Hi, everybody. Its thursday. Its 4 00 in new york. It is also day 18 of the people of the state of new york vermont donald trump, the expresident s former Attorney Michael Cohen is just off the Witness Stand. The jury is done with their service for the day. Prosecutors and attorneys for the expresident are dealing with the all important question of what happens next. Its happening right now. A hearing over what the defenses case will look like and if they will make a case, if they have a case to present the updates from that hearing that is happening as we meet well bring them to you right away. All this is in the wake of a rather desperate and uneven attempt to undercut Michael Cohens credibility. It was to be generous, hit and miss, defense attorney todd blanche had a Second Chance at cross examining Michael Cohen after a day of rest yesterday. He moved around from topic to topic so quickly that todd blanche decided that todd should apologize to the jurors who would decide Donald Tru
the jury finding the former president guilty on all 34 could wants but that doesn t mean the election is over, far from it. this means trump attacking the judicial system is rigged and much of the base agrees and joe biden may have trouble beating donald trump despite the new legal baggage with many democrats, privately pan interacting about the panicking and going for the country and one part outrage by the conviction and the other part celebrating the stormy daniels case and the media completely and outdoerly polarizing. the commentators couldn t agree on much of anything including judge juan merchan. this is by every measure a travesty of justice perpetrated by judge juan merchan. i have a man crush on him now. one thing for certain, it all came down to the jury and. i m howard kurtz and this is media buzz. donald trump unloaded on friday taking no questions. they were literally crucified to this man that looks like an angel but he s a devil. we ll be appealing
we re covering today s climatic closing arguments in donald trump s trial. the trial is still ongoing right now. the prosecutor continuing the closing arguments. we ll continue in our live coverage to bring you that as well as what i m going to do with you right now, which is try to summarize what is the most important day and likely the last day or two before this jury deliberates. the day began with trump s lawyers doing their closing arguments for the defendant. they finished. the scene outside court was more rauk cause than usual. there was trump family members, robert deniro. i was downtown with our team, reporters and lawyers at the court today. we were out there. i made some videos. we kept an eye on it. all working together. the closing arguments give jurors the pivotal final last material. it s the culmination of a trial that s featured 22 exhibits, 20 days, emails, hundreds of exhibits. now it s all going down today. critical day, former president trump s criminal
Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. Inaugural address, which my old boss had colorful language to describe. George w. Bush called it some crazy bleep. I was thinking about the line about carnage and i was thinking that the real carnage and it was all in motion when he came that day. The real carnage is the people closest to donald trump. The lives that are being destroyed for crimes theyve committed. I mean, you know, its not a night to feel sympathy for Michael Cohen, but the events that are sending him to jail potentially are events put in motion by the things donald trump demanded of the people close to him. It may end up ensnaring his family. But just this idea of wreckage. A source close to Michael Cohen tonight told me that everything donald trump touches is tainted by his toxic brew of lack of ethics and lack of any adherence to the law. I also thought of something that someone who advises this president said to me earlier i
Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. No comment on cohen who was released on 500,000 bail. His sentencing, interestingly, is scheduled for december 12th. The judge noted that cohen could serve up to 65 years in prison, though we should hasten to add the prosecutess recommended sentence is something closer to four or six years. Manafort is expected to be sentenced to seven to nine years when its all said and done. He also faces another trial on related charges next month in washington. Meanwhile, both men now join rick gates, michael flynn, George Papadopoulos on the roster of Trump Associates who faced criminal charges. On that, let us bring in our expanded leadoff panel for a consequential tuesday evening. Nicolle wallace returned to the night shift. The veteran of the Bush White House and host of deadline white house. And here in new york mi