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3 days ago
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Kristi Noem's FEMA moves and 7th grader wins Scripps spelling bee: Morning Rundown
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem quietly moves bolster FEMA ahead of hurricane season. Donald Trump's tariffs on international trade partners are allowed to continue, for now. And the skulls of 19 Black Americans are returned after 150 years. Here's what to know today. With the U.S. expected to face an above-average hurricane season this year, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is quietly pushing to keep key employees in place and to approve reimbursements to states previously hit by disaster, sources familiar with the situation said. The behind-the-scenes moves are a contrast to Noem's public calls for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to be reoriented or done away with altogether. They echoed of President Donald Trump's suggestion earlier this year to possibly "get rid of" the agency. Last week, Noem approved a request from newly installed acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson to retain 2,652 employees part of an on-call response/recovery group whose terms had been set to expire between April and December. Their departures would have left FEMA without a large number of key employees during hurricane season. Still, the departures of a large number of FEMA's senior executives, largely voluntarily, has raised concerns about its ability to respond during hurricane season. The White House suddenly approved disaster recovery reimbursement requests from 10 states last week, including some that had been stalled for months, according to FEMA disaster approval data. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Sources said Noem has taken an outsized role compared with previous secretaries in pushing the White House to support FEMA and reimburse states. In the past, the White House has generally approved disaster reimbursements to states, and the Homeland Security secretary has largely functioned as a rubber stamp. A DHS spokesperson denied the conflict between Noem and Trump, insisting Noem is carrying out Trump's vision for FEMA "to shift it away from a bloated, DC-centric bureaucracy." Read the full story here. Trump is set to hold a media event today with Elon Musk as the DOGE head concludes his tenure as a 'special government employee.' Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell met with Trump yesterday amid the president's pressure campaign to slash interest rates. Powell said monetary decisions would be based solely on 'non-political analysis.' The Trump administration has a new deportation strategy: arresting immigrants at courthouses. A federal judge extended a temporary order blocking the Trump administration's revocation of Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. It's not unusual for governors to run for the Senate. It's much less common for senators to eye the governor's mansion in their home state. But this election cycle could potentially see something that hasn't happened in modern history. A federal appeals court temporarily paused rulings by a panel of trade court judges that halted several of President Donald Trump's tariffs on international trading partners 'until further notice.' The ruling yesterday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit came after the Trump administration challenged a Wednesday judgement from the U.S. Court of International Trade, which found that a decades-old law the president cited in many of his tariff-related executive orders were invalid. Among the tariffs affected were a 10% universal baseline tariff, 20% duties on Chinese goods over its alleged failures to combat fentanyl trafficking and more. Trump praised the appeals court's pause and took aim at the lower court's three-judge panel, one of whom was appointed by the president in 2019. Earlier Thursday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a ruling similar to the trade court's, finding a number of Trump's tariffs 'unlawful.' However, that decision only affected a pair of educational toy makers who filed suit. Read the full story here. Some financial analysts have taken to using an acronym to Trump's on-again, off-again tariff moves — TACO, or 'Trump always chickens out.' Here are 10 times the president has threatened, then backtracked on them. British comedian and actor Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to all charges of rape and multiple counts of sex assault at a London court. The 49-year-old showed up at the Southwark Crown Court this morning accompanied by his lawyer, Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky, who successfully defended the actor Kevin Spacey against sex assault allegations in 2023. Brand, who stood up as the charges were read out to him, pleaded not guilty on counts of rape, oral rape, indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. Prosecutors agreed to the confirmed trial date of June 3, 2026, with pre-trial review expected to be held in May of that year. Read the full story here. 