Biden says ‘violent protest is not protected’ in speech on campus unrest
President Biden addresses the nation regarding the protests at college campuses. And China launches a spacecraft it hopes will be the first to bring back samples from the far side of the moon. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, May 3, 2024.
Biden says ‘violent protest is not protected’ in speech on campus unrest
President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House Thursday, May 2, concerning the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests that have led to more than 2,000 arrests across American college campuses in the past two weeks. Biden said the events challenge two core American principles: the right to free speech and the rule of law.
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“Both must be upheld,” Biden said. “We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent. The American people are heard. In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues. But — but neither are we a lawless country. We are a civil society, and order must prevail.”
After days of silence about the demonstrations, Biden delivered his first formal remarks on the unrest from the Roosevelt Room. He echoed previous White House statements saying peaceful protest is American, but violent protest is not protected. Biden added Americans have the right to protest, but not create chaos.
His remarks followed criticism from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, who had urged Biden to speak out. The president’s comments came just hours after police arrested over 130 people at a UCLA campus encampment.
Biden also addressed the importance of safety and nondiscrimination on college campuses, stating, “People have the right to get an education and walk across campus safely without fear of being attacked. There should be no place on any campus, or in America, for antisemitism or threats of violence against Jewish students.”
After his speech, when reporters asked if the protests would change his policies in the Middle East or if the National Guard should intervene, Biden responded with a single word: “No.”
Prosecutors allege Trump violated gag order four additional times
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York is once again deliberating whether the former president breached the gag order that prohibits him from publicly discussing witnesses and jurors.
After finding Trump guilty of nine violations of the gag order earlier in the week and imposing fines, the judge was presented on Thursday, May 2, with four additional alleged violations by the prosecution.
Trump’s attorneys argued that he should be able to respond to ongoing attacks on his presidential campaign.
The judge has yet to make a ruling on these new allegations.
Later in the day, Trump’s lawyer requested that the judge review a series of articles before Trump posts them to his Truth Social account to ensure they comply with the gag order.
The judge declined to pre-approve Trump’s posts but cautioned, “When in doubt, steer clear.”
Hamas delegation heads to Egypt for cease-fire talks
Hamas is set to send a delegation to Egypt for further cease-fire talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Facilitated by Egyptian and American mediators, these discussions show signs of potential compromise.
“There is a proposal on the table that answers much of the demands that Hamas made in previous rounds of negotiations. Israel made a significant offer,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “And this last proposal that went forward, they compromised on many longheld positions that they had taken. And as I said, met many of the demands that Hamas had said they needed to agree to a deal.”
However, the outcome remains uncertain, dependent on whether Israel will agree to end the conflict without achieving its goal of dismantling Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that even if a cease-fire is agreed upon, Israel will still target Rafah, which he claims is Hamas’ final stronghold in Gaza.
As the war approaches the seven month mark, a U.N. report released Thursday has highlighted the severe long-term economic impacts and the extensive rebuilding required in Gaza, saying it would take until 2040 to rebuild all the homes that have been destroyed in Gaza.
China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft heads to far side of the moon
China launched a Long March 5 rocket Friday morning carrying the Chang’e 6 spacecraft, aiming to be the first mission to return a sample from the far side of the moon.
The spacecraft, named after the Chinese moon goddess, will take five days to reach the moon, with the mission spanning a total of 53 days. Scientists hope the samples will provide insights into the moon’s origin.
As the space race intensifies, China remains the only country to have successfully landed on the moon’s far side, achieving this feat in 2019.
Peloton to cut 15% of workforce in cost-saving effort
Peloton has announced that its CEO is stepping down amid plans to reduce its workforce by 15%, which equates to about 400 jobs. This development marks the fifth round of layoffs since 2021 for the fitness company.
Once celebrated as a pandemic success story, Peloton is now grappling with declining sales and subscriber numbers as consumers return to in-person gyms.
The company is looking to cut costs by more than $200 million, aiming to streamline operations and reduce its retail footprint.
A search for a new CEO is currently underway.
