Nightly News Full Broadcast - March 4
Summary
TLDRThe U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states cannot remove former President Donald Trump from presidential ballots, clearing the way for him to appear in Tuesday's pivotal Super Tuesday primaries. This decision overturned Colorado's attempt to disqualify Trump due to his role in the January 6th attack, citing the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause. Meanwhile, the nation witnessed a devastating blizzard in the West, a guilty plea from an Air National Guardsman leaking military secrets, and a renewed push to reopen the search for the missing MH370 flight nearly a decade after its mysterious disappearance.
Takeaways
- 😀 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously against Colorado's effort to disqualify Donald Trump from the primary election ballot, citing states have no right to make that call.
- 🌪️ A new storm is hitting the West Coast, following a monster blizzard that brought over seven feet of snow.
- 🔒 An Air National Guardsman pleaded guilty to leaking Pentagon secrets on a chat forum, facing prison time.
- 👑 Princess Kate was spotted in public for the first time since her mystery hospitalization in January.
- 🕊️ A U.N. report alleges Hamas used sexual violence as a weapon during the October 7th terror attack.
- 🚗 NBC News investigates why millions of dollars' worth of technology to spot fentanyl at the border are going unused.
- ✈️ On the decade anniversary of its disappearance, there's a renewed push to reopen the search for Flight MH370.
- 🗳️ Nikki Haley welcomes the Supreme Court's decision on Trump's ballot eligibility, emphasizing fair competition in the primaries.
- 🌨️ The Sierra Mountains are experiencing significant snowfall, with a new storm poised to add up to two more feet of snow.
- 🔥 Texas faces frustration and fatigue from battling wildfires that have scorched over a million acres and caused fatalities.
Q & A
What major ruling did the Supreme Court make regarding Donald Trump's eligibility for the presidential ballot?
-The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states do not have the right to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on the presidential ballot, reversing previous rulings by some states citing the 14th Amendment related to his actions surrounding the January 6th attack.
How did the Supreme Court ruling impact Donald Trump's campaign for the Super Tuesday primaries?
-The ruling restored Trump to the ballot in Colorado and at least two other states that had moved to strike him from the ballot, allowing him to participate in the Super Tuesday primaries with a major victory just hours before voters headed to the polls.
What was the outcome of the Air National Guardsman's case regarding the leaking of military secrets?
-Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, pleaded guilty to leaking sensitive national security secrets, including highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine. Under a plea agreement, he faces 11 to 17 years in prison.
What was the purpose of the Biden administration's push for a ceasefire in Gaza?
-The Biden administration was pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza before the start of Ramadan, aiming to secure a proposed six-week truce that would involve the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in an effort to stop the ongoing civilian toll.
What new information emerged about the alleged use of sexual violence by Hamas during the October 7th attack?
-A new U.N. report stated that there is evidence indicating Hamas fighters committed rape at least three locations during the October 7th attack, and clear information that some hostages in Gaza have been subjected to sexual violence while in captivity.
What was the purpose of the new technology being used at the U.S.-Mexico border to detect fentanyl?
-The new technology involved advanced scanners that could X-ray vehicles to identify fentanyl hidden inside, as authorities aim to crack down on the influx of fentanyl from Mexico, which has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
Why were millions of dollars' worth of fentanyl scanners at the border going unused?
-Although the scanners had been purchased, millions of dollars' worth were sitting in warehouses unused because the administration needed approximately $300 million more for civil works to actually install and implement the technology at the border.
What was the reason behind the renewed push to search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370?
-Nearly 10 years after the plane's disappearance, an American company called Ocean Infinity wants to try again to search for the wreckage of Flight MH370 using autonomous drones, as the mystery of what happened to the plane and its 239 passengers and crew remains unsolved.
How did families of those aboard Flight MH370 react to the possibility of a new search?
-Families gathered to mark the 10-year anniversary expressed relief at the prospect of a new search, as they longed for the truth about what happened to their loved ones and the ill-fated flight.
What was the significance of Princess Kate being spotted in public for the first time since her hospitalization?
-The grainy photo of Princess Kate being driven by her mother near Windsor Castle was the first time she had been seen in public since undergoing abdominal surgery in January, providing some reassurance about her recovery after months of speculation and rumors surrounding her health condition.
