Debt suspension legislation:Â Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says that he expects the legislation passed by the House last night that suspends the country’s debt ceiling for two years and makes budget cuts will pass the Senate when it comes up for a vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate will move quickly to pass the legislation and send it to President Biden to be signed into law. The House vote was 314 in favor and 117 against.
Trump tape:Â Other news organizations this morning are confirming a report from CNN that Special Counsel Jack Smith has an incriminating tape recording of Donald Trump that was made in 2021 after he left office in which Trump admits to having a classified document containing U.S. military secrets. The reports say that in the recording Trump describes what’s in the classified document to people who have not been cleared to know military secrets. The reports say that in the recording Trump admits to knowing that special procedures must be followed to declassify a document, contradicting his claims that he can declassify a document by just thinking about doing it.
Rape convictions:Â Actor Danny Masterson, who was a regular on the TV series “That 70s Show,” has been convicted of two counts of rape. A jury in Los Angeles deadlocked on a third count of rape. Masterson is being held in jail without bail pending the court setting a date for him to be sentenced.
Candidate campaigns:Â Donald Trump is scheduled to hold campaign events in the Des Moines, Iowa, area today. Tonight he’s scheduled to appear in a town hall on the Fox News Channel. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns today in New Hampshire after having spent the past two days in Iowa. Former Vice President Mike Pence is reported to be planning to announce his candidacy for president next week.
Ukrainian president:Â Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is in the neighboring country Moldova today attending a summit of leaders from 47 countries. Zelenskyy said that all countries that have a border with Russia should become members of both the European Union and NATO.
Macy’s financials:Â Macy’s this morning released its financials for the first quarter of 2023. Net sales were $4.9 billion, a 7.2% decline from the first quarter last year. Net income was $155 million, down from $286 million in the first quarter of 2022. Macy’s Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette said the company is planning price markdowns in order to move out excess spring merchandise and predicted profitable sales growth in the future.
Cover photo by Red Carpet Report on Mingle TV / Wikimedia Commons
