In The New York Times Opinion Section
"It was a cause of wonder that they had to take 15 votes," Nancy Pelosi tells Maureen Dowd about Kevin McCarthy becoming the next House ... Show more
What would former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have done in Kevin McCarthy’s place? She joins Chris to discuss the votes, the Biden classified documents and more ... Show more #ChrisWallace
How did America's debt become six times what it was at the start of the 21st century?
This fiscal position is the result of choices made by both ... Show more https://nyti.ms/3JeZXNU
In The New York Times Opinion Section
"It was a cause of wonder that they had to take 15 votes," Nancy Pelosi tells Maureen Dowd about Kevin McCarthy becoming the next House ... Show more
Quick Glance: US Blocks UN Resolution for Palestinian Full Membership
- In the Security Council, 12 countries voted for a UN resolution recommending full Palestinian membership, with the US opposing and two countries abstaining.
- The US argued that Palestinian membership should result from negotiations between Israel and Palestinians to enable a two-state solution.
- The Palestinian delegation emphasized that UN membership is a crucial step for peace in the region and criticized the Israeli government for its rejection.
- Israel rejected the resolution and warned of its potential impact on future dialogues, especially in light of the recent escalation of violence in Gaza.
Quick Glance: Senate's Decision on Impeachment Charges Against Mayorkas
- The Senate rejected the impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, halting the House Republicans' effort to impeach the Cabinet secretary over his management of the US-Mexico border.
- With Democrats contending that the articles were unconstitutional, senators voted to dismiss both impeachment charges and conclude the trial.
- Senate Republicans had called for a full impeachment trial after the House narrowly voted in February to impeach Mayorkas for his border actions.
- Republicans argued that President Joe Biden was ineffective at the border, while Democrats suggested accepting a bipartisan Senate compromise instead of impeaching Mayorkas to reduce illegal immigrants.
Quick Glance: Rock Icon Criticizes Taylor Swift: 'Not Important'
- Outspoken rock legend Courtney Love criticized Lana Del Rey, Madonna, and Taylor Swift in a new interview, stating that the latter is 'not important.'
- Love expressed negative views on Taylor Swift, calling her 'not important' and uninteresting as an artist, despite potentially being a safe space for girls.
- She also mentioned her ongoing feud with Madonna, dating back to their awkward encounter on MTV in 1995.
- Furthermore, Love harshly criticized Lana Del Rey, suggesting she delay the release of her upcoming album 'Lasso' until 2031 due to perceived overexposure.
Quick Glance: 'Rust' Armorer Sentenced to 18 Months in Fatal Shooting
- Former 'Rust' movie armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by the New Mexico District Court Judge.
- The incident that shocked the film industry is believed to mark the first instance in recent history of a member of a film crew or cast being fatally injured by a live round mistakenly loaded into a firearm.
- Baldwin's trial is scheduled for July 10 following his indictment for involuntary manslaughter in January.
- Initially, Hutchins' death led to a halt in the use of real firearms and blank ammunition by US film and television productions, but many have resumed usage due to the authenticity they provide.
Quick Glance: Former US Ambassador Sentenced for Spying for Cuba
- Former US ambassador Manuel Rocha was sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting to working as a secret agent for Cuba for decades.
- Rocha accepted the penalty and paid a $500,000 fine after pleading guilty to acting on behalf of a foreign government.
- The swift criminal case avoided a trial that would have revealed the extent of Rocha's assistance to Cuba while working for the US State Department for twenty years.
- The sophistication of Cuban intelligence services was highlighted as Rocha's double-crossing went undetected for years, demonstrating his secret meetings with Cuban operatives and provision of false information to US officials.
Quick Glance: Focus on Support for Israel and Ukraine by Mike Johnson
- House Speaker Mike Johnson is heavily advocating for support for Israel and Ukraine while trying to push a national security package through the House.
- Johnson faces the challenge of juggling the Republican Party's divided support for Kyiv's defense while feeling the pressure to pass a comprehensive aid package for U.S. allies.