'Éclaircissement' was the winning word, but for Faizan Zaki, it spelled success. The 13-year-old seventh grader from Dallas was crowned the champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on the competition's 100th anniversary, just a year after coming in second place on the big stage. The winning word, in case you were wondering, means the clearing up of something obscure. Zaki's victory wasn't without a bump in the road in the final round, when three contestants were left, and all three got their words wrong. The three contestants competed again — only this time, Zaki prevailed. Read the full story here. A new Covid variant has landed in the U.S. and has the potential to drive up cases this summer. Here's what to know about NB.1.8.1. Prosecutors retrying Karen Read in the death of her police officer boyfriend in 2022 rested their case this week, with a few notable changes from her first trial. A woman identified only by the pseudonym 'Mia' gave graphic testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal trial alleging he sexually assaulted her when she worked as his personal assistant. Comedian (and now, licensed commercial pilot) Nathan Fielder called the FAA 'dumb' for rejecting his findings on what causes many plane crashes. Dad boys for life: Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are now in-laws after Murphy's son and Lawrence's daughter 'ran off and got married.' In 1872, the heads of 19 deceased Black Americans were severed and shipped to Germany for racially biased 'research.' It wasn't until about a week ago that the skulls were returned to New Orleans to finally be honored with a memorial service. In a powerful piece, reporter Curtis Brunn speaks to members of Dillard University, one of two historically Black universities in the city, about the significance of such an event. They shared themes of justice, remembrance and restoring honor to those who had their dignity stripped. The story both confronts a dark chapter in history and offers a slice of hope as the victims return home. As one person put it, the ceremony is a day of 'reckoning and renewal.' — Kayla Hayempour, platforms intern Posture correctors can be life-changing if they're used correctly. Here are what factors to consider when shopping for one. Plus, rice serums are a multitasking skincare ingredient, thanks to its concentrated nutrients and minerals, according to dermatologists. Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading today's Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you're a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on
NBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Kristi Noem's FEMA moves and 7th grader wins Scripps spelling bee: Morning Rundown
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem quietly moves bolster FEMA ahead of hurricane season. Donald Trump's tariffs on international trade partners are allowed to continue, for now. And the skulls of 19 Black Americans are returned after 150 years. Here's what to know today. The scramble to keep FEMA alive ahead of hurricane season With the U.S. expected to face an above-average hurricane season this year, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is quietly pushing to keep key employees in place and to approve reimbursements to states previously hit by disaster, sources familiar with the situation said. The behind-the-scenes moves are a contrast to Noem's public calls for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to be reoriented or done away with altogether. They echoed of President Donald Trump's suggestion earlier this year to possibly "get rid of" the agency. Last week, Noem approved a request from newly installed acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson to retain 2,652 employees part of an on-call response/recovery group whose terms had been set to expire between April and December. Their departures would have left FEMA without a large number of key employees during hurricane season. Still, the departures of a large number of FEMA's senior executives, largely voluntarily, has raised concerns about its ability to respond during hurricane season. The White House suddenly approved disaster recovery reimbursement requests from 10 states last week, including some that had been stalled for months, according to FEMA disaster approval data. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Sources said Noem has taken an outsized role compared with previous secretaries in pushing the White House to support FEMA and reimburse states. In the past, the White House has generally approved disaster reimbursements to states, and the Homeland Security secretary has largely functioned as a rubber stamp. A DHS spokesperson denied the conflict between Noem and Trump, insisting Noem is carrying out Trump's vision for FEMA "to shift it away from a bloated, DC-centric bureaucracy." More politics news: Trump is set to hold a media event today with Elon Musk as the DOGE head concludes his tenure as a 'special government employee.' Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell met with Trump yesterday amid the president's pressure campaign to slash interest rates. Powell said monetary decisions would be based solely on 'non-political analysis.' The Trump administration has a new deportation strategy: arresting immigrants at courthouses. A federal judge extended a temporary order blocking the Trump administration's revocation of Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. It's not unusual for governors to run for the Senate. It's much less common for senators to eye the governor's mansion in their home state. But this election cycle could potentially see something that hasn't happened in modern history. Trump's tariffs allowed to continue for now A federal appeals court temporarily paused rulings by a panel of trade court judges that halted several of President Donald Trump's tariffs on international trading partners 'until further notice.' The ruling yesterday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit came after the Trump administration challenged a Wednesday judgement from the U.S. Court of International Trade, which found that a decades-old law the president cited in many of his tariff-related executive orders were invalid. Among the tariffs affected were a 10% universal baseline tariff, 20% duties on Chinese goods over its alleged failures to combat fentanyl trafficking and more. Trump praised the appeals court's pause and took aim at the lower court's