7-Eleven teams up with Tetris to offer handheld gaming device
In a collaboration many did not see coming, the video game brand Tetris is celebrating its 40th anniversary by partnering with convenience store chain 7-Eleven. Together, they are offering a limited-edition handheld gaming device shaped like 7-Eleven’s famous beverage, the Slurpee. The device lights up in various colors to resemble different Slurpee flavors.
7-Eleven customers who purchase certain items have the chance to win one of 20,000 devices made. Additionally, the chain is offering an entire line of Tetris apparel on its website as part of the anniversary celebration.
Tags: antisemitism, Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Egypt, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Joe Biden, Protests, State Department, Trump investigations, Trump Organization, United Nations, video games
[karah rucker]
PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSES THE NATION REGARDING THE PROTESTS AT COLLEGE CAMPUSES
AND — CHINA LAUNCHES A SPACECRAFT IT HOPES WILL BE THE FIRST TO BRING BACK SAMPLES FROM THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON
THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.
TODAY IS FRIDAY, MAY 3RD.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I’M KARAH RUCKER.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ADDRESSED THE NATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ON THURSDAY ABOUT THE ONGOING PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS THAT HAVE LED TO OVER TWO THOUSAND ARRESTS ACROSS COLLEGE CAMPUSES OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
BIDEN SAYING THE EVENTS HAVE PUT TO THE TEST TWO FUNDAMENTAL AMERICAN PRINCIPLES.
“The first is the right to free speech and for people to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard. The second is the rule of law. Both must be upheld. We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent. The American people are heard. In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues. But — but neither are we a lawless country. We are a civil society, and order must prevail.”
AFTER DAYS OF SILENCE ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS, BIDEN DELIVERING HIS FIRST FORMAL REMARKS FROM THE ROOSEVELT ROOM – ECHOING PREVIOUS WHITE HOUSE STATEMENTS – SAYING people have the right to PEACEFULly PROTEST – BUT VIOLENT PROTEST IS NOT PROTECTED.
THE PRESIDENT’S UNSCHEDULED REMARKS CAME AMID CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WHO CALLED ON BIDEN TO SPEAK OUT.
BIDEN HOLDING THE PRESS CONFERENCE JUST HOURS AFTER POLICE ARRESTED MORE THAN 130 PEOPLE AT AN ENCAMPMENT ON THE UCLA CAMPUS.
People have the right to get an education, the right to get a degree, the right to walk across the campus safely without fear of being attacked. But let’s be clear about this as well. There should be no place on any campus, no place in America for antisemitism or threats of violence against Jewish students. There is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind, whether it’s antisemitism, Islamophobia, or discrimination against Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans. It’s simply wrong. There is no place for racism in America. It’s all wrong. It’s un-American.
AFTER ENDING HIS SPEECH – THE PRESIDENT TOOK QUESTIONS —
SAYING PROTESTS WILL *NOT CHANGE HIS POLICIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE NATIONAL GUARD SHOULD NOT INTERVENE.
THE JUDGE IN DONALD TRUMP’S CRIMINAL TRIAL IN NEW YORK IS ONCE AGAIN DECIDING WHETHER THE FORMER PRESIDENT VIOLATED THE GAG ORDER THAT BARS HIM FROM MAKING PUBLIC STATEMENTS ABOUT WITNESSES AND JURORS.
AFTER RULING TRUMP VIOLATED THE GAG ORDER NINE TIMES EARLIER IN THE WEEK – THE JUDGE WAS PRESENTED THURSDAY WITH FOUR ADDITIONAL ALLEGED VIOLATIONS FROM THE PROSECUTION DURING THURSDAY’S PROCEEDINGS.
TRUMP’S LAWYERS ARGUING HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO REPEATED ATTACKS ON HIS CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT.
THE JUDGE NOT MAKING A RULING YET.
LATER IN THE DAY – A LAWYER FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT ASKED THE JUDGE TO LOOK AT A SERIES OF ARTICLES THAT TRUMP WOULD LIKE TO POST TO HIS TRUTH SOCIAL ACCOUNT – MAKING SURE THEY DO NOT VIOLATE THE GAG ORDER.
THE JUDGE SAYING HE WOULD NOT GIVE AN ADVANCED RULING ON TRUMP’S POSTS.
