Tag: Rundown

Bridge collapse poses test for Maryland governor, U.S. sends more weapons to Israel: Weekend Rundown


U.S. sends more weapons to Israel as calls for cease-fire grow

The U.S. is sending a fresh round of bombs to Israel, two senior administration officials told NBC News, undermining the Biden administration’s public frustration with how the Israeli government is handling the war.

U.S. officials said Israel has provided Washington with assurances that it is using American-supplied weapons within the laws of war, but there’s growing international scrutiny of Israel’s tactics in Gaza and a mounting civilian death toll.

A line of trucks belonging to the Egyptian Red Crescent.
Egyptian Red Crescent trucks loaded with aid queue outside the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip on March 23.Khaled Desouki / AFP – Getty Images

Meanwhile, hundreds of trucks loaded with food and medical aid have been sitting idle on the roads heading into Gaza, as a senior humanitarian official accused the Israeli government of blocking lifesaving supplies from reaching the devastated enclave.

Members of an NBC News team at the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt saw hundreds of vehicles on the road, as well as some in a parking area and more at a tunnel crossing in Ismailia, roughly three hours and 125 miles from the border crossing.

Bridge collapse poses the first major challenge for a Democratic rising star

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
Julia Nikhinson / AP

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a political newcomer elected in 2022, has been seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, with his name already floated as a possible future presidential contender.

After the bridge collapse in Baltimore killed six people and shut down an international port, he faces a major test in the national spotlight.

Moore allies and Democratic strategists argue that the governor is uniquely positioned to address a complex crisis. “Nobody ever wants to be a crisis governor,” one strategist told NBC News. “But it’s part of the job.”

The governor has repeatedly said reopening the port is one of the main priorities, as thousands of workers linked to the critical shipping hub face an uncertain future.

King Charles makes first major public appearance since cancer diagnosis

King Charles III attended an Easter Sunday service at the chapel in Windsor Castle on Sunday — his first major event since he was diagnosed with cancer in February.

The Royal Family Attend The 2024 Easter Mattins Service
Charles III and Queen Camilla greet people after attending the Easter Service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.Hollie Adams, WPA Pool / Getty Images

Charles, 75, was accompanied by Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family at the Gothic-style St. George’s Chapel for the traditional annual engagement.

Kate, the Princess of Wales, was not in attendance. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby mentioned both Kate’s and the king’s cancer diagnoses at the top of his Easter sermon.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis appeared healthy and in good spirits as he waved at crowds gathered for Easter services in Vatican City, after battling frequent bouts of bronchitis, cold and flu for the past few months.

They came for Florida’s sun and sand. They got soaring costs and a culture war.

Hundreds of thousands of new residents have flocked to Florida with the promise of beautiful weather and no income tax.

But nearly 500,000 left in 2022, according to the most recent census data. Why have so many people left the Sunshine State?

More than a dozen recent transplants and longtime residents said soaring insurance costs, a hostile political environment, worsening traffic and extreme weather contributed to their move.

“You’ve got to take your vacation goggles off,” said Barb Carter, who left Florida after a year. “It was very falsely promoted. Once living there, I thought, you know, this isn’t all you guys have cracked this up to be, at all.”

Meet the Press

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said on “Meet the Press” Sunday it’s possible Rep. Mike Johnson could lose the speakership if he moves to pass Ukraine aid in the House.

Bacon favors some support for Ukraine and highlighted his partnership with Democrats on an aid bill.

“We have one or two people that are not team players. They’d rather enjoy the limelight, the social media,” he told Kristen Welker, though he did not name any members.

Bacon also suggested that Democrats could join several Republicans in helping to save Johnson’s speakership.

You can watch the full interview here.

Politics in brief

  • Israel-Hamas war: Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., said this week that the conflict in Gaza should be over quickly “like Nagasaki and Hiroshima.”
  • Easter controversy: Several conservative outlets accused the White House of banning religious themes from the children’s egg decorating contest — even though that guidance predates the Biden administration, according to the first lady’s office.
  • Afghanistan claims: Former President Donald Trump has said many Americans are still in Afghanistan “probably as hostages.” U.S. officials say they’re trying to free two U.S. citizens jailed there.

An NBC News report helped a lung cancer patient get a lifesaving transplant

As a pulmonologist, Dr. Gary Gibbon never expected to be diagnosed with lung disease himself. After months of aggressive treatment with chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy, the cancer shrunk, but his lungs were sustaining irreversible damage. His doctors determined that Gibbon had exhausted his treatment options.

That’s when he remembered an NBC News report on a groundbreaking treatment for late-stage lung cancer patients: the first-ever double lung transplants, which were successfully performed on two patients.

His health was failing when he asked his doctors to refer him to Northwestern Medicine’s DREAM Program, featured in the report — and the surgical team agreed to admit him.

Six months after undergoing a double lung and liver transplant, Gibbon is now cancer-free.

Some ‘buy now, pay later’ users are warning others away

“Buy now, pay later” services can be convenient, but many users have turned away in alarm after racking up thousands of dollars in debt.

One mother was so reliant on it she spent $800 for a day trip to the beach with her son. “I was just seeing my paycheck continually eaten up, and I was like, ‘Where’s my money going?’” she said.

As BNPL usage soars, financial experts and researchers have raised alarms about risky spending on the platforms, even though they can often be used responsibly.

“I’m sure there are people who use it well, but on average, we feel it kind of replaces the credit card,” one accounting professor said. “People are consuming extra. There’s just no way around it.”

Trans people share how their lives have changed

Illustration of two abstract faces on either side of a blooming flower
Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images

Sunday is Transgender Day of Visibility, and NBC News asked transgender people from across the country to share how their life satisfaction has changed after transition.

Out of two dozen respondents, all but one said they feel more joy in their lives.

“I was so broken and uncertain, and now I have a profound sense of relief, empowerment and alignment with how I feel and being the best human possible,” said Criss Smith, a substitute teacher for the New York City Department of Education.

Christina Angelica Piña, a consultant living in California, said being trans can be difficult, but that “underneath this pain, this is an unfettered joy, power and beauty.”

In case you missed it

  • Seven children, all between the ages of 12 and 17, were injured in a shooting outside a mall in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday night, police said.
  • A Missouri teenager who was brutally beaten near a high school is out of the intensive care unit, but has limited speech and trouble walking on her own, an attorney for the family said.
  • A 26-year-old Black, pregnant mother of four was found dead near a Kansas City, Missouri, park last month. Her family wants to know why the police investigation has stalled.
  • The Merrie Monarch Festival in Hawaii, a weeklong cultural event that includes a hula competition, will include a tribute to the Lahaina wildfire victims.
  • AT&T is investigating a leak earlier this month that dumped customer data for millions on the dark web, including personal information such as Social Security numbers.
  • A hormonal condition that affects millions of women is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat. Here’s why.
  • Even as some parts of the world invest in greener infrastructure and move away from cars, the U.S. is continuing to fund and expand highways.
  • The upcoming solar eclipse presents a rare opportunity for astrophysicists to study the sun using probes and high-altitude planes.
  • The Powerball jackpot is now almost at $1 billion for Monday night’s drawing.




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Illinois stabbing survivors describe attack and Evan Gershkovich detained for a year: Morning Rundown


An Illinois mother credits her son and dog with saving her life during a stabbing spree that left four people dead. Two former presidents — and dozens of protesters — attend Joe Biden’s fundraiser. And shadowy Russian actors were all too happy to spread Princess Kate conspiracies.

 Here’s what to know today.

Family attacked in Illinois stabbing spree describes the fight to survive

When Rockford, Illinois, resident Darlene Weber came face-to-face with an attacker who entered her house, she said, “He looked like the devil incarnate.” A day later, Weber said that if it wasn’t for her son, she might not have survived.

A 22-year-old man is accused of going on a rampage through Rockford, Illinois, on Wednesday afternoon, ultimately killing four people and injuring seven others — including Weber and her two kids.

Recalling the attack in an interview yesterday, Weber said it felt like “it all happened in such a blink of an eye.” She took her pit bull, Brandy, out the back door, she said, and heard a man say “hey” to her before he stabbed her in the face. As Weber crawled through the house screaming for her son to help her, Brandy bit the man. It gave her enough time to escape. 

When Weber’s son, 21-year-old Jacob Vollman, went to find his mom, he was confronted by the attacker. “And he literally looks at me and says, ‘Come here,’ and starts charging at me,” Vollman said. 

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After a couple of minutes fighting with Vollman, the attacker turned his attention to Weber’s daughter, 23-year-old Cathy Gilfillan — but Vollman was able to keep fighting him off. “If it wasn’t for him,” Gilfillan said, referring to Vollman, “me and mom would not be here.” 

Read the full story here.

