A stage collapsed during a campaign event in Mexico, leaving at least nine people dead and dozens injured, and Nikki Haley makes her election plans known — giving her reasons why she’ll be voting for Donald Trump. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, May 23, 2024.
At least 9 dead after stage collapses at campaign rally in Mexico
Several people were killed and dozens injured when a stage collapsed during a campaign rally in Mexico on Wednesday, May 22. At least nine people were confirmed dead after high winds caused the stage to collapse at the campaign event in northern Mexico.
The victims included eight adults and one child. Officials said about 50 others were injured. Videos from the scene showed politicians, including a Mexican presidential candidate, on the stage as it began to fall.
People were seen rushing off the stage while those in the crowd ran for cover. Residents in the area were warned to stay indoors due to strong thunderstorms. The tragedy occurs as Mexico prepares for its presidential election on June 2.
Haley says she plans to vote for Trump for president
Nikki Haley has announced she plans to vote for former President Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election, despite her previous criticisms of him during the primary season.
In her first public appearance since suspending her campaign in March, Haley made her decision known following a speech on national security at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday May 22.
When asked who would handle these issues better, the former United Nations ambassador said she would choose Trump over Biden, but emphasized she still does not agree with Trump on all issues.
“As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who’s going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account,” Haley said. “Who would secure the border, no more excuses. A president who would support capitalism and freedom. A president who understands we need less debt, not more debt. Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I’ve made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump.”
Even though Haley suspended her campaign months ago, she has still been receiving a significant share of votes in Republican primaries, including 20% in Indiana earlier in May.
In her comments Wednesday, Haley repeated her call to Trump from her campaign suspension speech, hoping he will reach out to her supporters and not assume they’ll just vote for him in her absence.
The Biden campaign quickly responded to Haley’s decision, saying this changes nothing for the millions of Republicans who have cast their ballots against Trump.
Second US bird flu case emerges in Michigan dairy worker
A Michigan dairy worker contracted bird flu after exposure to infected livestock, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced. This is the second human case linked to the U.S. dairy cow outbreak.
The worker developed pinkeye but no respiratory symptoms and has fully recovered. Health officials emphasize that while the risk to the general public remains low, they are recommending protective measures for those who come in contact with dairy cattle.
“The risk to the general public remains low,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the chief medical executive for the state of Michigan, said. “We know that with our current understanding of H5 influenza, and H5 influenza particularly in livestock, that there is the risk for sporadic human cases. And that’s what we’ve seen at this time. What we have not seen is any sort of sustained human-to-human transmission.”
This case follows a similar instance in Texas and is under close monitoring by the CDC, which is preparing genetic analyses to better understand the virus’s transmission capabilities.
DOJ antitrust lawsuit targets Live Nation
The Justice Department is expected to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, as early as Thursday, May 23, in a New York federal court. The DOJ’s actions could range from demanding the company halt any illegal practices to pursuing a more drastic measure of asking a court to break up the company.
This action follows allegations that the company has abused its position as a concert promoter, ticket seller, and venue owner to suppress competition, leading to reduced consumer choice and higher ticket prices.
The lawsuit is a response to public outcry, notably after Ticketmaster’s mishandling of ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2022, which led to significant backlash from fans and politicians.
Nvidia reports record revenue powered by rise of AI
Chipmaker Nvidia is experiencing significant success, thanks in part to the surge in artificial intelligence. The company, which manufactures microchips powering most AI applications, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, reported record revenue of $26 billion in its latest quarterly earnings. This represents a 262% increase from last year, surpassing Wall Street predictions.
Nvidia also announced a ten-for-one stock split, set to take effect on June 7.
The company’s shares have increased by more than 90% this year. Following the earnings report, a single share of Nvidia surpassed $1,000 on Wednesday, May 22.
Just five years ago, a share in Nvidia would have cost less than $50.
Lauryn Hill tops Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list
After a 10-day countdown, Apple Music has named “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” as the No. 1 album in its ranking of the 100 best albums of all time. Upon receiving the news, Lauryn Hill said, “The award is mine,” but noted that her 1998 solo album is a “deep narrative” that “involves so many people.”
Apple Music described its list as a “modern 21st century ranking of the greatest records ever made,” chosen by a committee of artists, Apple Music employees and industry insiders.
Other albums in the top five include “Blond” by Frank Ocean, “Purple Rain” by Prince and “Abbey Road” by The Beatles. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” came in at No. 2.