Reuters, Getty Images
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
CNN
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In a deeply divisive political climate, many Hollywood actors are being cautious about endorsing the 2024 presidential election, instead choosing to back specific issues rather than candidates this year, multiple publicists and agents told CNN.
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The Biden campaign is adjusting a more aggressive strategy to appeal to American voters as former President Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial nears its end. President Joe Biden on Wednesday blasted his presumed 2024 presidential opponents at a rally in Philadelphia, reaffirming his intention to appoint progressive justices to the Supreme Court if elected to a second term. Biden explicitly warned about the importance of the upcoming election, suggesting that the Supreme Court will have vacancies for the next four years as several of the nine justices are now in their 70s. Meanwhile, speculation is growing that Trump will choose his running mate out of the public's sights, despite having fielded several running mates for months. At the same time, the Trump campaign is lashing out at his hush-money trial, where jury deliberations will resume for a second day in the coming hours.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said in a letter to lawmakers on Wednesday that he will not recuse himself from litigation related to the 2020 presidential election or the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, despite concerns about two controversial flags flying on his property. The New York Times published a photo this month of an upside-down U.S. flag that flew at Alito's Virginia home in 2021. It is a symbol of supporters of former President Donald Trump, who falsely claimed widespread fraud in the presidential election. Alito said it was his wife who flew the upside-down U.S. flag. Additionally, reports said an “Appeal to Heaven” flag was seen flying at his vacation home last summer. The flag, which has a history dating back to the Revolutionary War, has also become a symbol of Trump supporters.
01:55 – Source: CNN
Blumenthal slams Alito's 'flimsy excuses' for flag controversy
Israeli officials warned Wednesday that the war in Gaza will likely continue until at least the end of the year, appearing to reject the idea that fighting will end after Israel's planned military strike in Rafah. “We look forward to deepening our gains in seven more months of fighting and achieving our goal of destroying the military and government power of Hamas and Islamic Jihad,” Israel's national security adviser said. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 35,000 since the war broke out on October 7, after Hamas killed at least 1,200 Israelis, according to UN data. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Israel must weigh the “horrific unintended consequences” of military action in Gaza against the “incremental benefits.”
02:56 – Source: CNN
Video shows Israeli tanks advancing further into Rafah
A volcano in southwest Iceland erupted dramatically on Wednesday for the fifth time since December. Lava flows have again isolated the town of Grindavik and threatened to force evacuations at its world-famous Blue Lagoon. Dramatic video and images from the scene showed red-hot lava spurting into the sky along a two-mile fissure. Grindavik, a town of about 3,000 people, was largely evacuated before the previous eruption in December. Remaining residents and rescue workers have been urged to leave the area while there is still time, but police told local broadcasters that some residents are refusing to evacuate.
Marco Di Marco/AP
A volcano erupted lava in Grindavik, Iceland, on Wednesday.
Several major retailers are slashing prices across the board to lure back shoppers who are tired of inflation and are cutting back on spending. Walgreens announced price cuts on 1,500 items on Wednesday. Competitors including Target, Walmart and Amazon also recently slashed prices on thousands of household goods. Industry experts say the way American households shop is different than it used to be, and high prices are forcing Americans to choose between what they want and what they need. As a result, some retail chains have been forced to declare bankruptcy and close. One example is 99 Cents Only, which filed for bankruptcy in April and closed all 370 of its stores. Dollar Tree said Wednesday it had acquired 170 of those leases to bring discounted goods to more Americans starting in the fall.
These innovative aircraft cabin concepts could be the future of flight
Design firms have long proposed revamps of airplane cabins to improve economy class flying. Let's take a look at some eye-catching concepts that could be the future of aviation.
George Clooney and Brad Pitt reunite in 'Wolves' trailer
Former co-stars Clooney and Pitt are back on screen again in the upcoming film “Wolves,” check out the action-packed trailer here.
Simone Biles steps up Olympic preparations
The multi-accolade-laden athlete will compete at the Xfinity USA Gymnastics Championships this week as she continues her path to a third Olympic Games.
Charges against Scottie Scheffler dismissed after arrest
All charges against Scheffler have been dropped, less than two weeks after the world's No. 1-ranked golfer was arrested after trying to drive around the scene of a fatal accident near the PGA Championship.
The strange turn of events in the Graceland foreclosure scam
A man who claims to have been involved in a plot to steal Elvis Presley's estate has claimed responsibility for the fraud. Read what the self-proclaimed conman told CNN.
84,000
In the United States, many owners of older Nissan vehicles have been told to stop driving their cars immediately because of safety risks associated with the airbags.
Our public schools are not Sunday schools.
— American Civil Liberties UnionThe group said it was “deeply concerned” about a bill that could require Louisiana schools to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The bill is expected to reach Republican Gov. Jeff Landry's desk, but legal challenges are expected to come quickly if he signs it into law.
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And finally …
01:48 – Source: CNN
911 caller: “That's a scary kangaroo.”
911 caller: “That's a scary kangaroo.”
A driver in Texas called 911 after being startled by a kangaroo on the road. See the video here.
