Of the 282 people arrested at both campuses, 134 were unaffiliated with Columbia or CCNY, according to the New York Police Department.

Police said 112 protesters were arrested at the Ivy League university — 80 were students and 32 were not affiliated with the school. Meanwhile, 170 were arrested at CCNY, 102 of whom were unaffiliated with the campus.

'Outside agitators’ influenced protests, mayor says

New York Mayor Eric Adams blamed “outside agitators” Wednesday for co-opting the demonstrations.

“There is a movement to radicalize young people. And I’m not going to wait until it is done to acknowledge the existence of it,” he said. "This is a global problem that young people are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalizing our children, and I'm not going to allow that to happen as the mayor of the city of New York."

Adams added that police have identified organizations and people with a history of escalating situations. He repeatedly cited the presence of a woman on Columbia’s campus whose husband Adams said had been “convicted for terrorism.” However, the woman, Nahla Al-Arian, wasn’t on Columbia’s campus this week and isn’t among the protesters arrested.

Network of groups supporting protests

Several groups support the movement, making it difficult to track the organizing muscle behind the protests.

"We see a lot of the names of the organizations appear on the flyers calling for these protests," said Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, a former U.S. Department of Treasury Department terrorism finance analyst.

He noted that a lot of these groups are Islamist-leaning or peer groups such as the Council on American Islamic Relations, Americans for Muslims in Palestine, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voices for Peace.

"They're extremely organized," Schanzer said. "But, I think the point is that these are not spontaneous. They are not necessarily organic; they are cultivated by groups that have an ax to grind."

Groups organized through the Telegram app

Protests outside Columbia were led by Within Our Lifetime, an offshoot of SJP.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest, formed after Columbia banned SJP, urged protesters to immediately come to Columbia via social media and the encrypted Telegram app all day.

"SJP is by far the most ubiquitous group out there in terms of campus activity. They are an unregistered organization; they're not a 5019(c)(3), they don't have any official structure," Schanzer said. "These are organizations that typically run on a shoestring, and yet they are active across the country right now — something to the order of 200 different campuses and creating quite a bit of mayhem."

One protester, who has a lengthy criminal record and was described as an anarchist, was arrested twice at Columbia in the past two weeks.

Police arrested 173 at The City University of New York and 109 at Columbia. An NYPD source confirmed to NewsNation Thursday that more than 40% of people arrested were "not affiliated" with Columbia or CUNY. Over 70% arrested were affiliated with Columbia and 29% were not affiliated, the source said.

Protest encampments were also cleared by the New York Police Department, resulting in arrests at Fordham University.

New York Mayor Eric Adams blamed “outside agitators” Wednesday for co-opting the demonstrations.

“There is a movement to radicalize young people. And I’m not going to wait until it is done to acknowledge the existence of it,” he said.

Adams added that police have identified organizations and people with a history of escalating situations. He repeatedly cited the presence of a woman on Columbia’s campus whose husband Adams said had been “convicted for terrorism." However, the woman, Nahla Al-Arian, wasn’t on Columbia’s campus this week and isn’t among the protesters who were arrested.

Fordham University protest

On Wednesday, Fordham Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organized an encampment at the university’s Lincoln Center, urging the school to divest from Israel, the university’s weekly journal, The Fordham Ram, reported.

NYPD officers were present Wednesday afternoon but appeared only to be keeping an eye on the protest, NewsNation correspondent Brooke Shafer reported from campus.

Students received an alert at 9:52 a.m. that said “there are no disruptions to classes or operations,” The Fordham Observer reported, and the Lowenstein Center entrance was closed.

However, at 5 p.m., letters of suspension were handed out to SJP students who set up a solidarity encampment inside the center's lobby, with directions from university administrators to leave the property, according to the university's weekly journal.

In a statement, Fordham said the university requested the NYPD's assistance to remove several dozen people from the building. After some time, most left, but the remaining protesters refused to identify themselves. The NYPD made 16 arrests.

NYPD considers changing protest tactics

The NYPD Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau weighed in on the issue, saying it's considering a change in protest tactics.

"I think the larger point is really important: This is not about students expressing ideas. It's about a change in tactics that presents a concern, a normalization and mainstreaming of rhetoric," said Rebecca Weiner, deputy commissioner of the NYPD Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau. "I'm not just talking about language; I'm now talking about tactics, and that's what shifted our response."

Late Tuesday, the NYPD entered Columbia's campus and cleared an encampment, along with Hamilton Hall, where a stream of officers used a ladder to climb through a second-floor window. Police said protesters inside presented no substantial resistance.

The demonstrators had seized the school building about 20 hours earlier, ramping up their presence on the campus from a tent encampment that had been there for nearly two weeks.

NYPD turned Columbia into 'war zone'

Cameron Jones, a pro-Palestinian protester, responded to the "surreal" raid.

"Columbia's surreal response to the protesters' nonviolent takeover of 'Hind's Hall' turned our campus into a war zone. The university called the NYPD to storm campus, with militarized police, brutally attacking and arresting over 100 students, with multiple hospitalizations," Jones said. "Columbia's attempt to oppress the movement only strengthens our resolve."

Nationwide campus demonstrations began at Columbia on April 17 to protest Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which followed Hamas launching a deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Israel and its supporters have branded the university protests antisemitic, while Israel’s critics say it uses those allegations to silence opposition. Although some protesters have been caught on camera making antisemitic remarks or violent threats, organizers of the protests, some of whom are Jewish, say it is a peaceful movement aimed at defending Palestinian rights and protesting the war.

NewsNation's correspondent Brooke Shafer, digital producer Katie Smith and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

California Highway Patrol confirmed in a statement it assisted with more than 130 of these arrests, and those detained "will be processed by the UCLA Police Department."

Protesters were loaded onto buses to be processed by law enforcement and transported to the Inmate Reception Center for holding. It's unclear what disciplinary actions or charges those arrested may face, especially since UCLA is a public university.

After growing for about a week, the encampment was cleared by Thursday afternoon, with almost all the tents taken down. Heavy equipment was brought in to scoop up debris left behind. 

Many of the protestors surrendered and were arrested peacefully, although one person was seen by NewsNation being dragged away.

Some protesters remain on UCLA's campus as police agencies continue to stand guard.

CHP spokesperson Officer Alec Pereyda said law enforcement agencies reported no injuries, though officials are still working to determine if anyone was hurt.

However, Faculty for Justice in Palestine member Graeme Blair said in a statement to the UCLA student newspaper Daily Bruin that student protestors were "clearly injured," with some being “violently dragged” from the encampment by CHP. Officers, Blair said, have guns loaded with less-than-lethal rounds pointed at students.

“Their blood is on (UCLA Chancellor) Gene Block and the UC administration’s hands for a series of catastrophic decisions over the last two days,” Blair told the Daily Bruin. “It did not need to be this way."

Pereyda said that law enforcement never want to resort to having to use force and that they wanted to give people ample time to leave peacefully.

The arrests came around 3 a.m. PT, after police issued a disperse order before deploying flashbangs and then tearing down barriers that had been erected around the encampment. The Los Angeles Times reported at least one officer could be seen on video shooting rubber bullets into the crowd.

One man was struck in the chest with a rubber bullet, the LA Times wrote.

Before officers moved in, protesters shouted chants including "You don't scare us" and "We're not leaving." They also sprayed some sort of tear gas or bear spray at approaching officers.

Over a loudspeaker, police urged people to clear the university grounds. NewsNation correspondent Nancy Loo, who has been covering the conflict on the ground, reported that there seems to be a pattern of tactics from police. She said there was a cycle, starting with waves of flashbangs, police moving in and then an announcement from police to disperse.

UCLA law student Matthew Weinberg told NewsNation that it is "super unfortunate" that the campus has turned into what some might consider a "war zone."

"The school should have handled this way earlier," Weinberg said. "I think that a bunch of the pro-Palestinian activists, many who are standing right behind me, they were violating campus policy. They were assaulting Jewish students. They were threatening them. They were drawing graffiti on the sidewalks. Frankly speaking, the school did nothing about it."

Weinberg said it's an uneasy feeling as a Jewish student. He also knows many other Jewish students who don't feel safe going to class and knows some who have even been assaulted.

"We want peaceful discussions that actually can maybe find solutions and better understand each other. The school is stonewalling that. Here, they are prioritizing these agitators," Weinberg said.

In a message to UCLA titled "Our community is in deep pain," Block said administrators' goal in their approach to the encampment was to maximize "community members’ ability to make their voices heard on an urgent global issue" as long as "it did not jeopardize Bruins’ safety or harm our ability to carry out our mission."

However, clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrators created an environment that put "too many Bruins in harm's way," Block said. While university administrators met with protest leaders to discuss options for disbanding the encampment, this did not lead to an agreement, Block said, prompting the decision to allow outside law enforcement in to UCLA.

"I also want to recognize the significance of the issues behind the demonstrators’ advocacy. The loss of life in Gaza has been truly devastating, and my administration has and will continue to connect with student and faculty leaders advocating for Palestinian rights to engage in discussions that are grounded in listening, learning and mutual respect," Block wrote. "Similarly, we will continue to support our Jewish students and employees who are reeling from the trauma of the brutal Oct. 7 attacks and a painful spike in antisemitism worldwide."

Michael Drake, the University of California’s systemwide president, has opened an investigation into how UCLA handled the violence from Tuesday night, KTLA wrote.

Police breach encampment, forced out

Law enforcement agencies — including the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol — were initially called to the UCLA campus early Wednesday morning after violence escalated between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protesters.

During the overnight hours into Thursday morning, additional police personnel arrived on campus, ready to clear out the pro-Palestinian encampment — fulfilling a request from the university for assistance.

However, after briefly entering the camp, police agencies were pushed out by protesters inside, some even using umbrellas to physically push the responding officers out.

Later Thursday morning, police began breaking down the encampment barriers and moved in to disperse the protesters.

Overhead television cameras showed students in the barricaded area passing out goggles and helmets, as well as setting up medical aid stations. A small group of students holding signs and wearing T-shirts in support of Israel and Jewish people gathered nearby.

Law enforcement donned riot gear as they ordered the dispersal of more than a thousand people who had gathered in support of the encampment, warning over loudspeakers that anyone who refused to leave could face arrest.

UCLA's 'emergency' message

UCLA posted an emergency message to its website, urging all students and personnel to avoid Royce Quad. All classes have been required to pivot to remote learning for the remainder of the week, and all employees have been encouraged to work remotely.

The university has been urged to do more amid the chaos that has ensued.

"There is a large police presence from multiple law enforcement agencies after outside mobs attacked peaceful student protesters last night with no one protecting them," Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia wrote on X. "Students now face police. We urge ULCA & City leaders to protect students, not do more harm."

Violent clashes between protest groups

The law enforcement presence and continued warnings stood in contrast to the scene that unfolded earlier this week, when counter-demonstrators attacked the pro-Palestinian encampment, throwing traffic cones, releasing pepper spray and tearing down barriers.

Fighting continued for several hours before police stepped in, and no one was arrested. At least 15 protesters suffered injuries, and the tepid response by authorities drew criticism from political leaders as well as Muslim students and advocacy groups.

Classes were canceled Wednesday following the clashes between the two sides of protesters.

Block said in a statement that “a group of instigators” perpetrated the attack, but he did not provide details about the crowd or why the administration and school police did not act sooner.

“However one feels about the encampment, this attack on our students, faculty and community members was utterly unacceptable,” he said. “It has shaken our campus to its core.”

Block promised a review of the night’s events after California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Los Angeles mayor denounced the delays.

“The community needs to feel the police are protecting them, not enabling others to harm them,” Rebecca Husaini, chief of staff for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said in a news conference on the Los Angeles campus later Wednesday when some Muslim students detailed the overnight events.

Speakers disputed the university’s account that 15 people were injured and one hospitalized, saying the number of people taken to the hospital was higher. One student described needing to go to a hospital after being hit in the head by an object wielded by counter-protesters.

Several students who spoke during the news conference said they had to rely on each other, not the police, for support as they were attacked, and that many in the pro-Palestinian encampment remained peaceful and did not engage with counter-protesters. 

Politicians respond to UCLA’s situation

Former President Donald Trump responded to the UCLA encampment Thursday morning, writing a statement on his social media network Truth Social.

"THIS IS A RADICAL LEFT REVOLUTION TAKING PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY. WHERE IS CROOKED JOE BIDEN? WHERE IS GOVERNOR NEWSCUM? THE DANGER TO OUR COUNTRY IS FROM THE LEFT, NOT FROM THE RIGHT!!!" Trump said.

The White House has been fairly quiet regarding the college protests happening across the nation.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, in a statement on X, said the violence between protest groups was “absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable.”

Bass called for a full investigation into what had occurred on campus, including the delayed police response.

Newsom wrote that the right to free speech “does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism, or lawlessness on campus.”

“Those who engage in illegal behavior must be held accountable for their actions — including through criminal prosecution, suspension, or expulsion,” Newsom said.

He went on to criticize what he said was a “limited and delayed” campus law enforcement response at UCLA, saying it was “unacceptable” and “demands answers.”

The impending crackdown at UCLA is the latest flashpoint for mounting tensions on U.S. college campuses where protests over Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza have led to student clashes with each other, school administrators and law enforcement.

Demonstrations across the nation

Universities across the U.S. have been grappling with how to deal with encampments as commencement ceremonies approach, with some continuing negotiations and others turning to force and ultimatums that have resulted in clashes with police.

The number of arrests at campuses nationwide have exceeded 1,000 as the final days of class wrap up.

The outcry is forcing colleges to reckon with their financial ties to Israel as well as their support for free speech. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus.

Protesters have said, though, that those being antisemitic do not represent them and pointed out that many Jewish students are joining them in their cause.

Some student demonstrators held signs saying “Jews for Free Palestine” or “Jews for Palestine,” while pictures on social media circulated of Passover seders being held at the encampments.

NewsNation producer Lauren Powell contributed to this report.

\WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday on a bipartisan bill that could make some speech on college campuses punishable by law.

It comes in the wake of nationwide protests against the ongoing war in Gaza across college campuses. The number of arrests at campuses nationwide is approaching 1,000.

What's the Antisemitism Awareness Act?

