Trump news – live: Trump mocked over new NFT trading cards as ex-president rails against Elon Musk

Donald Trump has released a second iteration of his NFT trading cards, leading to mockery online.

The former president announced on Tuesday 18 April that he was selling another series of the NFT trading cards he released this past December.

“I am pleased to inform you that, due to the great success of my previously launched DIGITAL TRADING CARDS, we are doing it again, SERIES 2, AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW,” Mr Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The second series of cards consists of eight different NFTS, all priced at $99. But on Twitter, people derided the new illustrations.

The release comes as a judge ruled that Mr Trump’s rape case against E Jean Carroll will go ahead as planned next week – knocking back the former president’s request for a delay.

In other issues, Mr Trump’s battle with rival Republican Ron DeSantis continues to ramp up.

A super PAC supporting the Florida governor released a television ad accusing Mr Trump of “stealing pages from the Biden-Pelosi playbook”.

Mr Trump fired back on Truth Social on Monday, fuming that “Ron DeSanctus” was spreading “Democrat Disinformation!”

Key Points

• Trump’s financial disclosures reveal his post-White house earnings

• Fox News settles with Dominion Voting Systems for stunning $787m

• Judge rejects another effort by Trump’s lawyers to delay E Jean Carroll trial

• ‘What happened to Donald Trump?’ DeSantis supporting super PAC launches attack ad against former president

• Trump’s presidential campaign has raised $34m so far this year

McConnell dodges questions about Trump’s criminal indictment

06:45 , John Bowden

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joked with reporters about responding to Donald Trump’s criminal indictment on Tuesday as he returned for his first regular press conference following his hospitalisation for a fall.

Dominion wins $787m from Fox as election lies lawsuit settled: ‘Lies have consequences’

05:45 , John Bowden

Moments before opening arguments in one of the biggest defamation trials in US history were set to begin, Fox News agreed to settle a lawsuit from a voting machine company that accused the network of spreading false statements about its business in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

Fox settled for $787.5m, about half of Dominion’s original demand of $1.6bn.

Alex Woodward has the story:

Dominion wins $787m from Fox as election lies lawsuit settled

Elvis, BBQ chef, gold chess piece: Trump mocked over ‘nightmare fuel’ NFT trading cards – all priced at $99

04:45 , John Bowden

Donald Trump released a second iteration of his NFT trading cards, leading to mockery online.

The former president announced on Tuesday 18 April that he was selling another series of the NFT trading cards he released this past December.

“I am pleased to inform you that, due to the great success of my previously launched DIGITAL TRADING CARDS, we are doing it again, SERIES 2, AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW,” Mr Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The second series of cards consists of eight different NFTS, all priced at $99. But on Twitter, people mocked the new illustrations.

Read more:

Trump mocked over ‘nightmare fuel’ NFT trading cards – all priced at $99

George Santos puts forward bill named after Nicki Minaj as he announces re-election bid

03:45 , John Bowden

George Santos is officially running for re-election in 2024, even as he faces multiple investigations headed up by the House Ethics Committee, the FBI and local authorities.

And he’s marking his bid for a second term with a bill named in honour of Nicki Minaj, the New York-born rapper whose comments expressing skepticism about vaccines clearly resonated with the congressman as he seeks to prevent the federal government from mandating administration of any vaccine that hasn’t been on the market for a decade.

It would, however, carve out an exception for cases of a public health emergency – like the Covid-19 crisis.

Read more about New York’s scandal-plagued pro-Trump congressman:

George Santos introduces bill named for Nicki Minaj as he announces re-election bid

Nonprofits seek to disqualify Trump from 2024 ballot over January 6 riot

02:45 , John Bowden

Two nonprofit groups — including the group that challenged several GOP House members’ eligibility to serve because of their support for the January 6 attack on the Capitol — are looking to use the same provision of the US Constitution to keep Donald Trump off the ballot next year.

Mr Trump’s support for the attack, the groups say, would fall under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits any “officer of the United States” who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against” the country — after previously taking an oath to support the Constitution — from serving in any federal office.

It’s a longshot bid by the groups, but spells out the kind of resistance Mr Trump is going to face from even centrist-aligned organisations heading in to 2024, thanks to the chaos that was 2020 and early 2021.