Outlines
⚖️ Supreme Court Restores Trump on Colorado Ballot
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states cannot remove Donald Trump from the presidential ballot, overturning Colorado's decision to disqualify him based on the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause. This major victory for Trump comes on the eve of Super Tuesday primaries, allowing him to appear on ballots in Colorado and other states that had moved to strike him. The ruling leaves it up to voters to decide if Trump returns to the White House, while liberal justices warned it will make it harder to bar insurrectionists from becoming president.
🗳️ Super Tuesday Primaries and Polling
With Super Tuesday primaries taking place in 16 states and a territory, Republican front-runner Donald Trump is expected to claim key victories, with over 800 delegates at stake. Polling shows Trump leading President Biden in a head-to-head match-up, though both are unpopular. Nikki Haley, Trump's remaining challenger, welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling and suggested she may back off her pledge to endorse the party nominee even if Trump sweeps the contests. In Colorado, voters shrugged off the ruling, with some supporting Trump's inclusion on the ballot and others opposing him.
🔒 Leaks of Classified Military Secrets
A Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, Jack Teixeira, pleaded guilty to leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine, facing 11 to 17 years in prison. In a separate incident, a civilian employee at U.S. Strategic Command, David Franklin Slater, was arrested for allegedly sharing classified information about the Ukraine war through a foreign online dating website. These incidents highlight the ongoing threat of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive national security secrets.
🕊️ Princess Kate Spotted After Hospitalization
Princess Kate was spotted in public for the first time since her mystery hospitalization in January, where she underwent successful abdominal surgery for an undisclosed condition. A grainy photo appears to show the Princess of Wales being driven by her mother near Windsor Castle, where she is recuperating. The palace had previously stated that Kate was making good progress but would not attend public events until after Easter, fueling speculation and conspiracies about the seriousness of her condition.
🔍 Renewed Search for Flight MH370 After a Decade
Nearly ten years after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared in one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries, an American company, Ocean Infinity, plans to launch a new search effort using autonomous drones to scour the southern Indian Ocean. The prime minister of Malaysia is open to the new search, which would only be paid if the plane is found. Families of the 239 people on board expressed relief at the prospect of a renewed search, hoping to finally uncover the truth about the plane's fate.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Supreme Court Ruling
💡Super Tuesday
💡Insurrection
💡Fentanyl
💡Flight MH370 Mystery
💡Gaza Conflict
💡Wildfire Crisis
💡Blizzard
💡Princess Kate's Health
💡Classified Intelligence Leak
Highlights
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states have no right to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on presidential primary election ballots, citing that the responsibility for enforcing the 14th Amendment against federal officeholders and candidates rests with Congress, not the states.
The Supreme Court's ruling is a major victory for Donald Trump, restoring him to Colorado's primary ballot after the state had kicked him off citing the 14th Amendment.
The Supreme Court's decision came just hours before Super Tuesday primaries in 16 states and a territory, with more than 800 delegates at stake.
Nikki Haley, Donald Trump's remaining challenger, welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling, saying she wants to defeat him fair and square but wants him on the ballot.
A Massachusetts Air National Guardsman pleaded guilty to leaking sensitive national security secrets, including highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine, and faces 11 to 17 years in prison.
The Biden administration is turning up the pressure on Israel and Hamas to agree on a ceasefire in Gaza as the toll among civilians grows, with the Vice President meeting a senior member of Israel's war cabinet at the White House.
A new U.N. report says evidence indicates Hamas fighters committed rape and sexual violence against hostages during the October 7th attack in Gaza.
A monster blizzard brought more than seven feet of snow to parts of the West Coast, with winds gusting up to 190 miles per hour in the highest peaks.
Authorities are using new technology to scan vehicles at the border for hidden fentanyl, but millions of dollars' worth of these scanners are sitting unused due to lack of infrastructure.
The mother of a son who died from fentanyl-laced cocaine is demanding authorities do more to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., saying the border needs to be closed.
An American company, Ocean Infinity, plans to renew the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 nearly ten years after it disappeared, using autonomous drones and enhanced technology.
The leading theory for the disappearance of Flight MH370 is that one of the pilots hijacked the plane and flew it into the southern Indian Ocean.
Families of the victims of Flight MH370 have gathered to mark ten years since the plane's disappearance, expressing relief at the prospect of a new search and longing for the truth.
Princess Kate was spotted in public for the first time since her mystery hospitalization in January, being driven by her mother near Windsor Castle where she is recuperating from abdominal surgery.