The “Antisemitism Awareness Act” was initially written in a bipartisan manner back in October following Hamas’ deadly incursion into Israel that killed some 1,200 Israelis.

The bill, if it were to become law, could dramatically redefine what can be incorporated under the blanket of antisemitic acts of harassment.

The definition of antisemitism would change to include denying Jewish “self-determination to their ancestral homeland of Israel.” It would also include holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.

That would mean language used in certain protest chants on college campuses could be punishable under federal anti-discrimination law.

Will the bill create a divide among Democrats?

Though the bill is expected to pass, Wednesday's vote may divide moderate and progressive Democrats.

Some Democrats expressed concern that the bill could become divisive, especially as protests become more violent across college campuses.

Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed the necessity of the bill.

"I trust that members are going to do what they feel is in their best interest guided by their constitutions and their values. I'd anticipate it's a bipartisan bill, that there will be Democrats supportive of the bill," said California Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar.

"Congress must clearly define antisemitism so universities are empowered to take appropriate and decisive steps to keep Jewish students safe and respond the exercises of speech that are so hostile and discriminatory that it's not covered by protections enshrined in the First Amendment," said Texas Republican Rep. Michael Burgess.

Jeffries proposes the Countering Antisemistim Act

In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries asked Johnson to consider the Countering Antisemitism Act, which has deeper support among Democrats.

The legislation would establish a national coordinator at the White House to counter antisemitism and coordinate federal responses.

"The Countering Antisemitism Act would strengthen efforts to combat antisemitism in the U.S. and implement policies designed to keep Jewish communities safe. It supports implementation of the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and helps make its policies permanent," Jeffries wrote.

NewsNation's Joe Khalil and Sean Noon contributed to this report.

The Harvard CAPS-Harris poll. which surveyed nearly 2,000 respondents, found that 80% of registered voters support Israel more in the war, while 20% said they support Hamas more.

Support for Israel was the lowest among the youngest age groups. The poll found that 64% of those ages 25-34 and 57% of those 18-24 said they support Israel more, while 85% of those 45 to 54 and 93% of those 65 and older said they support Israel.

In one question, voters were asked "Do you think the crisis in Gaza is created mostly by Israel or mostly by Hamas?" Seventy-one percent responded "mostly Hamas," including 51% of those aged 18-24.

A majority of voters, 61%, among all age groups showed overwhelming support for an "unconditional" cease-fire in the war. However, most respondents 35 and older only favor a cease-fire if Hamas is removed from power, compared to a majority of respondents aged 18-34 who still favor a cease-fire even if Hamas remains in power.

'I support Israel as a country'

It's a tough issue for most people to discuss. NewsNation spoke with several Florida residents who didn't want to talk on camera, and those who did gave a mix of opinions.

"Hamas is different than Palestinian. So, I believe that the Hamas group ... they're bad. But, I believe the bombings that Israel does on Palestine — there's a lot of innocent people dying from that, too. But overall, I feel like it's more bad with Hamas than it is with Israel," said Kyn Gibbs.

"I just support the end of the war and the end of the genocide," said Yemi Adekoldelo. "I don't support either Israel or Hamas."

"I don't support wars. I support Israel as a country," said Roxana Kuisb.

Pro-Palestinian protests

The poll was conducted as several pro-Palestinian protests began on college campuses across America.

Students have set up encampments demonstrating dayslong protests at schools, including Columbia University, New York University and the University of California, Los Angeles campus.

Universities across the U.S. have been grappling with how to deal with encampments as commencement ceremonies approach, with some continuing negotiations and others turning to force and ultimatums that have resulted in clashes with police.

The number of arrests at campuses nationwide is approaching 1,000 as the final days of class wrap up.

A Mars Veterinary Health report estimates an additional 55,000 vets will be needed by 2030 to meet the demand for animal care.

The report also highlighted that it would take more than 30 years of graduates to meet the industry's need for veterinary technicians over the next decade.

The report noted that more Americans are becoming pet owners and pet health services are expected to increase three to four percent beyond inflation over the next 8-10 years.

Challenges getting into vet school

To become a vet, people must attend eight years of schooling — four years of college and four years of veterinarian school — and many take on a lot of student loan debt.

If students pick a specialty, which more are doing, that can include a few years of residency or fellowships.

As a solution, federal and state governments, like Kentucky, are incorporating loan repayment programs in exchange for several years of practice in an area that lacks vets.

However, paying the cost of school isn't the only issue. Many veterinary schools have more applicants than they can accommodate.

Mars Veterinary Health reports even with the new graduates over the next decade, a shortage of 24,000 companion-animal vets is expected by 2030.

How will the shortage impact livestock owners?

Another factor is how tough it is for rural communities, especially farmers and ranchers, who need livestock vets to care for their animals.

A report by Johns Hopkins' Center for Livable Future found the shortage of "food-animal vets" is a major threat to the U.S. food supply chain as they help prevent the spread of infectious diseases among livestock.

Mars Veterinary Health suggests enabling credentialed vet techs to practice at the top of their license so they can help with the workload.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis activated additional resources for the potential influx of migrant landings, including the U.S. Coast Guard, which performs daily surveillance missions by air, land and sea.

"We've all been following the news. We get frequent updates from our guys deployed down there. so we do anticipate some sort of an uptick," said Coast Guard pilot Brian Trerice.

NewsNation’s Xavier Walton took an exclusive ride-along with the Coast Guard in Florida to see what protecting the nation's borders looks like from a bird's-eye view.

Flying over migrant landing hot spots

Hovering around 4,000 feet in the air, crews search hot spots that migrants typically visit before reaching American soil.

"You're just cruising along and there's two dudes standing on the rocks," Trerice said, described the sighting of migrants during one flight. "We were able to drop them the can we have in the back with some water, some food and a radio."

After migrants are spotted, the crew radios for a Coast Guard cutter — a type of boat — to intercept.

Surge in maritime smuggling

Hundreds of migrants have been caught at sea and repatriated to their home countries this fiscal year. The Coast Guard said it's mostly Cuban and Haitian migrants.

During the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, Border Patrol agents responded to more than 5,700 migrants who landed in the Miami Sector, including the Florida Keys, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

However, more than 11,900 migrants were stopped by the Coast Guard at sea before making landfall, according to Coast Guard figures obtained by the Miami Herald.

The Coast Guard believes posturing by Border Patrol and other federal agencies is discouraging migrants from making the dangerous journey to America. Additionally, the agency noted that migrants aren't worried about getting caught or hiding per se, but are more concerned about the weather as the journey to the U.S. can be extremely treacherous.

"They're definitely checking the weather," Trerice said. "They're definitely checking forecasts, and they're going to try and time their departure for the calmer seas."

As the trial resumed Tuesday, prosecutors are working on filling in details of how they believe Trump and his allies pulled off an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 campaign by burying negative stories.

During the first week of testimony, jurors heard from three witnesses, with Gary Farro on the stand when court wrapped Friday. Farro, a banker who helped Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen open accounts, including one that Cohen allegedly used to buy the silence of adult film actress Stormy Daniels, will resume testimony Tuesday.

For his part, Trump has been campaigning in his off-hours but is required to be in court when it is in session, four days a week. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

Gary Farro testimony

Farro first took the stand Friday. While a senior managing director at First Republic Bank, he was assigned to work with Cohen for about three years. He detailed helping Cohen create accounts for two limited liability companies.

Prosecutors showed jurors emails in which Cohen describes the opening of the Resolution Consultants account as an “important matter.”

Cohen acknowledged when he pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 that it had been formed to send money to American Media, Inc., the National Enquirer publisher. It was meant as a payback for their purchase of former Playboy model Karen McDougal's story, but the deal never went through.

Farro said that since the account was never funded, it was never technically opened. Instead, Cohen pivoted to starting up the Essential Consultants account, which prosecutors allege he later used to pay Daniels a $130,000 hush money payment.

Trump’s lawyers have not yet had a chance to cross-examine Farro.

Who have jurors heard from?

Jurors so far have heard from two other witnesses. Rhona Graff, Trump’s former longtime executive assistant, recalled seeing Daniels at Trump's office suite in Trump Tower and figured the performer was a potential contestant for one of Trump’s “Apprentice”-brand shows.

David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, laid out how he agreed to serve as the Trump campaign's “eyes and ears” by helping to squelch unflattering rumors and claims about Trump and women.

Prosecutors used Pecker, Trump's longtime friend, to detail a “catch-and-kill” arrangement in which he collected seamy stories about the candidate so the National Enquirer or Trump's associates could buy and bury the claims. Pecker described how he paid $180,000 to scoop up and sit on stories from a doorman and McDougal. He didn't involve himself in the Daniels payout, he said. He testified for parts of four days.

The defense argues the hush money payment was made to spare Trump’s family embarrassment, not to protect his presidential campaign. Trump, a businessman whose first public office was the White House, denies an encounter with Daniels took place.

Prosecutors are still unwilling to reveal other witnesses ahead of time out of concern Trump might attack them online or in the media. However, they're leading up to crucial testimony from Cohen.

Will Trump be fined over gag order violations?

Trump has been held in contempt of court and must pay a $9,000 fine by the close of business on Friday. He must remove seven offending posts from his Truth Social account and two from his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Merchan said.

Prosecutors had alleged 10 violations, but Merchan found there were nine. The ruling was a stinging rebuke for Trump, who had insisted he was exercising his free speech rights.

Merchan wrote that Trump “is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment.”

Last Thursday, prosecutors argued Trump had again violated the order with social media posts and comments he made that morning at a campaign stop in New York City. Merchan has set a hearing Thursday for those alleged gag order violations.

If Trump is found in contempt, he could be fined $1,000 for each violation, sent to jail — which is unlikely — or receive a stern warning to stop.

What happens if Trump is convicted?

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and arranging hush money payments to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. These payments were allegedly aimed at concealing a sexual encounter Trump is accused of having with Daniels.

The charges center on a $130,000 payment allegedly made through Cohen shortly before the 2016 election.

Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said he will testify if needed.

The charges are punishable by up to four years in prison — though it’s unclear if the judge would seek to put Trump behind bars. A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he wouldn’t be able to pardon himself if found guilty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

While some malls across the U.S. are boarding up and major brick-and-mortar stores are closing, others are thriving after incorporating modern amenities like new local restaurants, arcades and more entertainment-based or mixed-use options for families and consumers.

Food and beverage space in malls has grown from 5% in the 1990s to 15% to 20% today, according to research from Deloitte. One developer told the consulting company it could go as high as 50% in the future.

It won't be a return to the food court of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, but more malls aim to implement an array of choices like a sushi bar, local microbrewery or new eateries with trendy concepts.

What's driving mall traffic?

According to Coresight Research data, traffic at both lower- and top-tier malls was up compared to prepandemic levels.

The State of the American Mall 2023 report found that top-tier mall traffic rose 12% on average in 2022 compared to 2019 levels. Non-top-tier mall traffic was up 10%.

The International Council of Shopping Centers estimated that 12.9% of consumer expenditure on retail goods, food services and other retail-adjacent services went through malls in the first quarter of 2023.

Analysts suggest the increase is due to people spending more time in malls due to the food and beverage options offered.

"So, can it work? Yeah, it's kind of like musical artists that keep reinventing themselves, they can last for a long time. The ones that are just in that narrow lane, they have a shorter rise," said Gary B. Smith, a NewsNation contributor and hedge fund manager. "Same way with restaurants, same way with restaurants and malls."

According to Deloitte, people of all generations are looking for "a sense of community," and one of those options is to find it at a local mall.

Trump challenges Biden to debate

Trump's challenge came after Biden told Howard Stern during a Sirius XM interview Friday that he would debate the former president if he controlled his behavior.

While the president hasn't offered many comments about a matchup between him and Trump, he said he'd be open to the challenge.

"I don't know when but I'm happy to debate him," Biden told Stern.

Trump fired back at the president's comment. He said he was ready, though he questioned Bidens’s willingness.

"I've invited him to the courthouse that he has us tied up in, his administration. This is all being done through Washington. It's all a well-coordinated attack on a political opponent. But I'm here. I'm ready, willing and able. And if he wants, I'll do it on Monday night, Tuesday night or Wednesday night. We'll be in Michigan," Trump said.

Biden open to Trump matchup

Until now, Biden’s reelection campaign had declined to commit to participating in the debates, a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976.

Biden himself had also been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump “depends on his behavior.” The two men debated twice during the 2020 general election — a campaign year constrained significantly by COVID-19 restrictions — and Biden was notably irritated by Trump’s antics in the chaotic first debate that year.

Trump campaign officials have said for some time that the former president is prepared to debate Biden anytime. Chris LaCivita, Trump campaign senior adviser, quickly responded to Biden’s remarks on the social media site X: “OK let’s set it up!”

Later Friday, Trump reacted to Biden’s new public willingness to debate by saying, “Everyone knows he doesn’t really mean it.” The former president suggested evenings because he is otherwise attending proceedings for his hush money criminal trial in New York.

Trump is required to be in court every day but Wednesdays. In a statement on his social media platform, Trump also challenged Biden to debate at the Manhattan courthouse on Friday night, since both men were in New York at the same time. Biden has since returned to Washington.

Trump did not participate in any of the Republican primary debates this cycle.

RFK Jr. wants a piece of the action

Meanwhile, Trump faces a debate challenge from third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The two went back and forth on social media after RFK Jr. criticized Trump for not living up to campaign promises in 2016.

Trump accused RFK Jr. of helping Biden's campaign.

It was then that RFK Jr. proposed a challenge for the two of them to debate instead of putting out jabs over social media.

NewsNation was among multiple national news outlets that signed a letter, urging both Trump and Biden to debate in the fall.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has already announced the dates and locations for the three general election debates between the presidential candidates: Sept. 16 in San Marcos, Texas; Oct. 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for Sept. 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A new survey from Resume Builder confirms this, showing that 12% of retired Americans will go back to work this year.

In another survey, from Bankrate, 41% of adults say they don’t have enough money to fully retire. And about a quarter of Americans above the age of 50 say they expect to never retire, according to a new AARP study.

55% of those responding to a Bankrate survey said they returned to work because they needed more money. 47% said they were bored and 33% said they needed the job to get health insurance.

