Super Tuesday preview — more than a dozen states holding contests

Super Tuesday is here, with voters in more than a dozen states looking to make a difference in the presidential race. And Elon Musk has been dethroned as the world’s richest person. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

16 states holding contests on GOP, Democratic choice for President

Super Tuesday is underway across America, with the 2024 presidential race becoming clearer as more than a dozen states host contests. Former President Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner, heads into the day bolstered by a Monday’s victory in North Dakota’s caucuses and a Supreme Court decision that rejected Colorado and other states’ attempts to remove his name from their ballots over the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause. The justices ruled that such power resides with Congress, not the states.

While Trump and President Joe Biden aim to edge closer to securing their party’s nominations, Trump’s primary GOP challenger, Nikki Haley, hopes today’s results will sustain her campaign. Despite winning only one primary so far, Haley has pledged to continue her campaign efforts but has made no commitments beyond Super Tuesday.

President Biden, on the other hand, might encounter opposition in some states as seen last week in Michigan, where a faction of Democrats voted ‘uncommitted’ to express their disapproval of his handling of the war in Gaza.

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With over 850 Republican and more than 1,400 Democratic delegates at stake, Super Tuesday plays a critical role in the nomination process for both parties.

Supreme Court temporarily blocks new Texas immigration bill

The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Texas’ controversial new immigration law, which would have allowed state police to detain individuals suspected of illegal entry into the country.

https://twitter.com/steve_vladeck/status/1764788425180287381

This pause, effective until March 13th, will give the High Court time to review the case. The law, known as Senate Bill 4, was signed into effect by Governor Gregg Abbott in December.

A federal judge had already blocked the law last week, citing concerns that it could prompt states to create their own immigration regulations. A federal appeals court then ruled the law could take effect unless the Supreme Court intervened. Abbott has pledged to continue his efforts to protect Texas.

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The Supreme Court’s decision came after the Biden administration raised alarms about the potential for the law to cause racial profiling and enhance state-controlled immigration enforcement.

Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Israel’s Benny Gantz on Gaza aid

Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the need for Israel to boost its humanitarian efforts in Gaza amidst the conflict with Hamas, in a meeting with a top Israeli official at the White House on Monday, March 4. The meeting with Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz came a day after Harris, in a speech in Alabama, labeled the conditions in Gaza as “inhumane” and called on Israel to do more to aid the people in the territory.

https://twitter.com/VP/status/1764774031343915115

During her discussion with Gantz, the vice president highlighted the situation in Rafah and stressed the importance of having a credible humanitarian plan before considering any major military operation in the border town. Rafah is home to approximately 1.5 million people, most of whom have been displaced from their homes elsewhere due to the fighting.

Gantz, who is a political rival to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken today.

Jack Teixeria pleads guilty; Air Force employee charged with sharing info

Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira pleaded guilty on Monday, March 4, to leaking highly classified military documents on social media, accepting a plea deal that could result in a 16-year prison sentence.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to all six charges under the Espionage Act, with his final sentencing set for September.

https://twitter.com/Newsweek/status/1764935128848159179

In a separate but related case, a U.S. Air Force employee is expected to make a court appearance in Nebraska today after being accused of sharing classified defense information with a woman he met on a foreign dating platform. David Slater, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, could face up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted on all charges.

Both incidents involved the unauthorized release of classified details concerning the ongoing state of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Bitcoin hits record high amid rally following SEC approval

Bitcoin is witnessing a resurgence, reaching an all-time high of $68,791 on Monday, March 4, eclipsing its previous record set in November 2021. 

https://twitter.com/Bitcoin/status/1764959546143822110

This latest rally has been propelled by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) earlier this year, enhancing the cryptocurrency’s accessibility to investors. 

Bitcoin now represents more than half of all cryptocurrency in circulation, solidifying its position as the world’s leading digital currency.

Jeff Bezos surpasses Elon Musk to become richest person on Earth

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has once again ascended to the top of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, surpassing Elon Musk to reclaim the title of the world’s richest person. 

Bezos’s net worth is currently valued at $200 billion, edging out Musk’s $198 billion, after he experienced a $31 billion decrease over the past year. Bezos last held this prestigious title in the fall of 2021, marking his return to the pinnacle of global wealth.

According to Oxfam’s annual inequality report, the net worth of the five wealthiest people on Earth has surged by 114% to a total of $869 billion, even after adjusting for inflation.