What Stormy Daniels said on the stand

Stormy Daniels took the stand in Donald Trump's hush money trial. TikTok fights back against a potential ban in the United States. And Israel's military seized a key border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

👋Hey y’all! It’s your old pal Laura Davis here. And it’s time for Tuesday’s news.

But first: No FLiRT-ing, please! 😷 There's a new COVID-19 variant on the scene. What to know about "FLiRT."

Stormy Daniels testifies in Trump trial

A central figure in Donald Trump's hush money trial, adult film actress Stormy Daniels, took the stand Tuesday. The former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a deal to buy Daniels' silence during his presidential campaign.

What she said: Daniels recounted her alleged sexual encounter with Trump, including details such as his pajamas and the gold tweezers in his hotel suite bathroom. Daniels is also testifying about the heart of the case against Trump: a $130,000 payment to her to remain silent before the 2016 election. Just before Trump's team began cross-examining Daniels, the judge denied their request for a mistrial.

👉 Everything that happened in court.

Also Tuesday: A federal judge indefinitely postponed Trump's trial on charges he hoarded classified documents after leaving the White House. What we know.

TikTok sues over sell-or-ban law

Alleging First Amendment free speech violations, TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to block a new law that would force the sale or ban of the popular video app.

What they're saying: TikTok's petition said that a law would amount to "silencing the 170 million Americans who use the platform to communicate in ways that cannot be replicated elsewhere." The lawsuit also cites commercial, technical and legal hurdles – as well as opposition from Beijing. 📲 What to know about the lawsuit.

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Rafah crossing seized by Israel

Israel's military said it took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Tuesday as leaders vowed to push ahead with a plan to target Hamas in the city and as new cease-fire talks resumed in Cairo. Hamas said Israel's incursion sought to undermine cease-fire talks and called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt the “escalation.” The Rafah crossing is a crucial gateway for humanitarian aid between Gaza and Egypt. 📍 Here's the latest.

💃💐 Met Gala in full bloom

The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, lined with white roses and greenery to match the colors of the carpet itself, came to life on Monday for fashion's biggest night. From Zendaya's two dresses and Usher's "romantic" look to Lana Del Rey's ethereal ensemble, stars took the gala's "The Garden of Time" dress code to heart. 📸 See photos: Met Gala highlights – and what you didn't see.

Zendaya attends the 2024 Met Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday in New York City.
Zendaya attends the 2024 Met Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday in New York City.

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A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stormy Daniels testifies, Israel-Hamas war, TikTok sues: Tuesday's news