“I have a family. We have to have somewhere to live. We have to have food on our table so I put the pride aside,” said Janette Campbell, a retired educator who now works as a community relations specialist at a South Florida non-profit.

One big problem for retired professionals returning to work is taking a job that pays far less than what their old profession paid.

“A lot of them … don't have the job they had before,” said Indiana Senator Mike Braun, the ranking Republican on the Senate Special Committee on Aging. “Somebody else is either filling that or maybe one there as it was. So they're coming back to survival-type wages.”

For many, that means diving into the gig economy, according to AARP vice president Carly Roszkowski.

“Older workers (are) starting their own business (or) driving for Uber or DoorDash – jobs that didn't exist 15-20 years ago.”

For Campbell, it’s a matter of staying on the job as long as her family needs her.

“If I don’t laugh, I will cry, and I don’t want to cry. I want to be positive in whatever I do because I have young peoples around me that is watching me.”

Israel says Hamas is still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

Egypt’s top intelligence official, Abbas Kamel, will lead the delegation and plans to discuss with Israel a “new vision” for a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza, an Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the mission freely.

Egypt mediates hostage negotiations

As the war drags on and casualties mount, there has been growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement on a cease-fire.

Friday’s talks will focus at first on a limited exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, and the return of a significant number of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza “with minimum restrictions,” the Egyptian official said.

The talks come as Israel moves closer to a full invasion of Rafah, with Egyptian officials telling the Washington Post that Israeli military preparations could start in the coming days.

The official said mediators are working on a compromise that will answer most of both parties’ main demands.

Preparing for Israeli invasion of Rafah

U.S. officials said construction is underway on a floating pier in northern Gaza and could be finished in early May, which could be crucial to getting aid to displaced Palestinians when the Rafah invasion begins.

Hamas has said it will not back down from its demands for a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops, both of which Israel has rejected. Israel says it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza afterward.

Ahead of the talks, senior Hamas official Basem Naim told The Associated Press, “There is nothing new from our side,” when asked about the negotiations.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to local health officials, around two-thirds of them children and women.

Hope for hostage deal

The hope for a hostage deal has not yet been extinguished. Reuters reported that Israeli officials are considering accepting fewer than 40 hostages in exchange for an actual deal following through.

Hostage families gathered in Tel Aviv earlier this week amid the news that 18 countries, including the United States, issued a joint demand for the hostages to be released.

That includes the family of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who appeared in a recent Hamas propaganda video.

"We are hopeful and prayerful that this is the beginning of a galvanizing force of these countries who are going to continue going forward and shout in a loud unified way that they are not stopping until all of these hostages come home," his mother Rachel Goldberg-Polin said.

There are debates over what kind of a deal is acceptable, but families of hostages believe Israel should make every concession necessary to get their loved ones home. However, other Israelis don't want to give up too much for fear it will give Hamas the ability to threaten their country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ryan Watson and his wife, Valerie, visited the islands for a birthday trip earlier this month. But on April 12, as they were about to head home, they were stopped by airport security and escorted to the police station.

'This is a shakedown'

In an exclusive interview with NewsNation, Stitt said he's using every political resource available to bring Ryan Watson back home.

“This is a shakedown," Stitt said. "Our whole delegation is talking to him. We've reached out to the British government, so hopefully this will be resolved very quickly; cooler heads will prevail."

Turks and Caicos Islands is a British territory southeast of the Bahamas.

In an X post, Stitt said he's sent a letter to Turks and Caicos officials advocating for Ryan Watson's release.

"They’re loving parents and great Oklahomans — and we need them back home," he wrote.

Trapped in paradise

Speaking on “Dan Abrams Live" Thursday, Ryan Watson expressed gratitude for locals who helped him post bail and said he appreciates the people he’s met, but he aims to return home.

"We’ve had two different locals put up surety for us, which was necessary for me to secure bail," he said. "One individual put up their car and the other put up a restaurant. There's some beautiful people here, but I just want to go home."

Meanwhile, Valerie Watson, who recently returned to the U.S., told NewsNation that the family won't be whole again until her husband returns home.

“I have the kids here with lots of questions and wondering when dad's coming home, and missing daddy, and how long he's going to be away," she said. "Them processing their emotions through all of this has been very difficult."

As the bills mount, the family finds themselves without a resolution.

“He's so worried about everything, and I just wanted to help him not worry about that as much," said Jessica Byrd, Ryan Watson's older sister.

Byrd said she created a GoFundMe page, which has reached nearly $200,000, to help cover legal bills and the cost of living in Turks and Caicos while awaiting sentencing.

“It's up to $450 a night, she said. "It's just very, very expensive to live there. I don't know how anybody does it."

Ryan Watson's mother, who's staying on the island with him, said she bought a bag of nuts for $45.

Meanwhile, Byrd said Watsons' children, 9-year-old Van and 7-year-old Ellie, are having a difficult time processing life without their dad.

“They're having a very hard time. And that's the thing, it's like, why do this? He didn't do anything wrong. It's hard, and that's all he wants," she said.

What happened abroad?

Airport authorities claimed to have found ammunition in Ryan Watson’s carry-on luggage. He's an avid hunter and the bullets were left in the bag from a hunting trip to Texas earlier this year, but a new law has him facing up to 12 years in prison.

Ryan Watson was granted bail Wednesday but is forced to remain in Turks and Caicos.

In the U.S., improperly secured and undeclared ammunition or firearms found by airport security can result in a fine and criminal referral. In Turks and Caicos, lawmakers passed a bill creating a 12-year minimum prison sentence for anyone caught bringing a firearm or ammunition to the islands.

There are no answers to when he'll be able to return home, and his next court date isn’t for another six weeks on June 7.

Other Americans facing charges

Bryan Hagerich was on vacation in Turks and Caicos with his wife and children when stray hunting ammunition was also discovered in their luggage in February. He was detained by authorities and spent eight days in prison before posting bail.

Now, more than 70 days after his arrest, he remains on the island.

Ryan Watson told "Morning in America" Friday he’s formed a “brotherhood” with other families, moving Hagerich into his Airbnb to support each other.

"We're all sticking through this together," Ryan Watson said.

Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Indiana Sen. Mike Braun and North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd are investigating a New York Post report from September that claimed newly arrived immigrants in New York City were paying current delivery workers to use their accounts to earn a living.

Since Oct. 1, there have been 1.7 million migrant encounters at the Mexican and Canadian borders. At the end of last month, federal data showed an estimated 1,000 migrants arriving in New York City every day. Federal law currently requires migrants to wait 180 days after their arrival for a work permit.

Food delivery has provided a path to independence for immigrants who have recently come to the U.S., but it is difficult to tell who is eligible to work or not, with stories circulating of some immigrants without work authorization using the accounts of others who are eligible for employment in the States.

Senators investigate food delivery apps

Braun and Budd sent letters to each of the food delivery platforms Thursday, saying they believe the apps are "being hijacked by illegal immigrants intent on gaming the system.” 

“The danger to Americans — and specifically consumers using your services — is real,” they wrote. “These illegal immigrants are delivering food directly to consumers’ doors without ever having undergone a background check and often without even using their real names.”

NewsNation reached out to all three senators for comment. Braun responded, placing the blame on the Biden administration.

“We need to close our southern border, and we also need to crack down on opportunities for illegal aliens to find work in the U.S. to remove every incentive to illegally enter our country,” Braun said.

Budd, Blackburn and Braun asked for more information from these companies on security and accountability measures, wanting to know how many account holders they’ve suspended for this alleged activity.

DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber respond

NewsNation received statements from DoorDash and Grubhub, both stating they have extensive policies to verify account holders' identities and prohibit account sharing or selling.

“If we find anyone misrepresenting their identity or granting unauthorized access to an account, they’ll be removed from the platform,” Grubhub said.

“To be clear: There is no place on the DoorDash platform for those that can’t or won’t verify their identity,” DoorDash responded. “Every Dasher is required to have their own verified account.”

The three senators want answers to their inquiry by May 6. They did praise these platforms for “improving the lives of so many Americans,” but said they’re intent on protecting the gig economy and Americans from any potential dangers of having unverified drivers showing up at their homes.

Uber also defended their hiring practices in a statement to NewsNation:

“All couriers who deliver with Uber are required to hold a valid right to work in the US, pass a criminal background check, and be over the age of 18. If a courier is found to be sharing their account or using a fraudulent account, we remove their access to our platform, no exceptions. We appreciate the Senators’ concerns and plan to respond to their letter with more information on our strict policies and processes in place to help prevent and address account sharing.”

Chief Justice John Roberts was among at least five members of the court who did not appear to embrace the claim of absolute immunity that would stop special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump on charges he conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden during his duty as president. The case stems from Trump's attempts to have charges against him dismissed.

Arguments lasted more than 2 1/2 hours in the court's first consideration of criminal charges against a former president. Roberts also was among several justices who suggested that the case might have to be sent back to lower courts before any trial could begin. Roberts indicated he was unhappy with the reasoning adopted by the federal appeals court that ruled against Trump.

Lower courts have found Trump cannot claim immunity for actions that, prosecutors say, illegally sought to interfere with the election results.

Questions posed during arguments

Justice Clarence Thomas pressed D. John Sauer, Trump's lawyer, asking where the principle of absolute immunity comes from.

Sauer fell back quickly on a Supreme Court case core to the defense — a 1982 decision that held that former presidents are immune from civil lawsuits.

A skeptical Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointedly noted to Sauer that the indictment alleges that Trump acted for personal gain. She said the Founding Fathers had contemplated the idea of immunity for presidents but had explicitly decided against it.

Sotomayor made clear her opposition to the Trump legal team’s position, saying she had a hard time envisioning immunity for a president who creates and submits false documents, orders the assassination of a political rival, and any number of other criminal acts.

What's the issue?

When the justices agreed on Feb. 28 to hear the case, they put the issue this way: “Whether and if so to what extent does a former President enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.”

It's a question the high court has never had to answer, as this is the first time a former U.S. president has faced criminal charges. The court hasn't had to take up the question of whether Trump's position means he should be shielded from prosecution, even after leaving office.

Both sides point to the absence of previous prosecutions to undergird their arguments.

Special counsel Jack Smith's team wrote that the lack of previous criminal charges "underscores the unprecedented nature” of what Trump is accused of.

"The president cannot function, and the presidency itself cannot retain its vital independence if the president faces criminal prosecution for official acts once he leaves office," Trump's attorneys wrote in a court filing.

Smith has pushed back against that argument, writing, "A bedrock principle of our constitutional order is that no person is above the law — including the president."

This case is one of four criminal trials Trump is currently facing.

When will SCOTUS make a decision?

A decision is expected to come down sometime in early summer — the court typically hands down decisions in major cases in June.

If the justices reject Trump's immunity argument, that will clear the way for the trial to begin.

If Trump succeeds in his effort, it could lead to the investigation against him being derailed and the charges against him dropped.

The subtext of the immunity fight is about timing. Trump has sought to push back his trial until after the November election, when, if he were to regain the presidency, he could order the Justice Department to drop the case.

Prosecutors have been pressing for a quick decision from the Supreme Court so that the clock can restart on trial preparations. It could take three months once the court acts before a trial starts.

Will SCOTUS' decision impact Trump's other cases?

The case could impact the multiple criminal trials Trump is facing.

Two of the four cases against Trump have to do with alleged election interference: one is a federal case being heard in a D.C. court and the other is a state case brought against him in Georgia. The arguments center around the federal case but a ruling would also apply to the state case.

A ruling would also impact the second federal case Trump is involved in, which has to do with the improper retention and storage of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after his presidency.

A ruling would also reach beyond Trump, setting the stage for how future presidents could face consequences for actions undertaken while in office. Trump’s team is arguing for broad immunity, saying it would have a chilling effect on presidential actions for future leaders if presidents could face charges without being impeached in the House and convicted in the Senate.

Trump was impeached by the House twice but was acquitted in the Senate both times. His argument for total immunity includes the suggestion that if the cases against him are allowed to go forward, it would open the door for a cycle of partisan prosecutions of former presidents.

The high court's decision may not impact the New York City case, which hinges mostly on Trump's conduct as a presidential candidate during 2016 — not as a president.

NewsNation digital producer Steph Whiteside and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

That determination could inform choices about potential prosecution.

Justice Department officials are meeting Wednesday with the families of victims from the 2018 and 2019 Boeing 737 Max crashes that killed almost 350 people, as relatives and their attorneys push for criminal charges against the company.

The meeting comes months after the Jan. 5 midflight blowout of a door panel on an Alaska Airlines plane that could breach a 2021 agreement that allowed Boeing to avoid prosecution for the 2018 and 2019 crashes.

For years, relatives have raised concerns about safety with Boeing planes after the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

“The Justice Department and Boeing squirm and wiggle every which way to try to avoid responsibility,” Nadia Milleron, whose 24-year-old daughter Samya Stumo died in the 2019 crash, told NewsNation. What Milleron wants to see from both entities, she said, is “accountability and responsibility,” and for them to acknowledge that the issue is systemic.

Michael Stumo, Samya's father, shared his mission for Wednesday's meeting: “We are holding on to the slim chance that DOJ will correct its past behavior, that it was fighting in order to protect Boeing in this charade called the deferred prosecution agreement, which is deemed to be by many to be the worst deferred prosecution agreement in the history of corporate crime.”

Why is Boeing facing DOJ scrutiny?

Along with their attorneys, relatives are expected to argue that Boeing violated a 2021 deal with prosecutors that required it to overhaul its compliance program. Federal prosecutors agreed to ask a judge to dismiss a criminal charge against Boeing as long as it complied with the deal's terms over three years, Reuters reported.

In January 2021, Boeing paid $2.5 billion to settle an investigation connected to those crashes, in return for avoiding criminal prosecution and meeting certain conditions, like strengthening safety standards. The company also agreed to compensate victims' relatives, Reuters reported.

However, Wednesday's meeting comes after a door plug blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet during an Alaska Airlines flight, which exposed continuing safety and quality issues two days before the 2021 agreement expired.

"There exists a disconnect, for lack of a better word, between the words that are being said by Boeing management and what is being seen and experienced by employees across the company," said Javier de Luis, who lost his sister in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash.

