12:30 Report — Judge weighs Trump rhetoric in hush money trial

the Tuesday. The wind is blowing, the sky is blue, and everyone’s eyes are on New York, but not on the twinkling lights. Here’s what happened today:

• former President Trump’s The hush money trial continues in New York, with the judge in the case hearing arguments today on whether President Trump violated the gag order.
• president biden will visit Florida today to deliver a speech focused on reproductive rights as a six-week abortion ban is set to go into effect next week.
• of senate After a heated battle in the House, the first procedural vote on the $95 billion package is scheduled for this afternoon, which would advance aid to Ukraine, among other provisions.
  

this is Julia Muller and steph daniel thomasToday I’m going to write a quick summary of my morning and my plans for the future on Cate’s behalf. Send tips, explanations, feedback, and cookie recipes to: cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you?Sign up here.

I made it to the 2nd week last time. President Trump’s First criminal trial. Phew.

Opening arguments in the hush money trial concluded yesterday.But today, before the witnesses’ testimony became active again, the judge Juan Marchan It heard arguments about whether the former president violated a gag order that prohibited him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court officials or the families of judges.

Prosecutors want him to be fined: They asked the judge to hold Trump in contempt and fine him for 10 violations of the order, pointing to several of Trump’s posts on the Truth Social platform.

After this morning’s hearing: The judge said he would suspend sentencing on the alleged gag order violation.However, witness testimony in the case by the former publisher of the National Enquirer has been resumed. david pecker Take your position again.

President Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a case related to hush money paid to adult film stars before and after the 2016 election. stormy daniels This was to silence the suspicion that she had an affair with Trump 10 years ago.

Ella Lee on The Hill Details of the gag order are posted.

You can also follow along hill Click here for live coverage of the Trump trial.

Selected: On Monday, seven men and five women heard opening statements in Trump’s criminal trial, the first for a former or sitting U.S. president.

Hard work: A jury of hundreds of New Yorkers will be tasked with deciding whether the former president is guilty or innocent as the trial unfolds in the coming weeks.

Here’s what we know about each juror From Zach Schoenfeld of The Hill.

President Trump has brushed aside warnings that he could be indicted for storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago mansion and pardoned one of his co-defendants if indicted, according to new court documents. I promised.

Details contained in unsealed documents as part of a broader legal battle in the documents case reveal candid advice from anonymous witnesses and other details about the federal investigation.

Click here for the full text Rebecca Beitsch of The Hill.

Finally, a little movement.

After months of debate in Congress, here’s what happened. The Senate is poised to advance a $95 billion aid package to support Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

All eyes on the Senate: The Senate is scheduled to take a procedural vote on foreign aid this afternoon, starting a 30-hour period for a final vote on the bill, which would take place Wednesday night if no amendments are agreed. . Reported by The Hill’s Al Weaver.

According to Weaver’s report, the amendment is expected to fail because any changes to the aid package would require a second vote in the House of Representatives, which is in recess.

Final voting timing: Although it is still up in the air, the deal is expected to pass easily, bringing Congress closer to the end of a long battle on Capitol Hill that has raised questions about the speaker. mike johnson’s (R-Louisiana) Leadership.

Associated Press Let’s break it down:

• $61 billion Military and economic aid to Ukraine
• $26 billion For Israel, including humanitarian assistance in Gaza
• 8 billion dollars For supporting U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region and countering China.

Member of Parliament marjorie taylor green (R-Ga.) has escalated its threat to remove the Speaker. mike johnson He was ousted from power amid mounting conservative anger over his leadership style and handling of the debate over aid to Ukraine.

“He needs to do the right thing, which is resign, and allow us to move forward in a managed process. If he doesn’t, he will be fired,” Greene said on Fox News’ “Sunday.” “Morning Futures,” he said.

