Former President Donald Trump argues for immunity from prosecution. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hospitalized after surgery. House Republicans target Homeland Secretary Mayorkas for impeachment. Trump immunity trial, Austin diagnosis, Mayorkas impeachment discussed.
Former President Trump's argument for immunity from criminal prosecution raises questions about the limits of presidential power and the potential impact on his upcoming trial and the election.
The delayed disclosure of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's prostate cancer diagnosis raises concerns about transparency and decision-making in the White House.
Deep dives
Court Hesitant on Trump's Immunity Claim
Former President Donald Trump argued for immunity from criminal prosecution for his acts while in office, but judges seemed skeptical. The judges questioned whether a president should be able to sell pardons or order the assassination of a political rival. While Trump is facing multiple felony charges, the timing of the court's decision could impact his potential trial and the upcoming election.
Defense Secretary's Cancer Diagnosis Raises Concerns
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent surgery for prostate cancer last month, but his diagnosis was not disclosed until weeks later. The delayed disclosure has raised questions about the White House's knowledge and decision-making. While Austin's prognosis is reported to be excellent, the lack of transparency surrounding the diagnosis has been criticized.
Congress Faces Shutdown while Focusing on Impeachment and Contempt
Congress has a limited timeframe to avoid a partial government shutdown, yet some House Republicans are focusing on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress. Republicans claim Mayorkas has failed to address the border crisis, while Hunter Biden's refusal to appear for a closed-door deposition has prompted contempt resolutions. These actions have drawn criticism from Democrats who argue these moves are politically motivated and lack clear evidence.
Former President Donald Trump made his case for immunity to appeals court judges. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized for the past week, following surgery for prostate cancer. Some House Republicans want to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Andrew Sussman, Kelsey Snell, and Miguel Macias. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.