In our news wrap Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the Trump administration is using the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife, the U.S. military says a B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff in California’s Mojave Desert and the British government announced a sweeping social media ban today for teenagers under 16.
William Brangham:
In the day’s other headlines: California Governor Gavin Newsom says the Trump administration is using the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife, saying the move is politically motivated.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA):
Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets. He’s coming after me because I’m considering running for president, because he hates that I have consistently called him out over and over again for his lies and deceit.
William Brangham:
Newsom says that, in recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of friends and former employees looking for records of an unspecified crime. The Democrat also likened himself to former FBI Director James Comey and other Trump foes who have been targeted by the DOJ.
But a source tells the “News Hour” that there are at least two ongoing probes into those close to Newsom which originated with prosecutors in California, not in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. military says a B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff in California’s Mojave Desert today. Aerial footage from the scene shows smoking wreckage near Edwards Air Force Base, which is about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.
Officials at the base wrote on social media that — quote — “Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing.” There was no immediate word on whether anyone was hurt. The B-52 is typically crewed by five people and is a long-range bomber that first entered service in the 1950s.
In Missouri, federal investigators were on the scene today of a plane crash that killed 12 people, including the pilot. Authorities say the plane was taking off for a skydiving trip yesterday when it went down soon after takeoff in Butler, Missouri, which is about 70 miles south of Kansas City.
A local official says the pilot may have been trying to reach a nearby road when the aircraft stalled and crashed. The company that operates the plane says the local skydiving community is in shock. As of this afternoon, authorities had not released the names of the victims.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says at least 11 people were killed and more than 50 others injured by Russian attacks overnight. In Kyiv, explosions could be heard as strikes hit a number of apartment buildings. A cathedral in one of the city’s most revered religious sites was also set ablaze.
It’s part of an 11th century monastery complex, which is one of the most sacred landmarks in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The head of the complex called for those responsible to be — quote — “condemned forever.”
Maksym Ostapenko, Director General, Kyiv Pechersk-Lavra Complex (through translator):
This is one of the most renowned examples of Ukraine’s cultural and historical heritage that Russia is targeting precisely to destroy it. In doing so, it is not only destroying Ukrainian heritage, but also world heritage, posing a challenge to the entire world.
William Brangham:
Also today, Ukraine formally opened the first phase of membership talks with the European Union. Officials called it a Rubicon moment for Ukrainians, as that country’s leadership tries to further tie its fate to the West.
Health officials working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo say the true scale of the Ebola outbreak is still unknown. That assessment comes a day after authorities there said at least 181 people have now died, making this the third deadliest Ebola outbreak on record.
And the situation is growing even more tense. Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas yesterday to scatter a crowd that was trying to take the body of a suspected victim. Health workers say they face distrust from local communities as they try to contain this outbreak.
The British government announced a sweeping social media ban today for teenagers under 16 years old. The plan would limit access to platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube and is expected to take effect next year. The U.K. joins a growing list of countries implementing such bans, including Australia, Brazil and Canada.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the measure is aimed at protecting young people from harmful content and will improve the quality of life for kids.
Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister:
It will make a huge difference. It will make our children safer. It will make our children happier and will give them more time, more security, more freedom to grow up, more opportunity.
William Brangham:
Social media companies fired back today, with YouTube saying in a statement that the ban would drive young people to — quote — “less safe services.”
FOX is buying streaming pioneer Roku in a $22 billion deal. The agreement gives FOX access to the nearly 100 million households that use Roku’s streaming platform worldwide. In a statement, FOX and Roku said the combined company would be the third largest player in the U.S. television market as measured by viewership.
Meantime, on Wall Street today, stocks rallied on news of that tentative deal between the U.S. and Iran. The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 470 points on the day. The Nasdaq jumped nearly 800 points or more than 3 percent. The S&P 500 also started the week sharply higher.
And Abdullah Ibrahim, the world-renowned South African jazz pianist, has died. His song “Mannenberg” is considered an unofficial anthem of his country’s fight against apartheid. Ibrahim famously played at the 1994 inauguration of Nelson Mandela, who called him — quote — “our Mozart.”
Known as Dollar Brand before converting to Islam in the 1960s, Ibrahim’s career spanned eight decades. He recorded more than 70 albums and worked with legends like Duke Ellington. In 2019, he was named a jazz master by the National Endowment for the Arts.
His family says he died in Germany after a short illness. Abdullah Ibrahim was 91 years old.
Still to come on the “News Hour”: our Politics Monday team, Amy Walter and Jasmine Wright, break down the latest political headlines; a new, more effective sunscreen ingredient prepares to hit the shelves; and NBA champions the New York Knicks celebrate the end of a 53-year title drought.