Authorities identified the suspect as Christian Soto. He was arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder and home invasion. Soto’s attorney said he admitted to the crimes and that he had taken marijuana he believed was “laced with an unknown narcotic,” causing him to become paranoid. 

Among those killed are Jay Larson, a mail carrier who was on the job when he was attacked, and 15-year-old Jenna Newcomb, who died saving her sister, officials said. Here’s what else we know.

Pro-Palestinian protesters pressure Biden at NYC fundraiser

Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton joined President Joe Biden in a star-studded campaign fundraiser last night that was hosted by actor Mindy Kaling, featured photos taken by Annie Leibovitz and raised over $25 million. But anti-war protesters made their presence known at the event.

Image: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Gather Outside Biden Fundraiser At Radio City Music Hall
Demonstrators rally before President Joe Biden’s fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, on March 28, 2024.Alex Kent / Getty Images

Over 100 people crowded outside Radio City Music Hall with Palestinian flags and signs with anti-war slogans. “We cannot idly sit by as our president aides and abets genocide in Gaza,” one protester said. Inside the fundraiser, protestors interrupted a moderated discussion between Biden, prompting late night host Stephen Colbert to ask Biden about the U.S. role in a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians.

Biden responded with talk of diplomatic efforts towards a two-state solution and acknowledged that more needed to be done to shepherd relief into Gaza but added that Israel’s existence was at stake. Here’s what else happened at the fundraiser.

Read more Israel-Hamas war coverage: 

  • Recent polling suggests most Jewish Israelis support Israel’s offensive in Gaza. But at a Ramadan meal with Palestinian Bedouin, some shared a different view.
  • A State Department official’s resignation and increasing disapproval of Israel’s conduct in Gaza shows how U.S. ire toward its ally is growing.
  •  Israel’s Supreme Court on ordered an end to state funding for ultra-Orthodox students who do not serve in the army, a blockbuster ruling that could imperil the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Baltimore bridge workers were on break at time of collapse, family member says

Just days after the container ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, details about the incident and what happened to the workers are still unfolding. Julio Cervantes was one of two workers rescued following the collapse — a miracle, his wife said, because “my husband doesn’t know how to swim.”

“All of the men were on a break in their cars when the boat hit. We don’t know if they were warned before the impact,” Cervantes’ wife, who did not disclose her name, said in an exclusive interview. Cervantes was taken to a nearby hospital after the rescue with a chest wound and later released.

Cervantes’ wife says her brother-in-law was one of the two victims recovered near the wreckage site earlier this week. And her nephew is one of the four victims still missing, she said.

The shadowy actors that spread Princess Kate conspiracies

Before Kate, Princess of Wales, announced she had been diagnosed with cancer, #KateGate conspiracies speculating about her whereabouts ran wild on the internet. British security experts say social media accounts linked to a prominent Russian disinformation campaign capitalized on the rumors.

Roughly 45 accounts that posted about Kate on X were identified as belonging to the disinformation campaign, known as the Doppelgänger, an analysis found. While these actors didn’t originate the rumors, they contributed to the rumors’ rampant spread.

Experts say they see #KateGate as an alarming test case for what can happen when fake news and disinformation is supercharged by artificial intelligence, particularly on social media.

‘We want him home’: Family of U.S. reporter jailed in Russia for a year tries to stay hopeful

Even as a child, Evan Gershkovich seemed destined to be a reporter. He was always curious, liked a good story, and was deeply interested in Russia, the country his parents had emigrated from. 

He was there, as Russia instituted the biggest crackdown on the free press in decades — one that would ensnare him, left awaiting trial on espionage charges that many in the West decry as punishment for doing his job. NBC News spoke to his family and some of his closest friends as his detention reached a year today.

Michigan GOP lawmaker falsely labels March Madness athletes ‘illegal invaders’

A Michigan state lawmaker involved in former President Donald Trump’s election denials is being widely criticized making false claims that buses carrying college athletes to Detroit for March Madness were shuttling illegal migrant “invaders” into the city.

State House Rep. Matt Maddock made the claim Wednesday night in a social media post accompanied by photos of three buses near an Allegiant plane at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Maddock wrote that the buses “just loaded up with illegal invaders.” Four college basketball teams traveling to Detroit for the second weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament arrived by plane Wednesday evening, the Wayne County Airport Authority said in a statement.

Politics in Brief

Biden impeachment probe: Joe Biden was formally invited to testify in the impeachment inquiry led by two Republican-led House committees — during the same week one of Donald Trump’s trials is set to begin.

South Carolina politics: The same federal court that previously ruled a Charleston-area district was unlawfully drawn decided yesterday that the map must be used for this year’s congressional election. The reason for the decision: The Supreme Court delayed the case for too long.

Arizona politics: Kari Lake, a self-proclaimed “Trump in heels” who lost the Arizona gubernatorial race in 2022, is working to win over voters in her Senate bid. But several key Republicans in the state say her campaign faces an increasingly uphill battle as she struggles to shed her MAGA instincts.

Want more politics news? Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening. Subscribe here.

Staff Pick: Multiple women report being punched in broad daylight

Reporter Mirna Alsharif was among the first to cover this story of women in New York City sharing videos on social media in which they said they were punched by men while they were walking the streets in broad daylight. With help from the NBC News’ social newsgathering team (more on what they do here), she verified that NYPD was investigating two incidents. She also highlighted how many women online have since expressed feeling uneasy. — Saba Hamedy, culture & trends editor

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If you want a good cardio session but don’t want to brave the elements, an indoor exercise bike may be the way to go. Here are the 13 best budget exercise bikes on the market, all priced under $500. 

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Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.



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Sam Bankman-Fried sentencing and STI increase in older adults: Morning Rundown



Details emerge about the Baltimore bridge collapse victims as investigations continue. STI rates rise sharply for older adults. And a long-rumored moonshine cave may have been unearthed under a NASCAR track.  

Here’s what to know today.

Officials say they’ve ‘exhausted all search efforts’ in Baltimore bridge collapse

The recovery mission near the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is now a salvage operation, Maryland State Police announced yesterday, after two bodies were recovered. 

The mission shifted, police said, because it is no longer safe for divers to operate around the debris and concrete in the port. 

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board shared more details about the vessel that crashed into the bridge. Currently, 23 people — including two pilots and 21 crew members — are aboard the Dali, though it remains stuck in place, the agency said. And there were 56 containers of hazardous materials on board at the time of the crash, some of which were breached. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said she expects an investigation to take one to two years.

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The bodies of the victims recovered yesterday were identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, who was 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, who was 26. Police say they were found in a red pickup that was trapped in 25 feet of water. 

Four other people are presumed dead, including Miguel Luna and Maynor Suazo, whose loved ones described them as devoted husbands, fathers and workers who were simply trying to improve their lot in life. 

“You come to this country to accomplish you dreams, and sometimes that dream doesn’t get fulfilled,” Suazo’s brother, Fredy Suazo, told Noticias Telemundo. “And for a tragedy like this to happen to us, can you imagine?”

Read about the victims here. 

More on the Baltimore bridge collapse: 

  • The collapse and resulting deaths called attention to the growing Latino labor force and the risks they face on the job.
  • A Utah state representative blamed “diversity” for the bridge collapse.

Sam Bankman-Fried will learn his fate

A federal judge will decide on a prison sentence for FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried today in New York, four months after a jury found him guilty of orchestrating the multimillion-dollar fraud that prompted the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange.

Prosecutors are asking for up to 50 years in prison for Bankman-Fried, arguing that the nature of the fraud, his comfortable upbringing and the scale of victims’ losses warrant an aggressive sentence. Bankman-Fried’s attorneys are asking for 6½ years or less. In their plea for leniency, his team cited his mental health struggles, his purported selflessness in his personal life and the safety risks he faces in prison.

But Bankman-Fried’s apparent lack of remorse throughout the trial is likely to weigh heavily on U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, one legal expert said. Here’s why.

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman dies at 82

Former Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a former Democratic vice presidential nominee who later became an independent, has died after suffering complications from a fall, his family announced. He was 82.

Lieberman was former Vice President Al Gore’s running mate in the 2000 presidential election. In his later years, Lieberman served as the co-chairman of No Labels and referred to by the group as a “moral center” of its movement. 

Shortly after Lieberman’s death was announced, former Gore said on X, “It was an honor to stand side-by-side with him on the campaign trail.” Former President George W. Bush, who alongside former Vice President Dick Cheney defeated Gore and Lieberman in 2000, said Lieberman was “one of the most decent people I met during my time in Washington.” The outpouring of sorrow didn’t stop there, with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle paying their respects. 

