Daily Briefing: 'I never thought anything like this could happen in America'

Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY
·5 min read

Trump's speech at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday reinvigorated his presidential campaign while bracing voters for the possibility of future indictments. Also in the news: Union organizer Brandon Johnson has won Chicago's mayoral election and what a liberal victory in Wisconsin's state Supreme Court election means.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Is the "pink moon" actually pink?

Now, here we go with Wednesday's news.

Trump attacks Manhattan district attorney in Mar-a-Lago speech

In a 27-minute speech Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump attacked New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg and other prosecutors who are investigating him.

"I never thought anything like this could happen in America," Trump told the crowd gathered in Palm Beach, Florida, mere hours after the judge in New York warned him against rhetoric that could incite threats and violence against public officials.

  • Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 34 counts of allegedly falsifying business records at his namesake company, where he is accused of hiding hush-money payments arranged to silence two women before the 2016 election.

  • Trump's next scheduled court date in New York isn't until Dec. 4. That means a trial might not start until January, on the cusp of the 2024 Republican presidential nominating process.

  • Trump could be juggling other court cases by then. The former president remains under investigation by prosecutors in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., over efforts to overturn the 2020 election, holding onto classified documents after leaving office, and the insurrection by supporters on Jan 6, 2021.

Dive deeper: Read the full Trump indictment and why extremists aren't protesting – yet.

Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York.
Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York.

Brandon Johnson elected mayor of Chicago

Voters in Chicago chose former teacher Brandon Johnson to replace Lori Lightfoot to lead the nation's third-largest city, culminating a mayoral election season that has centered on the increase in crime during the COVID-19 pandemic and high property taxes. Tuesday’s highly anticipated runoff election was a tight race between Paul Vallas, a former public schools executive backed by the city's police union, and Johnson, a union organizer endorsed by the teachers union which became highly influential in city politics. Read more about what Johnson plans to do for Chicago.

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson celebrates with supporters after defeating Paul Vallas after the mayoral runoff election late Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Chicago.
Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson celebrates with supporters after defeating Paul Vallas after the mayoral runoff election late Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Chicago.

More news to know now

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

For McCarthy and Taiwan's leader, visit marks historic first

The moment will be historic — a U.S. House speaker meeting with the president of Taiwan for a rare visit on American soil. The high-profile encounter Wednesday between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is designed to boost support for the island government. But the meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California is almost certain to draw rebuke from China. It is among the most sensitive stops on Tsai's transit through the U.S. and Latin America. For McCarthy, who is outspoken on China, it is the start of his foray into foreign affairs as House speaker. Read more

Supporters of Taiwan, right, confront protesters opposed to Taiwanese independence outside a hotel where Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is expected to arrive in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
Supporters of Taiwan, right, confront protesters opposed to Taiwanese independence outside a hotel where Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is expected to arrive in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Severe storms move east

Severe weather and tornado risks across the Plains and Mississippi Valley are moving east, impacting a stretch from the Great Lakes region to parts of the Appalachians and beyond on Wednesday. Dangerous winds are possible in at least 10 states on Wednesday, with the areas also at risk for showers and severe thunderstorms. And wintry weather is also returning to New York and New England, with snow, freezing rain and sleet possible. Read more

Cars line up along the road as cleanup continues from Friday's tornado damage, Sunday, April 2, 2023, in west Little Rock, Arkansas.
Cars line up along the road as cleanup continues from Friday's tornado damage, Sunday, April 2, 2023, in west Little Rock, Arkansas.

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What the Wisconsin Supreme Court election means

Milwaukee Judge Janet Protasiewicz won a nationally watched judicial election Tuesday, which will likely give liberals the edge in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Much of the race, which was officially nonpartisan, was defined by abortion access in the state, which was made immediately illegal after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last summer. A ruling will likely be issued around a lawsuit brought by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul to block a pre-Civil War abortion law later this year. Read more

One more thing

Photo of the day: Judy Blume speaks at Variety Power of Women Event

Author Judy Blume, 85, delivered a poignant message at Variety's Power of Women luncheon in midtown Manhattan Tuesday about censorship and book banning, which affected her career after her books on puberty and sexuality were banned in the '80s. Read more highlights from the ceremony and click here for more photos.

Seth Meyers and Judy Blume speak onstage during Variety's 2023 Power of Women event at The Grill on April 04, 2023 in New York City.
Seth Meyers and Judy Blume speak onstage during Variety's 2023 Power of Women event at The Grill on April 04, 2023 in New York City.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, 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 USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump indictment, Chicago election, Wisconsin Supreme Court, Masters, weather, China: Daily Briefing

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