But it’s uphill. Georgia Republican, vocal supporter of the former. President Trump, When President Trump Hits a Roadblock Yesterday, amid a backlash from conservatives, Mr Johnson defended the top House Republican, insisting he was “there and trying”. And Democrats also appear ready to rescue Johnson from a conservative coup, The Hill’s Mike Lillis reports.

As a result, Greene has little leverage to support the removal resolution in the Republican-controlled chamber.

• “Trump defends Johnson, denies prosecution in post-court radio interview”: politiko
• “How Republicans castrated themselves.”: Axios
• “The circus troupe Mr. Trump wanted outside the court has not come.”: new york times
• “House Republican infighting worsens after foreign aid vote”: washington post

Previously president trump Stuck in Manhattan, senators are debating foreign aid. president biden We’re on the campaign trail. He plans to head to Tampa, Florida, to implement a six-week abortion ban in the Sunshine State that is scheduled to take effect May 1.

Trump takes credit for his accomplishments: The former president claimed responsibility for the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. In response to the ruling, Biden’s re-election campaign is blaming the former president for strict abortion bans that are being enacted one after another in states across the country. (Read here for laws summarized by state).

located in tampa: The president intends to “forcefully advocate for reproductive freedom and defend Donald Trump’s abortion ban,” his team said.

The Biden campaign aims to flip Florida in the fall and target President Trump’s home state.

Biden’s Florida plan Promotion of extensive campaigns Making President Trump the face of the anti-abortion movement means the issue will motivate voters to vote, from strict bans to ballot measures touting protections for the procedure, and will likely be a blue candidate on the November ballot. This is because the Democratic Party wants to boost the

They also plan to continue Trump’s hush money trial four days a week for several weeks, giving Biden a chance to garner campaign attention while he remains mired in Manhattan court proceedings. I hope so.

The Hill’s Nathaniel Weichsel explains today about Biden’s visit to Tampa.

Tensions have been running high on college campuses across the country since the University of South Carolina canceled a pro-Palestinian valedictorian’s speech earlier this month, citing “security concerns.”

Columbia University has canceled in-person classes since the incident, a sign of the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Dozens of protesters were arrested at New York University and Yale University. And Harvard Yard was forced to close its gates to the public.

president of colombia, Minoush Shafik He also faces calls to resign after testifying before the House Education Committee last week about anti-Semitism on campuses. The school has now relocated all main classes on campus, except for art-based programs, to the following location: hybrid format for the remainder of the semester.

Read more about the riots The Hills Lauren Sforza.

robert craftThe New England Patriots owner and founder of a foundation to combat anti-Semitism said he would withhold donations to Columbia University if it could not protect students and employees from riots.

“I no longer have confidence in Columbia’s ability to protect its students and staff, and I am unwilling to support the university until corrective action is taken,” he said, according to one document. Post Social media platform X.

🍒 celebrate: Today is National Cherry Cheesecake Day!

📚 Also today World Book and Copyright Day. Pick up a book, have a cup of tea, and curl up with your favorite book. 👓 New Yorker Staff We have a great list of books Over the past year.

🎵 Do you live by prayer? Then you’re in luck. To commemorate his 40th anniversary of music activities, Jon Bon Jovi Have a film crew follow him.of 4-part documentary seriescalled “handThank you and good night.” It debuts on Hulu on Friday.

House is out. The Senate is in. president biden I’m in Tampa, Florida today for some campaign events. vice president harris I’m in Washington. (always eastern)

• today: former president trump He is back in a Manhattan courtroom for a hush money trial.

• 12pm: Biden leaves for Tampa.

• 1:20pm: White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates will brief reporters Boarding Air Force One bound for Tampa. 💻 stream

• 3 pm and 4:15pm: The president participates in a campaign event in Tampa.

• This afternoon: The Senate is considering the foreign aid supplement passed by the House.

• Still happening today: Harris and the Second GentlemanDoug Emhoff We will be hosting a Passover Seder in Washington.

• 7:30 PM: Biden returns to the White House.

• tonight: pennsylvania Presidential primaries and state primaries will be held.