Trump accountant breaks down in tears on stand at NY fraud trial: Live

Donald Trump’s former accountant broke down in tears on the witness stand as he gave testimony at the New York civil fraud trial on Tuesday.

Jeffrey McConney testified about his 35-year tenure at the Trump Organization, before sobbing as he told how he “gave up” on the job due to the company’s escalating legal troubles.

“I just wanted to relax and stop being accused of misrepresenting assets for the company that I loved working for. I’m sorry,” he testified.

The emotional testimony came the same day that one of Mr Trump’s co-defendants in the sprawling Fulton County election subversion case in Georgia escaped having his bond revoked over tweets that Judge Scott McAfee did not deem amounted to harassment of witnesses in the case under the current terms.

District Attorney Fani Willis, leading the prosecution case, had asked for Harrison Floyd to be jailed. The defence and prosecution teams are now meeting to clarify the terms of the bond.

In other developments in former president Trump’s world of legal woes, on Monday, his lawyers were in federal court in Washington DC for oral arguments concerning the partial gag order in his federal election interference case.

Key Points

• Fani Willis makes courtroom debut in Trump election interference case

• Judges aren’t buying Trump’s gag order appeal

• Trump celebrates far-right candidate Javier Milei’s win in Argentina

• Donald and Melania Trump react to Rosalynn Carter’s death

• DeSantis thinks both Trump and Biden are too old to run country

• CREW files Colorado Supreme Court appeal over Trump 14th amendment ruling

15:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel mocked far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene for what he described as her “dumbest idea yet” following the release of her new book.

The Republican congresswoman released her memoir – titled “MTG” – on Tuesday, with Donald Trump promoting it on his Truth Social platform.

On Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night, Mr Kimmel gave viewers a hilarious run-down of its contents as he mocked the lawmaker saying “it’s the first book she’s ever written or read”.

“Speaking of Christmas in hell, Marjorie Taylor Greene released a book today. It’s the first book she’s ever written or read, and it’s called MTG, it’s got a little bit of everything,” he said.

Martha McHardy reports on the comedian’s latest takedown of the far-right lawmaker.

Jimmy Kimmel mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ‘dumbest idea yet’

Cohen says Trump’s latest subpoena is effort to ‘harass, intimidate, and retaliate’ against him

15:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen has asked a Manhattan judge to quash an “wildly overbroad” subpoena issued as part of the former president’s criminal hush money trial, The Messenger reports.

Mr Cohen’s request is also backed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has also asked New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to reject the subpoena on similar grounds.

“The subpoena issued to Mr Cohen is an obvious and blatant act of witness intimidation, and merely the latest incident in a years-long pattern of harassment and retaliation by defendant Trump,” the 33-page motion from Mr Cohen’s lawyers states.

Both Mr Cohen and the DA’s office note that the former president sued Mr Cohen for $500m before backing down and withdrawing the lawsuit.

The DA says the Trump camp’s aim is to gather evidence for if he ever were to refile the suit.

“Ever since Mr Cohen accepted criminal responsibility for his actions including actions taken on behalf of, at the direction of, and in coordination with Defendant Trump — and began providing information to authorities in numerous investigations of Defendant Trump and his various business entities, Defendant Trump has repeatedly abused the judicial system in an effort to silence Mr Cohen,” attorney Danya Perry wrote on behalf of her client, Mr Cohen.

Here’s the latest on the hush-money case regarding the creation of falsified business records for reimbursing Mr Cohen for payments to silence porn star Stormy Daniels concerning her alleged affair with Mr Trump.

Here’s our reporting on the former president dropping the suit against Mr Cohen.

Trump’s former White House counsel delivers withering takedown of ex-president

15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

There are a significant number of former Trump administration officials, staffers, and aides who have become vocal critics of former president Donald Trump, his 2024 campaign, and the prospect of him returning to the White House.

They are running against him (Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence), are testifying against him (Cassidy Hutchinson, Bill Barr), or are more than willing to eviscerate him on cable news (John Bolton, Chris Christie, Bill Bar, Cassidy Hutchinson, Olivia Troya, Stephanie Grisham, etc...).

The Washington Post asked in an article earlier this week whether their declarations that he shouldn’t be president would make a difference, and tapped former White House counsel Ty Cobb, who defended Mr Trump during the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Once a loyal soldier for the former president, he gave this withering quote in the Post article saying it was imperative that people vote against him:

“He has never cared about America, its citizens, its future or anything but himself. In fact, as history well shows from his divisive lies, as well as from his unrestrained contempt for the rule of law and his related crimes, his conduct and mere existence have hastened the demise of democracy and of the nation,” Cobb wrote in an email. “Our adversaries and our allies both recognize that even his potential reelection diminishes America on the world stage and ensures continued acceleration of the domestic decline we are currently enduring. If that reelection actually happens, the consequences will extinguish what, if anything, remains of the American Dream.”

Ouch.

Here’s Cassidy Hutchinson speaking on MSNBC earlier this week:

Cassidy Hutchinson warns that another Trump presidency could threaten democracy

Voices: The Maga release of the Jan 6 tapes is about vengeance

14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he would release more than 44,000 hours of raw footage of the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

The timing of the release was peculiar since he announced it on a Friday, when the House had already left after a protracted 10-week session and late in the afternoon, when most reporters were getting ready to pack it up. Furthermore, Mr Johnson made the announcement the week before the Thanksgiving holiday, when few people would be paying attention to the news in general.

But Mr Johnson’s actions, as well as the timing of the announcement, can be better understood in light of the response from some of the loudest voices on the Maga right amplifying the footage over the weekend. Their words and desire to rehash the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, instigated by the de facto head of the Republican PartyDonald Trump, might be a political loser, but it is about exacting revenge against Democrats and those they perceive as slighting them.

Read more...

The Maga release of the Jan 6 tapes is about vengeance

Voting Rights Act dealt ‘body blow’ by Trump-appointed judges

14:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Over the last decade, the US Supreme Court has gradually chipped away at a landmark voting rights law adopted at the height of the civil rights movement.

A federal court ruling is teeing up another major Supreme Court case that could radically weaken the Voting Rights Act by blocking private citizens and civil rights groups from filing lawsuits to protect what has become America’s bedrock voting protections.

