But first, let's get to your need to know
headlines this morning. Hundreds of homes are under evacuation
orders that has fast moving wildfires are raging across southern
California just since Wednesday, orange skies and massive plumes
of smoke have returned to Laguna, Niguel, Niguel
in California. The National Weather Service is now warning
that conditions can grow even more volatile extreme heat with
temperatures are now topping 100 degrees and it's set to
scorch southern California starting friday all into early next week
. And the other wildfire that we're watching is growing
in new Mexico and the conditions, they're not any
better. Fire officials are saying that the high winds
there are like putting a hair dryer on the flames
and it's spreading near santa fe that hermit peak fire
has now destroyed an area larger than Dallas texas and
elsewhere, the White House is ready to welcome a
new member to NATO, but it's not Ukraine.
Finland's president and Prime minister announced on thursday they support
a NATO membership, moving the nordic nation, which
shares an 800 mile border with Russia, one step
closer to membership of the US led military alliance.
And while the US other NATO members and even Ukraine
have all voiced support Russia called the geopolitical shift a
threat. Finland's NATO membership is expected to be fast
tracked. But there's not a specific timeline timeline yet
. Meanwhile, the world of politics, waking up
this morning, Ariel Hickson is live for us in
our nation's capital, bringing us the biggest stories unfolding
there and Ariel, What are we watching today?
Well, the House january 6th committee has subpoenaed five
Republican lawmakers. The committee wants to know what they
knew and when On the day of the attack and
in the days leading up to it, the members
include House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Representatives Jim Jordan
of Ohio Andy. Biggs of Arizona scott, perry
of pennsylvania and mo brooks of Alabama. The committee
wants to hear about calls. Some of them have
with president trump on the day of the attack or
their meetings with White House staff where they talked about
strategies to overturn the 2020 election. But why is
this so significant? Well, this has never happened
before. A congressional committee has never issued subpoenas,
Two sitting lawmakers. Part of that is because there's
never been any major reason to. But the other
part of this is that on uncertain legal ground.
The committee previously asked for voluntary cooperation from the lawmakers
, but it's now shifting from requests to demand.
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson said in a statement quote,
regrettably. The individuals receiving subpoenas today have refused and
were forced to take this step to help ensure the
committee uncovers facts concerning january 6th. This is a
big unprecedented move from the committee baker. Absolutely very
unprecedented to Ariel. What happens next? Are we
going to actually see these republicans, including Kevin McCarthy
testify here. Well, the real answer is most
likely know. Most of the five subpoena members had
said that they don't plan to cooperate with the committee
. That could lead to contempt of Congress charges for
them, but it would take months for any charges
to result in a conviction because of that, they
will most likely be able to stall the committee and
wait until republicans take control of the house next year
. And this band, the january 6th committee baker
Good point. Their capitol hill, that's Ariel Hickson
. Thank you so much aerial Hannah, let's go
to you now. Meanwhile, the U. S
. Senate confirmed jerome Powell to a second term as
chairman of the Federal Reserve Yes or 80 the knees
19 and the nomination is confirmed under the previous order
. The motion to reconsider is considered made and laid
upon the table and the president will immediately be notified
of the Senate's action. The final vote was overwhelmingly
in favor of the confirmation 80 to 19 former President
donald trump nominated Powell in 2017 to serve as head
of the central bank, replacing Janet Yellen under Powell's
leadership. The Fed ended its pandemic stimulus program began
to rise interest rates and announce the roll off of
its$9 trillion balance sheet. To fight the nation's
inflation. Powell served out his four year term in
february. Meanwhile, big news over twitter their future
with Elon musk hitting a major road bump this morning
. Elon musk tweeting out that his deal to buy
the social platform has now been put on hold and
that's due to a report about spam accounts. Now
since that announcement, Twitter stock has dropped more than
24% in premarket trading. Meanwhile, some other twitter
news twitter is halting hiring and parting ways with two
of their senior leaders, a spokesperson says twitter is
pausing most hiring and back feels except for what they're
calling business critical roles. They said the company would
be pulling back on other non labor costs as well
. Meanwhile, the general manager of consumer and the
revenue product lead have also announced their departures as well
. And Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike will sit
out the second leg of the Triple Crown to focus
on the following race. So owner Rick Dawson said
in a statement quote with our tremendous effort and win
in the Derby is very, very tempting to alter
our course and run in the Preakness. However,
after much discussion and consideration with my trainer, we
are going to stay with our plan of what's best
for Richie, what's best for our group and pass
on running in the Preakness and point towards Bell the
Belmont in approximately five weeks. So Rich Strike will
become the second Kentucky Derby winner to skip the Preakness
since justifies Triple Crown in 2018 and these are your
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