Daily Briefing: 'Not confident'
President Joe Biden said he was “not confident about the outcome of the decision yet" as the Supreme Court weighs the legality of his student loan forgiveness plan. Also in the news: Jurors are expected to go to deliberations Thursday in Richard “Alex” Murdaugh's double murder trial in South Carolina. A star-studded concert honored 2023 Gershwin Prize recipient Joni Mitchell.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Baby Yoda is all grown up.
Let's get to Thursday's headlines.
Biden unsure how Supreme Court will rule on student loan forgiveness plan
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he’s "not confident" how the Supreme Court will rule on his plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loan debt. Six conservative states and two borrowers sued over the program. The court won't issue a decision on the cases until later this year.
The Supreme Court held oral arguments in the student loan debt forgiveness cases on Tuesday. During the arguments, the Supreme Court’s conservative justices suggested the administration may have overstepped its authority by creating a program estimated to benefit more than 40 million borrowers.
- The White House has maintained that the president has legal authority in creating the program. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday defended the U.S. solicitor general’s argument in front of the Supreme Court, calling it “really strong.”
- Why Kavanaugh, Barrett may be key to student loan forgiveness cases: Both former President Donald Trump appointees lobbed tough questions at Biden's attorney. But they also posed unexpected questions more favorable to the administration – and that makes both jurists worth watching when the court hands down its decision later this year.
- Jean-Pierre declined to comment on Wednesday about a possible “Plan B” if the Supreme Court does rule against the Biden administration, such as extending the student loan repayment pause.
Transport minister resigns after Greek train wreck kills 43
Greek Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned Wednesday after a fiery head-on collision of passenger and freight trains near the town of Tempe in northern Greece. Multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames after the two trains ran into each other at high speed just before midnight Tuesday, authorities said, killing at least 43 people and injuring more than 80 others. The official said it was his duty to step down out of "respect for the memory of the people who died so unfairly.” Read more
- How did the Greece train crash happen? See aerial photos and map of the collision.
- Ohio train derailment: Lawmakers introduce new rail safety legislation.
More news to know now
- ⚫ Michigan State University will add new security measures after a deadly campus shooting last month.
- 🤚 A bill to boost parents' classroom rights is the latest GOP move in a pre-2024 education war.
- 🏳🌈 One in four Black transgender, nonbinary youths attempted suicide in previous year, study finds.
- 🔵 Mothers shared their grief at a Congressional hearing about fentanyl.
- 📰 Chicago's police chief resigned after Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost reelection.
- 🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, Paste BN National Correspondent for Extremism and Emerging Issues Will Carless looks into why hundreds of Capitol rioters still haven’t been arrested. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
🌤 What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Over 50 feet of snow in California with more expected this weekend
Five months into this water year, counted Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, more than 44 feet of snow has fallen at the Central Snow Laboratory, a University of California, Berkeley field research station. That's more than double the median of 21.7 feet by this time of year. Even as spring looms the pace isn't slowing down; almost 12 feet of snow has piled up at Donner Pass in California's Sierra Nevada mountains in the past seven days. And even more is expected this weekend. Read more
- Yosemite National Park is closed indefinitely as parts of the park are buried in 15 feet of snow.
- Winter weather in the west, flooding conditions in the South: Thursday weather forecast.
Jury deliberations expected to begin in Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial
Jurors are likely to begin deliberations Thursday in the double murder trial of former South Carolina attorney Richard “Alex” Murdaugh after the defense delivers its closing argument Thursday morning. Murdaugh, 54, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection to the 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son. Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters wrapped up his closing arguments Wednesday, pleading with the jury as he attempted to debunk what he called Murdaugh's "manufactured alibi." Read more
- Surprised Alex Murdaugh took the stand? Murdaugh lawyers are known for dramatic courtroom scenes.
- True-crime book. Netflix adaptation. Why a New York ax murder case continues to fascinate.
Just for subscribers:
- ➡ Suburb uncovers hidden burial ground as New York studies centuries of African American history.
- 👉 Biden gives SOTU; faces heat for Ohio train derailment; Haley enters race: Here's last month in politics.
- 🚗 Dead tortoises, a suicide and a car chase. The story of Joshua Tree Tortoise Rescue's last days.
- 🎵 Examining the Grand Ole Opry's complicated role in Black history and the road ahead.
These articles are for Paste BN subscribers. You can sign up here.
Joni Mitchell honored with 2023 Gershwin Prize
Joni Mitchell, one of music’s most venerated singer-songwriters, sang solo and with fellow music heavyweights at a two-hour concert to honor her as the 2023 recipient of the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Wednesday’s show at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. celebrated both Mitchell's resilience and legendary songbook. Her legacy was applauded by an extensive lineup of musical admirers: Annie Lennox, James Taylor, Cyndi Lauper, Marcus Mumford, Graham Nash, Diana Krall, Ledisi, Angelique Kidjo, Herbie Hancock and Mitchell’s artistic caretaker, Brandi Carlile. Read more
📷 Photo of the day: Cherry blossoms blooming around the world 📷
Time to get your cameras ready! Cherry blossoms are peeking out all around the world as spring nears. Click here for more photos of the pink-flowered trees from Kawazu, Japan, to Washington, D.C.
- 🌸 Traveling for spring break? Pack smart with these stylist-approved tips.
One more thing
- 🏈 Georgia LB Nolan Smith broke down at an NFL scouting combine talking about the death of teammate Devin Willock.
- 👑 Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have been asked ''to vacate''' their royal home in the UK.
- ⌛ Under 18 and on TikTok? Your account will soon have a 60-minute daily screen time limit.
- ⛳ The PGA Tour approved changes to 2024 designated events, eliminating the halfway cut and reducing the field size.
- 🚀 NASA and SpaceX launched Russian, UAE, US astronauts to the International Space Station Thursday morning.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to Paste BN here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.