It’s Monday. Welcome back! Did anyone see the aurora borealis over the weekend? If so, please send me your photos so I can live vicariously through you! 😉 Here’s what’s happening today: -
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is on trial at a federal courthouse in Manhattan today, just a block away from former President Trump’s hush money trial.
- Trump’s ex-lawyer/fixer Michael Cohen is testifying today.
- GOP senators are a bit concerned about November after an embarrassing last week for Trump.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-release.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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You have our full attention, Mike: |
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➤ HIGHLIGHTS OF COHEN’S TESTIMONY: |
Cohen says Trump ‘never had an email address’: “He knows too many people who have gone down as a direct result of having emails that prosecutors can use in a case,” Cohen said of Trump.
Cohen says he lied for Trump: “Did you, at times, lie for him?” prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked. “I did,” Cohen said. “The only thing that was on my mind was to accomplish the task to make him happy.”
Tidbit from Politico’s Erica Orden: “This is why Cohen is a crucial witness: his first-hand convos with Trump. Cohen testified that Trump told him regarding the doorman story to ‘make sure the story doesn’t get out.’ Trump told Cohen, per Cohen: ‘You handle it.’”
The mood in the courtroom: “In the initial minutes of Cohen’s testimony, Trump has mostly kept his eyes closed. But he does not appear to be asleep, as he has been fidgeting in his chair as Cohen walks the jury through his background and initial days at the Trump Organization. The jurors are closely paying attention, their heads moving back and forth between prosecutor Susan Hoffinger and Cohen as each speaks. A few are taking notes.” (From The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld)
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➤ MORE READS ON THE TRIAL: |
‘Who’s winning at the Trump trial?’: The Economist
‘Trump keeps his legal team close despite trial drama’: Politico
‘A guilty verdict? Donald Trump and allies are bracing voters for the worst’: USA Today
‘The 5 biggest bombshells of Trump’s hush-money trial so far’: Business Insider
‘I Think I Know What Donald Trump Is Feeling in Court’: Slate |
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It’s popping at Manhattan courthouses today: |
About a block away from former President Trump’s hush money trial, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is also on trial today for federal bribery and other charges.
Tidbit from The New York Times’s Ben Weiser: “Menendez and his two lawyers entered the courthouse at about 8:15 a.m., through the public entrance off Worth Street, the same street that Trump’s motorcade passes each morning before heading to the state courthouse.” (NYT)
Back-story on the case: “Federal prosecutors accused Menendez and his wife in September of agreeing to and accepting ‘hundreds of thousands of dollars’ in bribes in exchange for the senator’s political power, which they said enriched the businessmen and Egypt. The bribes were allegedly paid in the form of cash, gold, home mortgage payments, a Mercedes-Benz convertible and other lavish gifts. When federal agents searched the Menendezes’ New Jersey home in June 2022, they said they found more than $480,000 in cash, much of it stuffed into envelopes or hidden in clothing, closets and a safe. They also reportedly found more than $100,000 worth of gold bars.” More on the trial, via The Hill’s Ella Lee.
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Republicans are just a tad concerned after last week: |
The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports that Republican senators are cringing over an embarrassing week for former President Trump.
How so: Trump’s former presidential primary rival Nikki Haley won 128,000 votes in Indiana, despite dropping out months ago. And porn actor Stormy Daniels gave some rather graphic details about her alleged sexual encounter with the former president. 💡 Why it matters: Both stories highlight Trump’s challenges with women voters. Some GOP lawmakers think that’s his biggest liability in the November election.
This is an interesting point: “A troubling sign for Trump is that Republicans who show up to vote in primaries tend to be consistent voters, and as such are a key piece of the GOP base. While they are unlikely to vote for Biden, many of them may simply stay home in November.” Read more: ‘GOP senators see warning signs for Trump after embarrassing week’ |
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➤ ‘GOP INFIGHTING THREATENS TO DELIVER PRIMARY LOSSES’:
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The Hill’s Caroline Vakil and Mike Lillis report that “bitter infighting among House GOP lawmakers is threatening to boot several members out of office, as Republicans wade into incumbent primary contests against the best advice of their own party leaders.” |
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Trump leads President Biden in five of six key battleground states, according to a new poll from The New York Times/Siena College/Philadelphia Inquirer. |
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It had been a while since we’ve had an Infrastructure Week!: |
Remember how “Infrastructure Week” became a punchline in the Trump White House? Former President Trump declared it was Infrastructure Week on at least seven occasions, only to cancel those plans. CNN explainer of the Infrastructure Week jokes
Well, the Biden administration has declared that this week is actually Infrastructure Week. President Biden will tout the progress that has been made on thousands of projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (The Hill)
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🥧Celebrate: Today is National Apple Pie Day! 🚦 Do you agree with this?: Vox’s Marin Cogan argues that “speed limits are too darn high.” Specifically, “drivers don’t need to go faster than 20 mph on most city streets.” |
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The House and Senate are out today, both returning on Tuesday. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
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2 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
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5 p.m.: Biden and Harris speak at a Rose Garden reception celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 💻 Livestream
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6:25 p.m.: Harris leaves for New York.
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