three-judge panel, one of whom was appointed by the president in 2019. Earlier Thursday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a ruling similar to the trade court's, finding a number of Trump's tariffs 'unlawful.' However, that decision only affected a pair of educational toy makers who filed suit. Read the full story here. More tariffs coverage: Some financial analysts have taken to using an acronym to Trump's on-again, off-again tariff moves — TACO, or 'Trump always chickens out.' Here are 10 times the president has threatened, then backtracked on them. Russell Brand pleads not guilty in rape and sexual assault case British comedian and actor Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to all charges of rape and multiple counts of sex assault at a London court. The 49-year-old showed up at the Southwark Crown Court this morning accompanied by his lawyer, Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky, who successfully defended the actor Kevin Spacey against sex assault allegations in 2023. Brand, who stood up as the charges were read out to him, pleaded not guilty on counts of rape, oral rape, indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. Prosecutors agreed to the confirmed trial date of June 3, 2026, with pre-trial review expected to be held in May of that year. Read the full story here. 7th grader Faizan Zaki wins Scripps National Spelling Bee 'Éclaircissement' was the winning word, but for Faizan Zaki, it spelled success. The 13-year-old seventh grader from Dallas was crowned the champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on the competition's 100th anniversary, just a year after coming in second place on the big stage. The winning word, in case you were wondering, means the clearing up of something obscure. Zaki's victory wasn't without a bump in the road in the final round, when three contestants were left, and all three got their words wrong. The three contestants competed again — only this time, Zaki prevailed. Read the full story here. Read All About It A new Covid variant has landed in the U.S. and has the potential to drive up cases this summer. Here's what to know about NB.1.8.1. Prosecutors retrying Karen Read in the death of her police officer boyfriend in 2022 rested their case this week, with a few notable changes from her first trial. A woman identified only by the pseudonym 'Mia' gave graphic testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal trial alleging he sexually assaulted her when she worked as his personal assistant. Comedian (and now, licensed commercial pilot) Nathan Fielder called the FAA 'dumb' for rejecting his findings on what causes many plane crashes. Dad boys for life: Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are now in-laws after Murphy's son and Lawrence's daughter 'ran off and got married.' Staff Pick: Black Americans' skulls return home 150 years later In 1872, the heads of 19 deceased Black Americans were severed and shipped to Germany for racially biased 'research.' It wasn't until about a week ago that the skulls were returned to New Orleans to finally be honored with a memorial service. In a powerful piece, reporter Curtis Brunn speaks to members of Dillard University, one of two historically Black universities in the city, about the significance of such an event. They shared themes of justice, remembrance and restoring honor to those who had their dignity stripped. The story both confronts a dark chapter in history and offers a slice of hope as the victims return home. As one person put it, the ceremony is a day of 'reckoning and renewal.' — Kayla Hayempour, platforms intern NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Posture correctors can be life-changing if they're used correctly. Here are what factors to consider when shopping for one. Plus, rice serums are a multitasking skincare ingredient, thanks to its concentrated nutrients and minerals, according to dermatologists. here.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump tariff court ruling and OKC Thunder advance to NBA Finals: Morning Rundown
A three-judge panel blocked most of Donald Trump's tariffs in a new ruling. Marco Rubio said the U.S. will start to 'aggressively' revoke Chinese students' visas. And how a real video from Gaza led to claims of an AI hoax. Here's what to know today. A federal trade court blocked most of the tariffs President Donald Trump has rolled out so far in his second term, ruling yesterday that several of them exceed his authority as president. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of International Trade said in their judgement that the tariffs lacked "any identifiable limits." They also found that the decades-old International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the federal law Trump has cited in many of his executive orders, did not 'delegate an unbounded tariff authority to the President.' This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. The ruling applies to the 10% rate applied to most trading partners and those on China. It also includes fentanyl-related levies on Canada and Mexico. The Trump administration quickly moved to appeal. White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended the president's trade policies in a statement, saying deficits "have created a national emergency" that has weakened the country. "It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency," Desai added. The panel's judgement pertained to two lawsuits — one filed by a group of states led by Arizona and Oregon, and other led by several small businesses. Both suits argued that Trump had exceeded his authority. Read the full story here. Trump insisted he's not 'chickening out' on tariffs and that his on-again, off-again threats have helped the U.S. gain ground in negotiations. Elon Musk