'Start Here': Smollett released on $100,000 bond, aid for Venezuela stuck in Colombia, North Carolina gets a new election

It's Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. Let's start here.

1. Smollett released on bond

A judge in Chicago on Thursday set Jussie Smollett's bond at $100,000 and ordered him to surrender his passport after the "Empire" star turned himself in to face accusations of filing a false police report.

Smollett, 36, had claimed he was the victim of a homophobic and racially motivated assault, which authorities now believe he orchestrated with the help of two men. The actor maintains he's innocent.

ABC News' Eva Pilgrim was in court as prosecutors laid out their case against Smollett, who posted bond and was released.

At a morning press conference, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson admonished the actor for staging a "publicity stunt," accusing him of taking "advantage of the pain and anger of racism." Johnson said he was concerned about the lasting effect Smollett's claim will have on real victims of hate crimes.

ABC News Senior Legal Correspondent Sunny Hostin, a former federal prosecutor, talks to us about the case.

"You do want to believe victims," she says. "I spent hours, upon hours, upon hours in the homes of victims, begging them to come to court to tell their stories."

2. Venezuela standoff

Vice President Mike Pence is set to travel to Colombia early next week to voice additional support for those in opposition to Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

ABC News Chief National Affairs Correspondent Tom Llamas says all eyes will be on the Colombia-Venezuela border this weekend, where shipments of international aid have been blocked from entering Venezuela.

3. The 9th gets a 2nd

The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted unanimously on Thursday to hold another election in the 9th Congressional District.

The move comes after nearly four days of hearings that were called to investigate an alleged illicit scheme orchestrated to tip last year's race toward Republican Mark Harris.

Harris called for a new election after testifying on Thursday.

ABC News' John Verhovek says it's not clear whether Harris or Democratic candidate Dan McCready will run in the new election.

Other news:

'There's nothing inspiring about misinformation': Pinterest is blocking vaccination-related searches in an effort to prevent anti-vaccination misinformation from spreading online, not unlike how many diseases can spread throughout large human populations if people don't get their shots.

'There are people in many parts of this country with whom this collection of guns would be modest at best': The lawyer for a Coast Guard lieutenant accused of plotting massive domestic terror attacks talks about his client in court.

'If transparency is a threat to your industry, maybe your industry should change': The attorney general of Iowa is challenging the state's co-called ag-gag rule as unconstitutional.

From our partners at FiveThirtyEight:

North Carolina is getting a do-over election: This will be the first time that a congressional election has been redone since 1975.

Here are the NBA storylines you should be following: Thursday night marked the return of NBA hoops, with teams entering the homestretch of their season. A few are fighting for their playoff lives, while others will try to avoid a late-season collapse.

How Bernie's 2020 map might change without the #NeverHillary vote: So as Sanders launches his 2020 campaign as a candidate with both formidable strengths and serious challenges, his biggest problem might seem to be that there's more competition for his base this time around, with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others also competing for the leftmost part of the Democratic electorate. An equally big problem for Sanders, however, is that voters this time around have more alternatives to Hillary Clinton -- left, right and center -- to choose from.

Last 'Nightline':

Jussie Smollett charged with felony for allegedly staging hoax attack: The actor, whose passport was ordered surrendered, is out on a $100,000 bond. Smollett has consistently denied any role in staging the incident.

9:40

Jussie Smollett charged with felony, out on bond for allegedly staging hoax attack

The judge set bond at $100,000 and ordered Smollett's passport surrendered. Smollett has consistently denied any role in staging the alleged attack.

Inside the big business of being a social media influencer: Mariale Marrero of Venezuela is a beauty and lifestyle social media influencer paid by companies to promote their products.

5:45

Inside the big business of being a social media influencer

Mariale Marrero, who is a native of Venezuela, is a beauty and lifestyle social media influencer who is paid by companies to promote their products on her social media accounts.

On this day in history:

Feb. 22, 2014 -- Drug lord El Chapo is captured.

4:03

This day in history: Feb. 22, 2014

Drug lord 'El Chapo' captured.

The must-see photo:

Flames rise from a fire that killed dozens in a densely packed shopping area in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (photo credit: Zabed Hasnain Chowdhury/AP)

For more great photos from around the world CLICK HERE.

Socially acceptable:

This trash collector was captured on video jumping on a trampoline left by the side of the road.

0:41

Garbage man has a ton of fun on the job

This trash collector was captured on video jumping on a trampoline left by the side of the road for trash pickup.

All right, you're off and running. Get the latest news on ABCNews.com and on the ABC News app. Details on how to subscribe to the "Start Here" podcast are below. See you Monday.

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