A federal judge in New York has upheld a defamation verdict against former President Donald Trump, requiring him to pay $83 million to E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accused him of sexual assault. The ruling comes after Trump’s motion for a new trial was denied, affirming that Carroll suffered damages from Trump’s public attacks against her following her sexual assault allegations.
Despite facing ongoing legal challenges and restrictions, former President Trump is gaining momentum in the latest Bloomberg poll, with significant leads in key swing states. The poll indicates a remarkable comeback for Trump, attributed in part to the perceived unfairness of his prosecution and the lack of a strong alternative among Democratic candidates.
Voters are said to be concerned about the cumulative effects of inflation, the open border, and the perceived weakness of President Biden. Trump’s choice of a mainstream running mate is expected to widen the gap further in his favor, as voters prioritize issues such as appeasement, crime, education, and inflation.
The ongoing prosecution in Manhattan is seen as a political show trial, further galvanizing Trump’s supporters who view it as an attempt to silence and discredit him.
Hugh Hewitt, the author of the article, expects a significant backlash from this abuse of criminal law and a potential reset for the Democratic party, calling for a return to adherence to the rule of law and support for Israel.
President Biden and former President Trump are in a statistical dead heat in a hypothetical three-way general election race that includes independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to the latest polling data. Biden and Trump are both at 41.3 percent support, with Kennedy following at 7.7 percent. Biden’s gains come as he has closed the gap with Trump over the past few months, and several recent polls have shown a very close race. The development is welcome news for Biden’s campaign, which has to prevent Kennedy from hindering the president’s reelection amid concerns about the independent candidate’s momentum.
The ongoing hush money trial of former President Donald Trump has lifted the lid on a murky corner of the media industry: pay-to-play tabloid journalism. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump enjoyed close ties with the National Enquirer, headed by American Media Inc. CEO David Pecker. Pecker testified under oath that he actively sought to be Trump’s “eyes and ears,” engaging in a scheme to “catch” (buy the rights to) and “kill” (never publish) negative Trump stories. Trump is now accused of falsifying documents related to a payment made to Stormy Daniels to suppress her alleged affair with him. Pecker’s testimony highlights the disturbing tactics used by some tabloid outlets, including paying sources for stories and embellishing information to create salacious headlines. While there are arguments for compensating marginalized sources, the practice of buying stories is generally taboo in traditional newsrooms. The National Enquirer’s “checkbook journalism” approach raises concerns about the credibility and independence of such outlets.
President Biden has secured the endorsement of the North America’s Building Trades Unions, adding to his growing list of union support. The endorsement came during an event where Biden and union leaders criticized former President Trump’s business record and fitness for office. Biden accused Trump of being incapable of running anything, citing his inability to pass infrastructure legislation and his callous treatment of workers. The endorsement adds to Biden’s efforts to win over blue-collar voters, a demographic that has traditionally supported Republicans.
Nikki Haley, a former Republican presidential hopeful, has garnered a significant number of votes in the Pennsylvania GOP primary despite withdrawing from the race weeks prior. While former President Trump remains the frontrunner, Haley’s strong performance indicates continued support for her among voters in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania.
According to a new poll by Bloomberg News and Morning Consult, former President Donald Trump holds a 6-point lead over President Joe Biden in seven key battleground states: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Michigan. The poll, conducted between April 8-15 among 4,969 registered voters, found that Trump garnered 49% support over Biden’s 43%. The only state where Biden held the lead was Michigan, by 2 points. Respondents expressed concerns over the economy, with 55% stating that inflation is getting worse and 36% saying that the employment rate is getting worse. Abortion was cited as a “very important” issue by 52% of respondents when deciding who to vote for in November.
President Biden made a verbal gaffe during a campaign rally in Tampa, accidentally claiming that he could not be trusted. The comment came in the context of a speech criticizing former President Donald Trump’s opposition to abortion rights. Conservative commentators on social media seized on the quote, jokingly agreeing with Biden’s assessment. Biden’s gaffe was one of several in recent weeks, including equivocating on anti-Israel protests and confusingly urging people to choose “freedom over democracy.”
Former US President Donald Trump is set to receive a windfall of $1.3 billion in stock bonuses from Truth Social’s parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). This substantial payout represents nearly half of Trump’s current stake in the company and brings his total shareholding to a staggering $4.1 billion. The award is a reflection of TMTG’s recent share price surge, which has resulted in a significant increase in Trump’s wealth.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) narrowly avoided a tragedy when his sons almost drowned in a riptide following a dinner with former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago last fall. According to a profile published by The Atlantic, Johnson’s teenage sons were caught in the undertow while swimming near the beach. A parasailer spotted one of the boys struggling and alerted lifeguards, who rushed to their aid on jet skis. Speaker Johnson, who was attending a fundraiser nearby, was alerted by his security detail and arrived on the scene to find medical personnel performing CPR on his sons. The boys spent four hours in the emergency room before being released. President Trump, upon hearing about the incident, reportedly called Johnson to express his relief and discuss the faith aspect of the event.
