world. i m laila harrak. thousands of people ordered to evacuate their homes in california as the storm-battered state endures another round of heavy rain and flooding. donald trump facing new legal woes. the former u.s. president now weighing whether to testify before a grand jury about his alleged role in a hush money scheme. plus, a major step for the middle east as iran and saudi arabia strike a deal to restore diplomatic ties. the surprise agreement helped along by beijing. we ll break down what it all means. announcer: from cnn center, this is cnn newsroom with laila harrak. we start this hour in california, where residents are getting battered by more storms, the result of yet another atmospheric river. at least two people are dead and nearly 10,000 people are under evacuation orders. more than 40,000 homes and businesses currently without power according to poweroutage.us. the central coast has been the hardest hit with creeks being turned into raging rivers
Has officially finished. The defense only called two witnesses. And yesterday, rested their case. Former President Trump did not testify in his own defense despite telling the press multiple times he wanted to. You testify in your trial. Yeah, i would testify absolutely. Its a scam. Its a scam. Are you going to testify . Yes. Will you testify . No he wont stop. He the gag is not to testify. Do you plan to testify in court . I probably so. I would like to. I mean i think so. I mean, theres a story of his life, who shocked me can nobodys shocked. It is a guy who said of course i am going to testify, you knew he was not going to testify for a couple reasons. One, he is just a walking perjury machine. Seriously . You got a new Ice Cream Machine that you say makes ice cream. The mcreamy by ninja. And creamy, yeah, well, he is a Ninja Perjury Machine right . You stand in front of it for a couple seconds. I will never look at the creamy the same way. It creates instant perjury and so we all k
The ongoing manhunt in lewiston, maine. And the surrounding communities. Where theres fear among residents this may not be over. E death toll from two separate shootings at a Bowling Alley and restaurant is 18 with 13 others injured, after a senseless assault devastating the community and the state of maine. Look, lewiston is a special place. Its a closeknit community with a long history of hard work, persistence, of faith, of opening its big heart to people everywhere. I love this place, just as i love our whole state with my entire heart. Im so deeply saddened, as is everyone of the 1. 3 Million People of this beautiful state. This city did not deserve this terrible assault on its citizens, on its peace of mind, on its sense of security. No city does. No state, no people. This Attack Strikes at the very heart of who we are and the values we hold dear for this precious place we call home. Devastating and emotional for the governor and all the residents. Photos released overnight show
The plan thaet can do that other than the pope. The pope. Republican congressman troy nells of texas with a totally normal comparison for the former president , the pope. A recap of what happened yesterday in Donald Trumps Criminal Hush Money Trial in just a moment. Plus, trumps comments about Birth Control that he quickly had to walk back. Also ahead a former Senior Adviser to President Obama lays out an alarming Supreme Court scenario for democrats if donald trump were to win in november. Well play for you that warning. Thats another one, elizabeth. Well get to that. So good morning. Welcome to morning joe. Its wednesday, may 22nd. Were in washington. The table is going what are we talking about today . With us we have u. S. Special correspondent for bbc news, katty kay, elizabeth b. Miller and Deputy Managing Editor for politics at politico, sam stein is with us. Well start with Donald Trumps criminal trial where testimony in the former president s hush money trial has officially fi
At least 1200 people are dead, 570 people in gaza, the west bank, 700 people in israel. Soldiers, civilians, children. The state Department Says nine americans are among those killed, and more may be missing. Around 150 taken hostage by hamas, and presently somewhere in gaza, the fates unknown. This afternoon. Hamas that is threatened to execute they. Now she says she has no idea her father, sister, cousin with special nines, grandmyowith demeantia. Another carried away to be used as a bargaining chip. Meanwhile, begging for the return of his wife and his daughters, ages 3 and 5. I tell them that be strong, hold on. Im thinking about you. Im working hard to try in order to get you back. Stay strong, trying to happy. Adopt be afraid. You know, its hard to say those things when i dont really know what conditions theyre being held in. Americans are believed to be among those kidnapped as the United States and the world plots the next moves. Nation scrambling to say their citizens out of a