Six people are presumed dead after the major bridge collapse in Baltimore, and former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel is out at NBC News just days after joining the network. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
6 missing workers presumed dead after Baltimore bridge collapse
Divers will return to the water Wednesday morning, March 27, after the Coast Guard halted its search Tuesday night, March 26, for six individuals missing after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. The six are now presumed dead.
Divers are set to resume their efforts this morning in hopes of finding the six construction workers who plunged into the river following a collision with the bridge by a 985-foot-long cargo ship.
Last night, the Coast Guard clarified that the operation has shifted from search and rescue to recovery.
Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath of the U.S. Coast Guard stated, “Based on the length of time of the search, the extensive efforts put into it, and the water temperature, we do not believe we will find any of these individuals alive. Thus, we will suspend the active search and rescue efforts this evening at about 7:30, transitioning to a different phase.”
The ship, flying a Singapore flag, reportedly lost power before striking the bridge. Maryland’s governor noted the ship’s crew issued a mayday before the collision, allowing time to close the bridge to traffic.
The missing workers, part of a crew filling potholes on the bridge, include citizens from Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras. Two individuals were rescued from the water earlier, and although several vehicles also fell into the river, they were believed to be empty.
President Joe Biden announced plans to visit Baltimore, committing federal funds for the bridge’s reconstruction. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned of the collapse’s impact on supply chains. General Motors and Ford are adjusting their shipments due to the incident. The Port of Baltimore, crucial for car shipments, stands as the busiest in the U.S.
Judge issues gag order on Trump in New York hush money investigation
The judge overseeing a criminal case against former President Donald Trump in New York has placed a gag order on Trump, limiting public comments about individuals connected to the case.
This move comes after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg requested the restriction, citing Trump’s “threatening, inflammatory, denigrating” remarks. The case, set to go to trial in April, centers on a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Trump, charged with falsifying business records related to this payment, has pleaded not guilty. He alleges the case against him is politically motivated, aimed at hindering his potential return to the presidency.
The gag order bars Trump from speaking about potential witnesses, jurors, court staff, and lawyers involved, although he can still critique DA Bragg and Judge Merchan. Trump recently criticized Merchan’s daughter for her work with a Democratic consulting firm, reigniting concerns about his conduct regarding case-related individuals.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. selects his choice for vice president
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has selected Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. Shanahan, a 38-year-old Silicon Valley lawyer and philanthropist, was previously married to a Google co-founder. Announcing her partnership with Kennedy at an event in her hometown of Oakland, California, Shanahan stated she was inspired by Kennedy to leave the Democratic Party.
Shanahan has contributed more than $4 million to Kennedy’s campaign, including funding for a Super Bowl advertisement. Kennedy’s choice of a vice presidential candidate is a strategic move aimed at enhancing his ballot access across the United States.
To date, he has successfully secured a position on the Utah ballot, but nearly half of the states require the naming of a vice presidential candidate for ballot inclusion.
Ronna McDaniel dropped by NBC News amid on-air backlash
NBC News terminated its contract with former Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, as disclosed in an email from NBC Universal Group Chairman Cesar Conde. Conde expressed regret over the decision, stating, “I want to personally apologize to our team members who felt we let them down.”
The action comes after significant disapproval from within the network, including criticism from former “Meet the Press” anchor Chuck Todd and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.
McDaniel was brought on by NBC only two weeks following her resignation from her position at the RNC. The network had originally stated that her role would enhance their coverage by offering an insider’s view on national politics and the future direction of the Republican Party.
Attorney for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs speaks out after Homeland Security raid
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorney, Aaron Dyer, has issued a statement denouncing the recent armed raids on the hip-hop mogul’s Los Angeles and Miami homes as “a witch hunt” and an “unprecedented ambush.” The statement came a day after Homeland Security agents conducted the operations.
Dyer’s statement criticized the level of force used during the searches, describing it as a “gross overuse of military-level force” and condemning the “excessive show of force and hostility” towards Combs’ children and employees. Dyer emphasized that Combs was not detained and had cooperated with authorities.
The raids are reported by several news outlets to be part of a federal sex trafficking investigation linked to multiple lawsuits filed against Combs over sexual assault allegations. The New York Times reported that federal agents intercepted Combs at the Miami airport as he was departing for the Bahamas with family, seizing electronic devices. Combs was not arrested and remains in the U.S.
Dyer maintains that Combs is innocent and asserts that he will continue efforts to clear his name.
NFL to play two games on Christmas Day
Are you ready for some football on Christmas Day? The NFL certainly is.
The league has announced it will host two games on Christmas Day this year, even though December 25 falls on a Wednesday. Such scheduling is unusual; the last NFL game on a Wednesday was in 2021, prompted by a COVID outbreak.
However, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that Wednesday games will not become a norm.
Christmas Day games have historically drawn significant viewership for networks, with the three games in 2023 attracting an average of 28.7 million viewers.
This year marks the fifth consecutive season that the NFL will feature games on Christmas.