'Donald Trump raped me': E. Jean Carroll testifies
E. Jean Carroll testified on the stand that former President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her. And rage on airplanes is still a problem.
👋 Hey there, Laura Davis here. Believe it or not, it's time for Wednesday's news!
🎓 But first: He's only 16 years old, but this New Orleans teen has already pulled in $9 million (and counting) in college scholarship offers from 170 schools.
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E. Jean Carroll testifies; Trump attacks
Carroll detailed her rape allegations against Trump in civil court on Wednesday, while the ex-president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate attacked the lawsuit as politically motivated. "I'm here because Donald Trump raped me," Carroll said during the first day of testimony in her defamation lawsuit against the ex-president. On his Truth Social website, Trump – who is not attending the trial – said her story is "fraudulent & false." Follow our full coverage.
- Opening statements: Trial opens in E. Jean Carroll’s rape lawsuit against Trump.
Zelenskyy, China's Xi talk on phone
In a "long and meaningful" conversation, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on the phone Wednesday, and Xi pressed his position as a neutral peacemaker in the Russian-Ukrainian war that has dragged into a second year. Xi appealed for negotiations, warning “there is no winner in a nuclear war,” Chinese state media reported, although Russia has dismissed claims it would resort to nuclear weapons and Ukraine no longer has them. China has claimed neutrality in the war, refusing to criticize Russia for the invasion and declining to participate in Western sanctions. More updates.
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House passes GOP debt limit plan including $4.5 trillion in cuts
The House on Wednesday passed a Republican debt ceiling plan that includes $4.5 trillion in cuts and raises the debt ceiling until May 2024, but Democrats say it won't ward off a potential government default this summer. The GOP plan isn't expected to get anywhere in the Democratic-led Senate, but McCarthy hopes it leads to another sit-down at the White House and breaks the negotiating stall with Biden. Here's what to know.
- As McCarthy tries to get House votes, U.S. default now projected in early June.
- Montana lawmaker punished after speaking out against anti-trans youth bills.
Up in the air? Simmer down.
Air rage on flights is still a problem. Several factors, including high travel costs and post-traumatic stress from the COVID-19 pandemic, have all united to create tempests in the teapots that hurtle across our nation's skies every day. Take yesterday's news, for example: A woman was arrested early Tuesday morning after officials say she attacked and injured three TSA agents during a security screening in Phoenix. And incidents like this seem to be happening more and more frequently. Learn more about why air rage incidents are every traveler’s problem.
A break from the news
- 🥴 Got 'hangxiety'? Here's what it is and how to deal with it.
- 🥚 Egg-sellent info: Are eggs good for you? What you need to know.
- 🛋 It's Wayfair's biggest sale of the year! Get up to 80% off for Way Day 2023.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at Paste BN. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to Paste BN here.
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