With closing arguments coming to a close, the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is headed to the jury. And actor Robert De Niro speaks out against the former president at a campaign event for President Joe Biden. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Trump criminal trial…

Academic workers for the University of California (UC) school system are officially on strike after alleging the university system violated their rights during pro-Palestinian protests last month. On April 30, pro-Palestinian protesters and counterprotesters clashed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus. Police dismantled the pro-Palestinian encampments and arrested nearly 200 protesters. United…

From man’s best friend to a killing machine, robodogs with automatic rifles went through drills for a 15-day exercise between Chinese and Cambodian troops. Despite having guns mounted on their backs, these dogs didn’t bite, not firing a single shot during the drills that started on May 16. The exercise between the two militaries in…

The White House announced a new initiative on Tuesday, May 28, to modernize the United States’ electrical grid in response to increasing reliability challenges. The current infrastructure, strained by the demand from emerging technologies and the ongoing transition to renewable energy sources, has struggled to keep pace. The current grid experiences frequent blackouts, brownouts and…

Iran has expanded uranium enriched near weapons-grade levels, according to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a United Nations nuclear watchdog. The confidential report, seen by The Associated Press on Monday, May 27, said that as of May 11, Iran has 313.2 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% — an increase…

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. On the surface it can appear to be a pristine haven for locals and tourists who want to enjoy nature. However, beneath the scenic waters lies an environmental nightmare: blue catfish. It’s an invasive species that can grow larger than 80 pounds.  According to…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule to enhance border security by allowing the use of classified information earlier in the asylum process. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aims to expedite the removal of migrants who pose national security or public safety risks. Federal law prohibits granting asylum to individuals…

A law signed in 2023 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom aimed to boost the minimum wage for health care workers but it now faces potential postponement. The legislation, which was supposed to take effect on June 1, seeks to raise the minimum wage to $25 per hour for nearly all workers in health care facilities, including janitors. Costly…

If China invades Taiwan, Chinese forces could take less than an hour to execute a takeover, according to geopolitical expert Dmitri Alperovitch. Alperovitch shared his assessment with NBC News on Monday, May 27, after Chinese military forces conducted extensive drills. Dozens of warships, warplanes and jets participated in the exercises, which could be practice for…

Just weeks after OpenAI got rid of a team focused on AI safety, the company established a new committee aimed at enhancing safety and security. The company also announced on Tuesday, May 28, that it has begun training its next AI model. In a blog post, OpenAI said the new committee will be led by…