Nightly News Full Broadcast - May 29

NBC Nightly News: Full Broadcasts | NBC News

29 May 202418:35

Summary

TLDRThe fate of former President Donald Trump now rests with a Manhattan jury as they deliberate on whether he was part of an unlawful scheme to falsify business records to cover up hush money paid to an adult film star. Meanwhile, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito refuses to recuse himself from January 6th cases despite controversy over flags flown at his home. In sports, Major League Baseball updates its record books to honor milestones of Negro Leagues players, while two pandas are set to return to the National Zoo in a sign of improved U.S.-China relations.

Takeaways

🏛️ The fate of former President Donald Trump is in the hands of a Manhattan jury, deliberating on whether he was part of an unlawful scheme to falsify business records to cover up hush money paid to an adult film star.
🤔 The jury has requested a readback of testimony from two major prosecution witnesses, which could indicate they are carefully considering the evidence presented in the case.
🎖️ Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito refuses to recuse himself from cases related to January 6th and former President Trump, despite controversy over flags flown at his homes, blaming his wife for the displays.
🛬 An emergency landing by a small plane on a busy highway in South Carolina was captured by drivers, with no injuries reported.
🏌️ Major League Baseball (MLB) is updating its record books to honor the milestones of some of history's greatest players by including data from the Negro Leagues for the first time.
🏆 Josh Gibson, who played professionally in 1930, now has the league's number one career and single-season batting average and slugging percentage, surpassing legends like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Barry Bonds.
🐼 The Smithsonian National Zoo is preparing for the arrival of two new giant pandas, Blas Leroux and Qing Bao, as part of a new ten-year loan agreement between the U.S. and China.
📈 Florida saw a significant influx of residents during the pandemic, but also a large number of people leaving, with reasons including soaring costs of living, political issues, and conservative legislation.
🗳️ President Biden and Vice President Harris made a campaign stop in Pennsylvania to reach out to Black voters, as recent polling shows a drop in support and enthusiasm among this demographic since 2020.
🏡 Scott Peterson, convicted of killing his pregnant wife Laci and their unborn child Connor, is pushing for a new trial with the backing of the Los Angeles Innocence Project, seeking new DNA testing on evidence.
💥 An explosion in a Wisconsin neighborhood resulted in two deaths, with authorities suspecting that flames inside the home may have ignited stored ammunition.

Q & A

What is the current situation regarding the case against former President Trump?
-The case against former President Trump is currently in the hands of a Manhattan jury. The jury has been deliberating for 4 1/2 hours and has asked for a readback of testimony from two major prosecution witnesses. Trump is charged with 34 counts for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to an adult film star.
What were the critical instructions given by Judge Juan Merchan to the jurors?
-Judge Juan Merchan instructed the jurors to set aside any bias for or against Mr. Trump and not to ignore any evidence simply because they want the trial to end. The judge also walked jurors through each of the 34 counts and clarified that they need not be unanimous about which unlawful means triggers the felony charge.
What is the significance of the jury's request for a readback of certain testimonies?
-The jury's request for a readback of testimonies from David Pecker, the tabloid boss, and Michael Cohen indicates that they are carefully considering the evidence presented. This could suggest that the jury is taking its time to review the case thoroughly before reaching a verdict.
What are the potential outcomes if Trump is convicted?
-If convicted, Trump faces a range of potential outcomes from four years in prison to just probation. Notably, the presumptive GOP nominee can still be elected president even if found guilty.
What is the controversy surrounding Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito?
-Justice Samuel Alito is facing calls to recuse himself from cases involving January 6th and former President Trump due to controversial flags flown at his Virginia home in 2021 and New Jersey vacation house in 2023. Alito has refused to step aside, blaming his wife for the flag displays and asserting that he had no ill will.
What is the latest development in the Scott Peterson case?
-Scott Peterson, currently serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci and their unborn child Connor, is pushing for a new trial. His new attorney is requesting new DNA testing on several pieces of evidence, including a burned-out orange van found in Modesto the day after Laci disappeared.
What is the political strategy of President Biden and Vice President Harris in Pennsylvania?
-President Biden and Vice President Harris made a joint appearance in Pennsylvania, launching a renewed effort to court Black voters in this critical swing state. They are emphasizing their administration's commitment to addressing issues facing the Black community.
What is causing concern for the Democratic Party regarding Black voters?
-Recent NBC News polling shows that President Biden's support among Black voters has dropped since 2020, and there is less enthusiasm among Black voters. This could be a concern for the Democratic Party as they seek to maintain support in the upcoming elections.
What is the situation with the population movement in Florida?
-Florida has seen a significant boom in population since the start of the pandemic, with over 700,000 people moving there in 2022. However, nearly 500,000 people also left the state, citing reasons such as soaring costs of living, political issues, and conservative legislation.
What is the update on Major League Baseball's record books?
-Major League Baseball is updating its record books to honor the milestones of some of history's greatest players by including data from the Negro Leagues for the first time. Josh Gibson, who went pro in 1930, now has the league's number one career and single-season batting average and slugging percentage, surpassing Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Barry Bonds.
What is the significance of the new panda diplomacy between the U.S. and China?
-The U.S. and China have reached a new panda diplomacy breakthrough, with two 2-year-old pandas, Blas Leroux and Qing Bao, relocating to Washington, D.C. by the end of the year as part of a new ten-year loan. This comes after an agreement expired last November and signifies a positive step in U.S./Chinese relations.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Trump's Criminal Trial Deliberations

