NTD News Today

During a Fox News town hall, former President Donald Trump confirmed several possible running mates for his 2024 White House bid, including biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James said she is prepared to seize President Trump's assets, including his skyscrapers, if he is unable to find the cash to pay off the $355-million fine handed down in the recent civil fraud trial ruling.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled last week that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The court says they're entitled to the same legal rights as other unborn children. The decision was issued in response to wrongful death suits brought against a fertility clinic in Mobile in 2021.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley gave a “State of the Race” speech on Feb. 20, where she vowed to stay in the GOP presidential primary contest. The former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and South Carolina governor had faced calls to drop out ahead of Saturday’s primary in her home state. Her rival, former President Donald Trump, is the clear frontrunner, leading Ms. Haley by double digits in the polls. But Ms. Haley said she’s “not going anywhere,” and that the primary season has just started. She also said both President Trump and President Joe Biden are too old and divisive to lead the country.

A Congressional delegation led by Democratic Representative Adam Smith has visited the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The delegation toured warehouses in Egypt where aid is processed before being sent to Gaza. The visit comes as Israel makes its final preparations for a ground offensive into Rafah.

At the United Nations Security Council, the United States vetoed an Algerian resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said the Algerian resolution would negatively impact sensitive negotiations ongoing in the region. The United States has proposed its own draft resolution supporting a temporary cease-fire, the release of all hostages, and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid.

In a YouTube video that has since gone viral, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has vowed to continue her husband's work. His sudden death at a remote Arctic prison on Friday comes less than a month before Russia's 2024 presidential election.

Former President Donald Trump had a busy weekend, making campaign stops in Michigan and Pennsylvania. The appearances came a day after a New York judge issued a ruling fining him and his businesses over $350 million. In a surprise appearance at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia, the former president introduced his new Trump-branded sneakers, called the “Never Surrender High-Tops.”

The European Union is investigating TikTok. EU industry chief Thierry Breton posted on X that the Union suspects the China-linked social media platform is breaching transparency agreements and failing to uphold obligations to protect minors.

Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip in a New York special congressional election on Feb. 13, flipping the seat that used to belong to Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.). Suozzi’s victory further narrows the GOP’s razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives.

House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the Ukraine–Israel aid package at a press conference on Wednesday. Mr. Johnson said more has to be done to secure the border, and that the "House will not be jammed or forced into passing a foreign aid bill that was opposed by most Republican senators." That's after President Joe Biden called on Johnson on Tuesday to take up the bill, saying opposing it would be "playing into Putin's hands."

After failing in an earlier vote, House Republicans successfully impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday. He’s the first cabinet official to be impeached in nearly 150 years. Mayorkas was impeached on two counts relating to his handling of the border crisis by a vote of 214–213, with all but three Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposing the action.

In an early Tuesday session, the Senate passed a $95-billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Some Republican lawmakers are sounding the alarm, however. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) sent a memo to his GOP colleagues saying the bill contains an "impeachment time bomb" directed at a potential Trump presidency.

The House is expected to vote again on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. A similar vote failed last week, but Republicans believe they now have the necessary votes to get the effort over the finish line, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise expected to return to Washington after receiving cancer treatment.

Parts of the U.S. Northeast were hit by a snowstorm on Feb. 13 that canceled and delayed flights, made roads treacherous, and prompted many school districts to cancel classes or switch to remote learning. Highest snowfalls of 8 inches and possibly more in some locations are expected from the northern New York City suburbs to Connecticut, Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service.

Responses are pouring in to former President Donald Trump's remarks regarding NATO. At a South Carolina rally, President Trump suggested the United States might not protect allies who aren't meeting the alliance’s spending goals. Presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized her rival, calling his words “irresponsible,” while Republican Senator Marco Rubio defended President Trump, saying it was an example of how, as president, he had spurred other countries to become more involved in NATO.

The Biden administration has admitted that it pushed banks to search customer transaction records using terms like “MAGA” and “Trump” to help catch Jan. 6 protesters. Republican lawmakers are criticizing the controversial move, including Congressman Jim Jordan, who accused the Biden administration of disregarding Americans' fundamental civil liberties.

Israel’s military says special forces rescued two hostages early this morning during an overnight mission in Rafah. The operation was carried out after President Joe Biden told Israel’s Prime Minister not to move forward without a plan for the safety of civilians sheltering there. Israel also said its forces found a Hamas data center under the headquarters of the United Nations relief agency for Palestinians in Gaza, or UNRWA.

President Joe Biden has angrily defended himself amid questions about his cognitive ability. The president insisted his memory is fine, after the special counsel who led the investigation into his handling of classified documents cited the president’s “poor memory” as a factor in the decision not to prosecute him.

Former President Donald Trump cruised to victory in the Nevada GOP caucuses on Feb. 8, putting him one step closer to winning his party’s nomination. President Trump did not face any significant opposition in the contest. His only major rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, opted instead to compete in the Nevada primary two days earlier, which didn’t award any delegates.

Super Bowl Sunday is around the corner. The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to play a rematch of their Super Bowl from four years ago when they meet at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday evening. Making headlines this year are the sky-high prices for tickets and accommodation, the Las Vegas Sphere and, of course, Taylor Swift.

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments on whether Colorado's Supreme Court erred in ruling that former President Donald Trump could be disqualified as a candidate for the presidential primaries in the state under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, also known as the 'Insurrection Clause.' The case is one of the most consequential election cases in U.S. history.

The Senate is making a last-ditch effort Thursday to approve funding for Ukraine and Israel. That follows the collapse of a bipartisan agreement to tie border policies to the package earlier this week. If the funding package passes in the Senate, it will still be on a collision course with the House, where many Republicans oppose sending further aid to Ukraine.

Five U.S. Marines aboard a helicopter that went down during stormy weather outside of San Diego on Tuesday night have been confirmed dead. The Marines were conducting a training exercise that involved flying from Nevada to California when their helicopter went missing.

Nikki Haley lost to “None of These Candidates”—a ballot option that GOP voters resoundingly picked—in Nevada’s Republican primary on Feb. 6, in a contest that did not feature GOP frontrunner and former President, Donald Trump.

A federal appeals court has shot down claims that New Jersey residents’ refusal to wear face masks at school board meetings during the COVID-19 outbreak constituted protected speech under the First Amendment.

Hamas has responded to a Qatar-mediated hostage release and cease-fire deal. The terrorist group is proposing a three-phase plan that would stop fighting for 135 days. By the end, Israel would have to withdraw all its troops from the Gaza Strip, and agree to an end of the war. Hamas would release all remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli sources have told media outlets there is "no way" that Israel will accept the proposal.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled on Feb. 6 that former President Donald Trump is not immune from prosecution for his actions related to the events of Jan. 6, 2021. President Trump had claimed presidential immunity in the federal election case brought against him by special counsel Jack Smith.

Top officials in President Joe Biden’s administration pressured Amazon to censor some books about COVID-19, according to newly disclosed emails. The emails were released by the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.

The House is set to vote on whether to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republican lawmakers have accused Mayorkas of committing high crimes and misdemeanors in his handling of the Southern border crisis.