Mike Johnson to pay a visit to Trump’s estate

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is set to make a major announcement on election integrity at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s estate in Florida, on Friday. This comes as Johnson faces backlash from some right-wing members of his party, including threats from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene to oust him. Despite the challenges, Johnson’s office reported raising $20 million in his first quarter as speaker.

In other news, former American-football player O.J. Simpson, who was famously acquitted of murder, passed away at the age of 76. Simpson’s trial in 1995, dubbed the “trial of the century,” captivated the nation with its controversial verdict.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at Reverend Al Sharpton’s annual racial-justice conference in New York on Friday. Biden aims to secure and retain support from black voters, especially as younger black voters show curiosity towards the Republican party.

Meanwhile, a state prosecutor in Georgia will investigate the lieutenant-governor for allegedly interfering in the state’s 2020 presidential election. The prosecutor, Fani Willis, was barred from investigating due to her support for the lieutenant-governor’s political opponent.

Harvard University has reinstated a standardized testing requirement for admission, citing evidence that SAT and ACT scores are predictive of academic success. This move aims to make admissions more meritocratic and increase socioeconomic diversity.

Lastly, President Biden reaffirmed America’s defense commitments to Japan and the Philippines at a summit of the three countries’ leaders. The meeting also addressed China’s claims in the South China Sea, with Biden stating that an attack on Filipino ships would invoke the defense treaty between the US and the Philippines.