has started offboarding from his White House role. Trump pardoned several people yesterday, including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, and said he would look into pardoning the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whtimer. The president also commuted the six life sentences of Larry Hoover Sr., a Chicago gang founder. Battle lines are forming over Medicaid spending cuts in the bill for Trump's agenda, and the fight has the potential to become a midterms flashpoint. The Trump administration has emerged as a staunch defender of a far-right German political party with Nazi echoes. In his intensifying war on Harvard University, Trump is testing out a new tactic: pitting the Ivy League against the working class and trade schools. The U.S. will start to 'aggressively revoke' the visas of Chinese students, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday, adding that visa criteria will also be revised to 'enhance scrutiny' of all future applications from China. The decision comes just days after the Trump administration stopped scheduling new interviews for foreign nationals seeking student visas in its latest move against elite universities. Those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields could be affected, though it is unclear what those fields are. Both the U.S. and China have expressed concern about each other's advancements in sensitive areas such as biotechnology and artificial intelligence. Read the full story here. A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's effort to deport pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil on foreign policy grounds is most likely unconstitutional. Immigration courts have dismissed cases for at least 14 men deported to El Salvador in recent weeks, potentially cutting off their return to the U.S. A Harvard scientist detained by ICE was granted bail but remains in custody on a separate smuggling charge. Pregnant women's decision of whether to get a Covid vaccine should come down to conversations with their doctors, not a recommendation by the federal government, FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said in an interview. Earlier this week, Makary took part in Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s announcement revoking the CDC's recommendation that Covid shots should be offered to pregnant women and healthy children. Makary claims that data on Covid vaccines for pregnant women 'is a mixed set of data.' But vaccine experts say such an assertion isn't supported by evidence, and OB-GYNs quickly raised alarms over patient access to the vaccine. While the CDC doesn't mandate vaccination, it traditionally relies on a panel of independent vaccine experts to recommend vaccinations for certain groups of people based on data, and the CDC can endorse those recommendations. Kennedy's decision skipped the usual process of consulting the panel and could jeopardize whether insurance companies will cover the vaccine at no cost to patients. Read the full story here. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the best in the West, just three years after finishing with one of the worst records in the Western Conference. The Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the conference finals last night, 124-94, at one point leading by 39 points. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed to the blowout defeat with 34 points. It'll be OKC's first NBA Finals appearance since 2012, a feat made even more remarkable by the team's stunning turnaround in the past few years. Read the full story here. So which team will OKC face in the finals? There could be an answer as early as tonight, when the New York Knicks face the Indiana Pacers and attempt to stay in the Eastern Conference finals. New York, which heads into the game in a 3-1 deficit, has seen great individual moments from star players Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — but together, the duo has faltered in one very important area. Here's what needs to change if New York wants to avoid elimination. And it almost goes without saying that part of the fun of watching the playoffs has been the famous courtside spectators. One postseason mainstay: actor Timothée Chalamet. With the series returning to Madison Square Garden tonight, expect to see more celebs. Family members of the suspect in the violent attack at the mansion of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner said they repeatedly tried to warn authorities in the days before the incident — but never heard back. Kevin Costner was sued by a 'Horizon 2' stunt performer who claims she was put in an unscripted rape scene without warning or proper safety protocols. Cassie Ventura gave birth to her third child, two weeks after she took the stand as a star witness in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal trial. Bed bugs have been nipping at humans for 60,000 years, a new study shows, predating even cockroaches and rats as the 'first true urban pest.' A video released by the U.S.-backed aid distributors Gaza Humanitarian Foundation caused a heated debate on social media — not because of what it showed, but over whether it was another AI hoax. The video, which hit social media on Tuesday, shows a person making a heart sign and a 'shaka' sign in front of a large crowd of Palestinians who cheer and wave from behind rows of barriers as they wait to collect food at a distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip. An analysis by NBC News' social newsgathering team and cybersecurity company Get Real Security found the video is real after all. While the war in Gaza has been a hotbed for misinformation, there are certain clues in the footage that prove its authenticity. — Colin Sheeley, senior social newsgathering reporter More than 9,000 homes were destroyed in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, in January. To help young fire survivors heal, nonprofit Outward Bound Adventures is taking local teens on camping trips in the mountains not far from their hometown. 