Reuters US Domestic News Summary

Columbia University President Nemat Minouche Shafik, who a day earlier came under fire from Republicans at a House of Representatives committee hearing on antisemitism on campus, said she had authorized police to clear an encampment of dozens of tents set up by protesters on Wednesday morning. Trump uses hush money trial to squeeze small donors, court big spenders Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is using his hush money trial to squeeze his loyal army of small donors and personally lobby major backers as he scrambles to reduce a major fundraising disadvantage with Democratic President Joe Biden.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

US restricts drilling and mining in Alaska wilderness, angering state leaders

The Biden administration on Friday took steps to limit both oil and gas drilling and mining in Alaska, angering state officials who said the restrictions will cost jobs and make the U.S. reliant on foreign resources. The measures are aligned with President Joe Biden's efforts to rein in oil and gas activities on public lands and conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters to combat climate change.

Factbox-What the US House bills propose for aid to Ukraine and Israel

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on Saturday on aid for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, along with a national security bill that could effectively ban TikTok in the United States. Here is what is in the four bills, according to a summary from the House Appropriations Committee.

Blinken says U.S. not involved in "any offensive operations" when asked about Iran

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken repeatedly declined to confirm a reported Israeli attack on Iran on Friday, saying Washington has not been involved in any offensive operations and it was committed to de-escalating tensions in the region. "I'm not going to speak to that except to say that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations," Blinken said at a news conference capping a gathering of G7 foreign ministers on the southern Italian island of Capri.

US House Speaker Johnson risks fellow Republicans' wrath with Ukraine vote

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson looks set to push forward this weekend on a $95 billion aid bill for Kyiv, Israel and other allies, despite a firestorm of protest from hardline Republicans that could lead to an attempt to oust him. The aid legislation is the latest in a series of must-pass bipartisan measures that Johnson has helped shepherd through Congress, including two massive spending bills and a controversial reauthorization of federal surveillance programs.

Trump's Stormy Daniels payoff trial hinges on his intent

At Donald Trump's criminal trial, there is no dispute about a central underlying fact: the month before the 2016 presidential election, his personal lawyer and fixer paid a porn star for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Legal experts say the outcome of the first-ever trial of a former U.S. president hinges on Trump's intent.

Gun makers urge US Supreme Court to hear appeal in Mexico's lawsuit

U.S. gun manufacturers on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their challenge to Mexico's $10 billion lawsuit seeking to hold them responsible for facilitating the trafficking of firearms to violent drug cartels across the U.S.-Mexico border. Eight companies including Smith & Wesson Brands and Sturm, Ruger & Co in a petition argued that a lower court wrongly concluded the case qualified for an exception to a U.S. law that grants the firearms industry broad protection from lawsuits over the misuse of their products.

Lawyers aim to wrap up jury selection in Trump criminal trial

Lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial are expected on Friday to wrap up the painstaking process of selecting a jury that will for the first time in U.S. history determine whether a former president is guilty of breaking the law. With the 12-member jury already chosen, prosecutors and defense lawyers need to select six alternates for the trial, which is expected to run through May. Opening statements could start on Monday.

Biden's tariff warnings signal sharp anti-China election battle

The Biden administration's threat to impose more tariffs on China is the latest election-year signal that frostier relations with China are likely to follow regardless of who wins the U.S. presidency. U.S. President Joe Biden traveled to the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Wednesday to call for higher tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products, and top administration officials have signaled those are unlikely to be his last salvo against China this election season.

Over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested from New York's Columbia campus

More than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on Thursday on the campus of Columbia University after its president authorized New York police to clear an encampment set up by students demonstrating against Israel's actions in Gaza. Columbia University President Nemat Minouche Shafik, who a day earlier came under fire from Republicans at a House of Representatives committee hearing on antisemitism on campus, said she had authorized police to clear an encampment of dozens of tents set up by protesters on Wednesday morning.

Trump uses hush money trial to squeeze small donors, court big spenders

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is using his hush money trial to squeeze his loyal army of small donors and personally lobby major backers as he scrambles to reduce a major fundraising disadvantage with Democratic President Joe Biden. His campaign has been firing off daily, dramatically worded fundraising appeals to small donors - who rallied to support him when he was first charged in the case last year - since the trial in New York began with jury selection on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)