"They hear safety is our number one priority, but what they see is that's only true as long as your production milestones are met, and at that point, it's push it out the door as fast as you can."

Boeing declined NewsNation's request for comment.

DOJ probes 2021 settlement compliance

Earlier this month, relatives' lawyers met with DOJ officials who said they're investigating circumstances outlined in the 2021 deal that could put Boeing in breach of the 2021 agreement, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The agreement gives U.S. officials six months from the deal's Jan. 7 expiration to decide whether to prosecute Boeing on a charge that the company conspired to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration or pursue other alternatives to dismissing the case. 

Officials plan to do so within that time frame while investigations into the Jan. 5 panel blowout continue, which could inform their decision, one of the people told Reuters. The people spoke on condition of anonymity.

What happened in the 2018 and 2019 crashes?

Lion Air Flight 610 was traveling from Indonesia when it crashed Oct. 29, 2019. The Boeing 737 Max 8 operating the route crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 people on board.

The next year in March, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, operated by a Boeing 737 Max 8, crashed into a field six minutes after takeoff from Ethiopia to Kenya, killing all 157 people onboard.

Reuters and NewsNation correspondent Joe Khalil contributed to this story.

Shift in illegal border crossing hot spots

Since 2019, Texas has recorded more migrant encounters monthly compared to other border sectors, The Texas Tribune reported. This is partly because Texas has the largest border with Mexico.

However, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that during the first three months of this calendar year, other states recorded more migrant encounters than Texas.

Data highlights the Tucson and San Diego sectors as leading in encounters, while there has been a significant decrease in the Del Rio Sector among Texas' five border sectors.

In December, there were more than 71,000 encounters in the Del Rio Sector, including in the city of Eagle Pass and at a Rio Grande buoy barrier. The state is also building a base camp in Eagle Pass for thousands of Texas National Guard troops.

Why have Texas encounters dropped?

Texas has allocated $11 billion to Operation Lone Star since it launched in 2021, The Texas Tribune reported.

Abbott's office said the operation has led to the apprehension of more than 500,000 people illegally crossing the border and the busing of more than 100,000 migrants north to cities including New York and Chicago.

However, some argue those numbers don't correlate directly to the operation's effectiveness.

"Smugglers find better ways to get people across the border without them noticing," said Guadalupe Correa-Cabrea, a policy and government professor at George Mason University. "That is a possibility, or less people are trying to make it to the United States because of many factors."

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has met with Mexican officials to discuss mitigating the surge in illegal migration.

Operation Lone Star challenges

Operation Lone Star is facing federal challenges, with the government suing Texas over allegations of overstepping federal authority via the construction of the river buoy barrier and a controversial state law that would allow state authorities to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the border.

Both legal battles are currently progressing through the appellate courts.

Immigration advocacy groups have criticized Operation Lone Star for what they claim could be racial profiling.

Videos shared on X by Cory Gautereaux, a San Diego resident, show hundreds of migrants illegally crossing into San Diego County allegedly guided by men in black masks who cut through the border wall.

"It's hard for the agents to find these cuts, fix the cuts, and while they're doing that, they're actually cutting through the fence somewhere else and hundreds of people are coming through at one time," Gautereaux told NewsNation.

Smugglers moving West

Border Patrol's San Diego Sector is projected to see tens of thousands of more migrant apprehensions compared to last year. It's facing a historic surge of Chinese nationals crossing illegally into the area.

Sources told NewsNation that smugglers are moving their operations west as Texas strengthens border security in areas like El Paso and Eagle Pass.

Rise in Chinese migrants at southern border

According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, border agents in the San Diego Sector have encountered more than 24,000 Chinese nationals so far this fiscal year, surpassing last fiscal year's tally by more than double.

Nationally, CBP data indicates nearly 42,000 Chinese nationals have entered the U.S. illegally this fiscal year that began in October, nearing the record total number of encounters in the 2023 fiscal year by about 10,000.

Gautereaux said he's found hundreds of Chinese IDs and passports littered near the border.

Sources in Mexico told NewsNation that most Chinese nationals are flying into the Tijuana airport before following the instructions of smugglers to cross the border. Border officials say some Chinese migrants are reportedly willing to pay cartels up to $35,000 for smuggling services.  

NewsNation's Aleksandra Bush contributed to this report.

According to court documents, the plaintiff, Shane Waldrop, bought a 24-ounce draft beer from a Cinemark in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas, on Valentine's Day. Waldrop felt the cup didn't appear large enough to hold 24 ounces, so he measured it at home and discovered it only held 22 ounces, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit accuses Cinemark of intentionally misleading customers to believe they were getting more for their money.

“Defendant markets and sells 24 oz drinks at a premium price, despite the containers being physically incapable of holding that amount of liquid,” the lawsuit alleges. “Defendant has reaped enormous profits from its false, misleading and deceptive packaging and sale of its 24 oz drinks.”

Lawyers are awaiting responses from others interested in joining a class action lawsuit.

Meanwhile, some lawyers call these types of lawsuits "frivolous" because they often get dismissed or the judge rules in favor of the company.

Last year, McDonald's and Wendy’s won a lawsuit in which a customer claimed they were engaging in false advertising by overstating the size of their hamburger meat and amount of toppings on food shown in ads.

However, some companies settle. For example, Red Bull was sued for its advertisement with the slogan "Red Bull gives you wings" and paid $13 million to settle class action lawsuits. It also changed the advertisement.

"When it comes to measurements — when it comes to something that’s not what we call puffery, these suits actually land, and the manufacturers and distributors get dinged for a lot of money," said Jonna Spilbor, an attorney. "People who are consuming the two less ounces or a third of less of hamburger can get a little something, but these suits are designed to stop the entity from falsely advertising."

While some class action lawsuit settlement payouts are millions of dollars, the bulk goes to the lawyers and a small payout to the consumers involved.

Waldrop's attorneys and Cinemark have not returned requests for comment.

NewsNation affiliate WJW contributed to this report.

Prosecutors claim Trump wrote or said negative things in social media posts about witnesses, jurors, and others involved in the case, and asked Merchan to fine the former president $1,000 for each violation.

Todd Blanche, Trump's attorney, has refuted the prosecution's claims, asserting that Trump understands the gag order and there was no willful violation.

Merchan did not immediately rule, but he seemed skeptical of a defense lawyer's arguments that Trump was merely responding in his posts to others' attacks and had been trying to comply with the order.

If Merchan finds him in contempt, Trump could be issued a fine, sent to jail — which is unlikely — or receive a stern warning to stop.

Tuesday's hearing took place without the jury present prior to the resumption of testimony in the trial.

The posts in question

The prosecution claims Trump violated the gag order with eight posts on Truth Social and two on his campaign website.

NewsNation's partner The Hill reports that eight posts take aim at Trump's former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen. Additionally, two posts are about adult film actress Stormy Daniels and is focused on prospective jurors.

Four were posted in the lead-up to Trump’s trial, and six were posted during jury selection, The Hill reported.

What's included in Trump's gag order?

In an order first made in March and then revised April 1, Merchan barred Trump from making public statements about probable trial witnesses “concerning their potential participation in the investigation or in this criminal proceeding.”

Merchan’s order didn’t give specific examples of what types of statements about witnesses were banned. He noted the order was not intended to prevent the former president from responding to political attacks.

The gag order also barred Trump from making public statements of any type about jurors, court staff, lawyers in the case or relatives of prosecutors or the judge. Trump is allowed to make critical comments about the judge himself and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

First witness testimony

In opening statements Monday, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo told the jury, "This case is about a criminal conspiracy" by Trump to "corrupt the 2016 election."

He added that Trump "covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his New York business records over and over and over again."

After the prosecution, Blanche told jurors, "The story you just heard, you will learn, is not true." He added: "Use your common sense. You're New Yorkers, that's why you're here."

Prosecutors continued questioning their first witness, David Pecker, who they claim is a key player in a "catch-and-kill" scheme to buy and then bury harmful stories about Trump during the 2016 election, on Tuesday.

Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer and longtime Trump ally, allegedly helped arrange hush money payments to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, to cover up an alleged affair.

Prosecutors brought up Dino Sajudin on Tuesday. Sajudin is the former doorman at Trump's penthouse, who wanted to sell a story to the tabloids claiming Trump fathered a child with the housekeeper. While the story was not true, the National Enquirer bought it. Prosecutors showed the court internal payments made to Sajudin in 2015.

Pecker testified that while he previously talked to Cohen a handful of times a month, as the 2016 election ramped up, these turned into weekly occurrences. When there was an issue, Pecker said, he would sometimes talk to Cohen several times a day.

One of these instances included one where a former Playboy model, Karen McDougal, wanted to sell her story about an alleged, months-long affair with Trump. After learning about McDougal's story, Pecker said, he called Cohen.

What happens if Trump is convicted?

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and arranging hush money payments to Daniels. These payments were allegedly aimed at concealing a sexual encounter Trump is accused of having with Daniels.

The charges center on a $130,000 payment that was allegedly made through Cohen shortly before the 2016 election.

Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said he will testify if needed.

The charges are punishable by up to four years in prison — though it’s unclear if the judge would seek to put Trump behind bars. A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he wouldn't be able to pardon himself if found guilty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

In Pennsylvania, there are 19 electoral votes up for grabs in November, and it is one of three states — along with Michigan and Wisconsin — that went narrowly for Trump in 2016.

Biden was able to win voters back during the 2020 election, but his small margin of victory is putting a spotlight on his home state this time around.

War in Israel's impact on election

The sitting president’s handling of the war in Israel is expected to be a big focus leading up to the November election.

Pennsylvania has more than 300,000 Jewish voters — the largest Jewish population out of any swing state — and they are expected to have a big voice in the battleground state.

Both candidates have spent time in the Keystone State.

"Today, we face another inflection point in history. The 2024 election is about two fundamentally different visions for America. Donald Trump’s vision is one of anger, hate, revenge, and retribution," Biden said in Philadelphia during a recent stop there.

"We have to debate. We have to explain to the American people what the hell is going on because they, they're looking at the border and they're looking at inflation and they're looking at the economy, which is terrible," Trump said during a recent rally in Schnecksville.

Biden's 'risking a lot' supporting Israel

The Democratic Socialists of America launched an initiative urging Pennsylvania residents to write in "uncommitted" on the ballot in protest of Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

It’s similar to efforts in Michigan’s Democratic primary election last month, where 13% of voters selected "uncommitted" instead of Biden.

NewsNation spoke with Ron Joseph, one of the initiative's leaders who says the group already has five endorsements from organizations statewide and has contacted more than 100,000 voters.

“He is risking a lot going into this November by continuing to support Israel, especially in this manner. A lot of Pennsylvanians will demonstrate to the Biden administration that it must act now to end the seizure in Gaza and achieve a cease-fire in Palestine. Or go into November having alienated millions of constituents and go with an unmotivated voter base,” Joseph said.

The group’s goal is to convince more than 40,000 Pennsylvania voters to write in "uncommitted" during Tuesday's primary.

US Senate race: Casey vs. McCormick

Tuesday's Pennsylvania primaries will also cement the lineup for a high-stakes U.S. Senate race between Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican challenger David McCormick, a contest that is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars and could help decide control of the Senate next year.

Casey, seeking his fourth term, is perhaps Pennsylvania's best-known politician and a stalwart of the presidential swing state's Democratic Party — the son of a former two-term governor and Pennsylvania’s longest-ever serving Democrat in the Senate.

McCormick is a two-time Senate challenger, a former hedge fund CEO and Pennsylvania native who spent $14 million of his own money only to lose narrowly to celebrity heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2022's seven-way GOP primary. Oz then lost to Democratic Sen. John Fetterman in a pivotal Senate contest.

This time around, McCormick has consolidated the party around his candidacy and is backed by a super PAC that's already reported raising more than $20 million, much of it from securities-trading billionaires.

McCormick's candidacy is shaping up as the strongest challenge to Casey in his three reelection bids. McCormick, intent on shoring up support in the GOP base, told an audience of conservatives in suburban Harrisburg earlier this month that he tells people “you're going to agree with about 80% of what I say ... but we disagree 90% of the time with the crazy progressive left that's destroying our country.”

Battle for control over Washington

Casey is one of Biden’s strongest allies in Congress.

The two men share a hometown of Scranton, and their political stories are intertwined. Biden — who represented neighboring Delaware in the Senate and roots for Philadelphia sports teams — has effectively made Pennsylvania his political home as a presidential candidate. Long before that, Biden was nicknamed “Pennsylvania's third senator” by Democrats because he campaigned there so often.

McCormick and Trump have endorsed each other but are an awkward duo atop the GOP's ticket. Trump savaged McCormick in 2022's primary in a successful bid to lift Oz to his primary win. And McCormick, for his part, has told of a private meeting in which he refused Trump's urging to say that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, a disproven claim the former president has never abandoned.

Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in the Senate but face a difficult 2024 map that requires them to defend incumbents in the red states of Montana and Ohio and fight for open seats with new candidates in Michigan and West Virginia.

A Casey loss could give Republicans control of the Senate.

Voters have until 8 p.m. local time to cast their ballots.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Now, he's putting on his ear muffs and peacoat as he films his new holiday movie, "My Grown-Up Christmas Wish," which will debut in November.

Lopez spoke with NewsNation’s “Morning in America” about his new film, his family dynamics on set, his time as A.C. Slater and what he’s planning on doing next.

The following is Lopez's conversation with “Morning in America” anchor Markie Martin, edited for clarity.

'My Grown-Up Christmas Wish'

Q: We're here on set with Mario Lopez. How is Illinois treating you?

A: Illinois has been amazing. I love the people here. They've embraced us. And it's really a love letter to this wonderful town, Long Grove.

Q: You scoped out a lot of American towns.

A: Well, we wanted to be in the Midwest, we wanted it to be where it was still somewhat cold. Boy, it's a different kind of cold here.

Q: This is not California.

A: No. I mean, a Southern California kid like me, you get spoiled. It's like — wow — we were difficult to deal with. But, you know, it's a holiday movie, so we still wanted to have that sort of feel.

Q: The movie's called, "My Grown-Up Christmas Wish." Tell us a little bit more about the plotline and what people can expect.