On Monday, a three-judge panel with the US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit upheld a lower court ruling that determined that citizens and groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP cannot legally challenge discriminatory state and local election laws.

According to two of the judges on the panel, only the US Department of Justice can do so.

Alex Woodward reports on the latest attack on voting rights.

Fulton County DA Fani Willis makes courtroom debut in Trump case hearing

14:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis made her debut arguing before a judge and questioning witnesses in a case surrounding Donald Trump’s sprawling election interference case as she pressed a judge to revoke a bond order for one of the former president’s co-defendants.

Her appearance previewed the arguments, evidence and list of witnesses expected to testify in the upcoming trial, among several criminal cases surrounding the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination for president.

Harrison Floyd, the leader of Black Voices for Trump, has “engaged in a pattern of intimidation” against his co-defendants and witnesses since he was released on bond in August, according to the office of Fulton County District Attorney.

But following a three-hour hearing on Tuesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee declined to send Mr Floyd back to jail and directed the parties to draft an order that reels in his public statements.

Alex Woodward has been following the case for The Independent.

Fani Willis makes courtroom debut in Trump election interference case

Much has been made of Biden’s age, but Trump is only four years younger...

13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

When Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2017, he became the oldest commander-in-chief sworn in at the age of 70 years and 220 days old.

That was surpassed by his successor Joe Biden, who was 78 years and 61 days when he became the country’s 46th president in January 2021.

Before Mr Trump, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to assume the presidency at 69 years and 349 years old at his first inauguration in 1981.

Reagan was the oldest president when he left office at the age of 77 in 1989, just 22 days away from turning 78.

But depending on who wins the 2024 presidential election, a new record could be set as both Mr Biden and Mr Trump are running for reelection.

Graeme Massie reports.

How old is Donald Trump and how does his age compare to other presidents?

Pizzagate: The Return

13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Elon Musk has now amplified the widely debunked “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory on X, just days after he sparked outrage for pushing an antisemitic conspiracy theory.

On Monday, an X user attempted to link the founder of Media Matters – the left-leaning non-profit group that last week accused X of promoting adverts from global companies alongside pro-Hitler content – to the owner of the so-called “Pizzagate restaurant”.

Mr Musk then boosted the post by replying to it, with the one-word phrase: “Weird.”

Now, the three-year-old conspiracy theory and baseless claims of its ties to Media Matters have been promoted to the tech mogul’s 160 million followers.

Martha McHardy has the story.

Elon Musk amplifies Pizzagate conspiracy theory

‘Propaganda’ Trump interview slammed by ex-Univision boss

12:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Univision’s former president has joined the growing criticism of the Hispanic network over an interview with Donald Trump that was panned by journalists for softball questions.

Reporters at the network, which has US offices and merged with a Mexican media giant in 2022, have found themselves at the middle of a discussion over their network’s ability to cover the 2024 presidential race fairly and accurately after Mr Trump sat down with Enrique Acevedo for an interview that aired just over a week ago. Mr Trump did not face any difficult questions about his criminal prosecutions or policy positions in the interview, and was also able to spout unfounded claims about his immigration policies without accurate pushback from Acevedo.

The controversy has grown over the past several days as prominent Latino Americans such as comedian John Leguizamo have called for boycotts of the network in response.

John Bowden reports.

Ex-Univision boss slams network’s Trump interview as ‘propaganda’

Trump’s Truth Social sues 20 media outlets over financial loss reports

11:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform has filed a lawsuit against 20 media organisations for making what it claims to be defamatory statements about the company’s financial losses.

In the lawsuit, filed in the 12th Judicial Court of Sarasota County, Florida, on Monday, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) accuses the “reckless and malicious” outlets of falsely reporting that the company had lost $73m since its launch.

The company claims that the “false reporting” was part of a “seemingly coordinated effort to destroy TMTG and Truth Social”.

“This case is about an unprecedented and seemingly coordinated media campaign, by no less than 20 major media outlets, to attack Trump Media & Technology Group (“TMTG”) and its social media platform, Truth Social, by falsely reporting that TMTG had lost $73 million,” the lawsuit reads.

“This number was an utter fabrication. Each defendant, in apparent coordination, reported the exact same false number within approximately 24 hours of one another, each citing to a public Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filing, in which the mystery $73 million loss appears nowhere.”

Rachel Sharp has the details.

Trump’s Truth Social sues 20 media outlets over financial loss reports

Trump to attend Palmetto Bowl college football clash this weekend

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Post & Courier reports:

Former President Donald Trump will attend the Clemson-South Carolina game this weekend, bringing the Republican front-runner to Williams-Brice Stadium for the state’s biggest college football spectacle of the year.

Trump’s presidential campaign confirmed the visit Nov. 21 to The Post and Courier after increasing levels of chatter, rumors and speculation peaked in recent days that he would take up supporter Gov. Henry McMaster’s standing invitation to attend a game.

Asked if Trump would be attending as McMaster’s guest, Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung replied: “I believe McMaster will be a guest of POTUS.”

In addition to the governor, Trump is expected to be joined at the game by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Lt. Gov. Pam Evette. All are members of the Trump campaign’s South Carolina leadership team.

2024 presidential debate dates announced

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The dates and venues for the three 2024 presidential debates have been announced.

The debates, which will take place in September and October will be staged at US university campuses in the states of Texas, Virginia and Utah.

The news was announced by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) on Monday.

The first debate will take place on 16 September at Texas State University in San Marcos. It will be followed by the second at Virginia State University in Petersburg on 1 October.

The final debate will take place just over a week later at The University of Utah, in Salt Lake City, on 9 October.

Mike Bedigan has further details:

Dates and venues for three 2024 presidential debates announced

Voices: The Maga release of the Jan 6 tapes is about vengeance

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he would release more than 44,000 hours of raw footage of the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

The timing of the release was peculiar since he announced it on a Friday, when the House had already left after a protracted 10-week session and late in the afternoon, when most reporters were getting ready to pack it up. Furthermore, Mr Johnson made the announcement the week before the Thanksgiving holiday, when few people would be paying attention to the news in general.