Read more from Andrew Feinberg:

Trump could be banned from ever entering White House again using Civil War-era clause

Disney holds first ever Pride Night as DeSantis threatens company

01:45 , John Bowden

Disney announced it will hold its first ever "Pride Nite" event, a move that will no doubt drive a further wedge between the entertainment titan and Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis.

Hours before the announcement, Mr DeSantis held a press conference where he laid out a menu of potential retaliatory schemes he could undertake to get back at Disney for using an obscure property law to retain its self-governance.

Those plots included raising the park's taxes, building a prison next door, or selling the land surrounding Disney to another theme park. The governor also highlighted proposed legislation that would impose new inspection regulations on Disney.

Graig Graziosi has the story:

Disney holds first ever Pride Night as DeSantis threatens company

McCarthy hits Biden for not negotiating with GOP on debt limit

Wednesday 19 April 2023 00:45 , John Bowden

The White House may be on track for a political victory over the debt limit as the GOP Speaker of the House looks at least somewhat unwilling to threaten America’s credit by blocking an increase to the debt limit.

But that didn’t stop Kevin McCarthy from hammering President Joe Biden on the issue of not negotiating with Republicans over spending decreases at all, as the White House has maintained that the president wants to see the GOP’s budget proposal in full before any such talks begin.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Kevin McCarthy hits Biden for not negotiating with GOP on debt limit

George Santos campaign operating at a loss this year, according to election filings

Tuesday 18 April 2023 23:45 , John Bowden

As he officially announces his bid for reelection, George Santos has already run into his first snag.

The campaign finances of the Republican, who’s come under scrutiny for exagerrating or inventing numerous details of his backstory, are in rough shape. He’s operating at a loss of $3,000 this year, Axios reports.

Josh Marcus has more:

George Santos campaign operating at net loss of $3000 this year, according to filings

If news taints rape-trial jurors, Trump shares blame, says judge

Tuesday 18 April 2023 23:15 , John Bowden

Donald Trump’s rape trial will begin next week as scheduled after a federal judge on Monday rejected his lawyer’s request for a one-month delay, saying the former president cannot make public statements to promote pretrial publicity and then claim it’s prejudicial to him and reason to delay a trial.

Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan said the civil trial on claims against Trump by a longtime columnist, E Jean Carroll, will begin as scheduled on 25 April. Trump denies the rape happened or that he ever knew Carroll.

Read more...

Judge rejects Trump’s last-minute bid to delay rape and defamation trial

ICYMI: Protesters shout at Jim Jordan outside of House hearing in New York City

Tuesday 18 April 2023 22:45 , John Bowden

As Republican Representative Jim Jordan attempted to hold a House Judiciary Committee hearing in New York attacking Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, protesters could be heard shouting and chanting outside.

“Let the public in,” a group of protesters shouted from the hallway located directly outside of the room where Mr Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee held their meeting on Monday,

Outside of the Jacob Javits Federal Building in downtown Manhattan, another group of protesters chanted, “Hey hey, ho, ho, Jim Jordan’s got to go.”

Ariana Baio reports from New York City.

Protesters shout at Jim Jordan outside of House hearing in NYC on Alvin Bragg

Donald Trump suggests Disney could ditch Florida as he mocks DeSantis over Reedy Creek humiliation

Tuesday 18 April 2023 22:15 , John Bowden

Donald Trump mocked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday for the recent debate over changes to the Reedy Creek Improvement District by suggesting Walt Disney World could retaliate against the Florida Governor.

Mr DeSantis held a press conference this past week threatening Disney should they not cooperate. The ideas he raised in retaliation included potentially raising the park’s taxes, building a prison next door, or selling the land around Disney to a different theme park.

Read more:

Trump suggests Disney could ditch Florida as he mocks DeSantis over Reedy Creek

Dominion wins $787m from Fox as election lies lawsuit settled: ‘Lies have consequences’

Tuesday 18 April 2023 21:46 , John Bowden

Moments before opening arguments in one of the biggest defamation trials in US history were set to begin, Fox News agreed to settle a lawsuit from a voting machine company that accused the network of spreading false statements about its business in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

Fox settled for $787.5m, about half of Dominion’s original demand of $1.6bn.

