The Short List

Thu May 2 2024

Laura L. Davis | Audience Editor

@lauradavis

Donald Trump implied he might refuse to concede if he lost the upcoming presidential election. Police in riot gear descended upon pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA. And how a seemingly simple question – man or bear? – sparked a much broader debate.

👋 Hey, Thursday! Laura Davis here. The weekend is in sight. Let's get caught up on the news!

But first: No snakes on this particular plane! 🐍🛩️ Florida TSA agents got a slithery surprise when snakes were found in a passenger's pants.

Do you accept this election? Check yes or no

President Joe Biden is pledging to accept the results of the November presidential election a day after former President Donald Trump refused to do so without conditions during a campaign stop in Wisconsin.

How did we get here? In an interview Wednesday, Trump said that he would not commit to accepting the results of Wisconsin's presidential election in November if he does not win while continuing to promote the falsehood that he won the state in 2020. On Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden "will accept the will of the American people" when asked about Trump's response. 🗳️ Here's a closer look at their comments.

👉 Latest from Trump's trial: Stormy Daniels' attorney takes the stand, addresses hush money. Everything from the courtroom.

May 2, 2024: Former US President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City. Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels just days ahead of the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton.

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA dismantled

Police in riot gear swept onto the UCLA campus Thursday and tore down makeshift barricades and a pro-Palestinian encampment that had drawn hundreds of protesters and was attacked by counterprotesters earlier this week. By dawn, police had cleared the plaza of the tents and plywood walls that had formed the camp, but a smaller group of protesters remained assembled just outside that area.

What's been going on? The predawn crackdown at UCLA marked the latest flashpoint for protests across U.S. colleges amid mounting anger over Israel's war in Gaza and growing impatience on the part of school administrators to allow disruptions they say make their campuses unsafe. 🪧 Everything we know.

•	Biden speaks out on campus unrest: 'Violent protest is not protected.'

Protestors stand, two waving a Palestinian flag, on the barricade set up on the eastern end of Dickson Court on the UCLA campus on Thursday.

Yannick Peterhans for USA TODAY

📸 See more photos: Protests of the Israel-Hamas war erupt at universities.

Real quick

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•	Melissa McCarthy: Still a Barbra Streisand fan, even after that comment.

Support the Short List and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Man vs. bear: A fierce debate

If you were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a bear or a man? At first glance, it seems like a simple enough question, right? But let's not miss the forest for the trees. The answers to this hypothetical question have sparked an ongoing debate about why so many women say they would feel more comfortable choosing a bear.

What's going on? The question was posed on TikTok, with several women echoing the responses given in the original video – commenting that they, too, would pick a bear over a man. But people are split, with some expressing their sadness over the state of the world and others cracking jokes about the situation. And some men are flabbergasted. 🐻 A closer look at the debate.

Get your fancy hats and mint juleps ready!

Giddy up, y'all! It's almost time for this year's Kentucky Derby. Who will trot home a winner? That's a question to be answered Saturday when the 150th Run for the Roses takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Morning-line odds are out for all 20 participants – including two Japanese horses – in this year's race, indicating which horses are early favorites to win the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. 🏇🌹 See the latest odds and predictions.

•	Why the Kentucky Derby's allure endures − despite a troubled sport and Churchill Downs' iron grip
•	Ready to pick a winner? Tips and strategies for betting on the Derby.

Kentucky Derby contender Grand Mo The First gets bathed at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

Matt Stone/The Courier Journal, Matt Stone/The Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

A break from the news

•	👀 Lost your focus? Try these 5 tips.
•	🗺️ How to use AI to help you make travel plans.
•	🎞️ May the 4th be with you (almost)! How we're celebrating.
•	💰Save money on your monthly bills with these tips.

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.