But Mr Johnson’s actions, as well as the timing of the announcement, can be better understood in light of the response from some of the loudest voices on the Maga right amplifying the footage over the weekend. Their words and desire to rehash the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, instigated by the de facto head of the Republican PartyDonald Trump, might be a political loser, but it is about exacting revenge against Democrats and those they perceive as slighting them.

The Maga release of the Jan 6 tapes is about vengeance

What is truth and what is fiction? The rise and fall or George Santos

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Congressman George Santos’ tenure has been anything but dull — his rise to power and fall from grace have been equally mired in controversy.

After less than two years in Congress, his list of lies and scandals appears to have finally grown too long for him to defend anymore, as he announced he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2024 after the release of a damning House Ethics Committee report.

The committee said it found “substantial evidence” that Mr Santos had broken federal laws after finding “additional uncharged and unlawful conduct,” which included using campaign funds to make purchases at Hermes, Sephora and OnlyFans.

In 2022, Mr Santos was elected as the Republican Party’s first openly gay, non-incumbent member of Congress, and touted himself as a living embodiment of the American dream.

But he has since been exposed as a serial fabricator, and now an accused criminal.

Here’s what we know about the rise and demise of George Anthony Devolder Santos.

The incredible rise and dramatic fall of George Santos

Analysis: Can Lachlan Murdoch rein in scandal-hit Fox as 2024 election looms?

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Bevan Hurley writes:

As anointed son Lachlan Murdoch took the stage at Fox Corporation’s annual meeting in Los Angeles on Friday, he touted the potential windfall the company hoped to see from the 2024 US presidential election.

With national and local political races “heating up”, he told the gathering of execs including father Rupert, board members and shareholders that he expected next year’s pivotal election would drive “strong results across our news properties and local stations”.

The meeting rubber-stamped Lachlan’s takeover as chair of Fox Corporation, days after he officially took charge of the Murdochs’ publishing division News Corp as the chosen child.

Less than a year out from the 2024 presidential election, with the warning signs for democracy flashing red and Donald Trump declaring his authoritarian intentions if reelected, the 52-year-old arguably has the power to shape US politics more than any other executive in the country.

Read the full article.

Capitol officer’s bodycam shows Jan 6 attacks ahead of his suicide

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Newly released video footage has captured the cruel attacks and terrifying situation that a Capitol police officer endured just two weeks before he took his own life.

Officer Jeff Smith’s body camera footage reveals the harrowing reality of what unfolded in the halls of the Capitol building on January 6 2021.

In it, the officer is seen facing a barrage of physical and verbal attacks from rioters.

People are screaming and lining the walls of the monument as officers pass by.

One woman is seen telling Smith: “Get a real job. We don’t support y’all anymore.”

Outside, someone else is yelling repeatedly: “You stand with criminals! You stand with criminals!”

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Capitol officer’s bodycam shows Jan 6 attacks two weeks before suicide

More than 30 of Trump’s private messages shared with Jack Smith by X

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Elon Musk’s X platform handed over 32 direct messages from Donald Trump’s account with the social media platform to special counsel Jack Smith as part of his election subversion probe.

The former president was a voracious user of his @realDonaldTrump as he tried to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, but was suspended by the platform, formerly known as Twitter, in the wake of the January 6 attack “due to the risk of further incitement of violence.”

Last November, following Mr Musk’s $44bn purchase of the social media app, the billionaire said that banning Mr Trump had been a mistake. The former president, who has a financial stake in Truth Social, said that he would never return to Twitter, but in August posted there for the first time in two years.

But that has not stopped federal prosecutors from getting access to a string of Mr Trump’s private messages from the high-profile account, according to court filings.

Graeme Massie reports.

Twitter gives special counsel Jack Smith 32 of Trump’s private messages

Liz Cheney scorns GOP senator for promoting latest Jan 6 conspiracy

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The former co-chair of the January 6 investigation in the House brawled with Senator Mike Lee, a fellow Republican, on X, formerly Twitter, over the weekend after he resurfaced a conspiracy regarding the attack on the Capitol.

Mr Lee, a conservative on the right wing of the US Senate, pointed to recently released footage of Capitol Police officers having relatively peaceful interactions with riot participants as evidence that Donald Trump’s supporters were actually welcomed into the Capitol during the attack.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Full story: Trump’s Truth Social sues 20 media outlets over financial loss reports

00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform has filed a lawsuit against 20 media organisations for making what it claims to be defamatory statements about the company’s financial losses.

In the lawsuit, filed in the 12th Judicial Court of Sarasota County, Florida, on Monday, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) accuses the “reckless and malicious” outlets of falsely reporting that the company had lost $73m since its launch.

The company claims that the “false reporting” was part of a “seemingly coordinated effort to destroy TMTG and Truth Social”.

“This case is about an unprecedented and seemingly coordinated media campaign, by no less than 20 major media outlets, to attack Trump Media & Technology Group (“TMTG”) and its social media platform, Truth Social, by falsely reporting that TMTG had lost $73 million,” the lawsuit reads.

“This number was an utter fabrication. Each defendant, in apparent coordination, reported the exact same false number within approximately 24 hours of one another, each citing to a public Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filing, in which the mystery $73 million loss appears nowhere.”

Rachel Sharp has the details.

Trump’s Truth Social sues 20 media outlets over financial loss reports

Much has been made of Biden’s age, but Trump is only four years younger...

Tuesday 21 November 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

When Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2017, he became the oldest commander-in-chief sworn in at the age of 70 years and 220 days old.

That was surpassed by his successor Joe Biden, who was 78 years and 61 days when he became the country’s 46th president in January 2021.

Before Mr Trump, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to assume the presidency at 69 years and 349 years old at his first inauguration in 1981.

Reagan was the oldest president when he left office at the age of 77 in 1989, just 22 days away from turning 78.

But depending on who wins the 2024 presidential election, a new record could be set as both Mr Biden and Mr Trump are running for reelection.

Graeme Massie reports.

How old is Donald Trump and how does his age compare to other presidents?