A: I play the mayor of this town I grew up in, and I don't want it to change. Then developers come to the town and want to start taking it over. It's kind of a little bit of a "Yellowstone" vibe. Then, there's a little bit of "Groundhog Day" vibes because a wish list that I made as a child starts to come true as I'm an adult. There's some singing and dancing, which I love. My wife and son are in the movie, which makes it extra special. My son plays a young journalist and he's interviewing me throughout and sort of helps me recognize what the town's really about, what it has to offer. My wife plays someone who left the town and returns, and we reconnect. We keep each other on our toes. She's got great timing and she's really talented. We met when we were on Broadway.

Down memory lane with A.C. Slater

Q: My real Mario Lopez question that I have — he has not changed, what are you doing? The skin care? What is your secret? You're still A.C. Slater.

A: Man, I drink a lot of tequila. I think that helps and keeps me embalmed, keeps me pickled.

Q: Can we talk about Bayside (High School) for a second? You started when you were 15.

A: 15 and I'm 50 now. So, that's a long time ago.

Q: It was a part of so many people's childhoods. Do you get tired of people coming up to you and saying, "Oh my gosh, A.C. Slater?"

A: No, I get flattered that they still recognize me from it. It's like 35-something years later. We got a reboot recently that I thought should have gone a little longer, went a couple of seasons. I was proud of that, but I have nothing but fond memories.

What's next for Mario Lopez?

Q: What's left on your bucket list that you'd like to accomplish?

A: I feel very fortunate to be doing everything that I'm doing at the moment. I just want to continue doing more of that and incorporating more of the family and do more producing.

The case centers on whether cities can ban homeless people from sleeping outside and issue fines for doing so.

It originated in Grants Pass, Oregon, where city leaders established an ordinance barring camping on public property and prohibiting homeless people from using blankets, pillows and cardboard boxes while sleeping within city limits.

Rise in homelessness

Supporters say the city ordinance helps the area deal with a growing number of encampments that can be unsafe, while opponents argue it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

At first, violators can face fines, but serial offenders can see possible jail time.

Data from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department show on a single average night last year, over 650,000 people experienced homelessness. That marked the highest number of homeless people reported since HUD began reporting the data in 2007.

Four out of 10 people without a home experienced unsheltered homelessness.

The case comes after homelessness in the United States grew a dramatic 12%, to its highest reported level as soaring rents and a decline in coronavirus pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more Americans, according to federal data.

Arguments before the court

In a filing to the Supreme Court, lawyers for the city of Grants Pass rejected the idea that the penalties amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

"Neither the civil fines imposed by petitioner Grants Pass for violating ordinances regulating camping on public property, nor short jail terms for serial violators, are cruel and unusual," they wrote.

Lawyers for the people who challenged the ordinance argued in briefs that a lack of resources leaves homeless people without other options.

"Because there are no homeless shelters in Grants Pass and the two privately operated housing programs in town serve only a small fraction of the city's homeless population, most of the city's involuntarily homeless residents have nowhere to sleep but outside," they wrote.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Monday questioned where homeless people will go if "every city, every village, every town lacks compassion and passes a law identical" to Grants Pass.

"Where are they supposed to sleep? Are they supposed to kill themselves not sleeping?" Sotomayor asked. "What is so complicated about letting someone somewhere sleep with a blanket in the outside if they have nowhere to sleep?"

The measure was largely struck down by the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which also found in 2018 that such bans violated the 8th Amendment by punishing people for something they don't have control over.

A decision in the case is expected by June. Whatever the justices decide could impact similar ordinances elsewhere in the country.

In California and other Western states, courts have ruled that it’s unconstitutional to fine and arrest people sleeping in homeless encampments if shelter space is lacking.

A cross-section of Democratic and Republican officials contend that makes it difficult for them to manage encampments, which can have dangerous and unsanitary living conditions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Prosecutors laid out their arguments against Trump just days after New York Judge Juan Merchan rejected Trump's legal team's last-ditch effort to delay the trial after claiming the jury selection process was unfairly rushed last week. The jury, which was chosen over four days, consists of seven men and five women with six alternates.

Preparing Trump's jury

The judge informed the jury Monday that they must immediately report to the court if anyone attempts to influence them. The jurors were also told not to research the case outside the courtroom or to discuss the case while the trial is ongoing.

"Only you have promised to be fair. No one else has been so qualified for this trial," Merchan said to the jurors.

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment his ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 election.  

Prosecutors will need to convince the jury that the former president falsified business records with the intent to defraud and to commit or further another crime to prove he is guilty.  

However, Trump has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. He has since claimed the case against him is election interference.

Trump trial opening statements

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo delivered opening statements for the prosecution, saying, "This case is about a criminal conspiracy and cover-up."

"The defendant Donald Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election. Then he covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his New York business records over and over and over again," Colangelo said.

Trump disregarded Colangelo, refusing to look his way during opening statements, CNN reported.

During opening statements, the prosecution provided a timeline of events since the alleged hush money payments began in 2015. Prosecutors also walked the jury through the evidence that is expected to be presented throughout the trial, including recorded calls between Trump and Cohen.

Trump's attorney Todd Blanche presented opening statements for the defense.

"President Trump is innocent. President Trump did not commit any crimes,” he started.

Blanche argued that the checks to Cohen were cut in 2017 after he became Trump's personal attorney, claiming the "34 counts" were "just pieces of paper."

"None of it was a crime," Blanche said.

The defense said they will focus more time on Cohen during cross-examination. Blanche painted Cohen as someone who is "obsessed" with the former president.

What to expect during Trump trial

The court is scheduled to adjourn at 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday due to Passover this week. The court will still meet for its four regularly scheduled trial dates this week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  

Trump will also be battling a potential gag order related to the trial in court, calling it unfair.

After opening statements, prosecutors called David Pecker as their first witness Monday. Pecker, a former publisher at the National Inquirer, allegedly helped orchestrate the payments to Daniels. Pecker has reportedly been granted immunity in exchange for his testimony for the prosecution.

Cohen and Daniels are also among those expected to testify during the trial. Trump said he would testify if asked to do so.

The trial is expected to last anywhere from six to eight weeks.

The Hill contributed to this report.

This attack came in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on Israel.

No Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility that Israel had attacked, and the Israeli military had not yet commented on the apparent strike Friday morning. However, tensions have been high since the Saturday assault on Israel amid its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and its own strikes targeting Iran in Syria.

According to the Associated Press, Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday after reports of explosions near a major airbase and nuclear site where drones were spotted.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press briefing that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations by Israel.

"We're focused on what the G7 is focused on," Blinken said Friday. "Reflected in our statement, and in our conversation, is our work to de-escalate tensions, to de-escalate from any potential conflict."

At a White House briefing Friday afternoon, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said they do not have any comment on specific reports at this time. 

She did go on to say that U.S. officials “have been very, very clear here from the beginning that we do not want to see this conflict escalate.”

“We continue to consult with our allies and partners, including in the region,” Jean-Pierre said.

Why did Israel strike Iran?

Israel's apparent attack was in retaliation for Tehran's assault on the country last week. This happened less than two weeks after a suspected Israeli strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building.

Iran launched more than 300 suicide drones and missiles toward Israel on Saturday night. Several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said earlier this week that 99% of the projectiles were intercepted. However, Israel said that does not absolve Iran for the attack or the intent behind it.

Many of Israel’s allies, including the U.S. and the United Kingdom, stepped in to help repel the attack. World leaders had urged Israel this week to use restraint in any retaliatory strikes against Iran.

US given 'last-minute' warning

The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received “last minute” information from Israel about the drone action in Iran, Italy’s foreign minister said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who chaired the meeting of ministers of industrialized countries, said the United States provided the information at a Friday morning session that was changed at the last minute to address the suspected attack.

Tajani said this was not a "sharing of the attack by the U.S."

"It was mere information," he said.

Blinken declined to comment on the assertion but emphasized that the U.S. was not involved in any attack. Jean-Pierre also declined comment on this Friday.

Will Iran retaliate for latest strike?

It's unclear whether Iran would retaliate for Friday's strike.

Earlier in the week, Iran said it viewed the tit-for-tat as a closed matter but is prepared to strike back if Israel attacks.

“In case of any use of force by the Israeli regime and of violating our sovereignty, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate a bit to assert its inherent right, to give a decisive and proper response to it to make the regime regret its actions,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said hours before Friday's strike.

Strikes on Syrian air defenses reported

Israel also carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.

The warplanes were seen around the time loud noises and drones were reported near a major Iranian air base and nuclear site early Friday. That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, about 930 miles away, and east of Israel.

$1 billion new weapons transfer to Israel

Meanwhile, according to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration is considering supplying more than $1 billion in tank shells, mortar rounds and vehicles to Israel. It would be one of the largest weapons transfers to Israel since its invasion of Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion that killed 1,200 people.

Sanctions against Iran

Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.

Earlier this week, Israel’s allies vowed support for defense efforts but won’t assist with a counteroffensive. However, sanctions against Iran are being discussed.

“Some member states proposed...adopting an expansion of restrictive measures against Iran,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. “I will send to the external action service (EU’s diplomatic service) the request to start the necessary work related to the sanctions.”

NewsNation's Taylor Delandro and Liz Jassin contributed to this report.

What's the American Privacy Rights Act?

The American Privacy Rights Act would establish national consumer data privacy rights and set standards for data security, putting Americans in control of their personal data online, including how it's used and where it goes.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the bill's co-sponsor and chair of the House Commerce Committee, told NewsNation the bicameral and bilateral bill's goal is to avoid harmful data breaches and prevent consumers' private data from being sold.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., is sponsoring the bill in Congress' upper chamber.

The legislation would minimize how much data companies can collect and, for the first time, allow Americans to sue when their privacy rights are violated online.

Why is the law being introduced?

Rodgers and Cantwell argue the legislation is needed to prevent Americans' personal online data from being shared and sold without their knowledge.

"This is important to all Americans, but especially our children. Parents are calling upon Congress to act because we know that too many people are being targeted, especially our kids, and predicted and manipulated for dangerous purposes," Rodgers said.

The bill would hold companies accountable and establish strong data security obligations, such as mandating security standards to prevent data from being hacked or stolen and ensure people know when their data has been transferred to foreign adversaries.

If the bill is signed into law, tech companies would be required to ask people individually for permission to use their data collected online.

"There would be a limited amount of data that would be collected to begin with. Sensitive data, like your location data, your search engine history, personal information that identifies you, they would have to seek your permission before they collect that data upon you," Rodgers said. "It puts individuals back in control."

Some foods that risk being banned are cereals such as Lucky Charms and Froot Loops; candies including Skittles, Nerds, M&M’s and Swedish Fish; and snacks like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Doritos.

Food chemical ban battle

At least five states — California, Illinois, Missouri, New York and Washington — have proposed or passed laws that prohibit the use of certain food or color additives that can help preserve the food but may be linked to health issues.

Supporters of the legislation say these ingredients are linked to harmful health effects and need to go.

While several states are looking to ban these ingredients, many states — Indiana, Maryland, South Dakota, Washington and West Virginian — have rejected similar proposals due to a lack of "scientific basis."

Critics of the bans, like the National Confectioners Association and the Consumer Brands Association, say these laws undermine the authority of the FDA as well as confuse and instill a lack of confidence in consumers when these food companies have to follow strict guidance already.

“It’s time to stop pretending that Illinois state legislators have the scientific expertise to make these very important regulatory decisions. Usurping FDA’s authority does nothing but create a patchwork of inconsistent requirements that increase food costs, create confusion around food safety, and erode consumer confidence.”

NATIONAL CONFECTIONERS ASSOCIATION

“The makers of America’s food and beverage brands deliver safe, affordable and convenient products that consumers want, need and trust. Food safety is of paramount concern to the CPG industry, and we support the proven, science and risk-based process established by the FDA to review the safety of food additives. These state bills overstep the FDA scientific review of these additives and create significant regulatory uncertainty. A state patchwork approach in the food regulation space creates unnecessary confusion for consumers. The reality is indisputable – multiple agencies set strict safety and nutrition standards that food companies must follow to offer their products to consumers, and FDA puts the onus on the manufacturer to meet and stay in adherence with those requirements.”

Sarah Gallo, Vice President, Product Policy, Consumer Brands Association

Food and color additives in question

Food and color additives states are seeking to ban through proposed legislation, according to the National Agricultral Law Center:

• Brominated vegetable oil
• Red Dye 3
• Titanium Dioxide
• Potassium bromate
• Propylparaben
• Azodicarbonamide
• Butylated hydroxyanisole

Is food safe if it has these chemicals?

The FDA proposed a ban on brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in November 2023, one of the food additives that the National Agricultural Law Center says is used in citrus drinks to keep the flavor from separating and floating to the top of the beverage. While BVO has been used in many sodas and sports drinks, few beverages contain it now.

The FDA discovered through the study of BVO that it has clear adverse health effects and, therefore, can no longer claim the modified vegetable oil as safe.

Red Dye 3, an approved color additive widely used in foods across the U.S., is now under active review by the FDA. The additive is used to give food and drinks a bright cherry-red color.

While the chemicals are under review and many others have been questioned, the FDA says it's the amount of the chemical in the food that counts.

FDA weighs in on chemical food safety

Several of the ingredients listed above have already been banned in Europe.

Nutritionist Carrie Lupoli said if Europe can ban them, so can the U.S.

"If Europe can do it, we certainly can too. But it does take more money and it takes dedication to say we're not going to allow for this low-quality stuff to keep entering into our systems," Lupoli said.

“Numerous reports have included reference to the potential banning of the food additives in other countries, insinuating that the U.S. lags in safeguarding consumers. These allegations, however, stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of the science of toxicology, the linchpin of food additive safety, and the meticulous regulatory oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,” said James Coughlin, PhD, CFS and Craig Llewellyn, PhD.

The FDA has provided a thorough fact sheet on its website for those who are concerned about whether the food they eat that has chemicals is safe.

“Reading or hearing about chemicals in food, when combined with words like ‘toxic,’ ‘extremely dangerous’ and ‘cancer-causing’ may be scary, especially if you aren’t getting all the facts,” the FDA said.

NewsNation reached out to several of these snack parent companies and have not yet heard back.

