Transcript: January 23, 2023

Introduction

Sound: “Alec Baldwin says he never pulled the trigger – what did your findingss come up?” “Well that he definitely pulled the trigger”

Jonathan: A big Hollywood star is in some big trouble – I’ll tell you what’s going on.

Plus – did the U.S. just max out its credit card? Angie has the latest on the big battle brewing in Washington. Those stories and more today on… NOTICE News. 

Alec Baldwin charged with Manslaughter

Jonathan: Hey guys, Jonathan here at Notice HQ and I hope you had a good weekend. You may know Alec Baldwin, from his work in both T.V. and movies. 

But last week, the A-list actor was criminally charged in a death that happened while he was filming a movie. In October of 2021, Baldwin was rehearsing a scene on the set of a new film called “Rust.”

Police say Baldwin was handed a gun by a crew member who told him the weapon was “cold,” meaning it didn’t contain live ammunition. That tragically turned out to be false. The gun went off, killing the film’s cinematographer and injuring the film’s director.

Baldwin says he never pulled the trigger, but an FBI investigation found that the weapon wouldn’t have fired if the trigger wasn’t pulled.

Prosecutors said this to NBC News: 

Sound: “The gun was not checked by him or with the armorer, which is standard protocol. And he may not have to check it himself, but he’s supposed to check it with her, and had he done that, and of course not pointed a firearm at somebody that you’re, you know, rules of the firearm are don’t point a gun at somebody unless you’re intending to shoot them.”

Jonathan: On Thursday they charged baldwin with involuntary manslaughter, which is the *accidental killing* of a person by negligence or recklessness. It’s a serious crime – but less serious than murder, which is an intentional killing. 

Baldwin faces up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted. His lawyer says he plans to fight the charges.

Headlines

Jonathan: Here’s what else is making news right now…

Ten people died after a gunman opened fire in a dance hall Saturday night near L.A. The community was celebrating the Lunar New Year. 

Biden: “I think you’re gonna find there’s nothing there I have no regrets I’m following what the lawyers have told me they want me to do, that’s exactly what we’re doing, there’s no there there.”

Jonathan: That’s President Biden defending his administration’s handling of classified documents found at his private home and office. 

And – scientists have dubbed a nearly 6 pound cane toad found in Australia as “toadzilla”. 

The Guiness World Record for heaviest toad is 5.13 pounds, but toadzilla will likely pass it. 

U.S. Reaches its Debt Limit

Jonathan: There’s a major battle brewing in Washington right now  over how much money the government can spend. Our Washington correspondent Angie breaks it down. 

Angie: What would you do if you maxed out your credit cards, but still had a ton of bills to pay?

That’s essentially what’s just  happened to the federal  government.

In theory, the government uses your tax dollars to pay for things like roads, national parks, the military, health insurance for older people and poor people.

But – taxes don’t cover all the bills.

So, the government has to borrow money. 

Congress doesn’t give the government an unlimited credit card though – they limit the amount that can be borrowed. On thursday, the government hit that limit – 31.4 trillion dollars. That’s  trillion with a T. 

The Treasury Secretary says the government can pay its bills until early summer, but then something has to change. Either the debt limit has to be increased, which is what usually happens, or massive cuts have to be made. 

Every time the debt limit has been reached before, it’s been raised – it’s never not been raised. 

But Republicans, who now control the House of Representatives, might not allow that to happen – unless there are major cuts. 

Sound: Kevin McCarthy: “Find the compromise and find the commonsense compromise that puts us back on to a balanced budget.”

But Democrats don’t want *anything* cut.

Sound: Karine Jean-Pierre: “As President Biden has made clear, Congress must deal with the debt limit and must do so without conditions.”

Experts say the consequences of not raising the debt limit would be catastrophic. The stock market would take a major hit, and the cost of taking out a loan for things like college or a new home would skyrocket.

Both sides have until June 6th to reach an agreement. 

Conclusion

That’s it for today but you can learn more about both the debt limit and what it means for you on our website, noticenews.com. 

I’ll be back tomorrow with more from us, Notice News.