Comparing Trump’s claims about crime rates to data

Surging crime levels, out-of-control Democratic cities and “migrant crime” are all familiar Donald Trump talking points as the former president campaigns for another term in office. And he’ll further signal his disapproval as he attends a wake today for New York Police Officer Jonathan Diller, who was killed earlier this week in Queens. On Truth Social, the former president said Diller’s “life was taken by a murderous career criminal.” 

But the picture Trump paints contrasts sharply with years of police and government data at both the local and national levels, an NBC News analysis found. 

For example, Trump claims that violent crime “skyrocketed in virtually every American city” during Joe Biden’s presidency. In reality, the reported violent crime rate dropped 6% across the board when comparing the last three months of 2022 to the same period in 2023, the FBI reported. The reported drops were especially pronounced in big cities that Trump often assails. Dive further into the numbers.

More Donald Trump news: 

  • The partial gag order against Trump in the New York hush money case came with a loophole, and it took less than 24 hours for him to exploit it.

Why Haitians are wary of foreign intervention

A United Nations plan drafted by the U.S. and Ecuador calls on Kenyan troops to police Haiti, where months of violence have given way to an unprecedented level of instability and a weekslong leadership void. The plan is in line with the country’s history, marked across generations by foreign intervention. But for now, it’s on hold.

Despite Haiti’s tumult, some residents believe their country will only suffer if foreign intervention is allowed. Others concede that some international support is necessary, but working with foreign actors must be on Haiti’s terms. “Yes, we need to work with different partners; yes we need help; but it is not them who will dictate what kind of help we should get and when we should get it,” said Monique Clesca, who lives in Port-au-Prince. Reporter Char Adams looks back on Haiti’s complicated history and talks to Haitians to understand how the past influences their opinions. 

Moonshine cave may have been found at NASCAR speedway

Moonshine has a long history in North Carolina and NASCAR. Many early stars came to the sport after racing illegal moonshine through the rough mountain roads of Appalachia, with one legendary driver first known as a Wilkes County’s most famous bootlegger. Now, there’s another potential connection to add to the list, in the form of a 700-square-foot cave discovered under the grandstands of the legendary North Wilkesboro Speedway. Track officials revealed their recent discovery, which was made after operations staff noticed cracks in the original concrete in Section N. It hasn’t been confirmed that the cave is, in fact, an old moonshine still — but if it is, it would confirm decades-old rumors of its existence.

Sexually transmitted infection rates have risen sharply among adults 55 and older, CDC data shows

Sexually transmitted infections are becoming more common in older adults, with rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in people ages 55 and up more than doubling in the U.S. over the 10-year period from 2012 to 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease ContrAol and Prevention.

A presentation to be delivered today warns that both doctors and older adults are overlooking the risks of STIs in this age group. “We talk about smoking, we talk about diet, exercise, so many things, and not about sex at all,” said Justyna Kowalska, the author of the presentation and a professor of medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw. 

There are a few factors that could be behind the spike in STI rates. 

Politics in Brief 

Trump ally in trouble: A judge recommended that John Eastman, a co-defendant of Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case, be disbarred in California. 

Congress: A New Jersey representative is planning to propose legislation this week that would prohibit people charged with certain crimes from receiving classified information. The bill implicitly targets embattled Sen. Bob Menendez — but it could also apply to Donald Trump.

2024 election: A rare and highly anticipated gathering of three Democratic presidents — Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden — is expected to generate millions for Biden’s re-election bid. It may also highlight a big vulnerability.

Biden impeachment inquiry: House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is increasingly suggesting a potential off-ramp from pursuing articles of impeachment against President Biden.

Want more politics news? Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening. Subscribe here.

Staff Pick: Guess why Earth’s rotation is slowing

I won’t hold you in suspense for long — the answer is global warming. Because of melting polar ice, the concentration of Earth’s mass is changing, and that’s causing the planet to spin less quickly than it would otherwise. Not only was I surprised to learn that humanity’s impact was capable of such change; I also didn’t know that this could affect how we keep time. — Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor

In Case You Missed It

  • Four people were killed and five others were wounded in Rockford, Illinois, in what the city’s mayor called a “senseless act of violence.” A 22-year-old suspect was taken into custody.
  • Idaho police are investigating after the University of Utah women’s basketball coach said her team was targeted in a series of “racial hate crimes” while in Coeur d’Alene for the NCAA Tournament.
  • King Charles III will deliver an Easter message today stressing the importance of friendship, “especially in a time of need” — his first public remarks since Kate, the Princess of Wales, revealed she had become the second senior royal to be diagnosed with cancer .
  • Nickelodeon star Drake Bell came forward with his child sexual abuse story, women who have previously shared their own abuse allegations against the actor are facing online attacks.
  • An invasive plant is so stinky that it has forced the partial closure of an Arizona national monument.

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An NBC Select reporter — and an avid runner and cyclist — tested over a dozen fitness trackers. Here are his favorites, as well as some expert-recommended picks.

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6 presumed dead in Baltimore bridge collapse and Lara Trump interview: Morning Rundown



Recovery efforts continue for the six people presumed dead in the Baltimore bridge collapse. Lara Trump talks about her goals as the Republican National Committee’s new co-chair. And seven American kids who were sent to a school for troubled teens are stuck in Jamaica.

Here’s what to know today.

Last-minute mayday preceded Baltimore bridge collapse

When the Dali cargo ship lost power at around 1:24 a.m. early Tuesday, it became effectively rudderless and at the mercy of the currents. The Francis Scott Key Bridge would crumple into the harbor just four minutes later. 

Video of the ship, emergency radio transmissions and analysis from maritime veterans paint a picture of a disastrous scenario. It is rare for ships of the Dali’s size to lose power and even rarer still for it to happen in a narrow channel near the pillars of a major bridge. 

Still, a last-minute mayday and quick actions on the ground most likely averted a much higher casualty count. 

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“In a narrow channel at night, with a bridge in front of you, I couldn’t think of a worse situation to deal with, said Henry Lipian, a retired Coast Guard lieutenant and founder of an accident reconstruction firm. He suspects that fuel or an issue with the fuel system might have caused the ship’s power to go out.

Six construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge are presumed dead. Yesterday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard transitioned its search to a recovery mission, saying the water temperature and amount of time that had passed since the collapse made it unlikely that those missing were still alive.

Investigators are now working to piece together what happened.

Read the full story here, and follow our live blog for the latest developments.

More coverage of the bridge collapse: 

  • Engineering experts explain why the bridge stood little chance against a fully loaded cargo ship.
  • Co-workers worry about their missing colleagues.
  • Nearby residents in disbelief went to see the wreckage for themselves.
  • Customers from the East Coast and Midwest could see significant cost increases.
  • Unfounded conspiracy theories blaming “cyberattacks” and Covid-era lockdowns circulated online.

Lara Trump says 2020 election is ‘in the past’

Newly minted Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump said that she believes the party is “past” litigating the 2020 election, comments that come as her father-in-law, former President Donald Trump, prepares to face two juries on charges alleging that he illegally tried to overturn the election results. 

In an interview with NBC News, Lara Trump said that she instead wants to help the party to start encouraging early voting and mail-in voting, which Donald Trump has also repeatedly criticized. That contrast — between Lara Trump efforts to look ahead and Donald Trump’s continued re-litigation of the last presidential election — illustrates a key dynamic in the Republican Party in 2024. Read more highlights from Lara Trump’s interview.

More coverage of the 2024 election: 

  • Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named his vice presidential pick: tech lawyer and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan. 
  • President Joe Biden’s case for re-election is strengthening, but he still enters the general election in a weaker position than he did in 2020. Democrats have a few theories as to why.

How the lawsuit against Apple could affect digital payments

If the Justice Department gets its way, how you pay for everyday things from coffee to clothes could be affected. The nearly 90-page landmark lawsuit filed against Apple last week claims that the company’s alleged monopoly over the smartphone market also extends to its handling of digital payments, especially as tap-to-pay options become more common. (Apple has denied that’s the case.)

If prosecutors get everything they want, consumers could eventually have multiple options for wallet apps. The goal would be to have apps that work on both Apple’s iOS platform and rival ones like Android. Prosecutors also called out Apple’s practice of charging banks 15% for credit card transactions on Apple Pay, arguing that the fees impact lenders’ ability to invest in improving the mobile banking experience.

Business and economy reporter J.J. McCorvey explains the changing digital payment landscape and Apple’s effect on the technology.

A test to protect against fatal chemo overdoses is rarely used

A common type of chemotherapy called fluorouracil, also known as 5-FU, is no picnic for anyone who uses it — but for some patients who are deficient in an enzyme that metabolizes the drugs, they can be torturous or deadly. That’s what happened to Carol Rosen, a 70-year-old retired schoolteacher whose final weeks were wracked with excruciating pain. The drug that was meant to prolong her life had caused her death. “Your body burns from the inside out,” Rosen’s daughter, Lindsay Murray, said.

