Mixed feelings toward Biden, Trump; O.J. Simpson dies; Ohtani's former interpreter faces bank fraud charges

Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April 12 at 6:30 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that more than half of U.S. adults think Joe Biden’s presidency has hurt the country on cost of living and immigration. Meanwhile, nearly half think Donald Trump’s presidency hurt the country on voting rights and election security, relations with foreign countries, abortion laws and climate change. The poll numbers also show Americans generally think that in the White House, both did more harm than good. Meanwhile, when asked which president did more to help people like them, roughly one-third say Donald Trump and about one-quarter say Joe Biden. Yet roughly 30% of adults said neither Biden nor Trump benefitted them.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has announced an investigation into suspected Russian interference in Europe-wide elections in June. He says that his country’s intelligence service has confirmed the existence of a network in several European countries trying to undermine support for Ukraine. He said Friday that Moscow wants to help “elect more pro-Russian candidates to the European Parliament and to reinforce a certain pro-Russian narrative.”

LAS VEGAS (AP) — O.J. Simpson has died. The decorated football star who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but wound up in prison years later in an unrelated case died Wednesday. He was 76. His family made an announcement Thursday in a statement on Simpson's X account. Simpson said last year that he was battling prostate cancer. Simpson’s gridiron legacy was forever overshadowed by the 1994 knife slayings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. A criminal court jury found him not guilty of murder, but a separate civil trial jury found him liable. Simpson's nine-year prison stint in Nevada was for the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers.

NEW YORK (AP) — A dozen Manhattan residents are soon to become the first Americans ever to sit in judgment of a former president charged with a crime. Jury selection is set to start Monday in former President Donald Trump’s hush-money trial.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans will again try to advance a bill reauthorizing a crucial national security surveillance program. The second attempt Friday comes just days after a conservative revolt prevented similar legislation from reaching the floor. Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to bring forward a Plan B that would reform and extend a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act known as Section 702 for a shortened period of two years, instead of the full five-year reauthorization first proposed.

In other headlines:

• Trump is testing the limits of a gag order with post insulting two likely witnesses in his criminal trial.
• Biden says he's considering Australia's request to drop prosecution of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
• Shouts of "Shame! Shame!" erupt in Arizona House as fight over abortion ban engulfs lawmakers.
• Environmentalists protest as Biden administration approves huge oil export terminal off Texas coast.
• Former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani faces bank fraud charges in sports betting case.
• Round One of the Masters was highlighted by two magnificent performances, but numerous players were unable to finish due to darkness, Jalen Brunson does it again for the NY Knicks, a polarizing football figure has passed away, news both on and off the field in the MLB, and the latest from the NHL.
• Agency probes Philadelphia fatal crash involving Ford that may have been running on automated system.
• Average long-term US mortgage rate edges closer to 7%, rising to highest level since early March.
• US producer prices rose 2.1% from last year, most since April, but less than forecasters expected.
• Fewer Americans file for jobless claims as labor market continues to shrug off higher interest rates.
• Vietnam sentences real estate tycoon Truong My Lan to death in its largest-ever fraud case.
• Coast Guard Academy cadets disciplined over homework cheating accusations.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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