Friday Afternoon Update: Latest On Trump Indictment, MLB Rule Changes, And More

This article provides an update on the latest developments regarding a former President of the United States facing indictment, changes to Major League Baseball rules, and a lawsuit against a sorority.

Trump Indictment Fallout

David Marcus, a columnist and The Daily Wire contributor, discussed the first-ever indictment of a former president on the Morning Wire Afternoon Update podcast.

Donald Trump will appear in court in New York where he faces 34 charges related to paying off adult film actress Stormy Daniels. While it is unclear whether Trump will be handcuffed, he will be photographed and fingerprinted before pleading not guilty. President Joe Biden declined to comment on the unprecedented indictment, while himself being under investigation for his handling of classified documents. It seems these charges may benefit Trump politically in the short term, leaving some to speculate that Democrats want him to be the nominee. However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg may be targeting Trump to fulfill a campaign promise and distract from the spike in crime in the borough.

Political Reaction

Florida Governor Ron Desantis called the indictment un-American and vowed not to assist in extradition. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released a video statement expressing concern that the United States is becoming a “banana republic.” GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy criticized Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg for abusing his power, while Senator Chuck Schumer issued a statement affirming that Trump is subject to the law and urged a peaceful legal process.

Sorority Sued

A group of seven women is suing a sorority at the University of Wyoming for accepting a biological male who identifies as a woman. The women allege that the Kappa Kappa Gamma house allowed Artemis Langford to join the sorority, gave Langford access to shared facilities, including bathrooms and showers, and failed to protect members from alleged misconduct. The suit is not seeking monetary damages, but requests that Langford’s membership be revoked.

MLB Rule Changes

The 2023 Major League Baseball season began with a number of significant changes, as discussed by David Cone on the Crain & Co. podcast:

Overloading players to one side of the infield, commonly known as the shift, is no longer permitted. All infielders must stand on the infield dirt with two on each side of second base when pitches are thrown. In addition, a pitch clock has been introduced to speed up the pace of play. Pitchers have 15 seconds to throw the ball with no runners on base and 20 seconds with a runner. Hitters must be in the batter’s box with at least eight seconds on the clock. To enforce the rule, a ball will be charged if the pitcher has not started throwing before the clock expires, and a strike will be charged if the batter fails to enter the box in time. The size of the bases has also increased, to 18 inches, to reduce the risk of injury and encourage stolen base attempts.

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