Hundreds of people are killed annually by 5-FU or a nearly identical drug in pill form called capecitabine. A test for the enzyme deficiency that could potentially save lives exists, but because it’s not required by the FDA nor recommended by the most widely followed U.S. cancer treatment guidelines, it’s seldom used. Heartbroken family members are advocating for change. 

7 American kids from school for troubled teens held in Jamaica

Seven American boys are being held in the custody of Jamaican child welfare authorities, more than six weeks after they were pulled from a school for troubled teens because of sexual abuse allegations. The boys were attending Atlantis Leadership Academy in Treasure Beach, which advertises itself as a faith-based school serving teens who are struggling with substance abuse, anxiety disorders and defiant behavior.

When Jamaican authorities received information that children at the program “were being mistreated,” the students were removed. They’re currently being held in Jamaican group homes.

Tarah Fleischman — who sent her son, Cody, to the school last year — said she’s “frustrated with the system” and by the long wait to bring Cody home to Wisconsin. “Unfortunately, I was a desperate mother who got preyed upon,” she said. Read the full story here.

Politics in Brief 

Alabama politics: Democratic candidate Marilyn Lands won a special election for a state House seat in Alabama. Her campaign’s emphasis on in vitro fertilization and abortion rights was seen as an early test for IVF as a campaign issue.

Trump trials: Donald Trump was slapped with a partial gag order in the New York hush money case that bars him from talking about witnesses and court staffers in the case.

Abortion rights: The Supreme Court appeared likely to reject a challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone, with a number of justices questioning whether the plaintiffs — seven named doctors and associated anti-abortion groups — had legal standing to bring the lawsuit. The rejection of the case could hinge on how the justices assess “conscience objections.” Here’s what that means.

Israel-Hamas war: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, a day after the U.S. abstained in a U.N. Security Council vote calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. At the top of the agenda was Israel’s plans to launch an offensive in Rafah.

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Staff Pick: An unusual emotional distress lawsuit

After her son told her he had been sexually abused by his babysitter, a New York mom set about warning other parents, including through unsolicited Facebook messages. Those alerts have gotten her sued by the sitter, who denies the abuse. Reporter Janelle Griffith delved deep into this unusual court case — the suit is for emotional distress, not defamation — that will go to trial in New York next month.

“Because of this ridiculous lawsuit, he’s being forced to confront some painful memories. It is so unfair,” the mom said. — Jaquetta White, news editor 

In Case You Missed It

  • NBC News reversed its decision to hire former Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as a political analyst after network executives faced fierce on-air criticism.
  • A lucky winner hit the estimated $1.3 billion Mega Millions jackpot.
  • The University of Utah’s women’s basketball coach Lynne Roberts said her team had to switch hotels during the NCAA Tournament after the team was the target of “racial hate crimes.”
  • Federal agents found firearms during searches of properties in Miami and Los Angeles belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs, three sources said.
  • Immigrant children as young as 14 were found working illegally at a Tennessee firm that makes lawn mower parts for John Deere and other companies, according to Labor Department officials.
  • Los Angeles city officials are considering reparations for families forced off the land where Dodger Stadium stands.

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Supreme Court considers abortion pill access and major Baltimore bridge collapses: Morning Rundown


The Supreme Court will hear arguments over whether the abortion pill mifepristone should remain on the market. Federal agents executed search warrants at properties belonging to rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. And the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani spoke for the first time since his former interpreter was accused of “massive theft.” 

Here’s what to know today.

SCOTUS considers abortion pill access — and the FDA approval process

The Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a high-stakes challenge to the Food and Drug Administration’s drug approval process. At the center of the argument is the abortion pill mifepristone and whether access to the pill should remain.

The conservative-majority court, which overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, will consider the Biden administration’s appeal of lower court rulings that restricted access to the pill.

Mifepristone is part of a two-drug FDA-approved regimen for the majority of abortions nationwide.

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Nearly a year ago, Texas-based U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a sweeping ruling that completely invalidated the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. Then, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans narrowed Kacsmaryk’s decision on appeal but left in place his ruling, finding that the FDA’s move to lift restrictions on the pill starting in 2016 was unlawful.

Those loosened restrictions included allowing people to be prescribed the drug without an in-person doctor visit, expanding the number of pharmacies that can dispense the drug and extending the time mifepristone can be used to up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.

The FDA has the backing of the pharmaceutical industry, which has warned that any second-guessing of the drug approval process by federal judges could cause chaos and deter innovation.

Ahead of the hearing, doctors and patient advocates raised alarm about what might happen if the high court decides to tighten access to the drug. “While there are alternatives that people could get if mifepristone is no longer available, it still means that most people seeking abortion are going to be impacted,” said Dr. Kristyn Brandi, an OB-GYN in New Jersey and former board chair of a reproductive rights advocacy group.

Supreme Court reporter Lawrence Hurley explains more specifics in the case. Read the full story here.

Major bridge in Baltimore collapses

A major bridge collapsed in Baltimore early on Tuesday morning after it was hit by a container ship, sending several vehicles plunging into the water below.

Rescuers were searching for survivors after the ship collided with a pillar supporting part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which carries the Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The incident was captured in dramatic video, which showed smoke billowing from the boat, as the bridge and road it held tumbled into the river. A livestream showed cars and trucks on the bridge just before the collision. The boat did not sink and its lights remained on.

The U.S. Coast Guard told NBC News it received a report at 1:27 a.m. ET that a “motor vessel made impact with the bridge” and confirmed it was a 948-foot vessel named DALI, a container ship sailing under a Singaporean flag.

Julian Assange wins temporary reprieve from extradition as U.K. court asks U.S. for assurances

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could receive permission to bring a fresh appeal against extradition to the United States on espionage charges, after a ruling by the U.K.’s High Court in London Tuesday.

The court ruled that Assange can pursue his appeal at a full hearing, unless the U.S. provides “satisfactory assurances” on the questions of whether he was able to rely on the First Amendment of the Constitution and whether he could be subject to the death penalty. It added that he should not be prejudiced at trial or sentencing “by reason of his nationality.”

Assange has been fighting extradition for more than a decade, including seven years in self-exile in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and the last five in the high-security Belmarsh Prison on the outskirts of the British capital.

Trump team fails to push back hush money trial

Donald Trump had a rollercoaster day in terms of legal developments. His attorneys failed to persuade New York state Judge Juan Merchan to delay the April 15 trial start date in his hush money case, which revolves around a $130,000 payment from former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels, who alleged that she had an affair with Trump and was given the money to buy her silence during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. 

Ahead of yesterday’s hearing, Trump called the case a “witch hunt.” During the hearing, he was seen furrowing his brow and growing increasingly frustrated as his defense failed to persuade Merchan that more time was needed to review documents in the case. Read about more key moments from Trump’s day in court. 

In another case, Trump and his team netted a small win. A New York state appeals court ruled that Trump and his co-defendant in the civil fraud trial case now have 10 days to post a $175 million bond, down from the $464 million bond that was originally due yesterday. Last week, Trump’s team had called coming up with the larger bond a “practical impossibility.”

More coverage of Donald Trump: 

  • Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, is set to make its debut on the stock market today, a development that could generate a windfall for the cash-strapped former president. It’s unclear exactly how much he stands to gain. Even so, Trump won’t be able to sell his shares for six months.
  • Trump said he “might” spend his own money on his 2024 presidential campaign, which he hasn’t done on his campaigns since 2016. Speaking to reporters, he added, “It’s none of your business.”

Homes of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs searched

Search warrants were executed yesterday at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami, four law enforcement sources said, as the rap mogul faces a wave of lawsuits. Homeland Security officials also seized phones from Combs in Miami before he was scheduled to depart for a trip to the Bahamas, according to three law enforcement sources familiar with the warrant service. 

A source familiar with the matter said Combs is the subject of a federal investigation. Three women and a man have been interviewed by federal officials in Manhattan in relation to allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms, the source said. Representatives for Combs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Combs has been the subject of multiple lawsuits. In one filed in November and settled a day later, Combs’ former romantic partner Cassie accused him of physically and sexually abusing her for years. Since then, three other women have come forward with lawsuits, alleging they were sexually abused. 

Combs has denied each of the sexual assault allegations, calling them “sickening.” 

Read more about the searches.

Last night, hours after the searches were announced, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones amended his civil complaint against Combs to add actor Cuba Gooding Jr., who is accused of sexually harassing and assaulting Jones. According to the amended federal complaint, Gooding groped Jones while on Combs’ yacht in January 2023. Gooding has not been charged with any crime.

