A blue wave in Texas? "Southern stereotypes" fade in the new South

The Conversation
Yes, Donald Trump has a point about political prosecution
A former government prosecutor examines the choice to prosecute a polarizing former president.
AFP
Austin says US 'can be secure only if Asia is'
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday the Asia-Pacific region remained a "priority" for Washington, saying the United States was secure "only if Asia is".Despite the historic conflicts taking place in Europe and the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific "remained our priority theatre of operations", Austin said.
NBC News
Ohio K9 officer on leave after video appears to show police dog attacking man lying on stomach
An Ohio K9 officer is under investigation after police body camera video captured the officer’s dog appear to attack a man on his stomach with his hands behind his back, authorities said Friday.
Associated Press
Donald Trump’s attorney says he was 'shocked' the former president took the verdict with 'solemness'
Donald Trump's lawyer told The Associated Press he was surprised at Trump’s stoic demeanor as he listened to the verdict that made him the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime. Todd Blanche was sitting to Trump’s left in the Manhattan courtroom as the verdict was read — the jury foreman repeating the word “guilty” 34 times. "I was shocked at how he took the verdict," Blanche said.
Associated Press
Voting begins in the last round of India's election, a referendum on Modi's decade in power
Indians began voting Saturday in the last round of a six-week-long national election that is a referendum on Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decade in power. The election is considered one of the most consequential in India’s history. If Modi wins, he’ll be only the second Indian leader to retain power for a third term after Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister.
AFP
El Salvador's 'all-powerful' Bukele starts second term
El Salvador's gang-busting President Nayib Bukele will be sworn in for a second term Saturday, more popular -- and more powerful -- than ever.- Gangs as a 'cancer' - With his preferred getup of jeans and a baseball cap, millennial Bukele came to power in 2019 promising to crush the country's gangs, to which he attributes some 120,000 murders over three decades -- more than the 75,000 lives lost in El Salvador's civil war from 1980 to 1992.
AFP
Boeing will try to launch its first crew on Starliner, again
Troubled aerospace giant Boeing will try once more to fly its first crew to the International Space Station aboard a Starliner spaceship on Saturday, after the last attempt was scrubbed hours before liftoff.- Urine pump - Since then, a small helium leak located in one of the spacecraft's thrusters came to light -- but rather than replace the seal, which would require taking Starliner apart in its factory, NASA and Boeing officials declared it's safe enough to fly as is.
NBC News
Trump may have violated the hush money gag order while ripping his guilty verdict
Donald Trump discussed two witnesses in the criminal case against him Friday while complaining about his conviction, comments that could violate the judge's gag order against him.
Associated Press
World War II veterans take off for France for 80th anniversary of D-Day
More than 60 veterans of World War II took off Friday from Dallas to France, where they will take part in ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The group ranges from 96 to 107 years old, according to American Airlines, which is flying them first to Paris. The flight is one of several that are taking veterans to France for the commemoration.
Associated Press
Oregon defendants without a lawyer must be released from jail, US appeals court says
A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a ruling that Oregon defendants must be released from jail after seven days if they don’t have a defense attorney. In its decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals called Oregon's public defense system a “Sixth Amendment nightmare,” OPB reported, referring to the part of the U.S. Constitution that guarantees people accused of crimes the right to a lawyer. The opinion said Oregon is responsible for upholding legal protections for criminal defendants.
TODAY
EXCLUSIVE: Teen’s heart stopped 400 times in a week. Doctors were stunned to find out the cause
Teen with Carney-Starakis Syndrome recalls how the tumor disorder affected her heart. She had open heart surgery to deal with symptoms, may need more treatment.
NBC News
Michelle Troconis sentenced to more than 14 years for helping boyfriend murder his wife
Michelle Troconis, the Connecticut woman convicted of helping her boyfriend murder his estranged wife in 2019, was sentenced to 14 1/2 years in prison Friday following an emotional, hours-long hearing.
AFP
Trump campaign announces $53 mn raised after conviction
Donald Trump's campaign said Friday it had raised nearly $53 million in online small-dollar donations after he was convicted in his New York hush money trial, boasting that the verdict had galvanized his support "like never before."Calling the Thursday court decision a "sham trial verdict" the advisors reported that the "digital fundraising system was overwhelmed with support" despite temporary online delays "because of the amount of traffic" from small-dollar donors.
Associated Press
US and allies clash with China and Russia over North Korea's launches and threats to use nukes
The United States and allies South Korea and Japan clashed with China and Russia Friday over North Korea’s latest satellite and ballistic missile launches and threats to use nuclear weapons that have escalated tensions in northeast Asia. The scene was an emergency open meeting of the U.N. Security Council called after North Korea’s failed launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on May 27 and other launches using ballistic missile technology in violation of U.N. sanctions.
Time
Viral ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ Post Prompts More AI Images
This wave of AI-generated images comes after the “all eyes on Rafah” post went viral.
CNN
Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, dies
Marian Robinson, the mother of former first lady Michelle Obama, has died, according to a statement from the Obama and Robinson families. She was 86.
Reuters
Tesla shareholder sues Musk for alleged $7.5 billion insider trading
Shareholder Michael Perry, in the lawsuit filed in Delaware Chancery Court, said that Tesla's share price plummeted after the company's fourth-quarter numbers were made public on Jan. 2, 2023, and claimed that Musk "improperly benefited" by about $3 billion in insider profits. "Musk exploited his position at Tesla, and he breached his fiduciary duties to Tesla," the lawsuit said, asking the court to direct Musk to return the profits made from the trades.
NBC News
Vermont becomes first state to mandate that fossil fuel companies pay for climate damages
A new law in Vermont — the first of its kind in the U.S. — will require fossil fuel companies to pay for a share of the costs of extreme weather fueled by climate change.
Politico
There’s a new dark money group supporting Trump
The group is one of several Donald Trump is relying on to help overcome Joe Biden’s financial advantage.
Politico
Menendez told top USDA official to ‘stop interfering’ with company accused of offering bribes
The official had been trying to reverse a halal certification monopoly for a New Jersey business.

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