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NBC News
a day ago
- Business
- NBC News
The Senate successors avoiding GOP primary drama and AI fueled job cuts: Morning Rundown
JD Vance and Marco Rubio's Senate successors are cruising to the primaries. Artificial intelligence is fueling job cuts and anxiety in the tech world. And a new genetic test may predict a child's risk of obesity in adulthood. Here's what to know today. Vance and Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump's list of possible running mates last year, a hint of dread set in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida. If either of the then-senators were to leave for the White House, their governors would need to appoint a successor — a potentially messy scenario in states where the Republican Party is filled with rivalrous internal factions. In the end, both Vance and Rubio joined the new Trump administration. And their appointed successors, Jon Husted in Ohio and Ashley Moody in Florida, are facing smoother than expected paths, at least for now. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Neither Husted nor Moody has a credible primary opponent at the moment. Husted scored an early Trump endorsement, while Moody has made efforts to get closer to the president's political team. Both are also coming off strong fundraising quarters that could scare away any Republican tempted to challenge them. Given recent trends in both states, Husted and Moody will enter their 2026 special elections as favorites in November, too. The president's backing helped Husted secure early endorsements, and his decades-long record in elected office makes him one of the best-known politicians in the state. Combining these factors helps him 'clear the field,' one campaign manager said. Since her appointment to the Senate in January, Moody has enhanced her ties to Trump while strengthening her financial footing, ending June with $2.2 million cash on hand. Any primary opponent would 'quickly find their candidacy crushed,' a GOP veteran said. More politics news: The last vestige of the decades-old bipartisan funding process is at risk of dying, as the Republican-led Congress shifts to a partisan approach and party-line votes. When it comes to the 'big, beautiful bill,' few places could be impacted more significantly than Nevada — one of the country's most closely divided swing states. Trump wants Washington's football franchise and Cleveland's baseball team to revert to their former names, both of which were changed amid national discussions about dropping logos and names considered racist. AI is fueling job cuts, but is it really more efficient? As news swirls about multibillion-dollar deals for artificial intelligence startups, a small research nonprofit group is turning some heads in the tech world. Its findings were simple but surprising: AI made software engineers slower. 'When developers are allowed to use AI tools, they take 19% longer to complete issues,' the nonprofit group, METR, which specializes in evaluating AI models, said in its report. The results offer a reality check for major companies like Google and Microsoft moving toward AI generated coding. Overall job openings for software developers hit a five-year low earlier this year, and many coders are anxious about AI's responsibility for the slowdown. While it's clear AI can write code, it's far less certain whether the technology is a direct threat to coding jobs in the short term. 'We have tools that are way more powerful than any we've seen before,' one expert said, 'But there's also a long way to go.' Read the full story here. New genetic test could predict adult obesity risk A new genetic test may predict a child's risk of obesity in adulthood, paving the way for early interventions. In a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, scientists examined the genes of more than 5 million people to determine which genetic variants are linked to obesity. Certain variants can affect how a person's body stores fat or make them more prone to overeating. With this information, the researchers were able to create a score that could be used to predict a person's risk of obesity as an adult — before they even turn 5. Identifying a person's genetic risk in childhood and intervening with lifestyle coaching could make a big difference in adult obesity rates, said study co-author Ruth Loos. Loos' test is twice as effective as the method doctors currently use, but was primarily focused on people with European ancestry. Here's what else we know. A Delta regional flight performed a 'go-around' to avoid colliding with a B-52 bomber. An off-duty Customs and Border Patrol agent was shot in a New York City park in an alleged robbery that appeared to be random, police said. Coldplay's Chris Martin gave concertgoers a cheeky heads up about the 'kiss cam' during the band's first performance following the viral moment last week. The nation's largest wildfire this year has burned over 95,740 acres, fire officials in central Oregon said, and could intensify to become a so-called megafire. Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its planes and those of regional subsidiary Horizon Air amid a computer system outage. Staff Pick: Meet the weather detectives trying to better understand hail Hail is a sneaky threat that costs the U.S. tens of billions of dollars in damage each year. NBC News meteorologist and climate reporter Chase Cain visited Montana to catch up with researchers who drive into storms — come hail or high water — hoping to crack open the science of how hail forms and how to better forecast when big hail will strike. The project, appropriately called ICECHIP, is the first major field campaign studying hail in nearly 50 years. Researchers raced across the plains to capture the inner dynamics of dozens of storms with tools like mobile radar and drones with the goal of testing whether climate change is increasing powerful updrafts inside thunderstorms, which can help form larger hailstones. Think of it like 'Twister' but for hail. — Evan Bush, science reporter NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified What exactly are ampoules? Here's everything to know about the viral Korean beauty treatment. Plus, NBC Select found the best spring and summer dresses from Amazon — and all are under $50.
NBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Iran nuclear site assessment and DOJ fires Maurene Comey: Morning Rundown
A recent assessment suggests Iran would be able to resume nuclear enrichment within months, sources say. The Senate passes a spending cuts package that pulls funding for public news outlets NPR and PBS. And a surrogate speaks out after she found out the couple she bore a child for had 21 kids. Here's what to know today. Iran could resume nuclear enrichment within months, U.S. now assesses A recent assessment of the destruction caused by the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites last month determined that one enrichment site was mostly destroyed, but two others were not as badly damaged. The sites have been degraded only to a point where nuclear enrichment could resume in the next several months if Iran wants it to, five current and former U.S. officials familiar with the assessment said. The assessment was briefed to some U.S. lawmakers, Defense Department officials and allied countries in recent days, four of the sources said. A current U.S. official and two former U.S. officials also told NBC News that U.S. Central Command had developed a much more comprehensive plan to strike Iran. It would have involved hitting three additional sites in an operation that would have stretched several weeks instead of a single night. President Donald Trump rejected that option because it was at odds with his foreign policy instinct to extract the U.S. from conflicts abroad, as well as the possibility of a higher number of casualties on both sides, one current official and one former official said. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. While Trump has called the strike on Iran a "spectacular military success" that resulted in Iran's key enrichment facilities being "completely and totally obliterated," the reality gleaned through intelligence so far appears to be more nuanced. It's possible the U.S. could find itself back in a conflict in Iran, two of the sources said, and there have been discussions within both the American and Israeli governments about whether additional strikes could be necessary if Iran doesn't restart nuclear deal negotiations, or if there are signs that the Islamic Republic is trying to rebuild at one of the less-damaged facilities. The U.S. strikes in June targeted three enrichment sites in Iran: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Much of the Trump administration's public messaging about the strikes has focused on Fordo, which has long been viewed as a critical component of Iran's nuclear ambitions. Even if the Iranian sites were not completely destroyed, U.S. officials and Republican advocates of the operation believe it was a success because it has changed the nuclear equation for the country. Senate passes $9 billion rescissions package A sweeping spending cuts package is back in the House for another vote after the Republican-led Senate passed the measure early Thursday. The rescissions package requested by Trump cancels previously approved funding for foreign aid and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. The 51-48 Senate vote followed a 13-hour series of votes on amendments, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining all Democrats in opposition to the final bill. The package needs to pass again in the House before Trump signs it into law. Senators amended the measure to remove $400 million in cuts to a foreign aid program to combat HIV/AIDS. Read the full story here. More politics news: Vice President JD Vance offered an early glimpse of how Republicans sell Trump's domestic policy package to voters ahead of the 2026 midterms. A new report warns that Medicaid cuts in the megabill could result in more than 1,000 additional deaths and nearly 100,000 more hospitalizations every year. The Transportation Department said it's revoking $4 billion in federal funding for California's high-speed rail project. Fundraising reports filed this week shed new light on the battle for control of Congress in 2026. Here are five takeaways. Trump said it was 'highly unlikely' he would fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell despite telling a room full of Republican lawmakers that he was considering doing so. DOJ fires an Epstein prosecutor and daughter of Trump foe The Justice Department has fired federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, according to four sources familiar with the matter. Comey, who worked in the Southern District of New York, prosecuted Sean "Diddy" Combs and played a role in the prosecution of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. While it is not clear why Comey was fired, one source said that Article II of the Constitution, which establishes the executive power of the president, was cited. Trump previously accused Comey's father, former FBI Director James Comey, as well as former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, of making up Epstein documents, without citing evidence. The Justice Department last week confirmed a criminal investigation of James Comey, though exactly what prompted that decision is unclear. The latest firing comes as Trump is under intensifying political pressure from his MAGA base to release information related to the Epstein investigation. The president yesterday disavowed his supporters, calling them 'weaklings' who have bought into 'bull----' about Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose 2019 death by suicide has fueled conspiracy theories. His comments have also put MAGA-aligned media in a