US Domestic News Roundup: Fox chief Rupert Murdoch to be deposed in $1.6 billion Dominion defamation case; Factbox-U.S. elections: What to watch in 2023 and more

The three-day national poll, which closed on Sunday, showed 40% of Americans approved of Biden's performance as president, versus 39% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll a month earlier. U.S. Supreme Court declines to block New York gun restrictions The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday turned away a challenge by a group of firearms dealers in New York to numerous Democratic-backed measures adopted by the state last year regulating gun purchases that the businesses said hurt their businesses.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Fox chief Rupert Murdoch to be deposed in $1.6 billion Dominion defamation case

Fox Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch is expected to be questioned under oath on Thursday and Friday in a defamation lawsuit over his network’s coverage of unfounded vote-rigging claims during the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Election technology company Dominion Voting Systems says Fox News Network amplified false claims that its machines were used to rig the election against Republican Donald Trump and in favor of his Democratic rival Joe Biden, who won the election. Dominion is seeking $1.6 billion in damages. Murdoch, 91, is the most high-profile figure to face questioning in the case. Fox has argued that it had a right to report on election-fraud allegations made by Trump and his lawyers, and that Dominion’s lawsuit would stifle press freedom. Fox declined to comment on the litigation and referred Reuters to an earlier statement: “There is nothing more newsworthy than covering the president of the United States and his lawyers making allegations of voter fraud."

Factbox-U.S. elections: What to watch in 2023

With the 2022 U.S. midterms over, this year will feature some elections that take the measure of the public mood on major issues - and former President Donald Trump's influence - ahead of the 2024 presidential campaign. Here are some races to watch:

Biden's approval at 40%, near lowest of his presidency - Reuters/Ipsos poll

U.S. President Joe Biden's public approval rating was close to the lowest level of his presidency this week amid criticism from Republicans over classified documents found in his home in recent months, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The three-day national poll, which closed on Sunday, showed 40% of Americans approved of Biden's performance as president, versus 39% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll a month earlier.

U.S. Supreme Court declines to block New York gun restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday turned away a challenge by a group of firearms dealers in New York to numerous Democratic-backed measures adopted by the state last year regulating gun purchases that the businesses said hurt their businesses. The justices, with no public dissents, denied a request by the dealers to block the laws, some of which imposed gun safety requirements on retailers, while their appeal of a lower court's decision in favor of New York proceeds.

Biden tours storm-ravaged California coast Thursday

U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to California on Thursday to tour areas hit hard by a series of deadly "atmospheric river" storms that inflicted widespread flooding, felled trees and brought mudslides to a state long gripped by extreme drought. Biden, traveling with the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Deanne Criswell, was due to begin his visit in Santa Clara County, then venture by helicopter to other storm-stricken locations south of San Francisco.

U.S. VP Harris will commemorate Roe v. Wade anniversary with speech in Florida

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Florida on Sunday and deliver remarks on the 50th anniversary of a ruling that recognized women's constitutional right to abortion but which was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court last year. In June 2022, the Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Harris' speech is an effort by the Biden administration to show its commitment to defending reproductive rights even after the midterm elections, when Democrats campaigned to protect a woman's right to choose and performed better than expected.

Senator calls for probe of mass surveillance tool used by U.S. law enforcement

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden on Wednesday called for the Justice Department inspector general to investigate federal, state and local law enforcement access to a database of more than 150 million money transfers, citing concerns it disproportionately affects minorities and low-income individuals. Law enforcement agencies have routinely accessed the vast trove of money transfer records without court oversight, Wyden said.

Embattled U.S. Rep. Santos was drag queen in Brazil pageants, say associates

U.S. Representative George Santos competed as a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago, two acquaintances told Reuters on Wednesday, adding to contrasts that have drawn criticism of the openly gay Republican congressman's staunchly conservative views. The embattled freshman congressman has also faced calls from fellow New York Republicans to step down over fabrications about his career and history.

N.Y. Governor Hochul's pick for top judge rejected by Senate panel

A New York state Senate panel on Wednesday rejected Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul's nominee to become the state's chief judge after some lawmakers and advocacy groups expressed concerns he was too conservative for the job. The Democrat-led Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-9 against sending the nomination of Hector LaSalle, the presiding justice of a Brooklyn-based state appeals court, to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

U.S. gov't touches debt limit amid standoff between Republicans and Democrats

The U.S. government was due to hit its $31.4 trillion borrowing limit on Thursday, amid a standoff between the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and President Joe Biden's Democrats that could lead to a fiscal crisis in a few months. Republicans, with a newly won House majority, aim to use the congressionally mandated federal debt ceiling to exact spending cuts from Biden and the Democratic-led Senate.