The Indiana Fever took Clark with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft Monday, immediately turning up the heat in a city and state that already lives and breathes basketball. 

While Clark will only make a little more than $76,000 in her first year, it's projected that with current endorsements, she'll make more than $3 million, ushering in a new era in the WNBA.

NBA, WBA TV rights negotiations

The NBA and WNBA will jointly negotiate new rights with Disney, which owns ESPN and ABC, next year.

However, amid the skyrocketing interest in female athletes, if the WNBA doesn't get what it wants during this negotiation round, the league will have the option to negotiate its own deal separate from the NBA. It could mean more money and more respect in women's professional basketball.

Rise in women's sports viewership

Popularity in women's sports has been rising throughout the past several years.

Last year's WNBA season was its most-watched in 21 years, and the league saw its highest average attendance since 2018. Viewership increased 21% over the 2022 season across its national television partners and the league’s average attendance of 6,615 fans was the WNBA’s highest since the 2018 season.

Fox Sports averaged more viewers for women's basketball compared to men's, and women's elite sports are projected to generate more than $1 billion for the first time in 2024.

The surge in popularity of women’s basketball is thanks in no small part to the performances of players like Clark, who helped reshape basketball history and captivated fans with her mesmerizing shot.

"Last year's championship game, when most people still hadn't heard of her, drew 10 million viewers. This year's championship game drew nearly 19 million viewers," said Michael McCarthy, a senior reporter for Front Office Sports. "Those are NFL-like numbers. That beats the World Series, it beats the Oscars, it beats the NBA Finals."

Now, the WNBA is hoping to take advantage of these explosive numbers and new household names, hoping for bigger venues, higher salaries and more advertising dollars.

"The more media rights the league gets, the more money goes out to the players, and there's more money to buy better facilities," McCarthy said. "Private jets instead of flying commercial, real training facilities instead of broken-down things. And maybe paying these players a wage that gets them to stay in the U.S. instead of having to go overseas to Russia and get arrested like Brittney Griner."

Surging ticket prices

StubHub reports it's seen a huge surge in demand for WNBA tickets, with overall sales for the Fever up 13 times over last year's start. The team still hasn't said how many tickets it sold this season.

Clark grew up a Minnesota Lynx fan, and she's scheduled to play them at Minneapolis' Target Center on July 14. Tickets start at $230, with courtside seats demanding at least $1,400.

Potential Nike endorsement

Clark, the former University of Iowa guard, is close to finalizing an eight-figure endorsement deal with Nike, which could include a signature shoe line, per The Athletic.

The deal would be about 30 times more than the WNBA contract expected to pay her more than $338,000 over four years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Johnson remains in the hot seat as he risks losing his leadership post for pushing the foreign aid measure, which even gained the support of President Joe Biden.

"I will sign this into law immediately to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends, and we won't let Iran or Russia succeed," Biden said.

Johnson's foreign aid package

The aid package would provide $95 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in three separate bills. A fourth bill would provide funding for Republican national security priorities.

However, Johnson faces resistance from several of his party members who are unhappy that the foreign aid package excludes border security funding.

For months, the speaker had said that any assistance for Kyiv must be paired with legislation to address the situation at the southern border. Now, the speaker's stance risks his slim margin in the House, and Johnson will likely have to rely on House Democrats to help him pass the four funding bills.

"My philosophy is, you do the right thing and you let the chips fall where they may. If I operated out of fear over a motion to vacate, I would never be able to do my job," Johnson said.

The speaker pushed ahead on a plan to hold votes on the three funding packages — to provide about $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and $8 billion to allies in the Indo-Pacific — as well as several other foreign policy proposals in a fourth bill. The plan roughly matches the amounts that the Senate has already approved.

Conservatives threaten to remove Johnson

Johnson has already faced threats from two Republicans saying they support removing him as speaker if these bills pass.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has already introduced a motion to vacate but hasn't forced a vote quite yet.

Earlier this week, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said he'd support Greene's effort.

"The motion will get called and he's going to lose more votes than Kevin McCarthy. I told him this in private weeks ago," Massie said.

Johnson pushed back on the growing ouster effort against him Tuesday, calling it “absurd” and “not helpful.”

Greene posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, claiming Johnson wasn't the GOP's speaker but rather a speaker for the Democrats.

"Chuck Schumer bragged on the Senate floor about Speaker Johnson giving Democrats everything they want in the foreign war bill and for Ukraine. Joe Biden just announced he supports the House bill Johnson is forcing forward. Johnson is not our speaker, he is theirs,” she wrote.

Johnson attempts to ease tension

On Wednesday, House GOP leaders introduced a new border security bill designed to appease the conservatives who are up in arms that the foreign aid package excluded tougher measures to battle migration.

Johnson said he would move a separate border security bill as the House considered the foreign aid measures, a move largely viewed as a way to pacify the conservative anger. He said the border security bill would move under a separate procedural rule from the Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan measures.

The gambit was met with sharp — and immediate — criticism from hard-line Republicans, who dismissed the new border bill as weak and part of a bad-faith effort by Johnson to satisfy the conservative concerns.

“That is a joke,” Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., the chair of the House Freedom Caucus, told reporters of the border bill. “That’s pretend. That’s theater. That’s noise.”

“It’s a theatrics, shiny object," Greene echoed. “It’s the shiny object for Republicans that are saying we got to do something for the border.”

The House is expected to vote on the border bill in the coming days as part of Johnson’s plan to send aid to embattled U.S. allies. But even if it passes the House it will face a dead end in the Senate, where many of the provisions are nonstarters among Democrats.

Johnson pushes foreign aid bills

Johnson is expected to bring the four foreign aid bills up for a vote over the weekend. Democrats are largely expected to support the foreign aid bills, while it's uncertain how Republicans will vote.

The House speaker explained the threat of Russian President Vladimir Putin winning the war against Ukraine and taking on other NATO allies next is too great of a risk to play politics with.

"To put it bluntly, I would rather send bullets to Ukraine than American boys," Johnson said. "My son is going to begin in the Naval Academy this fall. This is a live-fire exercise for me as it is so many American families. This is not a game, it's not a joke. We can't play politics of this, we have to do the right thing and I'm going to allow an opportunity for every single member of the House to vote their conscience and their will on this."

Johnson continued, "I think that's the way this institution is supposed to work and I'm willing to take a personal risk for that because we have to do the right thing and history will judge us."

The Hill contributed to this report.

The Israeli war Cabinet has crafted its response to Iran's attack, with one Knesset member stating the country is seeking to send Iran a message without escalating tensions.

"Iranians will know that we reacted," said Yuli Edelstein, chair of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. "I sincerely hope that it will teach them a lesson that you can't attack a sovereign country just because you find it doable."

Iran attacks Israel

Iran launched more than 300 suicide drones and missiles toward Israel Saturday night. Several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said 99% of the projectiles were intercepted. However, Israel said that does not absolve Iran for the attack or the intent behind it.

Many of Israel’s allies, including the U.S. and the United Kingdom, stepped in to help repel the attack.

Sanctions against Iran

Israel's allies have vowed support for defense efforts but won't assist with a counteroffensive. However, sanctions against Iran are being considered.

"Some member states propose the adoption of — expand the restrictive measures against Iran," European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. "I will send to the external action service (EU's diplomatic service) the request to start the necessary work related to the sanctions."

Iran said it views this as a closed matter but is prepared to strike back if Israel attacks.

Allegations against Target

The class action lawsuit filed in Illinois last month alleges the company is violating state privacy laws and is collecting the data without customers' knowledge, potentially putting them at risk of identity theft.

The woman alleges in her lawsuit that Target collected and stored her and other customers' biometric data, including face and fingerprint scans, without their consent. It also alleges Target is equipped with state-of-the-art facial recognition technology in all of its stores as part of its antitheft efforts.

But the lawsuit claims Target's surveillance system goes way beyond preventing theft.

Surveillance system concerns

The lawsuit even details TikTok accounts dedicated to customers and ex-employees discussing their concerns about the company’s surveillance systems.

The lawsuit contends that biometric data is biologically unique and could pose risks of identity theft if compromised.

Data privacy legislation

According to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) passed in 2008, companies doing business in the state can’t collect or store biometric data without proper notice and consent. Texas, New York, Vermont and Washington also have similar laws in place.

BIPA gives Illinoisans the right to sue over violations, with damages ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per violation.

The lawsuit wants Target to pay as much as $5,000 for every violation.

Target did not immediately responded to a request for comment. The next court date has been set for July.

NewsNation affiliate WGN contributed to this report.

The handcuffed Heuermann was only in court for a few minutes as lawyers on each side hashed out discovery issues, including lab reports and tips that were called in during the investigation.

During the last hearing, Heuermann's attorney, Mike Brown, told reporters he was anxious to review the nearly 3,000 tips and leads gathered by investigators over this decadeslong case. Additionally, he highlighted that the previous district attorney in this case said he almost charged another person who lived in Heuermann's hometown of Massapequa Park on Long Island.

Prosecutors claim Heuermann led a double life, commuting daily to Manhattan for work as an architect and allegedly engaging in the killing of sex workers when his wife went out of town.

What is Rex Heuermann accused of?

In July, police arrested 60-year-old Heuermann and charged him with the murders of three women: Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27. Police considered him a suspect in the death of a fourth, 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and he was charged with murder in January in connection to her killing.

The four women were known as the Gilgo Four.

Police used familial DNA evidence to help identify Heuermann.

The Gilgo Beach task force had been investigating the deaths of 10 people whose remains were found along the New York beach in 2010 and 2011. Most of the victims were sex workers.

All four women whom Heuermann is accused of killing were sex workers. Barthelemy’s family said a man using her phone had taunted the family with graphic details of what he had done to her sexually and said he killed her.

Heuermann's wife expected in court

Heuerman's wife, Asa Ellerup, is expected to be in court Wednesday. She's visited him regularly in the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, according to her attorney, who said Ellerup visited him last Friday.

Ellerup filed for divorce shortly after Heuermann's arrest but has since said she doesn't believe Heuermann was capable of the killings.

NewsNation's Steph Whiteside contributed to this report.

In the most recent incident, a speedboat navigated between surfers and beachgoers before it was abandoned in the suburb of Carlsbad, just north of San Diego.

Several videos of Saturday's incident circulated on social media, showing the boat running ashore when at least 15 people jumped out and some of them ran to the street and escaped in an awaiting vehicle. Others went into the residential and commercial district, frequented by tourists and locals, Reuters reported.

Evading Border Patrol

While most immigrants who illegally enter the country turn themselves into Border Patrol agents, some groups try to avoid federal agents, which local officials said raises significant concerns.

"Smugglers don't operate with any regard to public safety," Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn said during a news conference Monday. "I watched the videos of this boat come in the middle of a Saturday with kids in the water, sunbathers, and the boat pulled up (at a) high speed with zero regard to safety."

By arriving on boats undetected, officials are not able to identify the people and have no way of knowing if they have a prior criminal history in the U.S. or if they were smuggling drugs.

"We don't know if these men were simply migrants or whether they were just looking for a better life or if they were on terrorists watchlists," Blackburn said.

Spike in maritime smuggling

Earlier this year, NewsNation obtained video from a resident in La Jolla, California, who captured a boat carrying a group of migrants landing on a beach. This group also escaped in cars waiting for them.

The number of maritime smuggling events off the California coast increased from 308 in 2020 to 736 in 2023, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond told Reuters, citing U.S. data.

Calls for increased border security

On Monday, Rep. Mike Levin, a Democrat whose district includes Carlsbad, urged House Republicans to bring to a vote a resolution that would double the range in which Border Patrol agents can operate at sea, from 12 to 24 nautical miles.

Such landings and interdictions at sea are fairly common, but the striking image is rarely captured on video.

One to four such boats are abandoned on San Diego County beaches weekly. The boats are typically loaded with multiple fuel tanks but scant evidence of where they came from or who operated them, said Robert Butler, chief executive of TowBoatUS San Diego, the marine salvage company hired to remove them.

Reuters contributed to this story.

Paternal grandmother Tifany Adams, 54; her boyfriend Tad Cullum, 43; Cora Twombly, 44; and her husband Cole Twombly, 50, have each been charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39.

Butler and Kelley vanished on March 30 while en route to pick up Butler’s children for a supervised visit.

The victims' families attended the arraignment, filling the first three rows of the courtroom. Family members heckled the suspects, shouting expletives at them.

During the extremely emotional hearing, victims family members had to be held back as suspects were brought into court. Family called grandma Tiffany Adams a "f***ing b****" as she entered and the others "sorry pieces of s***."

NewsNation's Brian Entin spoke with Butler's aunt Ladonna Thompson as she left the courtroom. Thompson told Entin that Butler and Kelley didn't deserve to be killed, nor did the family deserve to have to endure the grief of such a loss.

"There's just too many emotions, so much anger," Thompson said. "I don't understand how somebody can hate somebody so much that you want to kill them. My niece did not deserve that and neither did the young lady with her. She was just there to help her."

All four suspects are expected back in court sometime next month.

Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley's bodies found

Butler and Kelley's bodies were discovered by authorities in Texas County on Sunday during a police search for their remains just over two weeks after their disappearance, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday.

Their bodies were found about 8 1/2 miles away from where their vehicle was discovered abandoned off of Oklahoma State Highway 95 in a hole covered with hay on a property Cullum was renting for cattle grazing.

The cause of death for both women is still pending from the medical examiner’s office.

Veronica Butler and Tifany Adams' custody battle

Butler was reportedly in the middle of a nasty custody battle with Adams at the time of her death.

Wrangler Rickman, the father of the two children, had legal custody but was in a rehabilitation facility, so the children were living with Adams at the time of the disappearance.

Kelley was the supervisor of the child visits for Butler, court papers stated. The visit was a designated, court-approved visitation that takes place every Saturday.

On the day Butler went missing, Adams asked her preferred court-approved supervisor to “take a couple weeks off” and then told Butler to find someone else to supervise her visitation with her children that day, court papers revealed. Butler then asked Kelley to go with her.  

Probable cause affidavits showed that just 10 days before the women went missing, Butler had filed a petition in court for more visitation with her children and was seeking full custody.