HAMAS IS SET TO SEND A DELEGATION TO EGYPT FOR FURTHER CEASEFIRE TALKS TO END THE WAR IN GAZA.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON MATTHEW MILLER SPOKE TO REPORTERS ON THURSDAY ABOUT THE LATEST PROPOSAL BEING PRESENTED BY MEDIATORS.
MATTHEW MILLER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON
“There is a proposal on the table that answers much of the demands that Hamas made in previous rounds of negotiations. Israel made a significant offer. And this last proposal that went forward, they compromised on many long held positions that they had taken. And as I said, met many of the demands that Hamas had said they needed to agree to a deal.”
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL INVOLVES A SIX-WEEK CEASEFIRE AND PARTIAL RELEASE OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES.
THE PROPOSAL HINGES ON WHETHER ISRAEL WILL AGREE TO END THE CONFLICT WITHOUT ACHIEVING ITS GOAL OF DISMANTLING HAMAS.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING EVEN IF A CEASEFIRE IS AGREED UPON, ISRAEL WILL STILL TARGET RAFAH, WHICH HE SAYS IS HAMAS’ FINAL STRONGHOLD IN GAZA.
AMID THESE CEASE-FIRE TALKS AND AS THE WAR APPROACHES THE SEVEN-MONTH MARK — THE U.N. RELEASED A REPORT THURSDAY SAYING IT WOULD TAKE UNTIL 2040 TO REBUILD ALL THE HOMES DESTROYED IN GAZA.
THAT WAS HOW IT SOUNDED THIS MORNING AS CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A ROCKET CARRYING ITS “CHANG-UH” 6 SPACECRAFT – LOOKING TO BECOME THE FIRST MISSION TO BRING BACK A SAMPLE FROM THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON.
THE NAME “CHANG-UH” REFERS TO THE CHINESE MOON GODDESS.
SCIENTISTS HOPING THE SAMPLES WILL SHED LIGHT ON THE MOON’S ORIGIN.
IT WILL TAKE THE SPACECRAFT 5 DAYS TO REACH THE MOON. THE MISSION LASTING 53 DAYS TOTAL.
AS THE SPACE RACE HEATS UP — CHINA REMAINS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO HAVE A LUNAR LANDER REACH THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON — DOING SO IN 2019.
THE FITNESS COMPANY PELOTON HAS ANNOUNCED ITS CEO IS STEPPING DOWN AS IT LOOKS TO CUT 15 PERCENT OF ITS WORKFORCE – AMOUNTING TO ABOUT 400 JOBS.
THIS MARKS THE FIFTH ROUND OF LAYOFFS SINCE 2021.
ONCE A PANDEMIC SUCCESS STORY, PELOTON IS FACING DECLINING SALES AND SUBSCRIBER NUMBERS AS CONSUMERS HAVE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON GYMS.
THE COMPANY PLANS TO CUT COSTS BY OVER 200 MILLION DOLLARS, AIMING TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS AND REDUCE ITS RETAIL FOOTPRINT.
THE SEARCH FOR A NEW COMPANY CEO IS UNDERWAY.
FINALLY THIS MORNING – IT’S A COLLABORATION THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE SAW COMING.
THE VIDEO GAME BRAND – TETRIS — IS CELEBRATING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY BY PARTNERING WITH CONVENIENCE STORE CHAIN 7-ELEVEN.
TOGETHER THEY’RE OFFERING A LIMITED-EDITION HANDHELD GAMING DEVICE – THAT IS IN THE SHAPE OF 7-ELEVEN’S FAMOUS SLURPEE.
IT LIGHTS UP IN VARIOUS COLORS TO RESEMBLE DIFFERENT SLURPEE FLAVORS.
7-ELEVEN CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE CERTAIN ITEMS HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THE TWENTY THOUSAND DEVICES MADE.
THE CHAIN IS ALSO OFFERING AN ENTIRE LINE OF TETRIS APPAREL ON ITS WEBSITE AS PART OF THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS FRIDAY.
YOU CAN GET THE LATEST UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS ANYTIME BY DOWNLOADING THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS MOBILE APP.
WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.
UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
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