US Domestic News Roundup: Trump Trials, Storms, and Political Showdowns

A concise roundup of current U.S. domestic news includes updates on Trump's hush money trial, a critical primary election involving Republican Tony Gonzales, deadly storms across four states, and Bill Walton's passing. It also highlights President Biden's Memorial Day ceremony and policy actions on carbon offsets and border security.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Jury in Trump hush money trial to hear closing arguments before deliberations

New York prosecutors and Donald Trump's lawyers make their closing arguments at his hush money trial on Tuesday in a final bid to influence the 12 jurors who decide whether he will become the first U.S. president past or present convicted of a crime. After six weeks of trial, prosecutors will argue on Tuesday that Trump, 77, illegally falsified business documents to cover up evidence of a payment that bought the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

US House Republican Gonzales faces showdown with hardline challenger

Republican U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales will try to fend off a far-right challenge on Tuesday from a gun rights YouTube celebrity backed by hardline conservatives who have clashed with Gonzales over the U.S.-Mexico border, gun safety and same-sex marriage. In a matchup that could add to the ranks of hardline Republicans in the House of Representatives next year, Gonzales is facing a primary run-off against Brandon Herrera, known as "The AK Guy" due to his enthusiasm for assault rifles, after failing to score an outright win during the state's March primary election.

US storms kill at least 21 across 4 states on Memorial Day weekend

Tornado-spawning thunderstorms that swept the Southern Plains and the Ozark Mountains have killed at least 21 people across four U.S. states as of Monday afternoon and wrecked hundreds of buildings, as forecasters warned of more severe weather. The death toll over the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend included at least eight fatalities in Arkansas, seven in Texas, four in Kentucky and two in Oklahoma, according to tallies by state emergency authorities.

Trump seeks to deny prosecutors' gag-order motion in documents case

Lawyers for Donald Trump on Monday asked a federal judge to reject prosecutors' request for a gag order limiting what the former U.S. president can say about law enforcement officers involved in the case accusing him of mishandling sensitive documents. Trump's team also asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce, Florida, to impose sanctions and pursue civil contempt findings against "all government attorneys who participated in the decision to file the motion."

Bill Walton, NBA Hall of Famer and free spirit, dead at 71

Bill Walton, a two-time NBA champion and member of the basketball Hall of Fame, whose brilliant but injury-riddled career led to a second act as a free-spirited broadcaster who waxed philosophical on the air, died on Monday at the age of 71, the National Basketball Association announced. Walton, who had a prolonged battle with cancer, was surrounded by his family when he died, the National Basketball Association said.

US unveils policy to boost carbon offset market integrity

The U.S. government unveiled rules to govern the use of voluntary carbon credits on Tuesday, seeking to boost confidence in a nascent market after some high-profile offset projects failed to deliver the promised emissions reductions. The heads of the Treasury, Energy and Agriculture Departments as well as President Joe Biden's top climate and economic advisers announced a joint statement of policy and principles to guide participation in voluntary carbon markets as part of its broader efforts to encourage their development.

Trump booed and heckled by raucous crowd at Libertarian convention

Presidential candidate Donald Trump was booed and heckled by many in a raucous audience at the Libertarian National Convention on Saturday night, a marked change from the adulation he receives at rallies from his fervently loyal supporters. Libertarians, who believe in limited government and individual freedom, blame Trump, a Republican, for rushing through the creation of a COVID-19 vaccine when he was president and for not doing more to stop public health restrictions on the unvaccinated during the pandemic.

Biden honors fallen soldiers during Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery

U.S. President Joe Biden honored fallen soldiers during the 156th observance of Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery outside the nation's capital on Monday. Biden placed a wreath of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a solemn ceremony, where he was accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Biden has 'limited ability' to step up border security, Democratic senator says

U.S. President Joe Biden has "limited ability" to step up security at the U.S.-Mexico border via executive action, a top Democratic lawmaker said on Sunday, arguing that the issue should be addressed with legislation in Congress. U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, the lead Democrat who negotiated a bipartisan border security bill introduced this year, said on CBS News' "Face the Nation" that U.S. courts would likely strike down sweeping action by Biden.

Biden tells Israel to protect civilians after Rafah strike

The Biden administration told Israel to take every precaution to protect civilians after a military strike in Rafah killed dozens of Palestinians, as it faced calls from some fellow Democrats to halt military shipments to Israel. "Israel has a right to go after Hamas, and we understand this strike killed two senior Hamas terrorists who are responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians," a National Security Council spokesperson said. "But as we’ve been clear, Israel must take every precaution possible to protect civilians.