Shohei Ohtani denies involvement in sports betting scandal

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani painted a picture of betrayal by his former interpreter, breaking his silence on a sports betting scandal that has gripped Major League Baseball since last week. In a statement to the media yesterday, Ohtani said that he did not bet on any sports or ask anyone to do it for him. Here’s what else Ohtani said.

Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is accused of making several wire transfers from Ohtani’s account — totaling at least $4.5 million — to place bets with a bookmaking operation in Southern California. Mizuhara was fired last week after reports from ESPN and The Los Angeles Times revealed his name came up in a federal investigation of illegal gambling.

Cancer patients facing deportation to Gaza: ‘Our fate will be death’

A group of Palestinians from Gaza who have been receiving cancer treatment in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv now potentially face deportation back to Gaza, where the health care system has all but collapsed and basic medicines are scarce. Israel’s Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction last week to prevent them from being sent back to Gaza and will make its final decision next month. 

While patients said they wanted to see their families, they feared what could happen in Gaza. “They would be sending us to the area of hell,” said Reem Abu Obeida, who has breast cancer. “Our fate will be death.”

Several children are among those facing deportation. That includes a 9-year-old girl who was brought out of Gaza to donate bone marrow to her sick brother. Now, she faces the prospect of returning to Gaza without her parents. Read the full story here.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a trip to Washington after the U.S. refused to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution that passed which demanded a cease-fire in Gaza for the remainder of the month of Ramadan. 

Politics in Brief

Social media: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that would prohibit children younger than 14 from joining social media in the state.

Defamation suit: A Kansas man is suing Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee over social media posts that falsely identified him as an “illegal alien” and as one of the shooters in the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade.

Election integrity: The Justice Department is investigating dozens of threats made to election workers, federal officials said, and has charged 20 individuals so far.

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Staff Pick: The group bringing God to Ohio public schools

LifeWise Academy has made prayer part of the public school week in more than 300 schools across a dozen states.
LifeWise Academy has made prayer part of the public school week in more than 300 schools across a dozen states.Maddie McGarvey for NBC News

For the past year, as I’ve reported on fights over LGBTQ acceptance in classrooms, I’ve heard many Christian conservatives argue that America needed to “put God back in schools.” So I was surprised to learn recently that an Ohio nonprofit was already doing it. LifeWise Academy promotes itself as a nonpartisan program to teach children good character through Bible stories. The lessons happen during the school day, and it’s legal, so long as they’re off-campus and not funded by tax dollars. Lots of parents love it, but others say injecting religion into the school day is creating problems.

I traveled to Ohio to see how the program works and to better understand LifeWise’s ambitious goals. — Mike Hixenbaugh, senior enterprise reporter

In Case You Missed It

  • MSNBC hosts criticized NBC News for hiring former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as a paid political analyst.
  • After years in which Islamic extremist terrorism has receded as a top-tier concern, the attack at a Moscow concert hall is a reminder the threat still looms. Here’s what officials know about ISIS-K, the group that has claimed the attack, including their apparent aspirations to attack the U.S. and Europe.
  • Keisei Tominaga, the University of Nebraska guard who cried after his team lost in the first round of March Madness, spoke about the reaction (good and bad) that he has received since going viral.
  • Three senior Boeing executives, including CEO Dave Calhoun, are stepping down as the company deals with an ongoing safety crisis.
  • Flaco the New York City owl had evidence of bird herpes and rat poison in his system at the time of his death, postmortem testing found.

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Princess Kate’s cancer news prompts apologies and Mega Millions, Powerball jackpots at combined $1.9 billion: Morning Rundown


Four men suspected of carrying out a deadly attack at a Moscow concert hall have appeared in court, the Kevin McCarthy-Matt Gaetz feud heats up months after the former speaker’s ouster. And Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are now at a combined $1.9 billion. 

Here’s what to know today.

Moscow mass shooting suspects appear injured in court

The four men accused of killing more than 130 people at a concert hall in Moscow appeared in court yesterday, some sporting significant injuries.

The men, all from the former Soviet state of Tajikistan, were charged with committing terrorist acts, according to court information.

Two men, including one described as an alleged shooter and accused of setting fire to the Crocus City Hall building, admitted guilt during the closed-door hearings, the court said. All four were ordered held through at least May 22, according to the court.

Several of the men appeared to be badly injured, with one appearing with a bandage over his ear, while another was wheeled into court in a wheelchair.

The terror group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, though experts have warned it could be used to bolster Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Read more: 

  • A Russian long-range cruise missile heading for western Ukraine briefly entered Polish territory, prompting the country’s armed forces to launch “all necessary procedures.” 

Kevin McCarthy-Matt Gaetz feud heats up months after the former speaker’s ouster

Kevin McCarthy and Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Kevin McCarthy and Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz.Getty Images

Kevin McCarthy, while speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” referenced a motion filed last week by Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene aimed at removing House Speaker Mike Johnson. McCarthy, who was voted out of the speakership last fall after Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz filed a similar motion, gave advice to the Republican conference — and dinged Gaetz.

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“The one advice I would give to the conference and to the speaker is: Do not be fearful of a motion to vacate,” McCarthy said. “I do not think they could do it again. That was surely based on Matt Gaetz trying to stop an ethics complaint.” Pressed about his reference to Gaetz, McCarthy elaborated, saying, “It was purely Matt coming to me trying, trying [to get] me to do something illegal to stop the Ethics Committee from moving forward in an investigation that was started long before I became a speaker.”

The House Ethics Committee opened a probe into Gaetz in 2021 to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against him and former New York Rep. Tom Reed, who resigned from Congress in 2022. Gaetz has not been charged with any crime, and he has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The feud between Gaetz and McCarthy came to the forefront when Gaetz triggered the vote that led to McCarthy’s ouster. McCarthy maintained that Gaetz filed a motion to vacate because he refused to intervene in the ethics probe.

Princess Kate’s cancer treatment news sparks remorse from people who spread conspiracies online

The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Attend Shout's Crisis Volunteer Celebration Event
Samir Hussein / WireImage file

Hundreds of people online spread conspiracy theories, posted memes and cracked jokes in an attempt to answer one question: Where is Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales? 

But many people who had partaken in the online frenzy found themselves expressing regret after the princess broke her silence on Friday, announcing she had been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.

Actor Blake Lively was among the first to make a statement online apologizing for her now-deleted Instagram post, a Photoshop joke inspired by the manipulated Mother’s Day photo released by Kensington Palace.

The questions around Kate’s whereabouts — and subsequent online remorse — underscore a pattern in which lack of information provides a perfect mix for people online to chase relevance on social media platforms, experts say. “Everybody’s trying to jump in to get a piece of the viral pie, so to speak,” said Jessica Maddox, an assistant professor of digital media technology at the University of Alabama. 

The Kate news has also highlighted the strain between the public’s desire to know every detail about the royal family and the royals’ desire to keep their life private.

Shohei Ohtani set to address media for first time since his interpreter was fired 

DodgerFest a celebration of the upcoming season at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Keith Birmingham / MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani plans to speak to the media Monday for the first time since the illegal gambling and theft allegations involving him and his interpreter, Ippei Mizhuara, emerged during the team’s trip to South Korea. Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers when the team opened the season with two games against the San Diego Padres in Seoul. 

Mizuhara was let go following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and claims from Ohtani’s attorneys that the Japanese star had been the victim of a “massive theft.” 

Read more on the alleged betting scandal: 

  • The MLB launched an investigation into the gambling allegations surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter. 
  • Who is Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara? Here’s what to know. 

Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots at a combined $1.9 billion 

Grab your tickets! The Powerball and Mega Millions Powerball jackpots are now at a combined $1.9 billion. 

The lottery prizes swelled after no tickets matched all six numbers in drawings on Friday and Saturday night. The Mega Millions jackpot grew to $1.1 billion and the Powerball jackpot rose to $800 million; the prizes were $977 million and $750 million respectively on Wednesday night. The next Powerball drawing will be today — and if there’s a winner, it would be the sixth-largest prize in the game’s history, according to the company. There have been 35 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner since Jan. 1. 

Politics in Brief

 Congress: New Jersey’s first lady Tammy Murphy announced that she is withdrawing from the Democratic Senate primary. The first lady’s campaign drew some criticism, with many frustrated by the optics of her husband, Gov. Phil Murphy, pushing his wife’s candidacy.

Meet the Press: Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said that she disagrees with former President Donald Trump’s plan to free those charged and convicted of crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Supreme Court: Former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer said it’s “possible” the Supreme Court could one day overrule its 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, which itself overruled Roe v. Wade. 

Pharmaceuticals: Vaccines, birth control pills, hormone therapies and fertility drugs would be subject to new litigation if the Supreme Court endorses a challenge to abortion pill mifepristone, according to pharmaceutical industry experts. 

