Good morning, NewsNation! It’s time to flip your calendars to a new month. We’re just one morning into March, but there’s a lot happening today.
Let’s get after it:
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The latest: The federal judge overseeing the classified documents prosecution of former President Donald Trump is expected to set a trial date Friday.
Timing: The crucial decision could affect whether Trump will face a jury while he campaigns in the 2024 presidential election. Before the hearing, prosecutors suggested a July 8 trial date. Trump’s defense argued there was no way to hold a fair trial this year due to the election, but they proposed Aug. 12 as a possible date to start jury selection.
Refresh: In Florida, Trump faces 40 felony counts that accuse him of willfully retaining dozens of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and rejecting demands to give them back. Prosecutors in the case brought by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith said “there has never been a case in American history in which a former official has engaged in conduct remotely similar to Trump’s.” Trump has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers asked to have the case dismissed, claiming that presidential immunity protects him from prosecution.
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Wildfires scorch Panhandle: Firefighters are trying to corral the largest wildfire in Texas history, which has forced community members like Danny Phillips of Stinnett to evacuate. “We had to watch from a few miles away as our neighborhood burned,” he said. A dusting of snow covered parts of the scorched area Thursday. Crews are racing against the clock to stamp out the fire ahead of higher temperatures and winds expected to hit the area in the coming days. The Smokehouse Creek fire grew to nearly 1,700 square miles and merged with another fire. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, it’s just 3% contained.
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Dueling border visits: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump made dueling appearances at the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday. The visits offered a preview of how they will handle immigration and compete over the issue in the 2024 presidential election.
Blame game: With the possibility of a Biden-Trump rematch in November, both front-runners pointed fingers at each other for the state of the southern border. Biden’s team has argued Trump discouraged Republicans from supporting a bipartisan border security bill. “Here’s what I would say to Mr. Trump: Instead of playing politics with the issue, instead of telling members of Congress to block this legislation, join me, or I’ll join you in telling the Congress to pass this bipartisan border security bill. We can do it together,” the president said. Trump blamed Biden for the migrant surge and crimes involving migrants. “This is a Joe Biden invasion. This is a Biden invasion,” Trump said, claiming the U.S. was being “overrun by Biden migrant crime.” Trump specifically pointed to the death of nursing student Laken Riley, where police have charged a Venezuelan migrant in the case.
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Funeral: Family, friends and classmates of nursing student Laken Riley will gather Friday for the 22-year-old’s funeral in Woodstock, Georgia. Riley “loved nursing and caring for others,” according to her obituary.
Remembering Laken Riley: Riley was a nursing student at Augusta University’s Athens campus but started her college career at the University of Georgia. She was found dead Feb. 22 after a roommate reported she didn’t come home from a morning run in a wooded area of the University of Georgia campus. Authorities say Jose Ibarra, a stranger, dragged Riley into a secluded area and killed her. Find a timeline retracing key moments of the case here >
Zoom in: Riley’s death is now at the center of the U.S. immigration debate. Ibarra, the suspect in Riley’s killing, is a Venezuelan man who authorities say entered the U.S. illegally and was reportedly allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case.
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We’re keeping an eye on these topics today. Make sure you tune in to our latest coverage and share your thoughts with us on social media! -
After several days of testimony, the judge in the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump will hear arguments over whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the prosecution.
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A court hearing is scheduled for Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice.
- President Joe Biden hosts Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House.
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The FBI raided the home of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ aide Thursday, according to reports. The latest >
A Kentucky bill would allow employers to stop offering their workers “reasonable” lunch and rest breaks. What we know about the legislation >
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that would make more documents from the 2006 grand jury investigation into disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein public. Read more >
A Tennessee student created a female running group following Laken Riley’s killing. Why they’re banning together >
Nude photos of students are being artificially generated and shared among classmates at a middle school in Beverly Hills, officials revealed. The latest >
Iowa star Caitlin Clark, who is on the verge of becoming the all-time NCAA scoring leader in college basketball, announced she will leave her team after this season and enter the WNBA draft. A closer look at her career on the court >
Eggo is inviting travelers to stay in their “House of Pancakes” for free in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Photos of the breakfast-inspired home >
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The Scoop is the ultimate back-to-the-office water cooler cheat sheet, your go-to source for all things everyone really wants to know! Get the latest on everything from the political swamp maneuvering in D.C., Hollywood drama to jaw-dropping small-town shenanigans from Paula Froelich. Delivered every Friday morning. Subscribe Now >
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As a way to bond with children and their families, Matthew McConaughey read his new children’s book to patients at St. Jude in Austin, Texas, earlier this month. Read more >
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Get your weekend fix as Chris Stirewalt breaks down the latest political news right from the nation’s capital. |
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This NewsNation email is written by Caitlyn Shelton and NewsNation staff. |
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