Jonathan Alter is a presidential historian and longtime reporter and columnist for Newsweek in its heyday. For the last few weeks, he has been in the actual courtroom with Donald Trump every single day. He and Bill discuss the trial of and the likelihood of Trump being convicted of a felony. The defense has just about wrapped up its case, with Michael Cohen admitting to stealing money from the Trump Organization. The prosecution had to remind the jury that it is Donald Trump who is on trial, not Michael Cohen. The judge also criticized a defense witness for inappropriate behavior in the courtroom. He and Bill discuss the dramatic events that occurred in the courtroom, including the clearing of the courtroom and a frenzied exit by reporters. The trial is not about whether Trump had sex with Stormy Daniels, but rather about campaign finance violations and falsification of business records. The defense is trying to shift the focus onto Cohen, while the prosecution is trying to establish that Trump knew about and approved the illegal payments. The chances of Trump being convicted are discussed.

You can read his short daily reports in The New York Times here and the longer reports at his newsletter at OldGoats.substack.com.

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