Investigators referred to the legal back and forth as a “problematic” custody battle between Adams and Butler, which had been ongoing since February 2019. 

Garrett Oates, Butler‘s attorney, said the custody dispute was “contentious from the beginning.” Oates told NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo that Butler was an “organized and diligent” client.

Arrest records revealed that Wednesday was the day Butler was scheduled to go to court and receive more visitation rights from Adams, the grandmother who had custody of Butler's two young children.

Investigators believe the custody battle was a driving motive of the killings.

The four suspects lived in the Oklahoma Panhandle, a thin strip of land with a history of lawlessness and criminality in the 1800s. The Oklahoma Panhandle, where the suspects lived and where the two bodies were found, had historically been known as “No Man’s Land.”

The quartet, allegedly part of an anti-government religious group called “God’s Misfits,” has become a central figure in the investigation. The group allegedly met at the Twombly's residence weekly, court documents revealed.

Police say a fifth person who attended those meetings was not arrested.

Investigation remains ongoing

On Tuesday, police towed away a white trailer from a property Cullum allegedly has ties to. Witnesses say they saw the trailer in the area where the women were killed.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Adams’ cellphone searches include web searches for taser pain level, gun shops, prepaid cell phones and how to get someone out of their house, in the weeks leading up to the disappearance.

The Twombly’s teen daughter told investigators that her mother spoke with her about a previous attempt to kill Butler in February, but that it failed because she didn’t leave her house. That plan was to throw an anvil through Butler’s window, court papers stated.

The daughter also told police that the four told her they were going on a “mission” the day of the women’s disappearance.

When they returned, they told their daughter “things didn’t go as planned” but they wouldn’t have to worry about Butler again, and that Kelley also had to die because she supported Butler. 

When she asked her mother if the bodies were put in a well, she replied “something like that.”

'A tragedy close to home'

Vincent Forbes, a local municipal court judge who says he’s a friend of Cullums, told NewsNation's Brian Entin Tuesday that he had been in regular contact with Cullum and was even present at the residence during the police raid.

“I’m blown away that this even happened,” Forbes said, referring to the arrest of his friend. “Tad was a very good friend of mine. I’m not gonna say he was a very good friend of mine. He is a good friend of mine.”

Forbes, who is also Cullum’s business partner, said he never got a “bad vibe,” describing him as “one of the nicest, funniest” people he knew. However, Forbes acknowledged that Adams seemed “a little bit out of left field.”

"It’s such a tragedy close to home. You hear about these things on the news. You see all this stuff, but when you’re this close to the fire, it’s a whole different story," Forbes said.

Forbes has been forced to resign since telling NewsNation he was shocked by the killings. The judge’s decision to speak out about the case appears to have angered local officials, with the mayor who appointed him demanding his resignation.

NewsNation's Damita Menezes, Katie Smith, Safia Samee Ali and Liz Jassin contributed to this report.

The criminal trial, the first of of a former U.S. president, revolves around payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels aimed at concealing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, who was then a presidential candidate in the 2016 election. Trump has denied the allegations.

The criminal trial is the first of Trump’s four indictments to go to trial. 

How much is the trial expected to cost NYC?

If the trial lasts six weeks, it could cost New York City cost $1 million to $2 million, according to estimates from trial attorney Mercedes Colwin.

"If you look at a six-week trial and you're talking about all these other factors involved to make sure that former President Trump is safe, that the jurors are safe, that the judge is safe, all of the individuals that are involved in this trial (are safe)," Colwin told NewsNation, "$50,000 a day to ensure that all of these safety precautions are taken is not something that would be out of the realm of reality."

Legal analysts anticipate jury selection will be the biggest challenge and likely take up the most time.

The Independent Budget Office of New York confirmed significant overtime will be necessary for court staff and security personnel during the trial.

Security costs

The Secret Service is working with the New York Police Department to secure the courthouse by closing roads and restricting access.

The Office of Court Administration confirmed to NewsNation that no new personnel has been hired, adding budgets are not delineated by specific high-profile cases, suggesting the city's resources will be strained.

How long will the trial last?

Jury selection is currently underway to find 12 jurors and six alternates.

Once the trial begins, it's expected to last six to eight weeks.

The prosecution will present its case first, followed by the defense.

At the same time, tensions in the Middle East are running high over a possible Israeli counterstrike.

Iran launched more than 300 suicide drones and missiles toward Israel Saturday night, but Israel says it and its allies intercepted nearly all of the weapons fired.

How many weapons were intercepted?

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said 99% of the launches were intercepted.

He said Iran fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base.

Many of Israel's allies, including the U.S. and the United Kingdom, stepped in to repel the attack.

The U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces intercepted more than 85 drones and missiles fired from Iran and Yemen.

World leaders urge Israel not to retaliate

World leaders are now calling for restraint as Israel weighs its response to Iran's first-ever direct attack on the Jewish state.

On Sunday, an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council was called, in which U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres described the Middle East as "being on the brink."

“Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate. Now is the time for maximum restraint," Guterres said.

The U.S. warned Iran to back down.

While many countries are urging both sides to exercise restraint, Israel has said they'll respond to Iran's attack at a time that best suits them. What exactly that looks like remains to be seen, but there is a wider fear the situation will escalate.

Were there any casualties?

The only known casualty is a 7-year-old girl who was seriously injured and is in critical condition.

The Iranian attack on Saturday, less than two weeks after an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building, marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jurors started being sworn in in the afternoon, beginning with a panel of 96 people. More than half of prospective jurors in that first group were excused, though, after saying they could not be fair and impartial.

Questions posed to jurors included ones on their educational backgrounds, news habits, hobbies and ability to be neutral.

The case revolves around payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels aimed at concealing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, who was then a presidential candidate in the 2016 election.

It's the first criminal trial of a former president, and the first of Trump's four indictments, to go to trial. 

Judge Juan Merchan made rulings over several housekeeping and evidentiary issues before the jury selection.

Despite repeated asks from Trump's legal team, Merchan said he will not recuse himself from the case, adding that he won't address the matter further.

Merchan denied prosecutors' requests to show an infamous "Access Hollywood" video, where Trump is caught talking about grabbing women sexually without their permission, as well as another request to tell jurors about several sexual assault allegations against Trump.

He did, however, allow the prosecution to introduce more evidence about an alleged arrangement Trump had with the National Enquirer, NewsNation partner The Hill reported, as well as evidence that Trump believed a story about another affair he allegedly had with former Playboy model Karen McDougal would hurt his campaign.

Under a gag order imposed March 26, Trump was barred from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors, as well as relatives of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Merchan. However, he is allowed to speak about the officials themselves.

While Trump's attorneys are fighting the gag order in an appeals court, prosecutors asked Merchan on Monday to fine the former president $3,000 over social media posts they say violate it. Among these are posts calling two important witnesses — Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen and Daniels — “two sleaze bags who have, with their lies and misrepresentations, cost our Country dearly!”

Merchan ruled that these tweets could be admitted as evidence if defense attorneys attempt to discredit Cohen. A hearing on whether to fine Trump is set for April 23, though Merchan had previously set it for the 24th. Lawyers for Trump have an April 19 deadline to file a written response.

A group of 12 people — Trump's peers, in the eyes of the law — will be chosen to decide whether the former president is guilty of a crime.

Prior to Monday's proceedings, Trump's attorneys had filed four motions to delay the trial, all of which were denied. The most recent one was last Friday when the judge rejected their request to adjourn the case because of what they argued was overwhelming pretrial publicity.

Trump spoke to reporters entering the courtroom Monday morning, falsely saying "every legal scholar" said the case is nonsense and repeating claims that the case is politically motivated. He said the same after court as well.

Protestors were outside the courthouse as well.

At times during the trial, The Hill wrote, Trump closed his eyes, leading to some criticism from Democrats.

At the end of the day Monday, defense lawyer Todd Blanche asked if Trump could be excused Thursday for a Supreme Court argument over whether he can be criminally prosecuted for efforts to overturn his 2020 reelection loss. Merchan rejected this request.

“He’s required to be here, he’s not required to be at the Supreme Court," Merchan said.

The trial resumes at 9:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

How long will jury selection take?

The process of selecting a jury could take several days, if not weeks.

Trump's lawyers and state attorneys will draw from a large sampling of potential jurors to find those who can be unbiased and render a fair verdict. The goal is to select 12 jurors and six alternates.

Potential jurors are randomly picked from lists of New York registered voters, state driver’s license holders, New York state income tax filers and more. To serve, they must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens and residents of Manhattan — where the trial is set to take place. Jurors must also understand English and hold no felony convictions. 

Once the trial begins, the judge says it could last six to eight weeks.

What questions were jurors asked?

Lawyers weren't allowed to ask potential jurors whether they're Democrats or Republicans, whom they voted for or whether they've given money to any political causes.

However, attorneys were permitted to ask 42 questions aimed at rooting out whether they lean Republican or Democrat. Among them:

• "Do you currently follow Donald Trump on any social media site or have you done so in the past?"
• “Do you have any political, moral, intellectual, or religious beliefs or opinions which might prevent you from following the court’s instructions on the law or which might slant your approach to this case?”
• "Do you listen to talk radio?"
• "Have you ever attended a rally or campaign event for Donald Trump?"

What is Trump charged with?

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of an alleged effort to keep salacious — and, he says, bogus — stories about his sex life from emerging during his 2016 campaign.

The charges center on $130,000 in payments that Trump's company made to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen. He paid that sum on Trump's behalf to keep Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, from going public, a month before the election, with her claims of a sexual encounter with the married mogul a decade earlier.

Prosecutors say the payments to Cohen were falsely logged as legal fees to cloak their actual purpose. Trump's lawyers say the disbursements were legal expenses, not a cover-up.

Trump has denied the allegations.

What will the jury decide?

Jurors in this trial will listen to testimony and decide whether Trump is guilty of any of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Their decision to convict or acquit must be unanimous.

If they cannot agree on a verdict, the judge can declare a mistrial. If jurors have a reasonable doubt that Trump is guilty, they must acquit him.

If they convict him, the judge will be the one who decides the sentence, not the jurors.

Will Trump be in court often?

New York state law requires that Trump attend the entirety of his trial. 

Even when he wasn’t required to attend, however, the former president in recent months has regularly ditched the campaign trail to show up in court alongside his lawyers in multiple cases. 

The judge can remove Trump from the courtroom following a warning if Trump “conducts himself in so disorderly and disruptive a manner that his trial cannot be carried on with him in the courtroom.” 

Trump has indicated he is willing to testify.

The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

As a caretaker, it's understandable to feel conflicted. Some adults don't want to have tough conversations with kids at home, but they fear children could learn about the situation through classmates, teachers or eavesdropping.

NewsNation spoke to Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado professor of school psychology, about how to start these delicate conversations.

Crepeau-Hobson says the approach should consider the child's age and developmental level. The fundamentals, however, are the same:

• Reassure the child they are safe and the community will protect them.
• Maintain a routine to provide predictability and ease their fears.
• Validate and acknowledge their feelings.
• Limit their consumption of disturbing details.

For older children in middle or high school, Crepeau-Hobson recommends checking in to gauge their understanding and helping fill in any gaps, while avoiding graphic details that could further upset them.

"We don't want to try and sugarcoat things, but we also don't want to share really awful, horrible details," she said. "Because that can make kids even more afraid and (create) more uncertainty, and more dysregulated."

Crepeau-Hobson advises parents to monitor their child's behavior and seek professional support if the situation starts interfering with their functioning.

An American Psychological Association expert told reporters that children can learn resilience, like any other skill and adapt to adversity and tragedy.

Airline workers say they’ve been without a contract for two years and are demanding hefty pay increases.

The flight attendants are increasingly frustrated that pilots won huge pay raises last year while they continue to work for wages that, in some cases, have not increased in several years. They further say while they’ve been without a contract for two years, CEO Scott Kirby made nearly $19 million in 2023.

Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said it's about time flight attendants get recognized and compensated fairly for their hard work and dedication to the company. The AFA is the union representing more than 25,000 United Airlines workers in negotiation discussions.

Nelson, who was on the picket line Thursday in Chicago, said the association is fighting for a record contract.

Last year, United Airlines saw record profits and all the executives within the company received double-digit pay raises, she said. Plus, the last time the association negotiated a contract with the airline was in 2016. The last time flight attendants received a pay raise was in 2020.

"We helped the airline get through COVID. Through the pandemic. Through its roughest time," Nelson said Friday on "Morning in America." "We put forward the plan that got the federal relief to keep us flying. And it's high time that we're getting a return for all of our hard work and sacrifice."

This week’s protest comes as negotiators return for the second round of a federally-mediated bargaining session. Since the pandemic, attendants say working conditions have deteriorated, with more passengers than ever exhibiting “abusive” behavior.

"We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants. Our negotiations are continuing this week and we have additional dates scheduled later this month," United Airlines said in a statement.

Nelson said while the airline was at the table this week for negotiations, it's not moving fast enough. She explained that the union needs to put forth a credible strike threat from the National Mediation Board, the agency that oversees the negotiations.

"They need to face that pressure in order to meet the needs of the flight attendants on the front line and to get that record contract that is reflective of those record profits that we have helped generate," Nelson said.

Still, it has been 29 months of negotiating, and the union's demands still haven't been met.

"The flight attendants are exhausted," she said. "At a certain point, you can't attract people to this job."

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) paid more than $1.5 million to lawyers or firms representing Biden, according to the committee's financial filings confirmed by NewsNation.

The DNC paid $1.05 million to Bob Bauer PLLC, the professional limited liability company for Biden's lead attorney, from July 2023 to February 2024. Additionally, it increased monthly payments to Hemenway & Barnes from $15,000 to $100,000 starting last July.

The findings come after Biden's campaign has attacked former President Donald Trump for using his campaign funds on legal fees.

In a statement to NewsNation, spokesperson Alex Floyd said there's "no comparison" between the DNC's spending and Trump's spending.

"The DNC does not spend a single penny of grassroots donors’ money on legal bills," Floyd said.

The special counsel, Robert Hur, began investigating Biden’s handling of classified documents in January 2023 after papers from Biden's vice presidency were found at his office and home.