- In his quest to find ways to promote funding for Ukraine, Johnson is engaging in discussions with the White House and former president Donald Trump. The divisive dynamic within the party and the urgency of the situation in Ukraine present a significant challenge for Johnson.
- Johnson must craft a package that includes some policy wins for Republicans while also gaining Democratic approval. Despite concerns from some progressive Democrats regarding support for Israel, most Democratic lawmakers have rallied behind the Senate-passed package.
Quick Glance: The Controversial Rise of Matt Gaetz
- Matt Gaetz is a product of his time: adept in the art of political performance and willing to blow up anything to achieve something.
- Starting as an unknown freshman in Washington, he rose to become a key figure of Trumpism and now aims to run for governor.
- Despite controversies and investigations, Gaetz has strengthened his alliance with the MAGA right and become a prominent voice of Trumpism.
- His political strategy is based on media presence and direct engagement with Americans, earning him influence and followers.
Quick Glance: Ukraine, Israel Aid Bill Advances in House
- The House has advanced a foreign aid package of $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian support with rare bipartisan support.
- Speaker Mike Johnson implemented a strategy to secure support for wartime funding, especially for Ukraine in its battle against Russia.
- President Joe Biden and even Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump have endorsed the speaker's efforts.
- To pass each bill, complex bipartisan coalitions need to be formed by Johnson due to his slim Republican majority in the House, relying on Democratic support.
Quick Glance: Self-Immolation at Trump Trial in New York
- During the significant legal proceedings against Donald Trump in New York, a man seemingly set himself on fire in front of the Manhattan courthouse on Friday. The incident occurred precisely at the moment when the jury composition was being established in the courtroom.
- This initial criminal case against a former US President revolves around an alleged hush money payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels, which Trump purportedly attempted to conceal through the manipulation of business records. The verdict is anticipated before the November presidential election, where Trump aims to run against Joe Biden.
- A pivotal aspect of the Trump trial is the selection of the jury to ensure impartiality. Despite expectations of a longer jury selection process, Judge Merchan is determined to expedite the proceedings.
Quick Glance: Trump's Hush Money Trial: Jury Selection Drama
- A full jury of 12 people and six alternates was seated Friday in Donald Trump's hush money case, setting the stage for opening statements next week in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.
- Later on, an appeals court judge denied a recent request by the Republican to pause the proceedings, citing concerns about rushed jury selection.
- The ongoing trial in Manhattan places Trump's legal challenges at the forefront of his heated contest against President Joe Biden, with adversaries likely leveraging unfavorable and sensational witness testimonies to argue his unsuitability to reclaim the role of commander in chief.
- Trump faces legal entanglements in four cases, with uncertainties surrounding the timing of trials for the other three, accusing him of attempting to manipulate the 2020 election outcome and unlawfully retaining classified materials.
Quick Glance: Lifetime Ban as Warning to NBA Gamblers: Coach
- Commissioner Adam Silver's firm stance on Raptors bench player Jontay Porter serves as a cautionary tale for potential NBA gamblers.
- The NBA's decision to ban Jontay Porter due to his involvement in gambling did not come as a surprise to anyone in the league.
- NBA bit players pose a gambling risk and were seen as an ideal example in this cautionary tale, as mentioned by an NBA coach.
- Porter's limited significance as a player will lead to the story fading quickly, even though it may be referenced in relation to his brother Michael Porter Jr. and the Nuggets during the playoffs.
Quick Glance: ByteDance Given 24 Hours to Provide DSA Risk Assessment for TikTok Lite
- The EU demands TikTok owner ByteDance to submit a risk assessment for TikTok Lite within 24 hours to address compliance questions related to the Digital Services Act.
- EU's concerns focus on the launch of TikTok Lite, especially on a reward-linked engagement feature that could have a negative impact on young people's mental health.
- The EU has requested TikTok to provide more information on the risk assessment of the new program and the measures to mitigate systemic risks.
