This week on Trump's Trials, host Scott Detrow and Domenico Montanaro are joined by a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author of three books about Trump David Cay Johnston.

Over the course of four weeks former President Donald Trump was slapped with nearly half a billion dollars in legal penalties. First a jury ordered him to pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million. Then a judge ordered him to pay nearly $355 million, plus $100 million in interest, for fraudulent business practices. We look into how Trump could pay these penalties and how he's paying for his lawyers. 

Topics include: 
- Importance of wealth to Trump's image
- Civil fraud and E. Jean Carroll decisions
- How Trump could pay legal penalties 
- How Trump is paying his lawyers

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Trump owes about half a billion dollars in legal penalties — how will he pay for it?

Reporting and analysis on the inquiries, trials, and criminal probes facing former President Donald Trump. From the Jan. 6 insurrection and Georgia election interference, to the ongoing question of classified documents - and beyond - host Scott Detrow, political editor Domenico Montanaro and legal experts dive deep every week to explore the news inside the courtrooms and the stakes for American democracy.

Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to Trump's Trials+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/trumpstrials

News

Politics

For this episode of Trump's Trials, All Things Considered host Juana Summers speaks with NPR political reporter Ximena Bustillo. 

The prosecution's star witness Michael Cohen was back on the stand today in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial. Trump's defense team took direct aim at Cohen's credibility, asking him about his criminal history, times he's lied and questioned his memory of events. 

Topics include:
- Cross-examination of Cohen
- What's next 

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Trump's defense tries to cast doubt on Michael Cohen's credibility

For this episode of Trump's Trials, All Things Considered host Juana Summers speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein and attorney Kim Wehle.

Donald Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen spent a second day on the witness stand testifying against his one time boss. Cohen mostly testified about purposefully mislabeling checks, false receipts and his previous loyalty to Trump. 

Cohen was aggressively cross-examined by Trump's defense team over social media statements he's made about Trump and whether he wants to see Trump in jail. Cohen is expected to be the final witness for the prosecution then defense will present their case to the jury. 

Topics include:
- Cohen testimony 
- Cross-examination of Cohen

Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.

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Trump's defense team grills Michael Cohen in cross-examination

For this episode of Trump's Trials, All Things Considered host Ailsa Chang speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein and attorney Andrew Weissmann.

Donald Trump's former personal attorney and "fixer" Michael Cohen gave an extended, first-hand account of what happened in the turbulent months at the end of the 2016 campaign.

At the New York criminal courthouse, Cohen said that then-presidential candidate Trump directed him to negotiate an agreement with adult film actor Stormy Daniels. 

Topics include:
- What Cohen said on the stand
- If Cohen's testimony is necessary in this case
- A preview of the defense's strategy for cross examination 

Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.

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Former fixer Michael Cohen takes the stand in Trump's criminal trial

For this episode of Trump's Trials, host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro and Boston University law professor Jed Shugerman. 

This week adult film actress Stormy Daniels testified about her alleged sexual encounter with former president Donald Trump in 2006. Daniels described the encounter, which Trump denies took place, in great detail. Although whether or not Trump and Daniels had sex is not what the jury will rule on, it is the alleged event that led to a payment 10 years later that lies at the heart of the case. 

Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen is expected to testify on Monday. His testimony will be key for the prosecution's case. And calling Cohen's testimony into question will be a top priority for Trump's defense team. 

Topics include:
- Stormy Daniels' testimony 
- Stormy Daniels' impact on the case 
- Michael Cohen to testify 

Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.

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Stormy moments in Trump's hush money trial

For this episode of Trump's Trials, All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein.

Adult film actress Stormy Daniels took the stand for the second time in the New York hush money case. The defense continued their cross-examination of Daniels attempting to highlight inconsistencies in her story about meeting Trump in 2006. Defense attorneys questioned whether Daniels was out to make money, asking her about a book deal and documentary she was in. 

Topics include:
- Stormy Daniels testimony 
- Cross-examination 


Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.

Sign up for sponsor-free episodes and support NPR's political journalism at plus.npr.org/trumpstrials.

Email the show at trumpstrials@npr.org.

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Trump owes about half a billion dollars in legal penalties — how will he pay for it?

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