A person familiar with the matter told Axios that Biden's team debated the DNC covering legal fees after Hur was appointed special counsel — which came after the DNC criticized the Republican National Committee (RNC) for paying for Trump's legal fees.

Before Trump was a candidate, the RNC paid some of his legal bills for cases in New York that began when he was president, The Washington Post reported. Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, who was ousted in March, said in 2022 that the RNC would stop paying the legal bills once Trump became a candidate.

Since becoming a presidential candidate, Trump's Save America PAC has paid his legal fees, and campaign donations are filtered to the PAC before the RNC gets a cut.

Legal spending comprised 85% of Save America’s total operating expenses during the first two months of this year, roughly the same as in 2023, when such expenses were about 89%. It has spent $8.5 million on legal fees so far this year.

Between payments from the Republican National Committee and his Save America PAC, Trump has gotten about $55 million to pay his legal fees.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Johnson and Trump hosted the conference at the former president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where the speaker put forth an argument that border security has become an issue of election integrity. Johnson advocated for a new bill that he said would establish safeguards to stop non-citizens from voting in federal U.S. elections and suggested that Democrats are intentionally making it easier for people to enter the U.S. so they can vote and potentially influence election outcomes.

"Why would they do this?" Johnson said. "Why would they allow this chaos? Why the violence? Because they want to turn these people into voters."

A Washington Post fact-check that analyzed data from both conservative and liberal-leaning organizations found few documented cases of non-citizens voting in federal elections. In some instances, people who were not eligible may have thought they were while getting a driver’s license.

In 2022, Georgia completed a citizenship review of the state’s voter rolls and found that 1,6234 people older than 25 attempted to register to vote despite not being U.S. citizens. None were permitted to register and therefore were unable to vote.

A U.S. district judge previously called Texas’ efforts to identify non-citizen voters “a solution looking for a problem,” after learning that Texas flagged 100,000 voters as potential non-citizens. Of those, about 25,000 were “erroneously flagged because of data mix-ups,” the Washington Post reported. Fourteen voters were removed from the roll and had to be reinstated as a result of the review.

Friday's event comes as Trump has spent the past few days hosting multiple fundraising events in Florida and Georgia. The press has not been allowed in; however, Bill White, a supporter of the 45th president who has attended the fundraising events said Trump has been focused on critical issues, particularly the border and immigration.

This sentiment resonates with polling data, which indicates that immigration is quickly becoming the top priority in the 2024 presidential election. According to Gallup polling from February, 28% of American voters rank immigration as their most important issue overall, with government and poor leadership coming in second and the economy ranking third.

The event also comes as Johnson seeks to solidify Republican support for various initiatives ranging from the nation's security surveillance system to securing military aid packages for Ukraine and Israel. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., continues to voice threats to remove Johnson from his position as speaker.

The outcome of Friday afternoon's announcement could potentially shape future developments. Following that, Trump is set to resume his campaign activities Saturday in Pennsylvania.

Then, attention will shift to his upcoming legal proceedings, with jury selection scheduled for next week in his New York hush money case.

NewsNation Digital reporter Katie Smith contributed to this report.

Proposed bills in the state Legislature would, for the first time, differentiate between squatters and tenants and create a shift in protections.

New York State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz introduced Assembly Bill 6894, which would "protect the rights of homeowners and add squatting to the definition of criminal trespassing."

It comes as New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the city is exploring changing its squatting laws.

In a recent incident, neighbors suspect squatters have returned to a home in the area, following three fires reportedly caused by the squatters as recently as last month. Other neighbors claim illegal tenants are damaging nearby homes and stealing water, gas and electricity.

Additionally, delays in the demolition and construction of a center for young adults with special needs in Queens were attributed to a squatter occupying a home that used to be on the property. The building's owner said it took six months and $100,000 in legal fees to reclaim her family's rightful property.

This incident occurred outside the center where a state senator introduced legislation aimed at stripping squatters of tenant rights.

"What we do is change tenancy from 30 to 45 days, so you can't have month-to-month issues we've been seeing; you have to provide evidence," Blumencranz told NewsNation. "In my opinion, that would be title and right permission from the rightful owner or payment of rent. Third, we make squatting a criminal trespass charge."

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation allowing property owners to call the sheriff's office to remove squatters lacking proper documentation that they're allowed to live at the property.

Now, New York residents are questioning whether the state and city will implement similar measures.

Alligator mating season typically begins in April in Florida. Although attacks are rare, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has recorded more than 450 incidents since 1948, with only 30 being deadly.

It's a Florida fatal attraction, according to Capt. Wes Bedell of Naples Inshore & Offshore Fishing Charters.

"It’s mating season down here in the Everglades, so, they're extra-territorial," he said. "They'll push the smaller one out to pick up on their ladies and plant their flag."

Bedell said he recently encountered two at least 14-foot-long gators during a boat tour, but he wasn't the only one astonished by the scene.

“I had some clients on the boat when I was on this tour, I turned around and they were straight deer in the headlights," Bedell said. "There was some Jurassic Park theme music going on in the background for sure. Straight carnage."

Authorities urge residents to pay attention to their surroundings, not to feed alligators, to keep their pets on a leash at the end of a body of water, and to never swim outside of posted swimming areas. Additionally, they reminded residents that if they see a baby alligator, the mother is watching nearby.

The report claimed the companies are using those aerial images to ditch properties seen as too risky. For example, if a house's roof is missing or has damaged shingles, if tree branches are hanging over the home's structure, or even if the property has a pool or trampoline that wasn't reported.

The insurance companies then use that collected data as a reason to refuse to renew someone's home insurance policy and drop them, the report said.

Consumer advocates say the problem is that some of the images could be outdated, meaning changes to the property could have been made in the time that the photos were snapped. A homeowner could have cut down those branches over the home or had their roof replaced since the images were taken.

In some cases, the images may not even be accurate.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that it's a challenging process for the policy holder to contest.

While the report claims the insurance companies are conducting this practice secretly, the Insurance Information Insitute says that in most cases homeowners have a right to see the inspection report.

Plus, certain states have different laws that try to limit the reasons insurance companies can cite if they do not want to renew your coverage, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The practice of spying on homes also prompts a discussion about where the line is when it comes to the privacy of the homeowner and technological advances.

"This is just a much more efficient way of capturing data. The drone technology is very highly sophisticated, it continues to improve," Mark Friedlander, the director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute, said. "It captures the type of data that insurers need to make underwriting decisions. And here's the big picture, weeding out risky properties through the visual inspection process helps everybody, meaning there's fewer claims."

It comes at a time when data reveals homeowner's insurance is getting more expensive. Premiums for homeowners nationwide went up more than 20% from 2022 to 2023, which is up from a 12% increase the year before, according to a recent study by Policygenius.

He secured funding under the fiscal year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which includes nearly half a billion dollars for Border Patrol agents and over $280 million for new security technology.

Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted to pass the bill that allocates $81 million for Operation Stonegarden. It provides federal resources to local law enforcement agencies to conduct operations to enhance security along the southern border.

"We also added an extra $1 billion for TSA to make sure that they have their equipment and that we pay TSA officers the salaries that they deserve," Cuellar told NewsNation.

Cuellar acknowledges the significant influx of migrants in specific "heat zones" along the border. He has urged his colleagues in Congress to push for more funding in technology and hiring agents.

He emphasized that many of these migrants don't qualify for asylum because they're not fleeing persecution based on religion or political beliefs. Instead, they're primarily seeking economic opportunities in the United States.

"If you are hungry, you want a better life or you want a job over here. We want to help as many as we can; we cannot help the whole world," Cuellar said. "If you don't qualify, then with all respect, we're going to hold you and then deport you back to your country."

Even with the halt in funding for a border wall, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott continues his efforts against illegal immigration. He recently announced progress on a new base in Eagle Pass that is being built to accommodate thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers stationed at the border.

Spirit Airlines announced plans to furlough 260 pilots beginning in September and to delay all new aircraft deliveries from the second quarter of next year through 2026 as it looks to save money.

The airline has faced financial losses over the past six quarters and faced a setback after a judge blocked its multibillion-dollar merger with JetBlue earlier this year due to antitrust concerns.

With some of its planes grounded, the airline finds itself with an excess of pilots.

"Deferring these aircraft gives us the opportunity to reset the business and focus on the core airline while we adjust to changes in the competitive environment," the Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie III wrote in a statement.

Meanwhile, United Airlines has announced it's asking pilots to take voluntary unpaid time off in May due to late deliveries of new planes from Boeing.

Boeing has faced scrutiny over its quality control and safety standards following a January incident involving an Alaska Airlines Max 9 plane, where a door plug blew off midflight.

United now expects to receive fewer plans from Boeing this year, while Southwest Airlines announced last month it also plans to receive fewer new planes from the manufacturer.

Amid the controversy, Boeing's CEO Dave Calhoun has announced he'll step down by the end of the year.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were tried separately but sentenced together on Tuesday. They're the first parents convicted in a U.S. school shooting.

Prosecutors were seeking at least 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Defense attorneys were seeking less than five years for each of their clients.

Before witness statements began, attorneys argued over technicalities in the state's sentencing scoring system, with defense attorneys arguing that they don't account for a scenario like the Crumbleys, which is unique in relation to school shootings.

Nicole Beausoleil, whose daughter Madisyn Baldwin was killed in the school shooting, gave an emotional statement detailing the interactions the Crumbleys had with their son and comparing them to her own.

"When you texted Ethan please don't do it, I was texting Madisyn, I love you, please call," she said. "When you got a chance to speak to your son, seeing him alive and showing no support, I was watching families reunite with their children, waiting for my moment."

Both Crumbleys also spoke on their own behalf, asking the judge for more leniency.

Additionally, defense attorney Shannon Smith sought to allow Jennifer Crumbley to serve her time on house arrest. Smith said she's “not a threat to the community.” Smith said she's even willing to put Jennifer Crumbley up in a guest house at her property, outfitted with an electronic tether.

“That's pretty extraordinary. Most defense attorneys would tell you that's not something they would likely offer for any of their clients facing sentencing. Somehow Jennifer has moved her defense attorney to such an extreme degree," Mercedes Colwin, a trial attorney not involved in the case, told NewsNation.

Prosecutors argued such action would be offensive to the victims and their families.

Smith said “any gross negligence” were mistakes “that any parent could make.”

Mariell Lehman, a lawyer representing James Crumbley, said the nearly 2 1/2 years spent in jail since the couple's arrest is enough time in custody. His wife, too, has been in jail, both unable to post a $500,000 bond before trial.

Colwin said it's also possible a judge could impose 15 years for each manslaughter charge, resulting in a 60-year sentence. However, she believes that is unlikely and the sentences will be served concurrently.

Judge Cheryl Matthews will ultimately decide after hearing the victims' impact statements Tuesday. Despite the verdict, trial analysts predict any appeal would likely be unsuccessful.

The Crumbleys did not know their son, Ethan Crumbley, was planning the shooting at Oxford High School. But prosecutors said the parents failed to safely store a gun and could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his dark drawing that day.

Ethan Crumbley, now 17, pleaded guilty and is serving a life prison sentence.

Prosecutors said “tragically simple actions” by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The withdrawal comes as Israel faces global pressure to de-escalate tensions. While some hoped for de-escalation, Israeli defense officials clarified they're regrouping.

The current plan is to move ground troops into Hamas' last stronghold in the southern city of Rafah, a strategy that has been in the works for weeks. The plan has drawn strong condemnation from U.S. officials who fear mass civilian casualties because more than a million refugees are living in Rafah.

President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently, warning of significant consequences, including freezing weapons deliveries from the U.S., if Israel doesn't change its strategy.

"What I can tell you is that, as the president made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu, we got to see some changes in the way they're prosecuting these operations, or we're going to have to think about making changes in our own policy towards Gaza," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, explaining the call between Biden and Netanyahu.

Biden is demanding more border crossing to open for refugees to leave and more aid to get in. Additionally, he's calling for the release of more hostages. Tal Heinrich, Netanyahu's spokesperson, told NewsNation's Chris Stirewalt that Israel also seeks the release of hostages, but with an important condition attached.

"We want to see all hostages coming back home," Heinrich said. "We want, of course, to make sure that Gaza will never pose a terror threat to us again, and that includes eliminating Hamas."

The demands come shortly after seven relief workers with World Central Kitchen were killed in a Gaza airstrike.

Regarding prospects of peace, an Israeli military chief stated, "The war in Gaza continues, and we are far from stopping."

Dr. Joe Pesce, an astrophysicist with the National Science Foundation, joined NewsNation's "Morning in America" on Sunday to discuss the scientific significance of the celestial event.

"The outer atmosphere, the most extended part of the atmosphere of the Sun is called the corona, which means crown in Latin because it looks like a crown," Pesce explained. "It shows up when the vast portion of the light of the sun is blocked out because it's very faint."

The corona, which can reach millions of degrees in temperature, is a perplexing aspect of the sun that has long intrigued scientists. Pesce said the high temperature of the corona, which contradicts the typical cooling trend as one moves away from the solar surface, is likely due to magnetic fields depositing energy into the low-density gas and plasma.

"It's a rare thing to study because historically, we've only seen it during solar eclipses," Pesce said. "Nowadays, modern astronomers have instruments that can block that out. But it's an important component of the sun."

To further their understanding of the corona, NASA is planning to launch three sounding rockets during the eclipse, providing additional data and insights.

Pesce said that the eclipse itself poses no threat to power grids or GPS systems, contrary to some public concerns. He explained that while solar activity, such as coronal mass ejections, can affect infrastructure, the eclipse itself does not have any disruptive effects.

"This is an accessible astronomical activity that millions of people can participate in. And I think that's fantastic," Pesce said. "And if it encourages someone to go into STEM or to learn more about science and technology, then that's ... terrific."

Monday’s total solar eclipse will land along Mexico’s Pacific coast and cross into Texas and 14 other U.S. states before exiting over Canada.

The moon will shroud the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, a spectacle normally unfolding in remote corners of the globe but this time passing over major cities like Dallas, Indianapolis and Cleveland. An estimated 44 million people live within the path of totality, with another couple hundred million within 200 miles, guaranteeing the continent’s biggest eclipse crowd ever.

NewsNation's Sean Noone contributed to this report.