bind, with outlets and figures torn between the president and his base. Surrogate horrified to learn couple she bore a baby for had 21 kids Kayla Elliot said she thought she was helping a family who couldn't conceive when she agreed to be a surrogate for a couple in California. Now, she's working to gain custody of the child she birthed after police discovered 21 children, some of whom were born to different surrogate mothers, living in a Los Angeles-area home. The home's residents, Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan, were arrested in May on suspicion of felony child endangerment and neglect after a local hospital called police to report that a 2-month-old baby had arrived with head injuries. The investigation led to the discovery of more than a dozen children in the couple's Arcadia home, northeast of Los Angeles. A warrant has been issued for a nanny who worked with the couple and is suspected of violently shaking the child. Elliot said in an interview yesterday that something seemed off when she gave birth in March. But she was still surprised to learn about the allegations against Zhang and Xuan. 'You just don't expect that you're going to go through a pregnancy and a delivery and then hand the baby over to their parents and then all of a sudden find out that there was abuse and neglect going on,' Elliot said. One person died and 13 others were injured after a group of people were struck by lightning at a New Jersey archery range. The ICE agent who oversaw the arrest of Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Öztürk said in a federal trial that the Trump administration's request was so unconventional that he asked a lawyer if the arrest was even legal. Trump said Coca-Cola has agreed to start using cane sugar in sodas sold in the U.S. — but the company hasn't explicitly said it would. Three current and former Louisiana police chiefs, a U.S. marshal and a businessman were federally charged with participating in an immigrant visa fraud scheme. Barack and Michelle Obama laughed off divorce rumors on a recent episode of her podcast. Staff Pick: The 33-second scene deemed 'overly sensual' in India July has been a blockbuster month in India for Hollywood. "Superman" and "F1: The Movie" have been a hit in the country but cinemagoers I spoke to there have been furious at Indian censors due to abrupt cuts in both movies. In James Gunn's Superman, a 33-second midair kiss between Lois Lane and Clark Kent was deemed "overly sensual," and Indian authorities also took issue with the middle finger in F1, replacing it with a fist in a scene that showed it as an emoji. Censorship is routine for Indian cinemagoers, who accuse authorities of forcing arbitrary and moralistic changes on Hollywood films, while adopting double standards for Bollywood films, which are often laced with innuendoes, misogyny and sensual scenes. — Mithil Aggarwal, reporter NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Are plant-based cleaners as effective as bleach when it comes to cleaning your bathroom? NBC Select weighed the benefits and drawbacks of different types of shower cleaners. Plus, the team shares the best filtered showerheads for sensitive skin or dry hair.
NBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Mike Johnson calls for Epstein files and ICE memos gives deportation guidance: Morning Rundown
Donald Trump brushes off his supporters' interest in the Jeffrey Epstein case, and House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks out. An ICE memo details how officials can deport immigrants to third countries. And Grok, the Elon Musk-owned AI chatbot, debuts two so-called 'companions.' Here's what to know today. Trump's supporters won't quit talking about Jeffrey Epstein Donald Trump responded to mounting criticism of his administration's handling of Jeffrey Epstein's case, saying yesterday that he doesn't understand the buzz. 'He's dead for a long time,' the president said when asked about frustration from his supporters. 'He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody.' Earlier in the day, Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi should release 'whatever she thinks is credible' on Epstein, while Bondi herself declined to answer questions about the issue. Though some have called for her to resign, Bondi was defiant during a press conference. 'I'm going to be here as long as the president wants me to be here,' she said. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson showed a rare break from Trump by joining other conservatives in calling for the release of documents. The administration 'should put everything out there and let the people decide,' he told conservative commentator Benny Johnson yesterday. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and John Kennedy are among those who have also called out the Trump administration. The uproar about the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case comes after the Justice Department and FBI released a memo last week saying they found no evidence that the late financier had kept an 'incriminating 'client list'' or evidence that would lead to the prosecution of third parties. Conspiracy theories that 'Epstein didn't kill himself' began to spread almost immediately after Epstein's 2019 death in a New York City jail as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. Trump also took to Truth Social last Saturday to urge people to move on. If he thought his words would put an end to things, he was wrong. Data from Google shows that searches for Epstein spiked after Trump posted. It was also notable that the post, on the president's own social network, received many frustrated responses from supporters. Data from Google shows that searches for Epstein spiked after Trump posted. It was also notable that the post, on the president's own social network, received many frustrated responses from supporters. Trump has used conspiracy theories for political gain since before he ran for president, like when he stoked false claims that Barack Obama's birth certificate was fake. During his most recent presidential campaign, Trump said he would have 'no problem' looking into an Epstein client list. And once he took office, Trump appointed people who have also promoted conspiracy theories to senior positions in his administration. But now, Trump is bearing the brunt of those same conspiracies in an inescapable viral commotion. