Trump's Trials

For this episode of Trump's Trials, host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR's Ximena Bustillo and former New York Prosecutor Tristan Snell. He's a former New York prosecutor who led the state's case against Trump University, and author of the book Taking Down Trump.

The third week of former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial ended with a high-profile witness: former Trump aide Hope Hicks. She testified about the Trump campaign's damage control efforts in the 2016 election and even took a break after briefly breaking down on the witness stand.

Earlier in the week, Judge Juan Merchan fined Trump $9,000 for contempt of court for violating a gag order. And on Thursday prosecutors asked Merchan to hold him in contempt for a second time for recent comments he's made about jurors and witnesses.

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For this episode of Trump's Trials, All Things Considered host Juana Summers speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein.

Stormy Daniels' former attorney Keith Davidson wrapped up his testimony on Thursday in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.

The jury heard some dramatic audio of Trump and his former lawyer Michael Cohen talking about payments to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Daniels. But the defense became combative in cross-examining Davison.

Topics include:
- Davidson's testimony
- Tape of Trump and Cohen played for the jury
- What's next for proceedings

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For this episode of Trump's Trials, All Things Considered host Juana Summers speaks with political reporter Ximena Bustillo.

Judge Juan Merchan fined former President Donald Trump $9,000 for violating a gag order that prohibited him from speaking out about potential witnesses and others involved in his hush money trial.

Jurors also heard from four witnesses as testimony continues in the trial.

Topics include:
- The gag order against Trump
- Testimonies of Gary Farro, Robert Browning, Phillip Thompson and Keith Davidson
- What's next when proceedings pick back up on Thursday

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This week on Trump's Trials, host Scott Detrow and Domenico Montanaro are joined by law professor Kim Wehle.

This was the first week of witness testimony in former President Donald Trump's New York hush money trial. The prosecution used their witnesses to establish Trump's knowledge and involvement in hush money payments for his alleged electoral benefit. Trump's defense team cross-examined witnesses countering that framing with the idea that this is politics as usual.

Meanwhile, at the Supreme Court, justices heard oral arguments over whether Trump is immune from criminal prosecution. Although the justices seemed skeptical of granting Trump absolute immunity, it appeared the majority of the conservatives justices seemed opened to granting some sort of immunity for presidents.

Topics include:
- Week one of testimony in hush money trial
- David Pecker testimony
- Supreme court and immunity

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For this episode of Trump's Trials host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein about the latest in the New York hush money trial. Later, election law professor Edward Foley explains the fake elector indictments out of Arizona.

In a New York courtroom, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker took the stand for his third day of testimony. In his testimony Pecker said Trump had intimate knowledge of hush money payments from the very beginning. Pecker was then questioned by Trump's defense team, who tried to poke holes in his story.

In Arizona, 18 people have been indicted for their alleged efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election. They include some of former President Donald Trump's closet allies — former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. Trump himself was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator. Arizona becomes the fourth state to criminally charge people related to the fake electors scheme.

Topics include:
- Hush money trial testimony
- Cross examination begins
- Fake electors scheme

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