Reuters US Domestic News Summary

In his first formal speech since taking the speaker's gavel in October, Johnson said a deal taking shape in the Senate does not go far enough to prevent migrants from entering the country along the U.S.-Mexico border. Tech CEOs told 'you have blood on your hands' at US Senate child safety hearing U.S. senators on Wednesday grilled leaders of the biggest social media companies and said Congress must quickly pass legislation, as one lawmaker accused the companies of having "blood on their hands" for failing to protect children from escalating threats of sexual predation on their platforms.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Top US House Republican Johnson casts doubt on bipartisan border talks

Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday cast doubt on a bipartisan effort to tighten border security, saying Democratic President Joe Biden does not need new laws to tackle the problem, signaling that a compromise being negotiated faces long odds of passage. In his first formal speech since taking the speaker's gavel in October, Johnson said a deal taking shape in the Senate does not go far enough to prevent migrants from entering the country along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Tech CEOs told 'you have blood on your hands' at US Senate child safety hearing

U.S. senators on Wednesday grilled leaders of the biggest social media companies and said Congress must quickly pass legislation, as one lawmaker accused the companies of having "blood on their hands" for failing to protect children from escalating threats of sexual predation on their platforms. The hearing marks the latest effort by lawmakers to address the concerns of parents and mental health experts that social media companies put profits over guardrails that would ensure their platforms do not harm children.

US judge dismisses Disney's lawsuit accusing DeSantis of retaliation

A U.S. judge on Wednesday dismissed Walt Disney Co's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and members of a state board for allegedly using the state to punish the company for voicing an opinion protected by free-speech rights. Disney had sued in April 2023, arguing that Florida's government was retaliating after the company criticized state limits on classroom discussion of sexuality. DeSantis and other defendants had urged the case be dismissed, saying Disney could not sue them over constitutionally enacted state laws.

Trump meets with Teamsters in fight with Biden over union support

Donald Trump met with one of America's biggest unions on Wednesday as he competes for the support of labor groups ahead of a likely general election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in November. Trump sat down with the leadership and some rank-and-file members of the Teamsters, just days after the Republican former president reacted angrily to losing out on the endorsement from another major union, the United Auto Workers.

Pennsylvania man accused of decapitating father and showing head on YouTube

A Pennsylvania man was ordered to be held without bail on Wednesday after being charged with killing his father and showing his decapitated head in a YouTube video, a local prosecutor said. Justin Mohn of Middletown Township was charged on Wednesday with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and possession of an instrument of crime in a Bucks County court, where a judge ordered to the 32-year-old to remain in custody, the district attorney's office said in a statement.

California cannot require background checks to buy ammunition, judge rules

California cannot enforce a law requiring people to undergo background checks to buy ammunition, because it violates the constitutional right to bear arms, a federal judge has ruled. In a decision made public on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego said the background checks have "no historical pedigree," and violate the Second Amendment by treating all citizens as having no right to buy ammunition.

Biden's job approval drops to 38% as border worries rise - Reuters/Ipsos

President Joe Biden's approval rating declined in January as Americans worried about the economy and immigration while the Democrat ramps up his reelection campaign, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday. Only 38% of poll respondents said they approved of Biden's performance as president, down from 40% in December.

Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to manslaughter charge in 'Rust' shooting

Actor Alec Baldwin on Wednesday plead not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the 2021 on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during filming of the Western "Rust" in New Mexico. Baldwin made the plea as he waived his right to an arraignment after he was indicted by a grand jury on Jan. 19, court documents showed.

Haley casts Trump, Biden as 'Grumpy Old Men' in new campaign attack

Fighting for survival in the Republican presidential race, Nikki Haley is casting rival Donald Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden as "Grumpy Old Men" who are way past their primes in a new strategic effort that looks to tap into voters' apathy toward a 2020 rematch. Haley's campaign said on Wednesday it was rolling out digital ads and mailers that would raise doubts about both Trump and Biden’s mental acuity, criticize them for not campaigning more vigorously and cast them as profligate spenders.

US House set to vote on $78 billion child, business tax breaks bill

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday prepared to vote on a $78 billion bipartisan package of tax breaks for businesses and low-income families that was put on a fast track even as Congress remains deadlocked over broader fiscal issues. The temporary tax measure, which would increase the Child Tax Credit and reinstate deductions on business research and development and capital investments through 2025, was given a green light by House Speaker Mike Johnson after negotiations with some of his fellow Republicans who objected to its lack of tax relief for state and local taxes (SALT).