A new storm is poised to dump as much as two more feet of snow in the Sierra Mountains, a region already buried by a monster blizzard over the weekend.
Transcripts
>>> TONIGHT, THE MAJOR
RULING FROM THE
SUPREME COURT BARRING
STATES FROM REMOVING
DONALD TRUMP FROM THE
BALLOT.
THE JUSTICES IN A
UNANIMOUS DECISION
RESTORING THE FORMER
PRESIDENT TO
COLORADO'S BALLOT
AFTER THE STATE KICKED
HIM OFF, CITING THE
14th AMENDMENT FOR HIS
ACTIONS SURROUNDING
THE JANUARY 6th
ATTACK.
THAT RULING COMING
JUST HOURS BEFORE
VOTERS IN COLORADO AND
MORE THAN A DOZEN
STATES HEAD TO THE
POLLS FOR THE SUPER
TUESDAY PRIMARIES.
NIKKI HALEY COMING OFF
HER FIRST PRIMARY
VICTORY.
WHY SHE'S ALSO
WELCOMING THE SUPREME
COURT'S DECISION.
>>> THE NEW STORM
SLAMMING THE WEST
COAST AFTER THAT
MONSTER BLIZZARD
BROUGHT MORE THAN
SEVEN FEET OF SNOW.
THE AIR NATIONAL
GUARDSMAN PLEADING
GUILTY TO LEAK THE
PENTAGON SECRETS ON A
CHAT FORUM.
HOW LONG HE COULD
SPEND IN PRISON.
>>> PRINCESS KATE
SPOTTED FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN PUBLIC SINCE
HER MYSTERY
HOSPITALIZATION IN
JANUARY.
>>> NEARLY FIVE MONTHS
AFTER THE OCTOBER 7th
TERROR ATTACK THE NEW
U.N. REPORT ON
ALLEGATIONS HAMAS USED
SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS A
WEAPON.
>>> NBC NEWS
INVESTIGATES THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN
SPOT FENTANYL HIDDEN
IN VEHICLES AT THE
BORDER.
BUT WHY ARE MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF
THESE SCANNERS GOING
UNUSED?
>>> AND IT'S ONE OF
THE BIGGEST AVIATION
MYSTERIES OF ALL TIME.
A DECADE AFTER IT
VANISHED, WILL THE
SEARCH REOPEN FOR
FLIGHT MH370?
>> Announcer: THIS IS
NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS"
WITH LESTER HOLT.
>>> GOOD EVENING AND
WELCOME, EVERYONE.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
SPOKE WITH ONE VOICE
TODAY AND WITH
RELATIVE URGENCY AS IT
RULED ON A KEY
QUESTION HOVERING OVER
THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
TONIGHT ON THE EVE OF
SUPER TUESDAY
PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES
THE COURT UNANIMOUSLY
REJECTING COLORADO'S
EFFORT TO DISQUALIFY
DONALD TRUMP FROM
APPEARING ON THE
STATE'S PRIMARY
ELECTION BALLOT,
REVERSING COLORADO'S
HIGH COURT, WHICH
RULED ON
CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS
THAT MR. TRUMP COULD
NOT SERVE AS PRESIDENT
AGAIN BECAUSE HE HAD
BEEN PART OF AN
INSURRECTION.
BUT TODAY THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT RULING
STATES HAVE NO RIGHT
TO MAKE THAT CALL.
IT'S A MAJOR VICTORY
FOR MR. TRUMP NOT ONLY
IN COLORADO, WHICH
HOLDS ITS PRIMARY
TOMORROW, BUT TWO
OTHER STATES THAT HAD
ALSO MOVED TO STRIKE
HIM FROM THE BALLOT.
WE START OUR REPORTING
TONIGHT WITH LAURA
JARRETT.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
DEALING A FINAL BLOW
TO STATES TRYING TO
BAN FORMER PRESIDENT
TRUMP FROM THE BALLOT.
IN A UNANIMOUS
DECISION THE JUSTICES
EFFECTIVELY LEAVING IT
UP TO VOTERS TO DECIDE
IF THE FORMER
PRESIDENT RETURNS TO
THE WHITE HOUSE.
MR. TRUMP PRAISING
TODAY'S RULING.
>> THE VOTERS CAN TAKE
THE PERSON OUT OF THE
RACE VERY QUICKLY.
