Boeing Investigation Latest; Trump Court Showdown; Lloyd Austin's Hospitalization | Bloomberg...

On today's podcast:

1) Investigators probing the fuselage blowout on a Boeing Co. () 737 Max 9 on Jan. 5 determined that the door plug moved upward before ejecting and that fittings holding the part in place came loose (), as the two US carriers operating the nowgrounded aircraft said their own maintenance checks uncovered loose bolts on the parked jets.

2) Donald Trump’s lawyers will spar with federal prosecutors Tuesday in a highstakes court battle () to determine if he is immune from charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election because he was president at the time.

3) US lawmakers demanded answers from the Pentagon after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin failed to notify the White House about his hospitalization for four days (), saying they weren’t satisfied with the explanation for his absence.

4) The White House’s “work is not done” when it comes to lowering prices for American consumers () according to the president’s top economic advisor, Lael Brainard. That’s despite the recent slowing of inflation that has seen the headline consumer price index fall to 0.1% in November.

Full Transcript:

Good morning. I'm Nathan Hager and I'm Karen Moscow. Here are the stories we're following today. We begin with the latest developments in the investigation into the door panel blowout on a Boeing seven thirty seven Max nine. Bloomberg's John Tucker is here with the latest, John and Nathan. More and more of the focus is turning to bolts and whether they were properly tightened, as the NTSB tries to find answers to how that unused door panel blew off that Alaska Airlines Boeing seven thirty seven Max nine over Portland. Another airline says it's found loose bolts. United confirms it found loose bolts after inspecting identical door plugs as the one that blew out on the Alaska plane. NTSB chairman Jennifer Hamendi, we are aware of the reports of that are coming back from the inspections from United and Alaska and Boeing. Our team is collecting that information and there will be some follow up from the inspections. It's unclear how many loose polts were found. The NTSB may now broaden the probe into other Max nine jets beyond the Alaska Airlines model on which the accident occurred. It intensified scrutiny of the manufacturing process at Bowling and its key supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, which makes the fuselage for the seven thirty seven Max. I'm John Tucker, Bloomberg Radio. All right, John, Thanks well. Another major story that we're following this morning involves a high stakes court hearing in Washington, d C. Lawyers for Donald Trumpell's spar with federal prosecutors over whether the former president is immuniform charges of trying to overturn the twenty twenty election results. Bloomberg's Amy Morris has more from Washington. Oral arguments are set for today before a three judge panel with the US Court of Appeals for the d C Circuit over whether Donald Trump is shielded from prosecution for his actions before and during the January sixth riot at the US Capitol. Now Trump said on social media he planned to attend, but he is not expected to address the court. The judges could hand down their ruling at any time after the hearing, and a ruling in favor of Trump could be a fatal blow to the Justice Department's efforts to try him. While either side has the right to appeal. Neither the full DC Court nor the US Supreme Court are required to take the case, so this Court's ruling could be the final word in Washington. Amy Morris Bloomberg Radio, Okay, Amy, thank you will staying in Washington. Bipartisan anger is building against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. We get that story from Bloomberg's Dan Schwartzman. Politicians on both sides of the isle are demanding answers as to why Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin failed to let anyone know he was hospitalized on New Year's Day. The retired general didn't even let the White House know he was at Walter Reed Medical Center for four days, depending on a day after that. Austin was hospitalized, but did not tell the White House, Congress, or even the deputy Defense Secretary for several days. Republican Senator Susan Collins Remaine says it's quote inexplicable that the Secretary's condition remains shrouded in secrecy, while Massachusetts Democrat Seth Mulden says this astounding that the president in Austin's own deputy did know he was in the hospital. According to White House spokesman John Kirkby President Biden has no plans to replace Austin. Dan Schwartzman...