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Staff Pick: How a satirical headline sparked real coverage of a fake feud

TODAY - Season 72
=Nathan Congleton / NBC via Getty Images file

Today, it’s more important than ever to check your sources: That’s the message Reba McEntire posted to Instagram in response to a bogus headline claiming she was beefing with Taylor Swift. Many news outlets reported on McEntire’s post as fact, suggesting she and Swift had squashed the imaginary beef. In reality, the headline McEntire shared was from a satire Facebook account run by Christopher Blair, a self-proclaimed professional troll. 

— Kalhan Rosenblatt, internet culture reporter

In Case You Missed It

  •  More than 20 million people from the West Coast to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula were under winter weather alerts over the weekend, with steady snow showers continuing through Monday. 
  • Ruby Franke, a former YouTube family vlogger who was sentenced last month on child abuse charges, detailed months of abuse in journal entries released by prosecutors.
  • Airports laud the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding as a “game changer” for modernizing terminals but say it lags behind needs for upgrades.
  • Passengers of the Alaska Airlines flight that was forced to make an emergency landing when a door plug blew out midair got a letter from the FBI identifying them as victims of a possible crime.
  • Linda L. Bean, a granddaughter of outdoor retailer L.L. Bean. who became an entrepreneur, philanthropist and conservative activist died at age 82.

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Russia mourns attack victims and Stephen Breyer addresses Dobbs leak: Weekend Rundown


As Russia mourns, Putin blames Ukraine

Russia lowered flags to half-staff on Sunday for a day of mourning after more than 130 people were killed Friday at a concert outside Moscow.

The terror group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, but when Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation on Saturday, he did not mention ISIS or refer to the likely failure of intelligence services to prevent the assault. Instead he suggested that Ukraine had aided the attackers by helping plan their failed escape. Kyiv has staunchly denied any role in the attack.

For Putin, who has sold his seemingly lifelong leadership on maintaining order, the massacre could weaken his ironclad rule, particularly after he dismissed American warnings that such an attack might be imminent, some experts say.

On Sunday morning, a Russian long-range cruise missile heading for western Ukraine briefly entered Polish territory as blasts were reported in Kyiv and Lviv, the latest in a wave of attacks portrayed by Moscow as revenge for Ukrainian attacks during its recent presidential election.

Murkowski signals openness to leaving the GOP

Senator Lisa Murkowski listens during a hearing
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, at a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Nov. 8.Stefani Reynolds / AFP – Getty Images

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, signaled that she would be open to leaving the Republican Party in an interview that aired on CNN Sunday.

Pressed on whether she is considering becoming an independent, Murkowski replied, “I’m very independent-minded,” adding, “I just regret that our party is seemingly becoming a party of Donald Trump.”

The Alaska Republican also reiterated her stance against voting for Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

A late-season snowstorm

A high-impact winter storm is forecast to bring rain and snow to an area spanning from California through the northern Plains to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. About 14 million people are under winter weather alerts Sunday, including in Tahoe, California; Denver; Minneapolis; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

In the Northeast, about 360,000 households were without power Sunday morning after heavy rain and strong winds battered the tri-state area and a fast-moving storm blanketed northern New England with snow.

And on Saturday, Philadelphia recorded 3.06 inches of rainfall, making this the wettest March since the state began keeping records in 1872.

Kate’s diagnosis puts speculation in a new light

Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced Friday in a video released by Kensington Palace that she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.
BBC Studios

For weeks, hundreds of people online have spread conspiracy theories, posted memes and cracked jokes in an attempt to answer one question: Where is Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales?

Many people who had partaken in the online frenzy found themselves expressing regret after the princess broke her silence on Friday to announce that she is undergoing treatment for cancer. Actor Blake Lively was among the first to make a statement online apologizing for her now-deleted Instagram post, a Photoshop joke inspired by the manipulated Mother’s Day photo released by Kensington Palace.

Outside Buckingham Palace, the speculation has given way to a wave of warm wishes. Vicky Daniels, 49, from Gloucestershire in southwest England, said the princess had been “really brave to speak out like that.” Asked about the online speculation, Daniels said it was “absolutely horrible.”

“I just wish they would leave them alone. I wish they’d leave all the royals to just get on with it,” she said. “What really gets on my nerves is it’s often people who don’t know what they’re on about anyway.”

One town’s complicated relationship with migrants

Aerial shot of Fremont.
An aerial shot of Fremont, Neb.Wirestock / Getty Images / iStock

For more than a decade, the town of Fremont, Nebraska, has had a controversial law on the books that tries to bar undocumented migrants from living within city limits.

But Fremont is home to three massive meat-processing plants that need workers, and with young locals leaving, Central American migrants have kept the slaughterhouses humming and transformed the community.

By 2022, a town that was once nearly all white had become 16% Latino, according to census data.

“We need these people,” said Mark Jensen, president of the city council. “We need this work done. This is what feeds the nation and the world.”

‘Meet the Press’

Former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer joined Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press” for a wide-ranging conversation that touched on the court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Breyer said that it’s “possible” the Supreme Court could one day overrule its 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, which itself overruled Roe.

The former justice also spoke about the leak of the majority’s decision to overturn Roe, which preceded the official ruling by several weeks, calling it “unfortunate.”

Breyer said that he had a “theory” about the motivations of the leaker but declined to share any names. “I’d be amazed if it was a judge,” he added.

You can watch the full interview here.

Politics in brief

  • Brief, technical shutdown: After a year of haggling and four stopgap measures, Congress passed the last bill to fund the government through September. It did so after briefly breaching the midnight deadline.
  • Jan. 6 split: Former Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel told “Meet the Press” that she disagrees with former President Donald Trump’s plan to free those charged and convicted of crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
  • Abortion pill ruling: If the Supreme Court endorses a challenge to abortion pill mifepristone, the pharmaceutical industry fears the ripple effects could cause chaos over other drugs.
  • Silent on Trump’s trials: The president’s advisers and allies say Trump is in enough difficulty without Biden appearing to meddle in his trouble for political gain.
  • Gen Z politics: A 24-year-old Democrat quit his job protecting elections to run against a state senator who was indicted last year alongside Trump for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results.

Boeing spooks off nervous flyers

News of issues on Boeing aircraft in the past few months has some travelers opting to avoid flying on its planes, even if it means rebooking flights.

Travel search engine Kayak, which offers the option to include or exclude certain plane models from flight searches, said there has been a spike in people seeking information about types of aircraft since the Alaska Airlines door-plug blowout.

“I just can’t step on that plane,” said Leila Amineddoleh, an art lawyer who lives in New Jersey. “Even if the chance of getting hurt on a Boeing flight, even with all these incidents, is slim.”

Amineddoleh and three others told NBC News that the headlines about Boeing have made them uneasy, even though it’s not clear whether the problems were the result of manufacturing, maintenance or other issues.

The little cherry blossom tree that could

"Stumpy" the cherry tree at the Tidal Basin
“Stumpy” the cherry tree at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., on March 19.Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images

Stumpy is on its last limb. The cherry blossom tree with sparse branches and a hollow trunk, which has become a sort of icon in Washington, D.C., throughout the years, is currently making its last bloom.

The National Park Service will remove Stumpy and about 150 other trees that line the banks of the Tidal Basin reservoir in the coming months as part of a $113 million sea wall repair project prompted by climate change. As word about Stumpy’s fate has gotten out, many fans have made their way to see it one last time.

“I think with Stumpy, it’s almost like the ugly duckling, but it’s beautiful,” said Emily Vickers, a photographer from Atlanta. “It’s by itself, and it just stands out. I think when you look at the history of everything, it’s kind of magical, and it’s saddening that it’s going to be taken down.”

In case you missed it

  • Two brothers were antler shed hunting in a remote area of Northern California when a mountain lion attacked them and left one dead and the other injured.
  • Convicted former YouTuber Ruby Franke detailed how she abused her children in handwritten journal entries released by prosecutors on Friday.
  • The Powerball and Mega Millions Powerball jackpots are now at a combined $1.9 billion after no tickets matched all six numbers in the most recent drawings.
  • The White House doesn’t want U.S. troops distributing aid in Gaza, but a proposal for workers from other nations to deliver the aid carries security risks, officials say.
  • On Saturday, Hong Kong enacted a measure called the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance that critics charge will further stifle free expression.
  • A landmark settlement with the National Association of Realtors is being celebrated by consumer advocates as a win for homebuyers and sellers.
  • Regina King, who is playing trailblazing Black congresswoman and presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm in a new biopic, says her story is relevant and timely in 2024.




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Montgomery brawl witnesses and Wayne Brady says he’s pansexual: Morning Rundown



High security outside a Georgia courthouse indicates Trump’s next indictment could be looming. The deaths of two FBI agents investigating an alleged pedophile ring leads to the rescue of 13 children in Australia. And at least 2 were killed by severe weather in the South.

