the corner. not this year. maybe a lot of people did what we did, voted early. polls are open this hour coast to coast. democrats bracing for what could be disappointing results fearing a red wave to wash away the grip on congress. the razor thin hold on the senate may slip away. one or more states considered a toss-up. voters looking at gas prices and crime and a growing threat to economic security, also your personal safety. dana: one key race pennsylvania. john fetterman is in a real battle with republican challenger dr. oz. they re fighting for every vote with their last pitches. watch here. every day i feel better and better. by january i will be even better. but, but, dr. oz will still be a fraud. [cheers and applause] he has made millions by scamming people. make sure we send the right person to washington to represent your values and address the problems that are plaguing all of us in pennsylvania and the nation. this is bigger than just pennsylvania. bill: te
Tonight, day one of the manafort trial. The first of the mueller era. The government argues Paul Manafort thought he was above the law, while his defense team plans to attack the star government witness against him. The president started his day declaring collusion is not a crime, ending his day with red meat for the crowd in tampa, and no talk of russia. He did declare himself the most popular republican ever. And with 98 days until the midterms, facebook announces its found fake accounts designed to further tear us apart, and well show you if they have a familiar look to them. The 11th hour begins right now. Good evening once again from our nbc news headquarters here in new york. Day 558 of the Trump Administration, and day one of
the Paul Manafort trial, the first big test for Robert Mueller. It is a trial about taxes and not russia, though russia looms large in the background as it seems to in Everything Else these days. Manaforts being tried in Federal Court in alexandria, virgini
Now word overnight the next round of tariffs could escalate dramatically. Shifting blame. Heated statements and a 15,000 coat. A fast start to Paul Manaforts trial on financial crimes. Good morning, and welcome to early start. Im Laura Jarrett in for christine romans. Good to see you, my friend. Im dave briggs, wednesday, august 1st, already, if you can believe it. 5 00 a. M. In the east. We start with a chilling story for Many Americans this morning. A federal judge flocking a Government Settlement that would allow for 3d printable guns for sale. You could print out the instructions to guns on the internet, if you can believe it or not. This is a terrifying ordeal for many parents in this country who simply know that their kid could be printing that at the moment. Now, the founder of the Gun Rights Group Defense Distributed says his companys site is going dark until he can review the judges order. Before the ruling came down, he spoke to cnns Laurie Segall
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Not russia, though russia looms large in the background as it seems to in Everything Else these days. Manaforts being tried in Federal Court in alexandria, virginia. He was, of course, Trumps Campaign chairman, ran the rnc convention. Its the first of two trials for him, and this one hes looking at 18 counts of bank fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy charges in relation to his work for a prorussian party in ukraine before he went to work for the trump campaign. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. This trial is off to a lightning start. So far a jury has been seated. Opening statements have been delivered, and a witness has testified, all on day one. Manafort was a March To August Chairman back in 2016. He helped trump secure the nomination, make no mistake, and trump said so at the time. I have fantastic people. Paul manafort just came on. Hes great. He didnt need to do this, but he wanted to. Paul manafort has done an amazing job. He is here some place where. Is paul . However, more
Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. And Donald Trumps name wasnt mentioned today. Robert muellers name wasnt mentioned today. This trial does not have to do with any connection to the 2016 campaign. Nor does rick gates involvement dovetail with what he did in the 2016 campaign, nor his work on the inaugural committee. Its a highly separate trial involving past clients of Paul Manaforts. I think if were reading between the lines, its the prelude to something that is supposed to be bigger. Obviously the prosecutors have a case that theyre bringing here, but it does seem like theyre looking down the road to try to get or compel Paul Manafort to participate in the larger mission, which is the investigation to collusion in the trump campaign. And were all sort of waiting to see what manafort does under this type of pressure. I do agree that the case the defense he is bringing seems highly uncompelling. Basically, he is saying my underli