12:30 Report

Trump’s first day in court

by Cate Martel 10/02/23 12:35 PM ET

Former President Donald Trump, right, sits in the courtroom at New York Supreme Court, Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in New York. Trump is making a rare, voluntary trip to court in New York for the start of a civil trial in a lawsuit that already has resulted in a judge ruling that he committed fraud in his business dealings. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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12:30 REPORT

It’s Monday. Happy October, spooky friends! 🎃 Here’s what’s coming up:

Former President Trump is in court today for a trial to determine whether he committed fraud by inflating his worth. Keep in mind that this is not one of his four criminal trials.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is threatening to file a motion to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his post. The politics are pretty interesting.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) started a big firestorm by pulling a fire alarm during Saturday’s deadline scramble.

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. 

⚖️ In New York

Because I’m nosey:

Former President Trump’s New York trial begins today.

The gist of the case: “[New York Attorney General Letitia James’s] investigation began in 2019 after former Trump adviser and confidant Michael Cohen testified before Congress that the then-president was a ‘con man’ who cheated in business deals by drastically inflating the value of his wealth.” (The Washington Post)

Why this is a nosey’s person’s fodder: The trial will explore Trump’s actual worth and whether he inflated his financials to a level of committing fraud.

Trump already had a loss last week: “[The judge who is overseeing the case] issued a pretrial decision last week that fraud was committed broadly by the Trump Organization and its executives. The judge revoked Trump’s New York business licenses, which could cause the former president to lose control over dozens of properties worth hundreds of millions of dollars.” (The Washington Post)

Keep in mind: This is *not* one of the four criminal cases Trump is facing. This is a civil case.

Is there a jury?: No. The no-jury trial is expected to take several months. (NBC News)

Live blog from the trial

➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM MANHATTAN:

The scene outside courthouse: It’s unsurprisingly chaotic. Photos and video from The Daily Beast’s Jose Pagliery

From the New York attorney general before the trial began: “My message is simple. No matter how powerful you are, no matter how much money you think you may have — no one is above the law.” Watch

Footage of Trump seated in court

Watch Trump arrive in a Black SUV

This a.m. — Trump called the trial a ‘scam’ and a ‘sham’: “We have a rogue judge who ruled that properties are worth a tiny fraction… of what they actually are,” Trump told reporters. “We have a racist attorney general who’s a horror show who ran on the basis that she was going to get Trump before she knew anything about me.”

⚖️ In New York

That was fun! Let’s do it again in November:

Lawmakers pulled together a 47-day government funding extension on Saturday night, averting a shutdown at the 11th hour.

The gist of the bill: It keeps the government open until Nov. 17 *cough cough the Friday before Thanksgiving* but does not include Ukraine funding or any measures to deal with the U.S. border.

Five takeaways from the last-minute funding saga, via The Hill’s Ian Swanson
Political winners and losers, from The Hill’s Emily Brooks, Mychael Schnell and Al Weaver

How close was the vote?: The House voted 335-91 in favor of the spending bill. The Senate then passed the bill 88-9. The nine Senate Republicans who voted ‘no’

How did McCarthy fare?: Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was able to snag a victory by avoiding a shutdown at the last minute, but he is under attack from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for working with Democrats. Gaetz has promised to bring a motion this week to oust McCarthy as speaker.

^ The ironic part: Gaetz criticized McCarthy for working with Democrats to pass the funding bill. But for Gaetz to oust McCarthy as speaker, he would need 218 votes, so he would likely need Democrats’ help to reach that 218-vote threshold. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said on Sunday that she would “absolutely” vote to oust McCarthy. More on the choice Dems would have to make

McCarthy’s reaction — I dare you: McCarthy brushed off Gaetz’s threat, calling it “personal with Matt.”

All I can think of is Principal Duvall pulling the fire alarm in ‘Mean Girls’:

^ IYKYK

During the Saturday saga of lawmakers scrambling to keep the government open, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) pulled a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building and caused the building to be evacuated.

Bowman claims it was an accident, but that is up for debate. Republicans have accused Bowman of trying to sabotage the vote and are launching an investigation.

Here’s a photo of Bowman pulling the alarm.

Bowman said in a statement: “Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open. I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) compared Bowman to Jan. 6: “I’m demanding that the Department of Justice prosecute him using the same way they prosecuted Jan. 6 defendants. It’s the exact same law,” Greene said. (The Hill)

What do you think?: Here’s a photo of the door. And here’s a photo of the alarm. Zoom in on the signs marking the door.

🪑 In Congress

Laphonza Butler will fill Feinstein’s Senate seat:

EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler has been named to fill the Senate seat left vacant when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) died last week.

What to know about Butler: She is a former adviser to Vice President Harris. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) had pledged to choose a Black woman to fill the seat. In the announcement, Newsom noted that Butler will be the first Black lesbian to openly serve as a U.S. senator.

Keep in mind about Newsom’s appointment: Last month when discussing what would happen if Feinstein couldn’t fill her term, Newsom said that he would not choose anyone running for the seat, noting it would not be fair. (The Hill)

👨‍⚖️ In the Supreme Court

A rare recusal from Justice Clarence Thomas (!):

“The Supreme Court on Monday denied an effort by lawyer John Eastman to appeal a ruling that found he may have acted criminally with the legal advice he gave former President Trump. It spurred a rare recusal from Justice Clarence Thomas, whose wife corresponded with the California attorney in the weeks ahead of Jan. 6.” (The Hill)

➤ THE SUPREME COURT’S BIGGEST CASES THIS TERM:

The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld has a helpful list of the biggest cases right now.

🗓 On The Agenda

The House is in. The Senate is out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern)

12:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. 📺 Livestream
2 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff also attend. 📺 Livestream
4:30 p.m.: Biden convenes his Cabinet.
6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 🗓️ Today’s agenda
6:30 p.m.: NBC News’s Lester Holt interviews Gen. Mark Milley on “NBC Nightly News.”
3 p.m. Tuesday: The Senate meets. 🗓️ Tuesday’s agenda

🐝 Internet Buzz

🍤 Celebrate: Today is National Fried Scallops Day!

📖 A casual 690 new words: Merriam-Webster added 690 words and terms to its dictionary. Including: Bussin’, thirst trap, mid and cromulent. (WWLP)

🧸 Toys ‘R’ Back: Toys “R” Us is opening up to 24 new stores around the country as part of its comeback. These stores will be in addition to the locations that live in Macy’s stores. (CNN Business)

📕 Happy Banned Books Week: The annual event has been happening since 1982. Explainer from The Hill’s Lexi Lonas

👋 And Finally…

Because you made it this far, here are golden retrievers having a secret hand-holding meeting that I would have loved an invite to.

12:30 REPORT

⚖️ In New York

Because I’m nosey:

➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM MANHATTAN:

⚖️ In New York

That was fun! Let’s do it again in November:

All I can think of is Principal Duvall pulling the fire alarm in ‘Mean Girls’:

🪑 In Congress

Laphonza Butler will fill Feinstein’s Senate seat:

👨‍⚖️ In the Supreme Court

A rare recusal from Justice Clarence Thomas (!):

➤ THE SUPREME COURT’S BIGGEST CASES THIS TERM:

🗓 On The Agenda

🐝 Internet Buzz

👋 And Finally…

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