Primary elections are taking place today in Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, and West Virginia. In Maryland, there is the ultra-competitive (and ultra-expensive) race for who will take over Ben Cardin’s Senate seat after he retires. In West Virginia, Sen. Joe Manchin’s seat is on the line. Senior campaign and elections editor and chief polling analyst Steve Shepard walks Playbook co-author Rachael Bade through the races to watch and what they can tell us about the presidential election.
All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

May 14, 2024: What Tuesday’s primaries can reveal about November

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On Thursday afternoon, a Manhattan trial of his peers found former President Donald Trump guilty on all charges of falsifying business records. The jury deliberated for two days. Shortly after the verdict was announced, Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza sat down with senior writer and columnist for Politico Magazine (and former federal prosecutor) Ankush Khardori and senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney. They unpack how the prosecution prevailed, how the defense botched it, and what—if any—effect this will have on Trump’s life and political future.

May 31, 2024: The People v. Donald Trump

Jury deliberations in Trump's hush money case started yesterday, and already there have been a number of interesting developments. Twice during the day, jurors sent notes to the judge. The first asked to review segments of testimony that came out during the trial; the second asked the judge to rehash jury instructions. What, if anything, can this tell us about a possible verdict? Legal editor James Romoser offers Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels some insight. Plus, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris make a rare double-appearance in Philadelphia to emphasize the importance of the Black vote, and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s flag fiasco is only getting more complicated. All of that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

May 30, 2024: Countdown to a Trump verdict

Jury deliberations for former President Donald Trump's hush money case begin today. Yesterday, attorneys on both sides laid out their closing arguments in what was a nearly 12-hour day in court. But New York isn’t the only place Trump is making legal headlines. In Florida, yet another snafu involving Judge Aileen Cannon is making the likelihood of that trial taking place before the election slimmer and slimmer. Senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to recount what he saw in the courthouse Tuesday and what to expect in the coming days.

May 29, 2024: Trump’s fate is now in the hands of the jury

As the end of former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial looms, his future has come into question. Should a jury decide to convict Trump, there are a number of different punishment options on the table. He could, of course, be sentenced to jail time. But, what would that look like? And what else could Judge Juan Merchan have the former president and presumptive GOP nominee do? National correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to offer some insight. Plus, some Democrats are voicing fears about the Biden campaign’s approach to the 2024 election, and how will President Biden respond to Israel’s deadly attack on a refugee camp in Rafah? All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

May 28, 2024: What could a conviction spell for Trump?

Donald Trump held a large rally in the South Bronx in New York City last night, attended by a diverse array of people — a far cry from the typical MAGA rally crowd. National politics correspondent Meridith McGraw, who was present at the rally, tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza about how Trump tailored his message to the Big Apple audience. And just as interesting, she explains, is what he left unsaid. Plus, inside the U.S.’s plan for a “prominent post-war” role in Gaza, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

May 14, 2024: What Tuesday’s primaries can reveal about November

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