Good Tuesday afternoon. Stormy Daniels is testifying in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, a tornado watch has been issued for multiple Midwest states through this evening, and TikTok is fighting back after the U.S. passed a law that could ban the popular app nationwide. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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Stormy Daniels takes the stand in Trump hush money trial |
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s hush money trial rejected a defense request for a mistrial after Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress at the center of the case, took the stand and described in explicit detail her alleged sexual encounter with the former president. Daniels told the jury she met Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in 2006 in Lake Tahoe, and went to his hotel thinking they were going to have dinner, but was instead shown up to his penthouse room. After chatting for about two hours, Daniels said she went to the bathroom and came out to find Trump lying on the bed in boxer shorts and t-shirt. “I just thought, ‘Oh my God, what did I misread to get here?’” Daniels told the jury. Daniels said Trump was “bigger and blocking the way” but that she was not threatened either verbally or physically.” She told the court she “blacked out” when she had sex with Trump, though she was not drugged or drunk. “I felt ashamed that I didn’t stop it and that I didn’t say no,” Daniels said. Trump is accused of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment through his then-attorney Michael Cohen to Daniels to keep quiet about their one-night stand to protect his 2016 campaign. He denies having an affair with Daniels, and has pleaded not guilty. For the latest updates in the Trump hush money trial, visit our NBC News live blog. |
Tornado watch across Midwest after severe weather outbreak in Plains |
A tornado watch has been issued for Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, including the entire metro Chicago area, until 9 p.m. ET as severe weather pushes into the Midwest. Severe storms slammed the Plains on Monday, unleashing tornadoes that ripped through small towns in Oklahoma, leaving at least one person dead. Barnsdall, a city of about 1,000 people, was among the hardest hit, with reports of damage to 30 to 40 homes, according to officials. Today 28 million people across the Midwest and the Ohio Valley are at risk for severe weather, with threats including tornadoes, large hail and damaging wind gusts. Cities in the path of these storms also include Indianapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Louisville, Lexington, and Nashville. |
Israeli military seizes Rafah crossing, with cease-fire deal uncertain |
The Israeli military said it has seized control of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, after sending tanks into the city for what it called a “precise counterterrorism operation.” The operation has “choked off” humanitarian aid into Gaza, a U.N. spokesman warned today at a news briefing. The move comes after Hamas said it had accepted a cease-fire proposal following weeks of talks with mediators from Qatar and Egypt. Israel has rejected that proposal, but said it will send a delegation to continue talks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the truce proposal “very far” from Israel’s demands, and said Hamas only agreed to it to “sabotage” the Israeli military's entry into Rafah. Israel’s ground incursion in Rafah is “a very limited” operation designed to achieve tactical military goals and put pressure on Hamas in the cease-fire negotiations, an Israeli official told NBC News. |
TikTok sues U.S. government over potential nationwide ban |
TikTok is suing the U.S. government, seeking to block a law passed last month that could ban the popular app nationwide unless its Chinese owner sells the platform. The lawsuit filed today describes the law an “unprecedented violation” of the First Amendment. FBI Director Chris Wray told Lester Holt last month that TikTok “represented a national security threat” because its parent company is “beholden to the Chinese government.” TikTok argues in its lawsuit that the U.S. has not presented any evidence the app poses a security risk that could justify a national ban. |
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Drake’s security guard shot outside his Toronto mansion |
A shooting outside Drake’s Toronto mansion early this morning left a security guard seriously injured, police said. A representative for Drake, who has made headlines recently over his rap beef with Kendrick Lamar, said the superstar was not injured, though it is not clear whether he was home at the time. A suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, authorities said. The motive remains unclear “because it’s so early” in the investigation, police said. |
What else we're watching: |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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