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the focus of a special legislative session starting next week would shift to flood relief, but his agenda shows lawmakers will be considering more than flood-related measures. ICE restarts third country deportations with little notice The Department of Homeland Security resumed third country deportation flights on Tuesday by deporting five immigrant detainees, all from different countries, to the small nation of Eswatini in Southern Africa. The resumption of third country deportations comes as ICE put out new guidance that its employees are allowed in certain circumstances to deport migrants to countries that are not their own in as little as six hours — and without assurances from the third country that they 'will not be persecuted or tortured.' But "in all other cases" where the U.S. has not received those assurances, ICE must follow certain procedures, including that officials must give immigrants a removal notice in a language the person understands and which tells them where the government intends to deport them. Read the full story here. More immigration news: The Pentagon ordered the removal of half of the 4,000 National Guard troops who were mobilized in response to immigration protests in Los Angeles. New ICE guidance requires that people who entered the U.S. without legal authorization remain in immigration detention as they fight deportation proceedings in court — meaning they can't get bond hearings and could potentially be detained for months or years. Immigration authorities want landlords to turn over leases and other information on their tenants, signaling a potential new front in the Trump administration's efforts to locate people in the country illegally. ICE detained a father in Washington state who had been working to legalize his residency status in the United States. His pregnant wife pleaded, 'I just want him home.' Adelita Grijalva wins Democratic primary for Arizona House seat The daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva won the Democratic primary to fill his former House seat in Arizona, The Associated Press projects. Adelita Grijalva, a former member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, defeated activist Deja Foxx and former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez and is set to face Republican Daniel Butierez in a special election in September. Both Grijalva, 54, and Foxx described themselves as progressives, but fissures emerged during the campaign over the issue of generational change. Raúl Grijalva won 12 terms representing Arizona's 7th House District before he died in March at the age of 77. The heavily Democratic district encompasses most of Tucson and the state's southern border. Read the full story here. Read All About It An elite Chinese cyberspy group hacked at least one state's National Guard network for nearly a year, the Pentagon found. Vance Boelter — the man accused of fatally shooting Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband last month — was indicted on federal murder charges. 'Severance' racked up 27 Emmy nominations, the most of any show this year, followed by 'The Penguin' with 24 and 'The White Lotus' with 23. See a full list of nominees. The National League defeated the American League in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game after the Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber went 3 for 3 in the game's first home run swing-off, following a 6-6 tie. Staff Pick: Grok's new chatbots seem designed to shock and entertain Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok turned heads last week for writing antisemitic social media posts on X. Now, Grok has introduced so-called 'Companions' that interact with users. One is a flirty Japanese anime character named Ani who offers to make users' lives 'sexier.' The other is a red panda named Bad Rudi with a penchant for foul language. Tech reporter David Ingram wrote that both bots criticized the Nazis and the action of xAI, the Musk-owned company behind Grok. But the graphic nature of the companions makes them outliers among other AI chatbots with a willingness to embrace hateful language and sexual content. Just look at snippets of Bad Rudi's conversation with NBC News, in which the character advocated for stealing a yacht, overthrowing the pope and spiking a town's water supply with hot sauce and glitter. — Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Curious about which food is best for your young pup? Veterinarians recommend the best puppy food with all the proper nutrients and tell us which ingredients to avoid. And should cats eat wet food, dry food or both? Vets break down what you should know when choosing what to feed your feline friend.