In pictures: Fulton County bond hearing

Tuesday 21 November 2023 23:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Fulton County DA Fani Willis makes courtroom debut in Trump case hearing

Tuesday 21 November 2023 23:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis made her debut arguing before a judge and questioning witnesses in a case surrounding Donald Trump’s sprawling election interference case as she pressed a judge to revoke a bond order for one of the former president’s co-defendants.

Her appearance previewed the arguments, evidence and list of witnesses expected to testify in the upcoming trial, among several criminal cases surrounding the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination for president.

Harrison Floyd, the leader of Black Voices for Trump, has “engaged in a pattern of intimidation” against his co-defendants and witnesses since he was released on bond in August, according to the office of Fulton County District Attorney.

But following a three-hour hearing on Tuesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee declined to send Mr Floyd back to jail and directed the parties to draft an order that reels in his public statements.

Alex Woodward has been following the case for The Independent.

Fani Willis makes courtroom debut in Trump election interference case

Cassidy Hutchinson gives dire warning about second Trump presidency

Tuesday 21 November 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide under the Trump administration, issued a grim warning about the state of democracy in the US should Donald Trump win the presidential election in 2024.

“If Donald Trump is elected president again in 2024, I do fear that it will be the last election where we’re voting for democracy because if he is elected again, I don’t think we’ll be voting under the same Constitution,” Ms Hutchinson told Jen Psaki onInside with Jen Psaki.

Ms Hutchinson worked in close proximity to Mr Trump, especially toward the end of his presidency when the events on January 6 unfolded. She testified to Congress that Mr Trump knowingly said and did things leading up to the attack on the Capitol that encouraged the mob.

Now she’s warning voters to choose wisely next year, should the election be another matchup between President Joe Biden and Mr Trump.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Cassidy Hutchinson warns that another Trump presidency could threaten democracy

Voices: The Maga release of the Jan 6 tapes is about vengeance

Tuesday 21 November 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he would release more than 44,000 hours of raw footage of the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

The timing of the release was peculiar since he announced it on a Friday, when the House had already left after a protracted 10-week session and late in the afternoon, when most reporters were getting ready to pack it up. Furthermore, Mr Johnson made the announcement the week before the Thanksgiving holiday, when few people would be paying attention to the news in general.

But Mr Johnson’s actions, as well as the timing of the announcement, can be better understood in light of the response from some of the loudest voices on the Maga right amplifying the footage over the weekend. Their words and desire to rehash the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, instigated by the de facto head of the Republican PartyDonald Trump, might be a political loser, but it is about exacting revenge against Democrats and those they perceive as slighting them.

Read the full article...

Trump Georgia co-defendant avoids jail over harassing tweets

Tuesday 21 November 2023 21:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s Fulton County election interference co-defendant Harrison Floyd has avoided jail after a hearing in which District Attorney Fani Willis asked his bond to be revoked over tweets that appeared to harass witnesses in the sprawling racketeering case.

Judge Scott McAfee says the question at issue here is whether Mr Floyd's posts amount to indirect communication with witnesses.

There has been a technical violation of Mr Floyd's bond, he says, but not every violation compels revocation.

The prosecution and defence teams will now meet to determine how the bond terms can be modified to be clearer.

Recap: Judges aren’t buying Trump’s gag order appeal

Tuesday 21 November 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A three-judge federal appeals court panel appears skeptical of arguments from Donald Trump’s legal team to overturn a gag order that blocks the former president from attacking witnesses and prosecutors in a criminal conspiracy case surrounding his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

But the judges also appear likely to narrow the scope of the order, hoping to balance First Amendment protections and political speech against the wave of threats and harassment unleashed by Mr Trump and his supporters towards the prosecutors, judges, witnesses and prospective jurors involved with a growing list of litigation against him.

The gag order imposed by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan last month blocked Mr Trump from launching a “pretrial smear campaign” as he seeks the 2024 Republican nomination for president, the judge wrote.

That order was paused by the appeals court in Washington DC, which heard arguments in the case on Monday during a hearing that lasted nearly three hours. A ruling is not immediately expected.

Alex Woodward has the full story.

Judges aren’t buying Trump’s gag order appeal

Tuesday 21 November 2023 20:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Fulton County DA Fani Willis delivers a PowerPoint presentation to underline her points as to how Mr Floyd violated the bond restrictions in three different ways.

In response, the defence argues that the terms of the bond have not been met or broken.

Tuesday 21 November 2023 20:32 , Oliver O'Connell

After a short break, the defence argues that it is improbable that those people tagged in the posts by Mr Floyd would know of it, noting that the prosecution contacted them and let them know they had been mentioned.

Mr Floyd’s lawyer compares what happened to someone shouting across Mercedes Benz Stadium rather than specifically communicating “with” as opposed to “communicating about”.

He says there were no threats in the posts made by Mr Floyd.

Tuesday 21 November 2023 20:05 , Oliver O'Connell

The third witness is Von DuBose, the lawyer for election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.

He hired a firm to perform threat assessments for them. They’re both witnesses in the Georgia case (and a trial to determine how much Rudy Giuliani owes them for his own damaging comments about them is starting in a few weeks).

The threat report spikes were so high following harassment against them that they had to leave their house at one point.

Tuesday 21 November 2023 20:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Next up on the witness stand is Gabriel Sterling, COO of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. He is shown the various Twitter posts in which he is tagged in both his professional and personal accounts and called a piece of “💩”.

The defence team keeps calling the @ symbol an “ampersand” which as we know is actually “&”.

Mr Stirling tells them that such insults are par for the course as a public figure.

He says he did not contact law enforcement regarding these specific tweets.

Tuesday 21 November 2023 19:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Floyd’s defence attorney is attempting to pick at less of what his client said and more about how social media works. He is contending that tagging someone in a post is not communicating directly with that person.

He also argues that Mr Floyd was not asking for people to respond to his posts (it was in their comments that the threats were made).

Judge Scott McAfee appears to be tired of this nitpicking.

DA Willis is now questioning Mr Hill on redirect. She notes that the bond agreement includes no “indirect” communication with witnesses as well as direct communication.