Here’s what to know today.

In downtown Atlanta, signs that another potential Trump indictment may be near

Something major could soon be happening inside Georgia’s Fulton County Courthouse.

There are a few signs: The road in front of the building has been closed to traffic. Orange barricades and metal barriers line the street. And officers from both the sheriff’s and marshal’s offices have a visible presence.

The added security measures mean that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will soon be presenting her 2020 election interference case to a grand jury. Her office has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation since early 2021 into whether there were any “coordinated attempts to unlawfully alter the outcome of the 2020 elections” by Trump and his allies.

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The timing isn’t completely unexpected. Willis has previously sent the chief judge and law enforcement officials letters indicating that her office could seek indictments in the first half of August. In addition, Willis sent subpoenas to witnesses, telling them to be prepared to testify before the end of the month. Here’s who we know received subpoenas.

More coverage of Trump investigations:

  • Judge Tanya Chutkan indicated she plans to hold a hearing on competing proposals by federal prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers regarding what evidence in the special counsel’s 2020 election probe can be disclosed publicly.
  • A Trump ally who worked with Rudy Giuliani met with investigators from special counsel Jack Smith’s team in the 2020 election probe.
  • A federal judge dismissed Trump’s countersuit against E. Jean Carroll that alleged the writer defamed him by continuing to say publicly that he’d raped her.

At least 2 killed in severe weather in the South

A 15-year-old boy was killed in South Carolina after he was struck by a falling tree, and a 28-year-old man in Alabama was killed by a lightning strike, officials said yesterday. In Maryland, dozens of people were trapped in their vehicles after weather downed power lines. And more than 940,000 homes and businesses were without electricity across the South and East Coast as of last night.

Tornado watches and thunderstorm watches covered a swath of the country yesterday, resulting in damage in some communities and at least 1,000 canceled flights.

Deaths of two FBI agents played role in Australian child abuse sting

Nearly 100 people in the United States and Australia have so far been arrested after the fatal shooting of two FBI agents led to the unraveling of a suspected international pedophile ring, according to Australian Federal Police. Nineteen men in Australia were arrested for allegedly sharing child-abuse material online, the AFP said, while at least 13 children were rescued from further harm as a result of a joint operation with the FBI, dubbed “Operation Bakis.”

The probe began after two FBI agents were fatally shot in 2021 while executing a search warrant in Sunrise, Florida, for a man suspected of being in possession of child abuse material.

Nursing pillows are associated with more than 160 infant deaths, investigation finds

At least 162 babies under a year old have died in incidents involving nursing pillows since 2007, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis from NBC News based on federal data and hundreds of public records.

After years of delays, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing to take the first steps toward rules to make nursing pillows safer, with a proposal expected in the coming weeks. But several leading manufacturers of baby products are pushing back against new regulation. 

Grieving parents said they had no idea the popular product could be dangerous. Read the latest report in “Death by Delay,” a series on how consumer products hazards have cost lives.

Witnesses recall Alabama riverfront brawl

Those who saw a brawl unfold at the Montgomery Riverfront over the weekend say it was fueled by alcohol and adrenaline. “They just didn’t think the rules applied to them,” said one person, referring to a group of rowdy boaters who refused to remove their pontoon to make way for the Harriott II riverboat. “Everything just spiraled from there,” another said. 

Video of the incident shows a group of what appear to be white men running to the boardwalk, one by one, and attacking a worker, who is Black. People were seen handcuffed after the fight, and officials said yesterday that police are still investigating.

‘Big swath’ of warm water approaches West Coast

A warmer-than-usual “big swath of water” could reach the West Coast “in the next week or so,” according to experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The intense marine heat wave in the Pacific Ocean started growing offshore in May. In recent weeks, changing wind patterns started pushing the warm water to the coast, resulting in sea surface temperatures more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit higher than normal.

While marine heat waves are not uncommon, scientists track these events closely because there can be far-reaching consequences.

Today’s Talker

Wayne Brady revealed he is…

…pansexual. The “Let’s Make a Deal” host opened up about his sexuality in an interview with People that published this month. Pansexual is defined as “a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to any person, regardless of gender identity,” according to GLAAD. In the interview, Brady also explained what prompted him to come out.

Politics in Brief

Biden family: Republicans have attacked Joe Biden’s age and his handling of the economy. But their mounting criticisms of his family are not as easy to defend, some Democratic allies worry, because they cut at the bedrock of Biden’s longtime appeal. 

Kentuckians heckle McConnell: Mitch McConnell was met with cheers and jeers at Kentucky’s annual “Fancy Farm Picnic,” with some calling on the Senate minority leader to retire.

2024 election: Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy missed his third event in less than a month because of issues relating to his private plane.

Staff Pick: A microscopic worm and an enormous threat

There’s concern among plant experts that a mysterious disease could wipe out one of America’s most iconic trees. A subspecies of microscopic parasitic worm, called nematodes, are to blame. As reporter Rich Schapiro explains, the newly discovered nematode has proven both alarming and fascinating to the researchers studying them. — Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor

In Case You Missed It

Tonight’s Mega Millions drawing could yield a record-setting jackpot of $1.55 billion, if estimates for the top prize are correct. The odds of winning are 1 in 302,575,350.

The 74-year-old owner of a cheese factory in northern Italy has died after being crushed when thousands of his Grana Padano cheese wheels fell on him. 

A woman was in critical condition after a shark attack off Rockaway Beach, one of New York City’s most popular Atlantic coast attractions.

A man who officials say kidnapped and held a woman captive in a makeshift cell in his Oregon garage appeared in an episode of “Judge Judy” with the mother of his two children.

Actress Sandra Bullock’s longtime partner, Bryan Randall, has died at the age of 57 after fighting ALS. 

The number of officers employed by the Los Angeles Police Department dropped below 9,000, the fewest cops the city has had in a generation.

A Chicago man was charged with first-degree murder in the death of an 8-year-old girl who was fatally shot while riding a scooter.

A California black bear, nicknamed “Hank the Tank” and responsible for at least 21 home break-ins in South Lake Tahoe since 2022, is headed to a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado.

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With so many different types of dog foods out there, finding the right one for your pet can be overwhelming. To help you in your search, our Select team consulted veterinarians and animal nutrition experts on what to know about dog food and recommended a few of their favorite brands.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for exclusive reviews and shopping content from NBC Select.

Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.



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Ron DeSantis rejects Donald Trump’s 2020 election claims: Morning Rundown



Ron DeSantis makes his most forceful comments yet about Trump’s election fraud claims. The head of the American Library Association speaks out after her tweet about being a ‘’Marxist lesbian’’ sparked Republican backlash. Plus, “Barbie” is set to enter the $1 billion club. 

Here’s what to know today.

‘Of course he lost’: Ron DeSantis rejects Trump’s 2020 election claims 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rejected Donald Trump’s claim that he was the true winner of the 2020 presidential election, giving his most forceful comments to date on the matter.

“Whoever puts their hand on the Bible on Jan. 20 every four years is the winner,” DeSantis told NBC News correspondent Dasha Burns in an exclusive interview. 

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At a campaign stop in Iowa, DeSantis dismissed theories that the election was stolen, saying they “did not prove to be true.” Yet, DeSantis made sure to point out that he saw a number of problems with the 2020 election. He also refused to lean into criticisms of Trump’s recent legal issues, saying focusing on those issues would be problematic for the GOP come 2024. 

In his first network interview during the campaign, DeSantis tried to clarify his past remarks about Florida’s controversial Black history teaching standards and the use of “deadly force’’ against migrants entering the U.S. who were suspected of smuggling drugs.  

Tune in for the interview Monday on “TODAY” and “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.” Additional segments will air throughout the day on MSNBC and NBC News NOW. The full interview will also be available on NBCNews.com.

Top librarian calls ‘Marxist lesbian’ tweet backlash ‘regrettable’

When Emily Drabinski was elected president of the American Library Association last year, she wrote a celebratory tweet referring to herself as a “Marxist lesbian.” The tweet has since been deleted, but it hasn’t stopped Republicans from citing it to incite an effort to defund and abandon the ALA, the oldest and largest nonprofit trade organization for libraries. Montana became the first state last month to cut ties with the organization, and conservative lawmakers in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Wyoming are pushing for the same. 

In her first interview since taking office, Drabinski talks about the tweet and why people shouldn’t dwell on it as libraries face much larger problems. 

Safety rules are lagging in summer heat for warehouse workers 

Roughly 1.8 million people work in U.S. warehouses, where physical tasks like loading boxes raise body temperatures to dangerous levels that climate-control systems struggle to counter. 

