The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi

Former President Donald Trump took the witness stand in this $250 million-dollar civil fraud trial in New York. Trump blasted the judge, attack prosecutors and insisted the case was the work of his political opponents. Also, with about a year to go until election day 2024, a New York Times/Siena poll shows President Biden trailing former President Trump in most key battleground states. Plus Israel’s ground operations move deeper into Gaza after one month of war with Hamas. 240 hostages are still being held and Israel’s Prime Minister has rejected a cease-fire until they are released. Hugo Lowell, Andrew Weissmann, Melissa Murray, Robert Gibbs, Mark McKinnon, and Jeremy Bash join.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken returns to Israel amid pushing the need for a humanitarian pause. Meanwhile, President Biden visits Lewiston, Maine to meet with grieving families after the mass shooting. Plus, the alarming wave of antisemitism across the country, particularly on college campuses. We talk to three students about their experiences. Ellison Barber, Michael Bociurkiw, Jeremy Bash, Leroy Walker Sr., Yola Ashkenazie, Amanda Silberstein, and Bella Ingber join.

Donald Trump’s two eldest sons testify in the New York civil fraud trial. Don Jr. and Eric Trump try to distance themselves from financial documents at the heart of the case. Disgraced FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has been found guilty on all 7 counts in his criminal trial, a verdict that could send him to jail for life. Health care activist Ady Barkan died at the age of 39. In 2016, Barkan was diagnosed with ALS and devoted his remaining time fighting to improve the American healthcare system. We mourn the loss of a strong and brave individual who embodied the phrase “be a hero.” Neal Katyal, Charles Coleman, David Cay Johnston, Ellison Barber, Yaakov Katz, David Jolly, Conor Lamb, David Gura, and Zake Faux join.

Donald Trump Jr took the stand to testify in the $250 million civil fraud suit against his father and the Trump organization. Senator Elizabeth Warren sits down with Stephanie Ruhle as the House prepares to vote on Speaker Johnson’s proposal to provide $14.3 billion for Israel by slashing IRS funding. A special one-one-one with actor, executive producer, and director Henry Winkler, as he talks about his new book and life after “The Fonz”. Carol Leonnig, David Fahrenthold, Joyce Vance, Elizabeth Warren, Ben Rhodes, and Henry Winkler join.

Israel widens ground operations and continues airstrikes in Gaza. Today one airstrike hit a large refugee camp. Meanwhile, the Senate confirms Jack Lew as U.S. ambassador to Israel. Then, new House Speaker Mike Johnson is the focus of backlash after proposing a $14 billion spending deal that would send aid to Israel but slash the IRS budget by the same amount. One of the 11th Hour’s very own brings New York City kids together at block party like no other. Huma Abedin, Frank Figliuzzi, Ravi Agrawal, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, Glenn Kirschner, Katie Benner, Carlos Curbelo, and Basil Smikle join.

The IDF pushes deeper into Gaza. Israel says it rescued a hostage during a military operation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells his nation, “This is a time for war.” Then Judge Chutkan reimposes a gag order on former president Trump in his federal election interference case in DC. The order bars him from making public statements targeting prosecutors, court staff, and likely witnesses. Trump is under another gag order in his civil fraud case in New York. Then, Former “crypto-king” Sam Bankman-Fried was grilled on the witness stand in his criminal fraud trial as prosecutors cross-examined him for hours. He faces multiple federal charges, including wire fraud and money laundering, and could spender decades in prison. Ellison Barber, Amb. Dennis Ross, David Rohde, Dr. Nahreen Ahmed, Barbara McQuade, Mark Mckinnon, Adam Lehman, Jonathan Greenblatt, and David Gura join.

Robert Card, the man suspected of killing 18 people in Lewiston, Maine mass shootings, was found dead. Then, Israel says it's increasing the ground operation in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war rages on. Then this week is put into perspective with the help of a Presidential historian. Kathy Park, George Solis, Frank Figliuzzi, Michael Shepherd, Ellison Barber, Peter Baker, Jeremy Bash, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Martin Fletcher, and Michael Beschloss join.

A manhunt for suspected gunman Robert Card is still underway after 18 people were killed in a mass shooting in Lewiston, ME. Many people are still sheltering in place as multiple law enforcement agencies comb through the area. After three weeks, all House Republicans voted to elect Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) Speaker of the House. Rep. Johnson is criticized for his views on abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and efforts to overturn the 2020 general election. The Lewiston, ME community is mourning the 18 residents killed in Wednesday’s mass shootings. Tom Winter, Ken Altshuler, Dhruv Chandra, Max Rose, Brendan Buck, Janine Zacharia, Kevin Baron, and Catherine Christian join.

ABC News reports Mark Meadows has been granted immunity from Special Counsel Jack Smith in exchange for his testimony in Trump’s federal election interference case. Israel steps up airstrikes on Gaza as Prime Minister Netanyahu tells Israeli troops they’re “facing the next stage” the in war with Hamas. Plus, Officer Harry Dunn joins talk about his new book “Standing My Ground: A Capitol Police Offer’s Fight for Accountability and Good Trouble After January 6th”. Peter Baker, Katie Benner, Glenn Kirschner, Jeremy Bash, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, Robert Gibbs, Reed Galen, and Harry Dunn join.

Summary: Three days after the release of two Americans, Hamas released two more hostages. It comes as the U.S. advises Israel to delay a possible ground invasion in Gaza to allow for more hostage negotiations. Then, Stephanie sits down with GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie to discuss the chaos in the House, Donald Trump, and the Israel-Hamas war. Meanwhile, eight House Republicans are running for Speaker after one dropped out. An internal vote is expected Tuesday, which marks three weeks since the party’s far-right wing ousted Kevin McCarthy. Ellison Barber, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, Chris Christie, Mark McKinnon, Stuart Stevens, and Claire McCaskill join.