NBC News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- NBC News
Scrutiny over Texas flood alerts and conservative anger after Epstein memo release: Morning Rundown
A look at one Texas city's weather warning system, as questions swirl about the timing of flash flood warnings. Donald Trump will push back a critical tariff deadline. And conservative figures express anger over the FBI and DOJ's Epstein memo. Here's what to know today. In deadly Texas floods, one town had what some didn't: A wailing warning siren The death toll as a result of devastating floods in Central Texas rose to at least 104 people across six counties, officials said yesterday. The majority, 84, were killed in Kerr County, including 27 campers and counselors at the 99-year-old Camp Mystic. Seven people were killed in Travis County; four in Burnet County; six in Kendall County; and one in Tom Green County. Search and recovery efforts are still underway, though the likelihood of finding survivors is growing slimmer. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. As the aftermath of the floods comes into clearer view, questions and criticisms have emerged about the timing of the weather alerts sent to people in the area. Some Texas officials have blamed the National Weather Service, arguing it didn't do a good enough job of forecasting rainfall and issuing timely flooding alerts. In Kerr County, a flood watch was issued Thursday afternoon, and an urgent flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m. Friday morning. Downriver in the town of Comfort, a flash flood alert for Kendall County came at 7:24 a.m. Friday — and a wailing siren urging residents to flee provided a last-minute alarm for anyone who hadn't responded to previous warnings. There were zero fatalities in Comfort, according to Danny Morales, assistant fire chief of the city's volunteer fire department. It's impossible to know whether a siren system in Kerr County would have saved lives. The systems are meant to alert people who are outdoors, not in bed indoors, as many victims were. And many people in Kendall County were already awake and aware of the dangerous flooding when they were alerted of the threat to their area. But Tom Moser — a former Kerr County commissioner who began looking into a warning system for his area 10 years ago, after deadly floods in nearby Hays County — believes a system would have been valuable. Records show there were disagreements among officials about the need for a siren system, and the county didn't have the funding it needed. 'I don't know if it could have been 100% preventable,' Moser said of the current disaster's death toll. 'But it could have been improved.' More coverage of the Texas floods: Photos and maps show the severity of the flooding along the Guadalupe River. NBC News' Morgan Chesky, who grew up in Kerrville, wrote about what it's like returning home to cover the tragedy. His parents evacuated in the early hours of Friday morning, and their home is still standing, Chesky wrote, 'but we have friends who this has personally affected.' Read the full essay here. Community members, like 22-year-old Samuel Cummings, and volunteers from profit organizations have joined authorities in the search for survivors. Cummings, who grew up in Kerrville and swam the Guadalupe River as a kid, said the tragic sight of remnants from Camp Mystic — girls' Crocs, tennis shoes, volleyballs and water bottles — left him 'choked up.' Trump to push back tariff deadline but unloads new threats A pause on reciprocal tariffs that had been set to end this week will be extended to the end of the month, the White House said, after President Donald Trump pushed the deadline to Aug. 1. The announcement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt that Trump would sign an executive order came hours after the president published two letters addressed to Japan and South Korea, threatening them with 25% duties and higher ones for items deemed to have been transshipped through their countries. Later in the day, Trump posted letters threatening duties as much as 40% on goods from Laos and Myanmar, 30% on goods from South Africa and 25% on goods from Malaysia and Kazakhstan. However, Trump's ability to impose the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is under court review. The pushed-back deadline and threats represent a return to the back-and-forth, on-again, off-again state of affairs that has prevailed before and after Trump's April 2 speech announcing extreme import duties on dozens of countries. While some markets saw dips in light of Trump's threats, some Wall Street analysts are optimistic that this new round of uncertainty may not weigh as heavily on stocks this time around — though it could prove to be a setback for the Federal Reserve. Read the full story here. More politics news: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump at the White House. Both leaders complimented each other on their alliance in the conflict in Iran and struck an optimistic tone on a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, who along with his wife was injured in a shooting spree that took the life of a fellow lawmaker, was released from intensive care. Both Republicans and Democrats bet Trump's megabill can help them win big in the 2026 midterms. Here's how. Conservative anger over Trump admin's latest Epstein memo A new two-page memo published by the FBI and Justice Department concluded after an 'exhaustive review' that there is no evidence of an 'incriminating 'client list'' or evidence that would lead to additional prosecutions in the case of convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. The memo also concluded that Epstein died by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019 and that no evidence was found to suggest he had participated in blackmail. The findings closely mirror what news outlets have reported for years, but the findings have done little to quell conservative internet and media personalities who have reacted to the memo with skepticism and anger. Elon Musk, who has recently feuded with Donald Trump, reposted a post that suggested a larger government cover-up. Several conservative personalities echoed that idea, including Mike Benz, who worked in the State Department during Trump's first term, and said he believes there is a vast 'deep state' conspiracy. Another commentator said the memo is part of a 'shameful chapter' in U.S. history. Read the full story here. Read All About It A man was killed after an exchange of gunfire with Border Patrol agents in South Texas that also left an agency employee and two officers injured. The Army veteran accused of killing his three daughters in Washington state and disappearing into the wilderness may have been spotted in Idaho. The leader of an 'orgasmic meditation' business condemned what she believes is a double standard in how her case ended versus Sean Combs' case. Jasper Philipsen, a Tour de France sprint favorite, crashed out of the race just two days after taking first place on opening day. 