'I've heard the youth say, 'I feel peace when I'm here. I feel like I can be myself and not have to hide how I'm actually feeling right now,'' said Outward Bound Adventures development coordinator Brandon Hammerli. See how these teens are grieving — and healing — together. NBCU Academy is a free, award-winning education program for developing new skills and advancing careers in journalism, media and tech. One thing you shouldn't do when you get a sunburn is peel your skin. So here are the best sunburn treatments to try instead. Plus, menopause can do a number on women's teeth. Here's how to protect your smile and avoid dry mouth. Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading today's Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you're a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on
NBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Trump tariff court ruling and OKC Thunder advance to NBA Finals: Morning Rundown
A three-judge panel blocked most of Donald Trump's tariffs in a new ruling. Marco Rubio said the U.S. will start to 'aggressively' revoke Chinese students' visas. And how a real video from Gaza led to claims of an AI hoax. Here's what to know today. Federal trade court rules against several Trump tariffs A federal trade court blocked most of the tariffs President Donald Trump has rolled out so far in his second term, ruling yesterday that several of them exceed his authority as president. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of International Trade said in their judgement that the tariffs lacked "any identifiable limits." They also found that the decades-old International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the federal law Trump has cited in many of his executive orders, did not 'delegate an unbounded tariff authority to the President.' This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. The ruling applies to the 10% rate applied to most trading partners and those on China. It also includes fentanyl-related levies on Canada and Mexico. The Trump administration quickly moved to appeal. White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended the president's trade policies in a statement, saying deficits "have created a national emergency" that has weakened the country. "It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency," Desai added. The panel's judgement pertained to two lawsuits — one filed by a group of states led by Arizona and Oregon, and other led by several small businesses. Both suits argued that Trump had exceeded his authority. Elon Musk has started offboarding from his White House role. Trump pardoned several people yesterday, including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, and said he would look into pardoning the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whtimer. The president also commuted the six life sentences of Larry Hoover Sr., a Chicago gang founder. Battle lines are forming over Medicaid spending cuts in the bill for Trump's agenda, and the fight has the potential to become a midterms flashpoint. The Trump administration has emerged as a staunch defender of a far-right German political party with Nazi echoes. In his intensifying war on Harvard University, Trump is testing out a new tactic: pitting the Ivy League against the working class and trade schools. U.S. to go after Chinese students' visas, Rubio says The U.S. will start to 'aggressively revoke' the visas of Chinese students, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday, adding that visa criteria will also be revised to 'enhance scrutiny' of all future applications from China. The decision comes just days after the Trump administration stopped scheduling new interviews for foreign nationals seeking student visas in its latest move against elite universities. Those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields could be affected, though it is unclear what those fields are. Both the U.S. and China have expressed concern about each other's advancements in sensitive areas such as biotechnology and artificial intelligence. Read the full story here. More immigration news: A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's effort to deport pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil on foreign policy grounds is most likely unconstitutional. Immigration courts have dismissed cases for at least 14 men deported to El Salvador in recent weeks, potentially cutting off their return to the U.S. A Harvard scientist detained by ICE was granted bail but remains in custody on a separate smuggling charge. FDA chief on Covid vaccine for pregnant women: Consult a doctor Pregnant women's decision of whether to get a Covid vaccine should come down to conversations with their doctors, not a recommendation by the federal government, FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said in an interview. Earlier this week, Makary took part in Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s announcement revoking the CDC's recommendation that Covid shots should be offered to pregnant women and healthy children. Makary claims that data on Covid vaccines for pregnant women 'is a mixed set of data.' But vaccine experts say such an assertion isn't supported by evidence, and OB-GYNs quickly raised alarms over patient access to the vaccine. While the CDC doesn't mandate vaccination, it traditionally relies on a panel of independent vaccine experts to recommend vaccinations for certain groups of people based on data, and the CDC can endorse those recommendations. Kennedy's decision skipped the usual process of consulting the panel and could jeopardize whether insurance companies will cover the vaccine at no cost to patients. Read the full story here. OKC Thunder advance to the NBA Finals The Oklahoma City Thunder are the best in the West, just three years after finishing with one of the worst records in the Western Conference. The Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the conference finals last night, 124-94, at one point leading by 39 points. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed to the blowout defeat with 34 points. It'll be OKC's first NBA Finals appearance since 2012, a feat made even more remarkable by the team's stunning turnaround in the past few years. Read the full story here. So which team will OKC face in the finals? There could be an answer as early as tonight, when the New York Knicks face the Indiana Pacers and attempt to stay in the Eastern Conference finals. New York, which heads into the game in a 3-1 deficit, has seen great individual moments from star players Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — but together, the duo has faltered in one very important area. Here's what needs to change if New York wants to avoid elimination. And it almost goes without saying that part of the fun of watching the playoffs has been the famous courtside spectators. One postseason mainstay: actor Timothée Chalamet. With the series returning to Madison Square Garden tonight, expect to see more celebs. Read All About It Family members of the suspect in the violent attack at the mansion of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner said they repeatedly tried to warn authorities in the days before the incident — but never heard back. Kevin Costner was sued by a 'Horizon 2' stunt performer who claims she was put in an unscripted rape scene without warning or proper safety protocols. Cassie Ventura gave birth to her third child, two weeks after she took the stand as a star witness in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal trial. Bed bugs have been nipping at humans for 60,000 years, a new study shows, predating even cockroaches and rats as the 'first true urban pest.' Staff Pick: Gaza video ignites debate over AI-generated media A video released by the U.S.-backed aid distributors Gaza Humanitarian Foundation caused a heated debate on social media — not because of what it showed, but over whether it was another AI hoax. The video, which hit social media on Tuesday, shows a person making a heart sign and a 'shaka' sign in front of a large crowd of Palestinians who cheer and wave from behind rows of barriers as they wait to collect food at a distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip. An analysis by NBC News' social newsgathering team and cybersecurity company Get Real Security found the video is real after all. While the war in Gaza has been a hotbed for misinformation, there are certain clues in the footage that prove its authenticity. — Colin Sheeley, senior social newsgathering reporter NBCU Academy: How nature is helping teens after L.A. wildfires More than 9,000 homes were destroyed in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, in January. To help young fire survivors heal, nonprofit Outward Bound Adventures is taking local teens on camping trips in the mountains not far from their hometown. 'I've heard the youth say, 'I feel peace when I'm here. I feel like I can be myself and not have to hide how I'm actually feeling right now,'' said Outward Bound Adventures development coordinator Brandon Hammerli. See how these teens are grieving — and healing — together. NBCU Academy NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified One thing you shouldn't do when you get a sunburn is peel your skin. So here are the best sunburn treatments to try instead. Plus, menopause can do a number on women's teeth. Here's how to protect your smile and avoid dry mouth. here.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's pardons of public officials and break-in at Beanie Babies mogul's house: Morning Rundown
A handful of Trump's recent pardons show a shift in Justice Department priorities. British authorities garner praise for swift reaction to incident involving a vehicle in Liverpool. And a woman is in a coma after a break-in at the home of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner. Here's what to know today. When President Donald Trump announced this week that he would pardon Scott Jenkins, the former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, it furthered a shifting mission within the Justice Department: to de-emphasize public corruption cases. Jenkins' name and his case are likely not widely recognized by the general public. In March, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of accepting over $75,000 in exchange for giving law enforcement authority to local businessmen, as well as two undercover FBI special agents. All of Jenkins' co-defendants pleaded guilty. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Still, Trump sees him as a 'victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice' who 'doesn't deserve to spend a single day in jail.' It's part of a broader pattern, in which he has pardoned at least four supportive former public officials who were convicted of financial improprieties. That includes: Rod Blagojevich, the Democratic former governor of Illinois, over corruption charges related to bribery; Republican former Tennessee state Sen. Brian Kelsey over a campaign finance-related fraud conviction; and Republican former Las Vegas City Council member Michele Fiore, who was convicted on conspiracy and wire fraud charges and had been set to be sentenced this month. Also notably, the Trump administration moved to drop the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams earlier this year. And yesterday, the president said he plans to pardon Todd and Julie Chrisley, the pair known for their roles on the reality TV show 'Chrisley Knows Best' who are serving time for bilking banks out of tens of millions of dollars. Trump, who faced two separate federal criminal cases that were dropped after his re-election, has long argued that he was a victim of the weaponization of the DOJ and FBI, and he has been sympathetic to those who make similar claims. Since Trump took office, the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section has shrunk both in size and influence, while the FBI's Washington Field Office is shutting down a public corruption squad that was focused on federal corruption. 