Episode Details

Today’s Headlines: At Manhattan’s 100 Centre Street, Donald Trump’s trial saw closing arguments from both sides, with jury deliberations set to begin soon. Outside the courthouse, Robert De Niro, along with Capitol police officers Harry Dunn and Michael Fanone, criticized Trump, calling him a potential "dictator for life." Meanwhile, in Florida, Judge Aileen Cannon denied DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith's request for a gag order against Trump, who falsely claimed Biden authorized the DOJ to kill him during the Mar-a-Lago search. In election news, Democrats will hold a virtual roll call to nominate Biden early, circumventing Ohio’s ballot rules, while in Pennsylvania, voting rights groups are challenging a law that disqualifies undated mail-in ballots. In environmental news, Venezuela has lost its last glacier, making it the first country in the Americas without any glaciers, a sign of accelerating climate change. Finally, Pope Francis apologized for using an offensive term for gay men during a private meeting, drawing criticism for his remarks on admitting openly gay men into seminaries.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

• NBC News: Trump's lawyers and prosecutors make final pleas to jury in hush money trial
• LA Magazine: Blockbuster Appearance: Robert De Niro, Michael Fanone, and Harry Dunn Arrive At Trump's Criminal Trial 
• WA Post: Judge rejects request to restrict Trump's speech on FBI, says motion was faulty 
• NBC News: Democrats plan to nominate Biden virtually to avoid missing Ohio's ballot deadline
• The Philadelphia Inquirer: Voting rights groups in Pa. are suing to allow undated ballots be counted. They hope to win before November's election.
• Axios: Venezuela becomes first nation in the Americas to lose all glaciers
• NY Times: Pope Francis Apologizes After Reports That He Used an Anti-Gay Slur 

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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