The script discusses the ongoing trial of former President Donald Trump, who is now a criminal defendant, with his fate in the hands of a Manhattan jury. The seven men and five women deliberated for 4 1/2 hours on whether Trump was part of an unlawful scheme to falsify business records to conceal hush money paid to an adult film star. Trump faces 34 counts, and the judge instructed the jury to set aside biases and not to ignore evidence. The jury requested a readback of testimony from two key prosecution witnesses, and the trial's outcome could significantly impact the race for the White House.

05:01

🏡 Samuel Alito and the Controversial Flags

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has been under scrutiny for not recusing himself from cases related to January 6th and former President Trump. This controversy stems from flags flown at his Virginia home and New Jersey vacation house, which are associated with the 'Stop the Steal' movement and MAGA followers who deny the 2020 election results. Alito has blamed his wife for the flag displays and stated that he had no involvement. Despite calls for recusal, Alito maintains that the events do not warrant his removal from related cases, asserting his wife's First Amendment rights and his own lack of awareness of the flags' political connotations.

10:03

🛫 Emergency Plane Landing on Busy Highway

The script describes a dramatic event where a small plane made an emergency landing on a busy highway near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, due to engine failure. Thankfully, the two people on board were unharmed, and no injuries were reported. This incident was captured by drivers on the highway, making for a remarkable story of a potentially dangerous situation averted.

15:04

📊 Florida's Population Shift Amid Pandemic

Florida experienced a significant population boom during the pandemic, with many Americans moving to the state for its lower taxes and sunny weather. However, the state also saw nearly 500,000 people leave in 2022, the largest number since the Great Recession. The reasons for this out-migration include soaring costs of living, with inflation rates among the highest in the nation, as well as political issues. Florida has enacted conservative legislation that has alienated some residents, leading to a political divide and contributing to the decision of some to leave the Sunshine State.

🏆 MLB Honors Negro Leagues' Milestones

Major League Baseball (MLB) has made a significant change by including data from the Negro Leagues in its official statistics for the first time. This move recognizes the achievements of players like Josh Gibson, who now holds the league's number one career and single-season batting average and slugging percentage, surpassing legends like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Barry Bonds. The MLB's initiative came after an independent committee spent over three years reviewing available data and entering more than 2,300 players from the Negro Leagues into the public database. This effort aims to provide future generations with access to the statistics and milestones of these players and offers a form of reparations for the historical exclusion.

🐼 Panda Diplomacy: New Arrivals to the National Zoo

Despite heightened tensions between the U.S. and China, there is positive news regarding the return of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Two 2-year-old pandas, Blas Leroux and Qing Bao, are expected to relocate to the zoo by the end of the year as part of a new ten-year loan agreement. This development is significant as it follows the expiration of a previous agreement and a period of strained relations between the two countries. The arrival of the pandas is seen as a symbol of goodwill and a positive step in China-U.S. relations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Deliberations

Deliberations refer to the process where a jury carefully considers the evidence and arguments presented during a trial to reach a verdict. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the jury's activity in the case involving former President Trump, highlighting a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings that could have significant implications.

