Former President Donald Trump was reportedly captured in an audio recording that has now been obtained by federal prosecutors in which he allegedly implicates himself in the possession of classified material after leaving the White House. And the Biden administration is preparing to admit an unprecedented number of migrants into the United States through the implementation of a new app. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Thursday, June 1, 2023.
Recording reportedly links Trump to possession of classified material
Federal prosecutors have reportedly obtained an audio recording that implicates former President Donald Trump in the possession of classified material after his departure from the White House. Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNN has revealed that special counsel Jack Smith considers the recording to be a significant piece of evidence potentially relevant to a case against Trump.
According to the sources, the audio tape is said to originate from a meeting held during the summer of 2021. In the recording, Trump purportedly acknowledges retaining a classified Pentagon document outlining potential plans for an attack on Iran. One source even claimed that Trump admitted he should have declassified the document before leaving office.
The disclosure of this audio recording has prompted a response from Trump’s legal team. They have characterized the news as part of a “leak campaign” against the former president and reiterated their stance that Trump acted within the authority of his office to declassify the material. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, as a campaign spokesman said “leaks” are meant to “inflame tensions” around the former president.
House passes agreement to raise debt ceiling, Senate review pending
In a late vote on Wednesday, May 31, the House of Representatives successfully passed a debt agreement that had been brokered by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and President Joe Biden. The bill aims to raise the debt ceiling and prevent a potential default on the nation’s financial obligations before a June 5 deadline. The next step for the bill is a Senate review, where lawmakers will be tasked with acting quickly on a vote before time runs out.
The debt agreement received bipartisan support in the House, signaling a willingness among lawmakers from both parties to address the pressing issue of the debt ceiling. However, it also faced opposition from Republicans who argued for hours on the House floor, contending that additional government spending cuts were necessary.
Despite the opposition, the bill managed to clear a significant hurdle in the House and now moves to the Senate for further scrutiny. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has warned senators against debt ceiling delay tactics and instructed his chamber to prepare for potential votes over the weekend.
Biden administration implements new policies to process migrants
The Biden administration has announced plans to significantly increase the number of migrants processed and admitted into the United States each month. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the administration intends to process and admit an unprecedented 40,000 migrants per month through its Customs and Border Protection One-App program. This figure is in addition to the 30,000 migrants already entering each month through Biden’s sponsorship program.
Border officials are preparing to handle over 1,200 appointments daily at ports of entry, where migrants can present themselves and request asylum. To put this in perspective, in the five years leading up to the pandemic, an average of approximately 300 migrants were processed daily. The new initiative by the Biden administration will effectively double the number of migrants processed each month, increasing it from 20,000 to 40,000 asylum-seeker appointments.
The White House has stated that by offering more legal opportunities for migrants to enter the United States, they hope to deter illegal border crossings, which have reached record levels during Biden’s initial years in office. The administration believes that by expanding legal avenues for migrants, they can provide a safer alternative and reduce the need for risky and unauthorized border crossings.
The increase in processed migrants includes those arriving from countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela through sponsorship programs. As a result of these combined efforts, the US will be processing upwards of 70,000 asylum-seekers each month.
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri compared the process to “a concierge service for illegal immigrants,” while Texas’ now-impeached attorney general, Ken Paxton, had said CBP One was part of an effort to allow “illegal aliens to stream into this country.”
Actor Danny Masterson found guilty on two counts in sexual assault trial
In a high-profile case that has garnered significant attention, a jury has delivered a verdict of guilty against actor Danny Masterson, known for his role in “That ’70s Show,” on two counts of rape. The trial spanned seven days, spread over two weeks, before the jury reached a decision.
Throughout the proceedings, Masterson’s status as a prominent member in the Church of Scientology came into question as prosecutors said the organization played a significant role in the case. The prosecution argued that Masterson, leveraging his status within the church, had evaded consequences for decades. The three women who accused him of drugging and raping them between 2001 and 2003 were also members of the Church at the time.
The actor, now 47 years old, potentially faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 4.
Amazon settles with FTC for more than $30 Million over privacy concerns
Amazon has agreed to pay out over $30 million in settlements with the Federal Trade Commission following privacy concerns associated with its Ring camera and Alexa products. According to a court filing, the FTC claims that any Ring employee or contractor had access to download, view, and share customers’ personal videos, raising significant privacy implications.
Regulators have alleged that an employee misused their access by spying on female customers for several months, utilizing cameras placed in bedrooms and bathrooms. The FTC’s investigation revealed that due to a lack of adequate safeguards, over 55,000 U.S. customers faced attacks from hackers targeting their smart devices.
Additionally, Amazon settled a second lawsuit that accused the company of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by retaining voice recordings and geolocations of young users without proper consent or safeguards. The company agreed to pay a civil penalty of $25 million over those federal charges.
US birth rate sees slight decrease, indicating end of pandemic rebound
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that there was a slight decline in the number of babies born in the United States last year compared to the previous year, signaling the potential end of a rebound in the birth rate following the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the decrease was minimal, at less than one percent, it suggests that the surge in births observed after the onset of the pandemic has come to a halt. The United States, once among the few developed countries with a fertility rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace itself, has experienced a continuous decline in birth rates over the years.
In 2020, the U.S. birth rate dropped to its lowest level on record. While there was a slight increase in 2021, the rate remained flat in 2022. These trends highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the country in maintaining a sustainable birth rate.
The data also shows that the teen birth rate reached another record low last year. Since 2009, the rate has declined every year, demonstrating a consistent downward trend. Compared to its peak in 1991, the teen birth rate has plummeted by 80%.
