00:00The Fed chair under criminal investigation.
00:04Jerome Powell says it's payback for saying no to President Trump on interest rates.
00:09Plus, deadly protests, a regime under pressure, and now Trump says Iran just called, asking to negotiate.
00:16And Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem doubles down on calling that deadly ice shooting in Minneapolis justified as new video raises real questions.
00:26The stories that matter, clear and credible, from across the country to around the world.
00:34These are your unbiased updates from Straight Arrow News.
00:40Good morning, I'm Craig DeGrelli.
00:42This morning, the Federal Reserve and its chair, Jerome Powell, are under the Trump administration's microscope.
00:48The Department of Justice has launched a criminal probe into Powell's testimony about a major renovation project at the Fed.
00:54In a video statement released Sunday, Powell said the DOJ subpoenaed the central bank on Friday, warning of possible criminal charges.
01:03The investigation centers on Powell's testimony last summer about a multi-year renovation of the Federal Reserve's headquarters,
01:10a project that has drawn increasing scrutiny from the Trump administration.
01:14Office of Management and Budget Chair Russell Vogt has accused Powell of overseeing what he calls an ostentatious renovation that could be, quote, violating the law.
01:24Powell is forcefully pushing back, arguing the investigation has little to do with construction and much more to do with monetary policy.
01:33No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law.
01:37But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure.
01:44The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.
02:08President Trump, meanwhile, denied any role in the investigation.
02:12In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump said he knew nothing about the probe but criticized Powell's leadership, saying he's, quote,
02:20not very good at the Fed and he's not very good at building buildings.
02:23New reporting this morning suggests the White House is moving closer to a decision point on Iran, even as President Trump says Tehran is now reaching out to talk.
02:34According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump is set to meet with his top national security military leaders tomorrow to discuss the next steps, including possible military action,
02:43as deadly protests inside Iran continue to escalate.
02:47That follows reporting over the weekend by The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, first to reveal that Trump had already been briefed on a range of military and non-military options,
02:57though no final decision has been made.
02:59The president has been steadily sharpening his rhetoric.
03:03On Saturday, he posted on Truth Social that Iran is looking at freedom, perhaps like never before.
03:09The USA stands ready to help.
03:11Just a day earlier, Trump laid out a clear warning.
03:14So Iran's in big trouble?
03:17It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible.
03:23Just a few weeks ago, we're watching the situation very carefully.
03:27I've made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved.
03:33We'll be hitting them very hard where it hurts.
03:35But overnight, the story took a new turn.
03:38Aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters that Iran has now reached out directly, saying its leaders want to hold talks.
03:46Here was the exchange.
03:47They called yesterday, Iran called to negotiate.
03:53Yesterday.
03:54Yesterday.
03:55The leaders of Iran called, they want to negotiate.
03:58I think they're tired of being beat up by the United States.
04:01Iran wants to negotiate, yes.
04:05We may meet with them.
04:06We may meet with them.
04:08I mean, a meeting is being set up.
04:11But we may have to act because of what's happening before the meeting.
04:17But a meeting is being set up.
04:18Iran called.
04:19They want to negotiate.
04:20On the ground, the situation remains volatile.
04:25Protests continued Sunday in Tehran and other major cities with crowds openly chanting for regime change.
04:32Video from inside the country shows fires, looting and heavy damage as security forces crack down, all unfolding amid a widespread Internet blackout.
04:41Iran's president has blamed foreign enemies for the unrest, while hardliners warned that anyone protesting would face severe punishment.
04:49The U.S.-based human activist news agency reports more than 500 protesters have been killed and close to 11,000 detained.
04:57And Iran's parliament speaker, the man seen here on the left, is warning that U.S. bases and shipping lanes would be targets if Washington intervenes militarily.
05:07In a related topic, a U-Haul truck drove into a crowd of demonstrators in Los Angeles' Westwood neighborhood during an anti-Iranian regime protest Sunday afternoon.
05:18Authorities say one person was struck but not seriously hurt.
05:22Paramedics evaluated two others who declined treatment.
05:24After the truck stopped, demonstrators surrounded it, confronting the driver.
05:29At least one person smashed the driver's side window with a flagpole.
05:33A banner attached to the truck read, quote,
05:35No Shah, no regime, USA, don't repeat 1953, no Mullah, a reference to the U.S.-backed coup that removed then-Iranian Prime Minister Mohamed Masadek.
05:47Police say the driver was detained pending further investigation.
05:51The FBI is now investigating the incident.
05:53Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is doubling down on her comments following a deadly officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis,
06:02insisting the shooting was justified.
06:04Her remarks come as new video showing the officer's perspective has been released.
06:09The Department of Homeland Security reposted what appears to be cell phone video recorded by the ICE officer, Jonathan Ross, during the fatal encounter.
06:17Despite claims from Noem and other Trump administration officials, including the president, that Ross was struck by the SUV, the video does not show any contact.