Tuesday 21 November 2023 19:16 , Oliver O'Connell

The state is arguing that Mr Floyd’s tweets led to further harassment of those mentioned, including Ruby Freeman, as per the comment on the tweet read out in court below:

Tuesday 21 November 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Floyd’s attorney tried to argue that the Twitter/X account in question cannot be proven to be his client’s.

The witness, Mr Hill, lists the multiple ways in which they could identify that the account belongs to Mr Floyd, perhaps most damningly that his attorney referred to in a court filing as his client’s posts.

As Mr Floyd’s social media posts are read out to the court referring to Brad Raffensperger, Ruby Freeman, and former defendant Jenna Ellis, Mr Hill confirms that Ms Ellis is now a witness for the state following her plea deal.

Fulton County: Fani Willis argues for first time in sprawling Georgia election case

Tuesday 21 November 2023 18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is arguing why her office believes Harrison Floyd’s bond should be revoked and he should be sent back to jail for intimidating witnesses.

Mr Floyd’s defence team argues that the tweets that landed him back in court were not intended to be intimidating. His attorney says “there’s no need” to send him back into state custody, and prosecutors simply “could’ve addressed the issue” by calling up his attorneys with their concerns first. But then he defends his client’s comments as “political speech” that “the state is trying to silence.”

Ms Willis said she’ll call three witnesses: Michael Hill, an investigator in her office; Gabe Sterling, a key deputy in the Secretary of State’s office; and Ruby Freeman’s attorney Von DuBose.

Ms Freeman was one of the election workers who were harrassed after working on the 2020 election in Fulton County.

Happening now: Fulton County judge considers revoking Trump co-defendant’s bond

Tuesday 21 November 2023 18:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch the live feed

A judge in Atlanta is set to hear arguments Tuesday on a request to revoke the bond of one of former President Donald Trump’s co-defendants in the Georgia case related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last week filed a motion asking county Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee to revoke the bond of Harrison Floyd. She wrote in her motion that Floyd has been attempting to intimidate and contact likely witnesses and his co-defendants in violation of the terms of his release.

Floyd’s attorneys wrote in a court filing that Willis’ allegations are without merit and that the motion is a “retaliatory measure” against their client. Floyd “neither threatened or intimidated anyone and certainly did not communicate with a witness or co-defendant directly or indirectly,” they wrote.

Here’s a recap of how Mr Floyd ended up here:

Georgia prosecutors want Trump’s co-defendant jailed for witness intimidation

Much has been made of Biden’s age, but Trump is only four years younger...

Tuesday 21 November 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

When Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2017, he became the oldest commander-in-chief sworn in at the age of 70 years and 220 days old.

That was surpassed by his successor Joe Biden, who was 78 years and 61 days when he became the country’s 46th president in January 2021.

Before Mr Trump, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to assume the presidency at 69 years and 349 years old at his first inauguration in 1981.

Reagan was the oldest president when he left office at the age of 77 in 1989, just 22 days away from turning 78.

But depending on who wins the 2024 presidential election, a new record could be set as both Mr Biden and Mr Trump are running for reelection.

Graeme Massie reports.

How old is Donald Trump and how does his age compare to other presidents?

Pizzagate: The Return

Tuesday 21 November 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Elon Musk has now amplified the widely debunked “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory on X, just days after he sparked outrage for pushing an antisemitic conspiracy theory.

On Monday, an X user attempted to link the founder of Media Matters – the left-leaning non-profit group that last week accused X of promoting adverts from global companies alongside pro-Hitler content – to the owner of the so-called “Pizzagate restaurant”.

Mr Musk then boosted the post by replying to it, with the one-word phrase: “Weird.”

Now, the three-year-old conspiracy theory and baseless claims of its ties to Media Matters have been promoted to the tech mogul’s 160 million followers.

Martha McHardy has the story.

Elon Musk amplifies Pizzagate conspiracy theory

‘Propaganda’ Trump interview slammed by ex-Univision boss

Tuesday 21 November 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Univision’s former president has joined the growing criticism of the Hispanic network over an interview with Donald Trump that was panned by journalists for softball questions.

Reporters at the network, which has US offices and merged with a Mexican media giant in 2022, have found themselves at the middle of a discussion over their network’s ability to cover the 2024 presidential race fairly and accurately after Mr Trump sat down with Enrique Acevedo for an interview that aired just over a week ago. Mr Trump did not face any difficult questions about his criminal prosecutions or policy positions in the interview, and was also able to spout unfounded claims about his immigration policies without accurate pushback from Acevedo.

The controversy has grown over the past several days as prominent Latino Americans such as comedian John Leguizamo have called for boycotts of the network in response.

John Bowden reports.

Ex-Univision boss slams network’s Trump interview as ‘propaganda’

NY fraud trial: McConney tears up on witness stand

Tuesday 21 November 2023 17:07 , Oliver O'Connell

Questioning turns to a discussion of the Trump golf course properties, some of which were built from scratch and others of which were bought and rehabilitated by the Trump Organization, with a 30 per cent premium added to their value as a “fully operational branded facility”.

Mr McConney says that this premium was added as the clubs were taken into a new more luxurious category. Asked if Mazars were notified of this premium, he replies that they were and he does not recall getting any pushback from the accountants about the premium.

Direct examination of Mr McConney concludes with the witness crying and getting emotional when asked why he no longer works for the Trump Organization. A court officer hands him a tissue.

He says he was very proud of his work for the company and wishes the accusations of misrepresenting assets would stop.

Before cross-examination begins, Justice Arthur Engoron and counsel for the New York Attorney General’s office ask if he is OK.

Full story: Trump’s Truth Social sues 20 media outlets over financial loss reports

Tuesday 21 November 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform has filed a lawsuit against 20 media organisations for making what it claims to be defamatory statements about the company’s financial losses.

In the lawsuit, filed in the 12th Judicial Court of Sarasota County, Florida, on Monday, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) accuses the “reckless and malicious” outlets of falsely reporting that the company had lost $73m since its launch.

The company claims that the “false reporting” was part of a “seemingly coordinated effort to destroy TMTG and Truth Social”.

“This case is about an unprecedented and seemingly coordinated media campaign, by no less than 20 major media outlets, to attack Trump Media & Technology Group (“TMTG”) and its social media platform, Truth Social, by falsely reporting that TMTG had lost $73 million,” the lawsuit reads.