'Love Island USA' contestant Cierra Orta left the villa after viewers uncovered old social media posts that contained a racial slur. Staff Pick: The rising cost of home construction When the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs at the beginning of April, we wanted to better understand how these policies could affect readers' daily lives. After hearing concerns from home builders about the effects on their businesses, we decided to explore how the cost of building a new house could change due to tariffs. To get the numbers we needed for a representative sample, we designed a model house, determined every material required to build it and then used trade data to identify which countries the U.S. most relied on for each item. Our interactive visualization takes readers through the step-by-step construction of a house, showing how tariffs could add thousands to home prices at a time when the U.S. is already grappling with a severe housing shortage. Industry experts we spoke with explained that tariffs don't just add direct costs. They create downstream effects that force builders to pause projects and scramble for alternatives. As additional tariffs loom on the horizon, builders face mounting pressures to make decisions about materials and pricing. According to Robert Dietz, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders, it's only a matter of time before consumers feel the effects. — Alex Ford, interactive visual designer NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified This week is stacked with deals. To start, Amazon Prime Day is officially here, and NBC Select has a roundup of the 33+ best deals. We also have a list of everything to shop for or skip during the four-day sale. And while we're at it, we dug into the history of Prime Day, and our editors rounded up their 100 favorite Amazon finds.
NBC News
04-07-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Trump to sign 'big beautiful bill' and #MeToo setback in Sean Combs' trial: Morning Rundown
Donald Trump's influence over Congress is proven with the passage of his megabill. A military analysis contradicts Pete Hegseth's stated reason for halting a weapons shipment to Ukraine. And why some feel like the verdict in Sean Combs' trial is a setback for the #MeToo movement. Here's what to know today. Trump takes victory lap after Congress advances his agenda President Donald Trump is expected today to sign the megabill containing many of his agenda priorities after the Republican-led House passed the legislation in a 218-214 vote, capping a tense 24 hours of negotiations and arm-twisting. The Fourth of July signing ceremony at the White House will include fireworks, sources said, and the possibility of a military plane flyover. Trump applauded Republicans after the bill passed, writing on social media that the effort signaled a unified Republican Party. He continued celebrating yesterday evening at a rally in Iowa organized to mark Independence Day, telling his audience there was 'no better birthday present for America' than this bill. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. The 887-page package, dubbed the 'one big, beautiful bill,' includes a tax-cut and spending package that is projected to increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over a decade. The bill also adds $5 trillion to the debt ceiling. The House vote yesterday was mostly along party lines, with just two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — joining all Democrats in voting against the bill. Before the House passed the bill, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries gave the longest House floor speech ever and stalled a vote for over eight hours. The bill's passage through Congress, regardless of the hurdles along the way, displays Trump's influence over the Republican Party that many of his predecessors would have envied. In a procedural vote Wednesday night that stretched into Thursday morning, Republican critics folded one by one and accepted demands they insisted they wouldn't, thanks to efforts by Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. The president's demands didn't always match reality. For example, the bill includes Medicaid cuts despite Trump's insistence that he wouldn't touch the program. And since Trump's takeover of the Republican Party, its core tenet of fiscal conservatism has been set aside. So will the bill unleash the economic growth that Trump predicts? Or will the steep cuts in the social safety net alienate some of the same blue-collar voters that Trump wrested from the Democratic coalition? Next year's midterm elections will serve as a huge test. Federal lands and waters will be opened up for oil and gas drilling, as well as coal mining, under the new law, while key support for solar and wind power will end. More politics news: Trump said he 'didn't make any progress' toward a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war when he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday by phone. Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center has so far received no federal funds despite assurances otherwise from Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis, court documents reveal. The judge presiding over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal case directed both the government and Abrego's lawyers to stop making public statements about the case. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with plans to send eight convicted criminals to South Sudan despite them having no ties to the war-torn country. Beach closures in several states over fecal bacterial concerns As millions set out to celebrate Fourth of July weekend, at least five states have issued advisories for certain beaches and lakes that have tested positive for above-safe levels of fecal bacteria. Almost two dozen beaches in Massachusetts are closed, as well as four beaches in New York and three beaches in Michigan. Meanwhile, Illinois has issued at least eight advisories in the past few weeks, and Los Angeles County has released eight ocean water quality advisories. And in North Carolina, officials urged people to keep children and pets away from water that appears bright green, blue or scummy over concerns about cyanobacteria algae blooms. The bacteria being monitored include which is more likely to be found in freshwater, and Enterococcus, which can form in both marine and freshwater. Here's what else to know. Hegseth's reason for halting weapons to Ukraine contrasts military analysis The Defense Department halted a shipment of U.S. weapons to Ukraine this week over what officials said were concerns about low stockpiles. But an analysis by senior military officers found that the aid package would not jeopardize the American military's own ammunition supplies, according to three U.S. officials. Suspending the shipment of military aid to Ukraine was a unilateral step by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, three congressional aides and a former U.S. official familiar with the matter said. This week's move blindsided the State Department, members of Congress, officials in Kyiv and European allies, multiple sources said. In fact, some of the weapons had already been loaded onto trucks in Poland and other European countries, only for those handling the shipment to receive word that the delivery had been called off. While the White House has defended the decision, bipartisan lawmakers have expressed disapproval. Read the full story here. Dozens of news crews, hundreds of curious bystanders and law enforcement were set up outside the Manhattan courthouse this week when the verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex-trafficking trial was read. Among them were also influencers, content creators and provocateurs who hoped to boost their online followings. And then there were Combs' supporters — some dressed in costumes, others wielding baby oil — who cheered 'Free Puff!' when he was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking. The celebratory mood among Combs' supporters stood in contrast to the reactions from some sexual assault survivors and advocates who feel the trial's outcome was a devastating 'step back' for the #MeToo movement, which gained prominence in 2017 after producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of assault. In the years since the movement took hold, it has 'suddenly started to shift to 'Don't believe all women,' or 'Women are liars,'' said Kaja Sokola, who was one of three women who testified in Weinstein's May retrial. Nicole Bedera, a sociologist who studies sexual violence, said she 'we're in a new era where instead of people trying to convince us not to believe survivors, they tell us the survivors deserved it.' Read the full story here. Meanwhile, Combs' team described the verdict as a 'great victory.' But Combs did not come out of the trial scot-free, with the jury convicting him on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. His future in the music industry will depend heavily on how he owns up to the 'freak offs' and other transgressions that his legal team didn't dispute. Read All About It Men in the U.S. are spending a record-high amount of time on household activities, a new analysis found. These charts show which tasks they're tackling most. ICE agents arrested renowned Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. outside his Los Angeles home on allegations that he is involved in organized crime and trafficking and is an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel. Indie rock band Velvet Sundown is gaining traction on Spotify, but some critics are convinced the band and its music are 100% AI-generated. The 2025 Tour de France kicks off this weekend, promising another showdown between two frontrunners and a more challenging finish to the race. Staff Pick: I CE shut down this Latino market — without even showing up Latinos across the Las Vegas Valley have flocked to the thriving Broadacres Market, a massive swap meet where items like semilla pipianera, micheladas and banana leaves are part of the standard fare. With little warning, the marketplace, which has been in operation for nearly 50 years, announced that it was closing indefinitely. The reason? To avoid an ICE raid, which recently happened at another swap meet in Southern California that the Broadacres owners also manage. The act of caution has further affected small business owners who run the stalls and the shoppers who rely on them for food and community. 'As a family, we're facing questions like: What are we going to do about the mortgage payment, with groceries? How are we going to recover from this?' Rico Ocampo — whose family has run their business selling nuts, seeds, cheeses, and other goods at Broadacres for 20 years — told reporter Denise Chow, who spoke to Ocampo and other community members reeling from the market's sudden closure. Ocampo's family's stock is slowly running out, and with it, the safety of their steady business, as they call on lawmakers and Broadacres management to do something to protect those whose lives might be disrupted by an ICE raid. — Michelle Garcia NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified July Fourth is here, and so are the sales. Here are 50 deals worth checking out, with discounts on brands like Apple, Yeti, Dyson and more. And get up to 80% off during Amazon's Fourth of July sale, which has deals on TVs, mattresses, outdoor gear and more.