BUT A COURT SHOULDN'T
BE DOING THAT.
>> Reporter: THE
JUSTICES REJECTING A
COLORADO STATE COURT'S
RULING FINDING MR.
TRUMP INELIGIBLE TO BE
PRESIDENT UNDER
SECTION 3 OF THE 14th
AMENDMENT, A LARGELY
UNTESTED CLAUSE OF THE
CONSTITUTION PASSED
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR,
DISQUALIFYING THOSE
WHO ENGAGE IN
INSURRECTION FROM
HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE
AGAIN.
AN ELECTIONS OFFICIAL
IN MAINE AND A JUDGE
IN ILLINOIS LATER
DOING THE SAME,
BANNING THE REPUBLICAN
FRONT-RUNNER FROM THE
BALLOT IN THOSE STATES
IN LIGHT OF HIS
ACTIONS ON JANUARY
6th.
TODAY'S RULING FROM
THE HIGH COURT NOW
ENDING ALL SIMILAR
EFFORTS TO DISQUALIFY
MR. TRUMP FROM THE
BALLOT.
>> WHILE MOST STATES
WERE THRILLED TO HAVE
ME, THERE WERE SOME
THAT DIDN'T AND THEY
DIDN'T WANT THAT FOR
POLITICAL REASONS.
>> Reporter: THE
JUSTICES TODAY SAYING
THAT PATCHWORK OF
DIFFERENT RULINGS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY
CANNOT STAND, FINDING
"RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ENFORCING SECTION 3
AGAINST FEDERAL OFFICE
HOLDERS AND CANDIDATES
RESTS WITH CONGRESS
AND NOT THE STATES."
BUT AT THE SAME TIME
THE THREE LIBERAL
JUSTICES ACCUSING
THEIR CONSERVATIVE
COLLEAGUES OF GOING
TOO FAR BY RULING
CONGRESS MUST ENACT
NEW LEGISLATION IN
ORDER TO BAN A
PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE.
WRITING, "THIS RULING
WILL MAKE IT HARDER TO
BAR AN OATH-BREAKING
INSURRECTIONIST FROM
BECOMING PRESIDENT."
CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE
BARRETT CAUTIONING,
"THIS COURT SHOULD
TURN THE NATURAL
TEMPERATURE DOWN, NOT
UP."
>> AND LAURA, THE
COURT DIDN'T REALLY
ADDRESS THE QUESTION
OF WHAT HAPPENED ON
JANUARY 6th AND MR.
TRUMP'S ACTIONS, WHICH
WAS REALLY BEHIND
THESE MOVES TO KICK
HIM OFF THE BALLOT.
BUT THAT'S STILL GOING
TO COME UP.
>> YES, LESTER.
THE JUSTICES DIDN'T
HAVE TO CONFRONT THAT
ISSUE TODAY BUT MUST
TAKE IT HEAD ON WHEN
THEY DECIDE IF MR.
TRUMP SHOULD BE IMMUNE
FROM PROSECUTION IN
THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S
JANUARY 6th CASE.
THEY HEAR THAT CASE
NEXT MONTH, LESTER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LAURA JARRETT, THANK
YOU.
>>> TODAY'S BIG
SUPREME COURT VICTORY
FOR FORMER PRESIDENT
TRUMP COMING JUST
HOURS BEFORE SUPER
TUESDAY, WHEN VOTERS
WILL CAST THEIR
PRIMARY BALLOTS IN 16
STATES AND A
TERRITORY.
WILL IT BE A LAST
STAND FOR NIKKI HALEY?
OUR GARRETT HAAKE IS
IN FLORIDA TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: ON THE
EVE OF SUPER TUESDAY
REPUBLICAN
FRONT-RUNNER DONALD
TRUMP INSISTING LEGAL
EFFORTS AGAINST HIM
ARE GIVING HIM A BIG
BOOST.
>> THE POLLS SHOW THAT
I'M MUCH MORE POPULAR
THAN I WAS.
THEY'RE NONSENSE CASES
AND EVERYBODY SEES IT.
>> Reporter: WITH JUST
HOURS TO GO BEFORE
POLLS OPEN ON THE
BIGGEST SINGLE DAY OF
THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY, MR. TRUMP'S
LAST REMAINING
CHALLENGER ALSO
WELCOMING THE HIGH
COURT'S RULING.