“This number was an utter fabrication. Each defendant, in apparent coordination, reported the exact same false number within approximately 24 hours of one another, each citing to a public Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filing, in which the mystery $73 million loss appears nowhere.”

Rachel Sharp has the details.

Trump’s Truth Social sues 20 media outlets over financial loss reports

NY fraud trial: Mar-a-Lago valuation

Tuesday 21 November 2023 16:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump co-defendant Jeff McConney is asked about the valuation of the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, where former president Donald Trump now lives. Mr McConney concedes that in 2014 they valued it as a private residence when it is not. Local law states that it can only be used as a private members’ club.

With its function restricted to that of a social club, the value of the property was constrained compared to if it was a plot of land that could be developed in any way.

Mr McConney says he does not recall why they valued it in this way but says: “Our intention was always to reflect as best we could the value of these properties.”

Nevertheless, a key part of the New York Attorney General’s case is that this was done to inflate the net worth of Mr Trump.

Watch: Former Trump staffer and Jan 6 witness throws support behind Biden

Tuesday 21 November 2023 16:14 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump to attend Palmetto Bowl college football clash this weekend

Tuesday 21 November 2023 16:04 , Oliver O'Connell

The Post & Courier reports:

Former President Donald Trump will attend the Clemson-South Carolina game this weekend, bringing the Republican front-runner to Williams-Brice Stadium for the state’s biggest college football spectacle of the year.

Trump’s presidential campaign confirmed the visit Nov. 21 to The Post and Courier after increasing levels of chatter, rumors and speculation peaked in recent days that he would take up supporter Gov. Henry McMaster’s standing invitation to attend a game.

Asked if Trump would be attending as McMaster’s guest, Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung replied: “I believe McMaster will be a guest of POTUS.”

In addition to the governor, Trump is expected to be joined at the game by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Lt. Gov. Pam Evette. All are members of the Trump campaign’s South Carolina leadership team.

Tuesday 21 November 2023 15:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Part of the issue here is that there were also units in the building that were rent-stabilised and these were listed in the spreadsheet and would have a material effect on the valuation of the building. McConney says Mazars was fully aware of this.

Judge Arthur Engoron ruled before the trial that fraud took place regarding the presentation of the statements of financial condition to banks and insurers, however, the trial is proceeding to establish whether the defendants did so “intentionally and materially”.

NY fraud trial: Trump Park Avenue

Tuesday 21 November 2023 15:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Proceedings in the Lower Manhattan court begin with Mr McConney being asked about Trump Park Avenue, a former historic hotel where Ivanka Trump had the exclusive right to purchase the unit she leased for $14.264m.

A spreadsheet shows this price was set “notwithstanding the filing of any amendment to [the] offering plan that may increase the [price] of the unit”.

The New York Attorney General claims that while Ms Trump has the right to buy the unit at that set price, the company valued it substantially higher.

Mr McConney says the information regarding the apartment and that it may increase in price due to amendments to the offering plan was all disclosed to Mr Bender at Mazars who is copied in on the email that the spreadsheet is attached to.

Jimmy Kimmel noticed a specific word Trump used in his ‘golden shower’ story

Tuesday 21 November 2023 15:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel zeroed in on Donald Trump’s latest wild claim during his show on Monday night.

At a rally in Iowa at the weekend, the former president brought up allegations in former British spy Christopher Steele’s unverified dossier that he hired sex workers to urinate on him during a trip to Moscow.

Mr Trump told his supporters in Iowa that his wife, Melania Trump, did not believe the allegations about the so-called golden showers because he is a “germaphobe,” he claimed.

“Actually that one, she didn’t believe. Because she said, ‘He’s a germaphobe, he’s not into that, you know? He’s not into golden showers as they say they call them,’” Mr Trump said.

Following the rally, Mr Kimmel zeroed in on the former president’s unprompted remarks.

Martha McHardy has the story.

Jimmy Kimmel zeroes in on one revealing word in Trump’s ‘golden shower’ story

Today in court in New York: McConney testimony resumes

Tuesday 21 November 2023 15:01 , Oliver O'Connell

The civil fraud trial of Donald Trump and the Trump Organization continues today at the New York State Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan with co-defendant Jeff McConney’s testimony as a witness for the defence.

The former controller of the Trump real estate empire, who earlier testified as a witness for the prosecution, spent much of yesterday on the witness stand shifting the blame for any discrepancies in the Trump Organization’s statements on financial condition onto Mazar’s accountant Donald Bender, who earlier said the company withheld records needed to accurately assess its finances.

The statements of financial record are at the heart of the fraud charges brought against Mr Trump, his company, key executives, and his two eldest sons by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Mr McConney returned to the witness stand just after 10am for further direct examination by Mr Trump’s defence lawyer Jesus Suarez.

CREW files Colorado Supreme Court appeal over Trump 14th amendment ruling

Tuesday 21 November 2023 14:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The plaintiffs in the Colorado 14th Amendment case that questioned Donald Trump’s eligibility to be on the ballot in the state in the 2024 election after having fermented an insurrection at the US Capitol in January 2021 have filed an appeal of the lower court’s ruling that kept the former president on the ballot.

A statement from CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) reads:

“We always knew this case would end up before the Colorado Supreme Court, and have been preparing for that from the beginning,” CREW President Noah Bookbinder said. “We are planning to build on the trial judge’s incredibly important ruling that Donald Trump engaged in insurrection, and we are ready to take this case as far as necessary to ensure that Donald Trump is removed from the ballot.”

The court held that the six voters stated a claim under Colorado law, that Section 3 may be enforced through state ballot access laws, that the petition does not raise a non-justiciable political question and that the First Amendment does not shield Trump’s incitement. The only question left to be decided is whether the oath Trump took as president-elect subjects him to the 14th Amendment’s disqualification clause.

Trump’s lawyers have already indicated to the Colorado Supreme Court that they will appeal the trial court’s decision.

“While Donald Trump is taking a victory lap claiming he won decisively in district court, it’s telling that his lawyers are attempting to overturn that so-called ’victory,’” Bookbinder said.

