Trump’s plans: Donald Trump is back in court in Manhattan today after campaigning in Michigan and Wisconsin yesterday. Judge Juan Merchan had scheduled a hearing on Trump’s violating four more times the gag order prohibiting him from intimidating witnesses and jurors. On the campaign trail, Trump told rallies that if he’s reelected, any U.S. attorney who did not carry out his orders to prosecute someone would be fired. He said that he would send the military onto college campuses to shut down any protests. He said he’d treat the National Guard as his own army rather than a military force serving the U.S. Â
CPAC: Republicans attending the Conservative Political Action Conference in Budapest, Hungary, have heaped praise on that country’s dictator Viktor Orban. Orban, in a speech to the CPAC delegates, praised Donald Trump and urged his reelection. Orban described the U.S. as a battlefield. Trump advisor Steve Bannon, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake and Trump’s former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows sent video messages to the conference praising Trump and Orban.
College campuses: Police in Los Angeles cleared out an encampment of pro-Palestinian protestors on the UCLA campus overnight. Demonstrators fought back and police had to retreat, eventually returning and tearing down the tents and barriers that had been erected. There were dozens of arrests. In New York, police say that half of the people arrested in protests at Columbia University and City College of New York were not students. City officials had reported that professional agitators whose purpose is to create chaos had taken control of the protests.
China highway: After weeks of heavy rains, part of a major highway in southern China was destroyed when the hillside on which it was perched collapsed. At least 48 people were reported to have been killed. Several of the cars that were swept down the hill caught fire. Officials said the search continues for more victims but is being hampered by continuing rain.
Peloton: Exercise equipment manufacturer Peloton Interactive, Inc. today announced that its President and CEO Barry McCarthy is stepping down and will become a strategic advisor to Peloton through the end of the year. The company’s board of directors has launched a search for a replacement. For the time being, Karen Boone, current Peloton chairperson, and Chris Bruzzo, a Peloton director, will serve as Interim co-CEOs. Peloton also announced plans to eliminate 400 employees, 15% of its workforce. It also said it will continue reducing its retail showroom footprint and will revise its approach to marketing its products.
Duane Eddy dies: Guitarist Duane Eddy has died at age 86. Eddy had a number of top hits beginning in the 1950s that included “The Theme From Peter Gunn,” “Because They’re Young,” and “Cannonball.” Eddy was a Grammy Award-winner and was in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
