Politics the former president s pardon play. Donald trumps lawyers make a hail mary request for an april 2026 start to the 2020 Election Trial and try to make sure the case never sees the inside of a courtroom. Plus a game of risk. New reporting outlines how republicans plan to conquer a trumpless debate. How another republican warns his party appears poised to fulfill the textbook definition of insanity. President biden invokes the whole enemy of my enemy is a Friend Theory of Foreign Policy today pushing two neighbors to put aside a generation of bad blood and send a message to the country a couple blocks away, china. Im Phil Mattingly in for dana bash. Lets go behind the headlines and inside politics. Were going to start with this up first. Two questions. Do you know what youre doing on monday . Do you know what youre doing in april, 2026 . The answer is no for me on both of them. Donald trump, though, has plans for both. More specifically mr. Trump knows where he wont be on monday
part of that is to make these meetings on an annual basis, announce annual obligations and commitments we are willing to make to one another. nobody is talking about the need for an asian nato. reporter: the last point from kirby is important. this isn t supposed to be a defensive alliance but certainly looks like it is moving or at least hints of that direction. nato s principle is attack on one is an attack on all. this doesn t go that far but this does seem to say a threat to one is a threat to all and there might be a coordinated response or some communication as you get toward a response. that in and of itself is a foreign policy accomplishment for the white house. it is easy particularly on a friday afternoon to look at this as a regular part of the diplomatic process. this doesn t have precedent. a tri lateral meeting particularly between south korea, japan, and its leaders is a big deal and something to be watched going forward. great reporting. thanks. making the cut for