- The company has until April 26 to provide additional information before the EU decides on potential further steps, such as a formal investigation.
Quick Glance: Alarming Conditions in Emergency Pregnancy Care for Women in the US
- Complaints surged about pregnant women being turned away from U.S. emergency rooms after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, as per federal documents.
- The cases raise serious questions about emergency pregnancy care in the U.S., especially in states with strict abortion laws that sparked confusion about the treatment doctors can provide.
Quick Glance: Apple removes WhatsApp and Threads in China
- Apple removes Meta-owned apps under Chinese government pressure.
- Apps delisted due to 'national security concerns'.
- Chinese users now unable to download Western social media apps.
- Apple faces declining iPhone sales in China despite branding efforts.
Quick Glance: Galax launches single-slot RTX 4060 Ti with slim blower design
- The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti offers weak performance for the price, regardless of the memory configuration.
- Potential buyers of the slim new Galax card should expect reference specs, including a 2,535 MHz boost clock.
- The Galax launches single-slot RTX 4060 Ti performed similarly to its fatter iGame rival, despite the minor OC advantage.
- The slim blower fan design from Galax enables the sleek design and doesn't seem to impact the performance level of a reference RTX 4060 Ti.
Quick Glance: Tesla Cybertrucks Recall Issued
- Tesla responds to defective accelerator pedals in nearly 3,900 Cybertruck pickups causing unintended acceleration.
- The recall involves Cybertruck vehicles manufactured between November 2023 and April 2024.
- An unauthorized use of soap during the accelerator pedal assembly likely led to the defect.
- Tesla voluntarily recalled the vehicles on April 12 due to two customer complaints.
Quick Glance: Twelve Jurors Seated in Trump's Hush Money Trial
- A jury of 12 individuals was empaneled on Thursday in the landmark hush money trial of former President Donald Trump, bringing the proceedings closer to opening arguments and the commencement of weeks filled with compelling testimonies.
- The upcoming trial is anticipated to present unfavorable testimonies regarding Trump's personal life pre-presidency, including accusations of manipulating business records to suppress narratives in the final days of the 2016 election surrounding his intimate relationships.
- Central to the trial is a payment of $130,000 made by Cohen just before the 2016 election to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, aimed at preventing her allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump from being publicized in the campaign's final stretch.
- The selection of the jury holds paramount significance in any criminal proceeding, particularly so when the accused is a former president and the presumed Republican candidate. Potential jurors have undergone extensive scrutiny concerning their online presence, personal backgrounds, and political stances as legal representatives and the judge meticulously scrutinize for partialities that could compromise their impartiality.
Quick Glance: JPMorgan warns of Need for 'Reality Check' on Phasing out Fossil Fuels
- JPMorgan warns of setbacks in transitioning to renewable energy due to higher interest rates, inflation, and global conflicts.
- Investment in renewable energy currently offers subpar returns, potentially leading to social unrest.
- JPMorgan forecasts increasing demand for oil and gas until 2030, highlighting challenges in transitioning to renewable energy.
- Wood Mackenzie warns of the impact of higher interest rates on transitioning to a global net-zero economy, especially for renewables and nuclear power.
Quick Glance: Biden Receives Kennedy Family Endorsements in Philadelphia
- President Joe Biden received endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Kerry Kennedy, daughter of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, niece of former President John F. Kennedy, and sister of the current presidential candidate, delivered the endorsements in Philadelphia, calling Biden her hero.
- The decision to highlight the Kennedy family's support more than six months from Election Day indicates how seriously Biden's team is taking a long shot candidate using his last name's lingering Democratic magic.
- Biden used the event to keep up the pressure on Trump, emphasizing the importance of the election not for himself, but to keep Trump out, stating the race was significant due to the potential consequences if they lose this election. The Kennedy family endorsements for Biden were hardly a surprise, as prominent members of the Democratic family did not politically align with Kennedy Jr.