'It's clear that this administration doesn't believe that tamping down on public corruption is a priority,' said Stacey Young, a former Justice Department official. Read the full story here. The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to make it easier for officials to deport convicted criminals to 'third countries' that are not their countries of origin. The Trump administration has also stopped scheduling new interviews for international students seeking visas to study in the U.S. as the State Department prepares for expanded social media screenings. ICE deported over 17,200 people in April, according to new data, a 29% increase compared to the same period last year and an almost 40% increase from the previous month. Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced he's running for governor of Alabama. Britain's King Charles III said Canada is facing a 'critical moment' in a rare speech seen as a show of support for Canada in the face of Trump's annexation threats. Authorities in England announced the arrest of a suspect on suspicion of attempted murder after a vehicle drove through a crowd of soccer fans in Liverpool's city center, leaving dozens injured. Eleven people remained hospitalized as of yesterday. When the incident initially made national newscasts on Monday, it didn't take long for notorious right-wing voices on social media to label it a 'suspect terrorist attack' and for others to speculate that the driver had been motivated by Islamic extremism. But authorities shut down those rumors within a couple of hours. First, police described the suspect as a 53-year-old white British male from the Liverpool area. A few hours later, police said the incident was not being investigated as terrorism-related. 'I've never known a case like this before where they've given the ethnicity and the race of the individual who was involved in it,' Dal Babu, a former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent, told BBC Radio 5 Live. But the remarkably swift release of details in Monday's incident, which authorities and civilians praised, was a sign of lessons learned after a deadly stabbing attack last year sparked violent riots in the town of Southport. Read the full story here. A woman is in a coma and a suspect has been arrested after a break-in at the California home of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's office said in a criminal complaint. The incident happened last week when the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Russell Maxwell Phay, allegedly broke into the home, 'violently' beat a woman and then barricaded himself in an upstairs bathroom, according to the Santa Barbara County's Sheriff's Office. Phay was apprehended after he 'attempted to flee by climbing out of' the bathroom window. The victim was identified through public records and social media as Linda Malek-Aslanian, whose LinkedIn profile identifies her as a financial services professional from New York. Warner, who is known for being reclusive, was at home at the time of the attack but not harmed. Phay is charged with attempted murder, burglary, kidnapping and assault in the incident. Previous local news reports and public records reveal his previous run-ins with law enforcement. Read the full story here. The CDC will no longer recommend routine Covid shots for healthy children and pregnant women, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. Thousands of hungry Palestinians stormed a new, controversial U.S.- and Israel-backed aid distribution center in Gaza and made off with boxes of food as Israeli soldiers fired live rounds in the air. Eight of the 10 New Orleans jail escapees are now in custody after three arrests yesterday. Meanwhile, court documents have revealed where the inmates went after their escape and the names of those accused of assisting them. As the use of dietary or herbal supplements grows, so have rates of toxic hepatitis. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani hasn't pitched in a game in more than 640 days, but that could soon change. As the oldest, richest and most renowned university in the U.S., Harvard is a dream school not just for Americans but also for international students, who make up more than a quarter of its student body. Their future at the Ivy League school is uncertain, however, as the Trump administration tries to impose a ban on international students' enrollment. Such a ban would be a loss for Harvard both financially and in terms of academic talent — and a win for universities in Asia, Europe and elsewhere that are eager to snatch them up. Now, some students say they're exploring their options. — Jennifer Jett, Asia digital editor Curious about the best way to clean your windows? One quick tip is to clean your windows in the shade or in the evening to prevent streaks from forming. Plus, the NBC Select team tested over 20 compression socks and shared their six favorite options. Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading today's Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you're a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on
