5 things to know for May 3: Campus protests, Trump trial, Beef recall, Dubai rain, Space race

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The IRS announced it is ramping up audits of wealthy taxpayers by 50%. Thousands of new employees will be hired to help with the endeavor, while improved AI systems will assist in selecting which millionaires and businesses to audit. Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. President Joe Biden made his first extensive remarks on the wave of unrest at colleges Thursday, drawing a line between what he called peaceful and violent protests while reiterating his support for Israel and dismissing the calls for the National Guard to intervene. He emphasized that both groups have the right to free speech, but also said the US was a “civil society” where “order must prevail.” When asked if the protests have forced him to reconsider American policies toward the Middle East, Biden said, “No.” Nationwide, more than 2,000 people have been arrested on college and university campuses since April 18. Protests in solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli siege in Gaza have also spread to campuses in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Keith Davidson, a key witness who negotiated the Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal hush money agreements, was on the stand Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial. The defense tried to poke holes in Davidson’s character by questioning his involvement in other celebrity cases. Davidson admitted he told former Trump attorney Michael Cohen that if Trump lost the 2016 election, Daniels would lose her leverage against him. The next witness was digital evidence analyst Douglas Daus, who testified that Cohen had nearly 40,000 contacts on one of his cell phones, calling it “unusual.” Daus could potentially share other things he found on Cohen’s phone when testimony resumes today. Eight tons of ground beef sold at Walmart locations nationwide have been recalled for possible E. coli contamination. In total, six meat items produced by Cargill Meat Solutions could be affected, according to a recall notice from the USDA. There have not been any confirmed reports of illnesses, but a spokesperson from the meat company said the products were recalled “out of an abundance of caution.” Walmart issued a statement reiterating its commitment to the “health and safety” of its customers. “As soon as we were notified of the recall, we immediately removed impacted products and informed customers who may have purchased these products,” a Walmart spokesperson said. Another round of heavy rain returned to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, forcing widespread business closures and flight cancellations. The storm comes just two weeks after record-setting rainfall triggered damaging floods in several parts of the country, which killed at least four people in the UAE and brought the bustling region to a halt. The floods also killed at least 19 others in Oman, including 10 children whose school bus was swept away in the deluge. The rainfall was not as heavy as the event two weeks ago, but Dubai experienced nearly an inch in 12 hours — more than twice what it usually receives over the months of April and May combined. Authorities have ordered remote working and studying in affected areas today.