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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Feb 22 2024

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

What we know about Nex Benedict's death

Many questions surround what happened to the Oklahoma teen.

A police investigation is underway in Oklahoma after a 16-year-old student died after an altercation at school. Trump legal news: The former president contends a New York fraud case against him has no victims. Biden legal news: The president's brother answered questions from Republicans about his business dealings.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Cheers, it's National Margarita Day!

Here's the news to know Thursday.

Many questions remain unanswered in death of Oklahoma teen

The news of the death of high school sophomore Nex Benedict, a nonbinary teen, has generated widespread attention, in part because of claims that school employees failed to immediately act after a fight in a school bathroom. Authorities have disclosed some information in an attempt to dispel rumors circulating online, but school district officials had been tight-lipped about what happened. Police said they plan to spend the next several days interviewing students and teachers, then turn over their findings to the Tulsa County district attorney's office. Condolences for the family have poured in from state officials, LGBTQ+ community advocates and others.

•	A transgender woman was killed in South Carolina. Here's why this hate crime case is historic.
•	A Houston church shooting revives claims on transgender shooters. Evidence shows they're false.

Ukraine fights on two years after Russia's invasion

Power outages are an almost daily occurrence across most of Ukraine. Infrastructure has been devastated by the relentless pounding of mortar and rockets. The economy, Europe's poorest before the war, has been left in tatters. The adversary, neighboring Russia, has three times the population, double the military budget and a president thoroughly committed to ending the war only on his own terms. The ally, the United States, has wavered between pledging support for "as long as it takes" and "as long as we can." This weekend marks two years of Ukraine's brutal struggle against the Kremlin.

Ap Russia Ukraine War Murals Photo Gallery

A mural depicts a 19-year old soldier from Ukraine's National Guard, Roman Holomba, who shot down seven Russian jets and a missile with an Igla portable anti-aircraft missile system, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.

Efrem Lukatsky, AP

More news to know now

•	Gaza is a "death zone" with little food and dire conditions, WHO officials say.
•	Nikki Haley agrees that embryos are children.
•	What would executive action on the border look like?
•	A huge satellite hurtled to Earth and no one knew where it would land.
•	Biden's banished German Shepherd had at least 25 biting incidents in a year.
•	On today's The Excerpt podcast, we break down the fight over pollution rules. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Was Trump's New York fraud case a victimless crime?

With Donald Trump expected to appeal the $453.5 million real-estate fraud judgment against him, legal experts anticipate he will highlight the lack of traditional victims in the case to reduce or eliminate the damages.

The background: New York Attorney General Letitia James won the case by documenting intentional fraud in Trump's inflated claims about his assets when applying for loans and arguing Trump should surrender "ill-gotten gains."

•	But Deutsche Bank and other lenders haven't sued the former president for crafting the exaggerated statements of his net worth that persuaded them to charge lower interest rates. Debating who Trump hurt among sophisticated financial institutions is likely a key point in the appeal.
•	Typically, an appeals court would require a bond to assure Trump would pay if he loses. But the appeals court could ask for a bond that is a fraction of the judgment because of the lack of traditional victims in the fraud case.
•	But James has argued the statute doesn't require victims, only a finding of wrongdoing. James said Wednesday that she would ask the court to seize Trump's assets if he doesn't have the money to pay off the judgment.

James Biden denies Joe Biden was involved in his business dealings

James Biden, President Joe Biden's brother, sat down with House investigators for a closed-door interview on Wednesday as Republicans continue their monthslong impeachment investigation into the president. GOP lawmakers allege Joe Biden financially benefited from his family's foreign business dealings, but they have yet to produce evidence directly implicating him. James Biden, in his prepared opening statement obtained by USA TODAY, vehemently denied allegations Joe Biden was directly involved with his business ventures. The president's brother said he "has never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest in those activities. None."

James Biden, the brother of President Joe Biden, walks back into a private interview with House Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Andrew Harnik, AP

Keep scrolling

•	Charlie Woods, Tiger's son, will compete in a qualifier for the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic.
•	Meet the "Beatlemania boomers" facing a retirement crisis.
•	Here's how to style "eclectic grandpa."
•	International flights recently clocked speeds over 800 mph.
•	A lot of red, hoods and sweet sunglasses: It's time for Milan Fashion Week now.
•	Paul Giamatti talked to USA TODAY about his journey to "The Holdovers."
•	These are Dolly Parton's Essentials.

The Major League Soccer season - and Lionel Messi - are back

Lionel Messi's second season in MLS is officially underway, and the world's best player looks to be in prime form. He's running hard, dribbling between defenders. He even had an instance where he dribbled over an injured player, RSL's Andrew Brody, laying on the pitch before another defender deflected his shot attempt. He got his work done early for a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake in the 2024 MLS season opener at Chase Stadium on Wednesday night — and hugged Will Smith on his way to the locker room at halftime.

•	The Messi dribble over an injured player went viral on TikTok.

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami dribbles against Diego Luna #8 and Braian Ojeda #6 of Real Salt Lake during the first half at Chase Stadium on February 21, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images

Photo of the day: Zendaya and Timothée slay

Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet were matchy-matchy and ready to serve at a celebration for the highly-anticipated "Dune: Part Two" film in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday. See all the pics here.

Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya pose during a press conference for the film "Dune: Part Two" in Seoul on February 21, 2024.

ANTHONY WALLACE, AFP via Getty Images

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.