06:28In his statement, DHS said, quote,
06:30In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Noem defended her decision to publicly describe the shooting as a response to domestic terrorism, even though a full investigation has not yet been completed.
06:54Well, everything that I've said has been proven to be factual and the truth.
06:59This administration wants to operate in transparency.
07:02I have the responsibility as the Secretary of Homeland Security to know this information as soon as possible.
07:08Had just been in Minneapolis the day before, had already had conversations with officers on the ground and supervisors and knew the facts and decided that the department and the people of this country deserve to know the truth of the situation of what had unfolded in Minneapolis.
07:22Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is sharply criticizing those comments.
07:27Speaking with CBS News, Omar said administration rhetoric, including claims by Trump, that the woman killed, Renee Good, was a paid agitator is, quote, not acceptable.
07:37And so if they're saying that we shouldn't believe our eyes, then let the investigation take place before you characterize this mother of three as a domestic terrorist.
07:50Prove to us what documentation you have that one that she was paid to that she was agitating when we can hear her say she's not mad, she's not upset.
08:00She's clearly trying to waive cars to bypass her.
08:05And so it's just this level of rhetoric is unjustifiable to the American people.
08:11Meanwhile, the fallout is growing on Capitol Hill.
08:14Lawmakers are calling for everything from a full investigation and changes to enforcement policy to defunding ICE and even impeachment proceedings against Nome.
08:24Trump administration officials are set to meet with Danish officials Wednesday to discuss Greenland, a meeting that comes as the president continues to openly float U.S. control of the territory.
08:36According to CBS News, the talks are expected to happen quietly, but the stakes are anything but.
08:41The White House has acknowledged it's reviewing a wide range of options for acquiring Greenland, including the use of military force.
08:48Last night, Trump made clear he's not talking about a short-term lease, but about acquiring the territory, arguing Russia or China would move if the United States does not.
08:59He doubled down on that idea Friday.
09:01I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way, but if we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way.
09:07That language is now triggering sharp pushback on Capitol Hill.
09:11Democratic Senator Tim Kaine says Congress would move quickly to block any military action.
09:16We will force a vote in the Senate about no U.S. military action in Greenland or Denmark.
09:23If we need to, we will get overwhelming bipartisan support that this president is foolish to even suggest this.
09:31We're not going to do it the hard way and we're not going to do it the easy way either.
09:35We're going to continue to work with Denmark as a sovereign nation that we're allied with and we're not going to treat them as an adversary or as an enemy.
09:44Fellow Democrat Senator Chris Murphy says the consequences would stretch far beyond Denmark, saying annexing Greenland would be the end of NATO.
09:54NATO would have an obligation to defend Greenland and so query whether we would be at war with Europe, with England, with France.
10:04Leaders in both Denmark and Greenland have flatly rejected the idea, insisting the territory's future is not up for negotiation.
10:13Finally this morning, awards season is officially underway.
10:17The 83rd Golden Globe Awards were handed out last night in Beverly Hills.
10:21One battle after another took home Best Comedy Film, with Paul Thomas Anderson winning both Best Director and Best Screenplay.
10:28Tayana Taylor won Best Female Supporting Actor for her role in the film.
10:33Best Drama Film won to Hamnet, the adaptation about William and Agnes Shakespeare, in what many considered an upset.
10:40Jessie Buckley won Best Actress in a Drama for her performance.
10:43Timothee Chalamet picked up his first ever Golden Globe, winning Best Actor for Marty Supreme.
10:49Wagner Morrow won for Best Male Actor in a Drama for The Secret Agent.
10:53Steven Spielberg was recognized for his role as a producer on Hamnet.
10:58He told the audience he loved the book and praised director Chloe Zhao.
11:02And comedian Nikki Glaser returned as host for the second year in a row, firing off jokes aimed at CBS, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kevin Hart.
11:10By the way, I checked this morning the Oscars, March 15th this year, so you might want to mark that down on your calendar if you're so inclined.
11:17All right, before we head out, here's what we're tracking today.
11:19This morning the Supreme Court is expected to issue orders in several pending appeals.
11:23We'll keep an eye on that.
11:25In Texas, testimony resumes in the Uvalde trial of former District Police Officer Adrian Gonzalez, with a key witness back on the stand.
11:33That's a 10.
11:34At 10.30 on Capitol Hill, Senator Elizabeth Warren lays out her vision for the Democratic Party's future.
11:40Also at 10.30, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in the Oval Office.
11:45Your morning briefing, all of the news, none of the nonsense, sign up for our newsletter, delivered right to your inbox each morning.
11:52Go to san.com slash newsletters.
11:54Those are your unbiased updates for this Monday.
11:56We'll see you back here tomorrow.
11:58For all of us here at Straight Arrow News, I'm Craig DeGrowley.
12:00Have a great day.