You can read their full court filing here and below is our earlier coverage of the judge’s ruling in the case:

Colorado judge rules Trump can remain on 2024 primary ballot

Trump marks Biden’s birthday with doctor’s note claiming he’s lost weight

Tuesday 21 November 2023 14:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is in “excellent” health, according to a note he shared on Monday on social media, as both he and his potential 2024 opponent Joe Biden face continued questions about their age and mental fitness for the White House.

“I am pleased to report that President Trump’s overall health is excellent,” the former president’s physician, Bruce Aronwald, wrote in a letter Mr Trump shared on Truth Social. “His physical exams were well within the normal range and his cognitive exams were exceptional.”

The letter added that Mr Trump was showing improved results on certain tests, likely because of “weight reduction.”

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump posts doctor note claiming he’s lost weight as Biden marks 81st birthday

Speaker Johnson met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago

Tuesday 21 November 2023 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

House Speaker Mike Johnson met with former president Donald Trump on Monday night at Mar-a-Lago, according to a person familiar with what happened.

The speaker was attending a fundraiser for close Trump ally Rep Bilirakis of Florida.

2024 presidential debate dates announced

Tuesday 21 November 2023 14:13 , Oliver O'Connell

The dates and venues for the three 2024 presidential debates have been announced.

The debates, which will take place in September and October will be staged at US university campuses in the states of Texas, Virginia and Utah.

The news was announced by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) on Monday.

The first debate will take place on 16 September at Texas State University in San Marcos. It will be followed by the second at Virginia State University in Petersburg on 1 October.

The final debate will take place just over a week later at The University of Utah, in Salt Lake City, on 9 October.

Mike Bedigan has further details:

Dates and venues for three 2024 presidential debates announced

Analysis: Can Lachlan Murdoch rein in scandal-hit Fox as 2024 election looms?

Tuesday 21 November 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Bevan Hurley writes:

As anointed son Lachlan Murdoch took the stage at Fox Corporation’s annual meeting in Los Angeles on Friday, he touted the potential windfall the company hoped to see from the 2024 US presidential election.

With national and local political races “heating up”, he told the gathering of execs including father Rupert, board members and shareholders that he expected next year’s pivotal election would drive “strong results across our news properties and local stations”.

The meeting rubber stamped Lachlan’s takeover as chair of Fox Corporation, days after he officially took charge of the Murdochs’ publishing division News Corp as the chosen child.

Less than a year out from the 2024 presidential election, with the warning signs for democracy flashing red and Donald Trump declaring his authoritarian intentions if reelected, the 52-year-old arguably has the power to shape US politics more than any other executive in the country.

Read the full article:

Can Lachlan Murdoch rein in scandal-hit Fox as 2024 election looms?

Yesterday in court in DC: Judges aren’t buying Trump’s gag order appeal

Tuesday 21 November 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A three-judge federal appeals court panel appears skeptical of arguments from Donald Trump’s legal team to overturn a gag order that blocks the former president from attacking witnesses and prosecutors in a criminal conspiracy case surrounding his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

But the judges also appear likely to narrow the scope of the order, hoping to balance First Amendment protections and political speech against the wave of threats and harassment unleashed by Mr Trump and his supporters towards the prosecutors, judges, witnesses and prospective jurors involved with a growing list of litigation against him.

The gag order imposed by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan last month blocked Mr Trump from launching a “pretrial smear campaign” as he seeks the 2024 Republican nomination for president, the judge wrote.

That order was paused by the appeals court in Washington DC, which heard arguments in the case on Monday during a hearing that lasted nearly three hours. A ruling is not immediately expected.

Alex Woodward followed the hearing for The Independent.

‘You’re a lawyer, Mike’: Liz Cheney scorns GOP senator for promoting latest Jan 6 conspiracy

Tuesday 21 November 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The former co-chair of the January 6 investigation in the House brawled with Senator Mike Lee, a fellow Republican, on X, formerly Twitter, over the weekend after he resurfaced a conspiracy regarding the attack on the Capitol.

Mr Lee, a conservative on the right wing of the US Senate, pointed to recently-released footage of Capitol Police officers having relatively peaceful interactions with riot participants as evidence that Donald Trump’s supporters were actually welcomed into the Capitol during the attack.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC:

Liz Cheney chides GOP senator for promoting latest Jan 6 conspiracy

Trump attorney asks Fulton County DA for help accessing federal evidence in DC case

Tuesday 21 November 2023 12:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s attorney in the sprawling Fulton County election interference case in Georgia has asked District Attorney Fani Willis — who brought the case against the former president and his 18 co-defendants — for help gaining access to lists of evidence disclosed to Mr Trump’s defence team in his federal election interference case.

A protective order handed down by Judge Tanya Chutkan, at the request of Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith, prevents the disclosure of evidence ahead of the trial.

Georgia attorney Steve Sadow has asked Ms Willis to contact Mr Smith and ask if he will disclose discovery letter and lists of evidence to her, which she can then share with him as he builds his defence case in the state criminal indictment.

Given both cases involve interference in the 2020 election, there is potential for crossover between the two criminal cases against the former president.

The federal trial is currently scheduled for 4 March 2024, whereas Georgia prosecutors have asked for a trial date in early August 2024. The timing of Mr Trump’s two other criminal trials is expected to change but the New York hush-money trial is currently scheduled for 25 March, and the federal classified documents trial is set for 20 May.

What a tangled web.

Special counsel Jack Smith gets 32 of Trump’s private Twitter messages

Tuesday 21 November 2023 11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Elon Musk’s X platform handed over 32 direct messages from Donald Trump’s account with the social media platform to special counsel Jack Smith as part of his election subversion probe.

The former president was a voracious user of his @realDonaldTrump as he tried to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, but was suspended by the platform, formerly known as Twitter, in the wake of the January 6 attack “due to the risk of further incitement of violence.”

Last November, following Mr Musk’s $44bn purchase of the social media app, the billionaire said that banning Mr Trump had been a mistake. The former president, who has a financial stake in Truth Social, said that he would never return to Twitter, but in August posted there for the first time in two years.