💡Jury Instructions

Jury instructions are the legal directions given by the judge to the jury at the end of a trial to guide their decision-making process. The script mentions 'critical instructions' given by Judge Juan Merchan to the jurors, emphasizing the judge's role in ensuring that the jury understands how to apply the law to the facts of the case.

💡Falsify Business Records

To falsify business records means to knowingly make false entries or alter existing entries in official documents or records. The script discusses the charges against Mr. Trump for allegedly falsifying business records to conceal payments made to an adult film star, which is central to the case's theme of legal accountability.

💡Hush Money

Hush money is a term used to describe payments made to someone, often covertly, to prevent them from revealing certain information that could be damaging. In the script, the concept is tied to the allegations against Mr. Trump, suggesting that payments were made to silence an adult film star during a critical election period.

💡Misdemeanor

A misdemeanor is a criminal offense that is less serious than a felony and is punishable by a fine and/or county jail time. The script notes that falsifying business records is normally a misdemeanor, but in Mr. Trump's case, it has been raised to a low-level felony due to the alleged intent to cover up another crime.

💡Campaign Finance Violations

Campaign finance violations refer to the breaking of laws governing the financing of political campaigns, such as contribution limits or disclosure requirements. The script mentions that prosecutors raised the possibility of these violations as part of the unlawful means to promote Mr. Trump's candidacy, indicating a broader scope of legal concerns in the case.

💡Unanimous Verdict

A unanimous verdict is a decision that is agreed upon by every member of the jury. The script reveals that the judge instructed the jury that they do not need to be unanimous about which unlawful means trigger the felony charge, which is a significant point as it can affect the difficulty of reaching a verdict.

💡Recusal

Recusal is the act of a judge or a justice voluntarily removing themselves from a case, typically due to a conflict of interest or the appearance of bias. The script discusses calls for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases related to January 6th and former President Trump, due to flags flown at his homes, illustrating the ethical considerations in the judiciary.

💡Panda Diplomacy

Panda diplomacy refers to the practice of China lending or gifting giant pandas to foreign countries, often seen as a symbol of friendly relations. The script mentions a 'panda diplomacy breakthrough' in the context of two pandas relocating to Washington, D.C., suggesting a positive development in U.S.-China relations.

💡Negro Leagues

The Negro Leagues were professional baseball leagues consisting primarily of African American players, which operated in the United States from the 1920s to the 1940s due to racial segregation. The script highlights Major League Baseball's decision to include data from the Negro Leagues in official stats, recognizing the achievements of these players and correcting historical oversights.

💡Record Books

Record books are publications that document the records and statistics in various sports. In the script, Major League Baseball is updating its record books to honor the milestones of some of history's greatest players, including those from the Negro Leagues, reflecting a significant shift in acknowledging the full history of the sport.

Highlights

Former President Donald Trump's criminal trial is in the hands of a Manhattan jury as they deliberate on charges related to falsifying business records.

Jurors deliberated for 4 1/2 hours, raising questions about the case's impact on the White House race and the critical instructions given by the judge.

The jury requested a readback of testimony from two major prosecution witnesses, signaling potential progress in their deliberations.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito refuses to recuse himself from Trump-related cases, blaming his wife for controversial flag displays at their homes.

An emergency landing by a plane on a busy highway was captured by drivers, showcasing a dramatic aviation incident.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is updating its record books to honor the hits, home runs, and milestones of some of history's greatest players from the Negro Leagues.

Josh Gibson, who played professionally in 1930, now holds the MLB's number one career and single-season batting average and slugging percentage.

MLB's initiative aims to ensure future generations have access to the statistics and milestones of Negro Leagues players.

The Smithsonian National Zoo is preparing for the arrival of two new pandas, marking a breakthrough in panda diplomacy between the U.S. and China.

The ten-year loan of the pandas, Blas Leroux and Qing Bao, signifies a positive step in U.S./Chinese relations despite recent tensions.

Convicted killer Scott Peterson is pushing for a new trial and a chance at freedom, with the support of the Los Angeles Innocence Project.

President Biden and Vice President Harris made a joint appearance in Pennsylvania to reach out to Black voters, highlighting their administration's efforts.

Recent polling shows a drop in President Biden's support among Black voters and a decrease in their enthusiasm for the election.

Florida experienced a significant influx of residents during the pandemic but also saw many leaving due to rising costs and political issues.

The state's political shift to the right and conservative legislation have contributed to the decision of some to leave Florida.