News Wrap: Speaker Johnson endorses Trump in 2024 White House bid

Geoff Bennett:

House Speaker Mike Johnson officially endorsed former President Donald Trump in his 2024 White House bid.

Johnson had defended Mr. Trump during his first impeachment in 2019 and in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. He renewed that support on CNBC this morning.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA):

I have endorsed him wholeheartedly. Look, I was one of the closest allies that President Trump had in Congress. He had a phenomenal first term. I'm all in for President Trump.

Man:

OK. Good. All right.

Rep. Mike Johnson:

I think — I know — I expect he will be our nominee.

Man:

Yes.

Rep. Mike Johnson:

And then he's going to win it. And we have to make Biden a one-term president. We have to do that.

Geoff Bennett:

Hours earlier, The New York Times reported that in 2015 Johnson called Mr. Trump a hothead who lacked the character needed for the White House.

The former president will stay on Michigan's presidential primary ballot. A state judge today rejected argument that Mr. Trump is ineligible under the U.S. Constitution because he engaged in insurrection. The Minnesota Supreme Court already issued a similar ruling. Cases are pending in at least two other states.

Inflation eased last month in a further sign that the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes are working. The Labor Department reports consumer prices were unchanged from September to October, led in part by falling gasoline prices. Year over year, prices rose 3.2 percent in October, compared with 12 months earlier. That was down from an annual increase of 3.7 percent in September.

Illegal border crossings from Mexico have fallen after three months of big increases. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol says arrests dropped 14 percent in October to just under 189,000. Officials say one factor may be renewed deportation flights to Venezuela.

The death of a leading LGBTQ figure in Mexico touched off large-scale protests overnight. Jesus Ociel Baena had been threatened after becoming that country's first openly nonbinary magistrate. Officials say Baena was found dead at home on Monday. Thousands turned out in Mexico City last night for a vigil after officials suggested it may have been a suicide. They demanded a thorough investigation.

Roberto Marcial Vidal, LGBTQ+ Activist (through translator):

The lives of the LGBTQ population are at rock bottom. Unfortunately, sometimes, the government silences us so as not to make much turmoil. There have been killings of several members of the LGBTQ population that have investigated.

Geoff Bennett:

Baena's partner was also found dead in the home. Investigators say both had injuries apparently caused by a knife.

There's word that a groundbreaking climate law in the European Union may be substantially watered down. It's designed to eliminate climate violations by corporations, but the Associated Press reports a revised proposal exempts the entire financial sector. Europe has the goal of becoming climate-neutral by the year 2050, but businesses and member states have warned of economic fallout.

The Senate Rules Committee adopted a resolution today allowing confirmation of large groups of military promotions all at once. Alabama Republican Tommy Tuberville has blocked individual votes on hundreds of military promotions to protest a Pentagon abortion policy. The resolution now goes to the full Senate.

And, on Wall Street, stocks jumped on the upbeat inflation news. The Dow Jones industrial average gained nearly 490 points to close at 34827. The Nasdaq rose 326 points. The S&P 500 jumped 84.