Many facilities are prone to hot spots, particularly on upper levels and by loading dock doors, according to workers, regulators and industry experts. Common climate-control measures like fans can improve air flow but usually don’t reduce internal temperatures much. Even in warehouses with cooling systems, some indoor areas can exceed 80 degrees on hot days.

As e-commerce hastens a warehousing boom in some of the hottest parts of the country, regulations have lagged behind workplace heat risks.

Delays in federal workers’ comp can stall medical care, turning injuries into disabilities

Injured federal employees say their treatable injuries are at risk of progressing into lifelong disabilities because the workers’ compensation program that covers medical costs is clogged by low staffing, convoluted processes and an increase in claims.

The process has delayed threatment for countless employees across the federal government’s agencies, union officials and labor attorneys.

Workers and their advocates say filing a claim is a knotty experience of complicated paperwork and slow, sometimes years-long, response times.

Today’s Talker

Elon Musk says his cage match fight with Mark Zuckerberg will…

…be livestreamed on X, Twitter’s rebranded platform. The talk of a fight between the two seemed to die down in recent weeks until Musk announced that it will be live-streamed, without setting a date. Zuckerberg responded to Musk’s claim to be “preparing for the fight” on his new social media platform Threads, saying “I’m ready today.” 

Politics in Brief

Wisconsin Supreme Court: The new liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is off to a tense start, and a slew of incoming cases on issues like abortion and gerrymandering suggest accusations of partisanship will continue. 

Staff Pick: The ‘Flu Shot Cheerleader’ is back

I’ve been obsessed with Desiree Jennings’ story for over a decade. In 2009, she became a social media sensation for her story — that a vaccine had triggered a mysterious disability. Then, Desiree seemed to just disappear. 

Fourteen years later, Desiree was ready to talk. Her story offers a rare look into the modern anti-vaccine playbook — along with a warning about the enduring consequences for those who join the movement. — Brandy Zadrozny, reporter

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Did you know that lifestyle factions like eating too many salt foods, smoking or drinking wine can cause fluid to accumulate under your eyes? The skin under your eyes is also particularly vulnerable to sun damage. Medical experts recommend these seven under-eye patches to help brighten, hydrate, de-puff and smooth your skin. 

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In Case You Missed It

“Barbie” is set to sail past $1 billion in global ticket sales, breaking a record for female directors that was previously held by Patty Jenkins, who directed ‘’Wonder Woman.’’ 

A Detroit woman is suing after she was falsely arrested because of facial recognition technology while she was eight months pregnant.

A New York City cancer doctor killed herself and her baby in her home, according to police. 

After a video of a brawl on the Montgomery, Alabama riverfront went viral, the city’s mayor vowed that “justice will be served.’’

A white mother who was suspected of trafficking her biracial daughter by Southwest Airlines employees has filed a racial discrimination suit against the company.

Angus Cloud’s mother said in a statement posted to Facebook that she doesn’t believe her son died by suicide.

Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Both. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.

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Team USA crashes out, Trump’s lawyer lays out trial defense: Weekend Rundown


Team USA put up a good fight, but lost an incredibly close game. Trump’s attorney is confronted with Mike Pence’s harsh comments. And a four-time Disney bride wants to keep the magic going.

Here’s the biggest news you missed this weekend.

A narrow loss for Team USA

Image: Sweden v USA: Round of 16 - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023
Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

A fraction of a centimeter cost Team USA the game and a chance to defend its title at the Women’s World Cup in Melbourne Sunday.

The U.S. women’s team dominated Sweden for much of the play, forcing fine saves from the goalkeeper, but the game was tied 0-0 after extra time. The match was ultimately decided in penalty kicks, where Sweden won out 5-4.

Minutes after Team USA was eliminated, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was still gesturing at her net in an apparent belief that she had saved the match-ending kick.

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Naeher appeared to stop Sweden forward Lina Hurtig’s shot but the video assistant referee showed the ball barely crossed the line as America crashed out in the round of 16, its earliest World Cup exit ever.

The tournament will continue Monday, when host Australia takes on Denmark and England faces Nigeria.

Russia strikes as world leaders talk peace

A Russian “guided air bomb” hit a blood transfusion center in the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk Saturday night, killing two people and injuring four more, Ukrainian officials said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a picture of a building engulfed in flames in a Telegram post and said, “This war crime alone says everything about Russian aggression.”

A Russian “guided air bomb” hit a blood transfusion center in northeast Ukraine Saturday night, killing two people and injuring four, Ukrainian officials said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy via X

Houses and farms were damaged, according to regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov, who added that residential housing and other agricultural infrastructure had also been struck in nearby villages.

The intense overnight fighting came as officials from 40 different countries met in Saudi Arabia to begin Ukraine-organized peace talks aimed at finding a way to start negotiations over Russia’s war.

FDA approves pill for postpartum depression

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever pill for postpartum depression. The medication, called zuranolone, was found in clinical trials to improve symptoms of postpartum depression, such as anxiety, difficulty sleeping and low energy, as early as three days after taking the first pill.

Teen charged in fatal stabbing of gay man

The 17-year-old suspect arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 28-year-old gay man at a Brooklyn gas station was charged with murder as a hate crime, officials said Saturday.

O’Shae Sibley was fatally stabbed July 29 in Brooklyn, New York. He was vogue dancing at a gas station when a group approached him and told him to stop, witnesses said.

People gather at a gas station during a vigil to memorialize O'Shae Sibley
People gather at a gas station during a vigil to memorialize O’Shae Sibley in New York, on Aug. 4, 2023Tracie Van Auken / AP

Meet the Press 

Since Donald Trump’s indictment last week on charges he conspired to defraud the country, former Vice President Mike Pence has been quite vocal about the pressure he felt from the former president and “his crackpot lawyers” to overturn the election.

On “Meet the Press” Sunday, Chuck Todd pressed Trump lawyer John Lauro about Pence’s striking characterization. Lauro insisted Trump and Pence had merely engaged in a disagreement over whether a vice president could constitutionally take actions that could lead to a presidential election being overturned.

“A technical violation of the Constitution is not a violation of criminal law,” Lauro contended, calling it “just plain wrong” to suggest that Trump had pressed Pence to break the law.

After Lauro’s interview, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., slammed his argument as “deranged.”

You can watch the full interview here.

What are Trump’s defenses?

  • Some legal experts say there are a number of plausible defenses the former president can use, such as arguing he relied on the advice of lawyers. But many veterans of federal criminal cases say each of Trump’s most viable arguments can be overcome, based on the known facts and evidence and the current state of the law.

Politics in Brief

2024 Election: The first battle of Ohio’s Senate race — already awash in hostilities among the three Republicans angling to unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2024 — arrives Tuesday with a special election on a hot-button ballot measure.

Meet the Press Blog: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday offered his strongest dismissal of the election fraud theories at the heart of Trump’s push to overturn the 2020 election.

Mike Pence: Pro-Trump protesters heckled the former vice president at his first campaign event since Trump was indicted in the special counsel’s 2020 election pobe. “There’s the sellout! There’s the traitor!” they yelled at Pence as he exited his vehicle.

A Juneteenth flip-flop: Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy called Juneteenth a “useless” holiday in Iowa on Saturday, two months after posting a video saying it’s a day to celebrate “how far we’ve come.”

Debating a debate: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team slammed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed rules for their debate on Fox News, calling them a ‘joke’ in a statement on Saturday. DeSantis’ team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Culture & Trends

Disney weddings have skyrocketed in popularity, and for this bride, one wasn’t enough. Shellie, who calls herself “The Serial Bride” online, is going viral for being married at Disney four times — and is now planning at least two more.

Shellie, AKA "The Serial Bride," and her husband pose for pictures in the Disneyland Resort.
Shellie, AKA “The Serial Bride,” and her husband pose for pictures in the Disneyland Resort.Photos by Jenna Henderson/White Rabbit Photo Boutique, Courtesy The Serial Bride

Shellie, who has turned her Disney wedding pictures into Instagram reels that have been viewed millions of times, is part of a growing and thriving community of adult Disney enthusiasts who obsessively document their love of Disney online, with repeated expensive trips to the theme parks. “I love being a magic creator,” she told NBC News in an interview. Planning Disney weddings and vow renewals has become her hobby and a way to pamper herself. She said she works a regular, 9-to-5 job, and budgets for her Disney adventures.

To some, Shellie and her husband’s decisions are confusing. On social media, she’s become the latest “Disney adult” to receive death threats and judgment from people who believe that Disney experiences are too expensive.

Shellie and her husband were first married at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in 2016.
Shellie and her husband were first married at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in 2016.Photos by Jenna Henderson/White Rabbit Photo Boutique, Courtesy The Serial Bride

In Case You Missed It

Lara Horwitz

Lara Horwitz is a platforms editor for NBC News.

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