Bulletin Brief

Jury selection continues in Trump trial (AP, NBC)

US and Britain impose sanctions on Iran; Columbia protests (Reuters, AP)

Taylor Swift drops single “Fortnight” (NBC, CBS)

Biden endorsed by Kennedy family (AP, Yahoo )

Congress pushes ByteDance to sell TikTok (Reuters)

Volcano eruption and tsunami force evacuation in Indonesia (CBS)

Dickey Betts dead at 80 (AP)

For those who read...

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In Must Know News

• Jury selection continues for former President Trump’s hush money trial, with 12 jurors selected and additional alternates being voted on. The trial, believed to be a significant roadblock in the upcoming presidential race, has already faced challenges during the selection process with 2 jurors already being dismissed over concerns of fairness and accuracy in the proceedings. 
• The US and Britain enforce new sanctions on Iran in response to the nation’s recent attack on Israel. The sanctions aim to hold Iran accountable for their violence and aggression while also targeting leaders of Iran’s Defense Ministry and Guard Corps. Meanwhile, police dismantled a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia University yesterday, resulting in multiple arrests and suspensions of students involved.
• and Taylor Swift revealed the first single off of her newest album, “The Tortured Poets Department”, which was released last night at midnight. The single, “Fortnight”, features Grammy-nominated artist Post Malone, with Swift commending him for his experimentation with music and unique melodies that quote, “stick in your head forever”. 

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In Other Notable News

• President Joe Biden received endorsements from 15 Kennedy family members Thursday, bolstering his campaign against Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This comes as RFK Jr. claimed to be asked to serve as Trump’s VP, an assertion the former President denies.
• Congress is moving to potentially force TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S., with a vote set in the House. The proposed law, part of a broader $95 billion aid package, aims to address national security concerns.
• Indonesian authorities have heightened alerts around Mt. Ruang as its volcanic eruptions intensify, sending ash clouds nearly two miles high and prompting tsunami warnings. Over 11,000 people have been evacuated from surrounding areas.
• Dickie Betts, renowned guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band, passed away at 80 in his Florida home after battling cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Betts was a pivotal figure in the creation of the Southern rock genre.