But that has not stopped federal prosecutors from getting access to a string of Mr Trump’s private messages from the high-profile account, according to court filings.

Graeme Massie has the details.

Capitol officer’s bodycam shows Jan 6 attacks two weeks before suicide

Tuesday 21 November 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Newly released video footage has captured the cruel attacks and terrifying situation that a Capitol police officer endured just two weeks before he took his own life.

Officer Jeff Smith’s body camera footage reveals the harrowing reality of what unfolded in the halls of the Capitol building on January 6 2021.

In it, the officer is seen facing a barrage of physical and verbal attacks from rioters.

People are screaming and lining the walls of the monument as officers pass by.

One woman is seen telling Smith: “Get a real job. We don’t support y’all anymore.”

Outside, someone else is yelling repeatedly: “You stand with criminals! You stand with criminals!”

Kelly Rissman reports.

Capitol officer’s bodycam shows Jan 6 attacks two weeks before suicide

Not enough food for Trump at Texas Thanksgiving lunch

Tuesday 21 November 2023 09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

While at a Thanksgiving dinner event commending US troops serving at the Southern Border, former President Donald Trump jokingly complained that organisers didn’t save him a plate of food.

“The food looked very good,” the former president said at a luncheon for Texas State Patrol officers. “I wanted to have some but they didn’t have any for me.

“They had none left. That’s not good. That’s my kind of food too.”

Mr Trump later took to Truth Social, his social media platform, to thank the officials.

Trump complains that there wasn’t enough food for him at Texas Thanksgiving lunch

Yesterday in court: Judges aren’t buying Trump’s gag order appeal

Tuesday 21 November 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A three-judge federal appeals court panel appears skeptical of arguments from Donald Trump’s legal team to overturn a gag order that blocks the former president from attacking witnesses and prosecutors in a criminal conspiracy case surrounding his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

But the judges also appear likely to narrow the scope of the order, hoping to balance First Amendment protections and political speech against the wave of threats and harassment unleashed by Mr Trump and his supporters towards the prosecutors, judges, witnesses and prospective jurors involved with a growing list of litigation against him.

The gag order imposed by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan last month blocked Mr Trump from launching a “pretrial smear campaign” as he seeks the 2024 Republican nomination for president, the judge wrote.

That order was paused by the appeals court in Washington DC, which heard arguments in the case on Monday during a hearing that lasted nearly three hours. A ruling is not immediately expected.

Alex Woodward reports.

Judges aren’t buying Trump’s gag order appeal

Tim Ryan: Democrats must fix their ‘brand’ – and ditch Biden – to win in 2024

Tuesday 21 November 2023 06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Democrats saw a series of welcome victories across Ohio, Virginia, and Kentucky last week as voters in statewide elections delivered the GOP key defeats chiefly tied to the issue of abortion rights.

Left-leaning activists in Virginia and Ohio in particular appeared energised by their victories, a much-needed boost to their confidence and optimism after heartbreaking defeats for the party in 2022 and 2021. Ohioans saw the election of author and Trump convert JD Vance to the US Senate, while Virginians witnessed the downfall of Terry McAuliffe, their state’s former governor, as he sought to defeat Republican Glenn Youngkin. Both were considered blows to Joe Biden for different reasons — in Virginia, Mr McAuliffe ran aligned with Mr Biden and was beaten soundly just months into the latter’s presidency, and in Ohio the president lost a much-needed opportunity to pick up a vote for his agenda in the US Senate.

But 2024 is on the horizon, and Democrats are looking ahead to the future — though not without some considerable sense of unease. Their incumbent president remains in serious trouble, if the polling is to be believed, based on concerns about his age and ability to represent America through a time of multiple global crises. At the same time, the prospect of a Trump victory — with the former president openly plotting to unleash the powers of the federal government on his political enemies — presents a real reason to be concerned about the country’s future.

Enthusiastic as they are about the party’s victory on a ballot initiative enshrining abortion rights in the state’s constitution, Ohio Democrats are cognizant of the fact that no such issue will be as directly on the ballot next year. What that means for Joe Biden and other Democrats is simple: they’ll be running on their own political reputations, and that of the national Democratic Party.

If you listen to former Congressman Tim Ryan, that’s a real problem.

Read the full article

How old is Trump and how does that compare to other presidents?

Tuesday 21 November 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

When Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2017, he became the oldest commander-in-chief sworn in at the age of 70 years and 220 days old.

That was surpassed by his successor Joe Biden, who was 78 years and 61 days when he became the country’s 46th president in January 2021.

Before Mr Trump, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to assume the presidency at 69 years and 349 years old at his first inauguration in 1981.

Reagan was the oldest president when he left office at the age of 77 in 1989, just 22 days away from turning 78.

But depending on who wins the 2024 presidential election, a new record could be set as both Mr Biden and Mr Trump are running for reelection.

How old is Donald Trump and how does his age compare to other presidents?

ICYMI: Trump reshares Melania’s response to ‘golden shower’ claims

Tuesday 21 November 2023 03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump looked back on the wild allegations about him getting a “golden shower” from sex workers in Russia during an unbelievable moment at an Iowa rally.

Speaking in Fort Dodge on Saturday, the former president brought up the mostly-debunked 2016 dossier in which ex-British spy Christopher Steele alleged Mr Trump had paid sex workers to urinate on him in a Moscow hotel.

Mr Trump gave a rambling retelling of his conversation with wife Melania after the claims emerged.

Trump shares Melania’s response to ‘golden shower’ claims

DeSantis: Both Trump and Biden are too old to run the country

Tuesday 21 November 2023 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis has said he thinks both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are too old to run the country as the president celebrates his 81st birthday today.

Speaking to CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday, the Florida governor and 2024 hopeful claimed that he is in the “prime of my life” while his two rivals are far from it.

“I just think that that’s something that has been shown with Joe Biden. Father Time is undefeated. Donald Trump is not exempt from any of that,” he said.

Mr DeSantis, 45, said that running the White House is “not a job for somebody that is pushing 80”.

“I will serve two terms, deliver big results, and get the country moving again,” he told CNN.

Rachael Sharp reports on the Florida governor’s remarks.