so that “we can pick a new Speaker without ever being without a GOP speaker.” |
Tornado threat and severe storms across Plains, South and Midwest |
There are reports of tornadoes in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa today as intense storms push eastward, putting 25 million people in the risk zone across portions of the mid-Mississippi Valley and the Midwest. Today’s storms could produce tornadoes, hail bigger than golf balls, and damaging wind gusts above 60 mph, according to forecasters. Cities that could see severe weather today include Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Chicago, Kansas City and Madison. |
Israel vows Iran will "face the consequences" for attack |
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Israel’s military chief has vowed that Iran would “face the consequences,” after it launched more than 300 missiles and drones toward Israel on Saturday, in retaliation for the deadly strike on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria on April 1. President Biden and other leaders have called on Israel to show restraint after Iran’s attack last weekend, which caused no deaths, but did put Israel’s defenses to the test. The U.S. expects Israel’s response to be limited in scope, and would most likely involve strikes against Iranian military forces and Iranian-backed proxies outside Iran, four U.S. officials told NBC News. |
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What else we're watching: |
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Copenhagen’s 17th-century Old Stock Exchange went up in flames today, causing the historic building’s iconic spire to collapse. |
The Olympic flame was lit today in ancient Olympia, for the start of the relay to the Paris 2024 Summer Games. |
The University of Southern California has caused controversy after canceling a planned commencement speech by its pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing security concerns due to tensions over “the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.” |
Six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin announced he’s retiring from the league after 13 seasons. |
NASA has now confirmed the origin of a nearly 2-pound piece of space junk that crashed through a Florida man’s home. |
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