The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi

While special counsel Jack Smith aims to start the election interference trial in January 2024, Trump’s lawyers are seeking to push it to April 2026 instead. Meantime, Ron DeSantis’ debate strategy for next week’s GOP debate posted online. Plus, a Kansas newspaper is raided by police but it didn’t stop them from publishing their weekly paper. Peter Baker, Katie Benner, Glenn Kirschner, Juanita Tolliver, Reed Galen and Eric Meyer join.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis proposed a March 4th trial date in the Georgia election case – just one day before Super Tuesday. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s “X”, is accused of slowing down traffic to websites Elon Musk dislikes, as a judge suggests Musk withheld Trump’s Twitter data to “cozy up” to the former president. Kyle Cheney, Joyce Vance, Jake Ward, Justin Wolfers, Amy McGrath and Tim Miller join.

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis set an August 25th deadline for Trump and 18 others to voluntarily surrender in the state’s 2020 election case. It comes as we learn they’ll all be booked at the Fulton County Jail. Meantime, Mark Meadows becomes the first of the co-defendants to seek to move the case to federal court. Plus, former NFL star Michael Oher files a lawsuit against the “Blind Side” family. Greg Bluestein, Claire McCaskill, Kristy Greenberg, Neal Katyal, Conor Lamb, Stuart Stevens and Michael Fletcher join.

Judge Chutkan issued a protective order against former President Trump and cautioned him against intimidating witnesses. Plus, Attorney General Merrick Garland appoints a special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe. Jon Allen, Tia Mitchell, David Jolly and Renato Mariotti break down today’s biggest stories. And later, Steve Liesman, Abby Livingston, Sami Sage and Bill Carter hit the roundtable for the Friday Nightcap to talk about the economy, Hollywood strikes and share this week’s MVPs.

Trump’s behavior will be at the center of a hearing Friday in the Justice Department’s election interference case. It comes as the special counsel’s office proposes a January 2, 2024 trial date. Plus, a new report found Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted even more luxurious gifts from billionaires than first thought. Peter Baker, Luke Broadwater, Kristy Greenberg, Brett Murphy, Max Rose, Stuart Stevens and Brandy Zadronzny join.

Special Counsel Jack Smith obtained a search warrant for Former President Trump’s Twitter back in January.

Twitter’s initial resistance in complying with the warrant resulted in a $350,000 fine for the company.

Plus, a special one-on-one with CEO of GM Mary Barra to talk all things auto industry.

Sam Stein, Joyce Vance, Glenn Thrush, Clint Watt, Symone Sanders-Townsend, and Tim Miller join.

The judge overseeing the DOJ’s election interference case set a protective order hearing for Friday, despite attempts from Trump’s legal team to postpone to next week. Meantime, Ohio voters made a huge statement in support of abortion rights after rejecting a ballot measure that would make it harder to change the state’s constitution. Plus, breaking down the biggest headlines in business and tech. Katie Benner, Frank Figliuzzi, Charles Coleman, Juanita Tolliver, Matthew Dowd, Justin Wolfers and Kara Swisher join.

Special counsel Jack Smith and Trump’s legal team argue over evidence sharing in the election interference case as Judge Chutkan orders a hearing to settle the dispute by Friday. Plus, GOP candidate Ron DeSantis admits Trump lost the 2020 election. And a special election on Tuesday could determine the future of abortion in Ohio. Philip Rucker, Tali Farhadian Weinstein, Kyle Cheney, Greg Bluestein, Dr. Jason John, Mark McKinnon, and Ohio State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney join.

Special counsel Jack Smith filed a request for a protective order in the election interference case, citing a Trump post. It comes as calls grow for cameras in the courtroom of Trump’s trials. Plus, some of Lizzo’s former dancers filed a lawsuit accusing the singer of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. Glenn Thrush, Katie Benner, Glenn Kirschner, Jon Allen, Reed Galen, Krystie Lee Yandoli and Jon Meacham join.

Former President Trump pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he conspired to overturn the 2020 presidential election. His next hearing is set for August 28th, where the judge will set a date for his trial. It comes as Trump defenders are using Hunter Biden to deflect from the former President’s latest indictment. Ryan Reilly, Carol Leonnig, Kristy Greenberg, Charles Coleman, Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, Peter Baker, Philip Bump, Symone Sanders-Townsend, and Tim Miller join.