>> THIS IS AMERICA.
LOOK, I'LL DEFEAT
DONALD TRUMP FAIR AND
SQUARE.
BUT I WANT HIM ON THAT
BALLOT.
>> Reporter:
REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN
15 STATES CASTING
BALLOTS TOMORROW.
WITH MORE THAN 800
DELEGATES AT STAKE.
MANY IN
WINNER-TAKE-ALL STATES
WHERE THE FORMER
PRESIDENT IS LIKELY TO
CLAIM KEY VICTORIES.
NEW POLLING SHOWS HIM
LEADING PRESIDENT
BIDEN IN A
HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCH-UP
WITHIN THE MARGIN OF
ERROR.
BOTH MEN UNPOPULAR.
BUT UNLIKE 2020 POLLS
SHOWING MORE AMERICANS
NOW HAVE AN
UNFAVORABLE VIEW OF
MR. BIDEN THAN OF MR.
TRUMP.
WHILE IN COLORADO,
WHICH HOLDS ITS
PRIMARY TOMORROW WITH
FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP
ON THE BALLOT, BOTH
TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND
DETRACTORS SHRUGGED
OFF THE SUPREME
COURT'S RULING TODAY.
>> TRUMP STAYING ON
THE BALLOT IS GOOD
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HE
HAS A TOUGH HIT.
>> MY BIGGEST THING
ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP
IS I THINK HE'S A
TERRIBLE EXAMPLE ON
HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE.
BUT I DON'T LIKE THE
IDEA OF PEOPLE -- OF
THE GOVERNMENT SAYING
SOMEONE CAN'T RUN.
>> Reporter: OVER THE
WEEKEND HALEY
SUGGESTING SHE MAY
BACK OFF HER PLEDGE TO
ENDORSE THE PARTY
NOMINEE EVEN IF MR.
TRUMP SWEEPS ALL OF
TOMORROW'S CONTESTS.
LESTER?
>> ALL RIGHT, GARRETT,
THANKS.
AND TOMORROW JOIN ME
AND SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
FOR LIVE RESULTS AND
ANALYSIS OF SUPER
TUESDAY.
IT ALL STARTS TOMORROW
ACROSS THE PLATFORMS
OF NBC NEWS.
>>> A MASSACHUSETTS
AIR NATIONAL GUARDSMAN
PLEADED GUILTY TODAY
TO LEAKING MILITARY
SECRETS.
AND JUST BREAKING
TONIGHT, ANOTHER
ALLEGED LEAK OF
CLASSIFIED
INTELLIGENCE BY
SOMEONE WORKING INSIDE
THE U.S. MILITARY.
COURTNEY KUBE IS AT
THE PENTAGON TONIGHT.
COURTNEY, WHAT ARE YOU
LEARNING?
>> Reporter: WELL,
DAVID FRANKLIN SLATER
WORKED AS A CIVILIAN
AT U.S. STRATEGIC
COMMAND IN NEBRASKA
UNTIL APRIL 2022.
ACCORDING TO THE
INDICTMENT, HE WAS
ARRESTED SATURDAY FOR
ALLEGEDLY SHARING
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
THROUGH A FOREIGN
ONLINE DATING WEBSITE.
SLATER HELD A TOP
SECRET SECURITY
CLEARANCE AND ATTENDED
SENSITIVE BRIEFINGS
REGARDING RUSSIA'S WAR
AGAINST UKRAINE.
AND ALSO TODAY A
MASSACHUSETTS AIR
NATIONAL GUARDSMAN
PLED GUILTY TO LEAKING
SENSITIVE NATIONAL
SECURITY SECRETS
INCLUDING HIGHLY
CLASSIFIED MILITARY
DOCUMENTS, ALSO ABOUT
THE WAR IN UKRAINE.
UNDER A PLEA AGREEMENT
JACK TEIXEIRA FACES 11
TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON.
A FEDERAL JUDGE
SCHEDULED SENTENCING
FOR SEPTEMBER.
LESTER?
>> COURTNEY KUBE AT
THE PENTAGON.
THANK YOU.
>>> TONIGHT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION IS
TURNING UP THE
PRESSURE ON ISRAEL AND
HAMAS TO AGREE ON A
CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
AS THE TOLL AMONG
CIVILIANS ONLY GROWS.
RAF SANCHEZ HAS THE
LATEST.
AND LET ME WARN YOU