Alex Woodward has the story:

Dominion wins $787m from Fox as election lies lawsuit settled

George Santos puts forward bill named after Nicki Minaj as he announces re-election bid

Tuesday 18 April 2023 21:20 , John Bowden

George Santos is officially running for re-election in 2024, even as he faces multiple investigations headed up by the House Ethics Committee, the FBI and local authorities.

And he’s marking his bid for a second term with a bill named in honour of Nicki Minaj, the New York-born rapper whose comments expressing skepticism about vaccines clearly resonated with the congressman as he seeks to prevent the federal government from mandating administration of any vaccine that hasn’t been on the market for a decade.

It would, however, carve out an exception for cases of a public health emergency – like the Covid-19 crisis.

Read more about New York’s scandal-plagued pro-Trump congressman:

George Santos introduces bill named for Nicki Minaj as he announces re-election bid

McConnell dodges questions about Trump’s criminal indictment

Tuesday 18 April 2023 20:46 , John Bowden

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joked with reporters on Tuesday as he returned for his first regular press conference following his hospitalisation for a fall.

Elvis, BBQ chef, gold chess piece: Trump mocked over ‘nightmare fuel’ NFT trading cards – all priced at $99

Tuesday 18 April 2023 20:15 , John Bowden

Donald Trump released a second iteration of his NFT trading cards, leading to mockery online.

The former president announced on Tuesday 18 April that he was selling another series of the NFT trading cards he released this past December.

“I am pleased to inform you that, due to the great success of my previously launched DIGITAL TRADING CARDS, we are doing it again, SERIES 2, AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW,” Mr Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The second series of cards consists of eight different NFTS, all priced at $99. But on Twitter, people mocked the new illustrations.

Read more:

Trump mocked over ‘nightmare fuel’ NFT trading cards – all priced at $99

Stephen Colbert trolls Trump and Melania

Tuesday 18 April 2023 19:25 , John Bowden

Stephen Colbert trolled Donald and Melania Trump on his late-night show on Monday.

OnThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Melania – played by Laura Benanti – made an appearance, seeking to put to bed the rumours about why she has fallen quiet after her husband’s indictment.

The spoof Melania boasted she had been enjoying her life “spending time with my family, enjoying roped-off brunches at my live-in golf prison, and disposing of top secret documents”.

She was also spending time eating classified documents. “You can really taste the national security,” she said.

Trump whines about not getting enough credit for not overcharging people for NFTs

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:55 , John Bowden

Another one of Donald Trump’s Tuesday gripes on Truth Social centred around the issue of his “trading cards” — a set of digital NFTs marketed towards his supporters for his personal gain.

In a post, he made the bizarre complaint that media organisations were not patting him on the back for keeping the prices for the wholly purposeless “items” steady, despite, as he claimed, rising demand for the artistic offerings.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:02 , John Bowden

Just yesterday, former President Donald Trump was hitting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over another favourite GOP issue — the Second Amendment.

The former president disputed Mr DeSantis’s claim in an ad that he was aligned with Democrats over the issue of gun rights.

”Wow, that’s like Democrat Disinformation!” he wrote, also claiming that “Ron DeSanctus” didn’t attend the NRA Convention over the weekend in person because he was concerned about being booed.

Here’s the full post:

And here’s what got him wound up:

Trump claims Elon Musk trying to ‘make friends’ with Joe Biden

Tuesday 18 April 2023 17:20 , John Bowden

Donald Trump revealed his thoughts about Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday as the former president sees his own platform for conservatives, Truth Social, face financial struggles.

“I don’t believe Elon Musk voted for Biden, not for a minute! He told me that he voted for me, but who knows about that, and who cares? Elon is just trying to make friends with the absolutely horrible Biden Administration because of all the government subsidies he gets, and all the permits he needs. His space company, car company, battery company, tunnel company, and even Twitter, which was illegally controlled by the FBI, need government HELP & SUBSIDIES. HE IS JUST “MENDING FENCES!”

Nonprofits seek to disqualify Trump from 2024 ballot over January 6 riot

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:13 , John Bowden

Two nonprofit groups — including the group that challenged several GOP House members’ eligibility to serve because of their support for the January 6 attack on the Capitol — are looking to use the same provision of the US Constitution to keep Donald Trump off the ballot next year.

Mr Trump’s support for the attack, the groups say, would fall under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits any “officer of the United States” who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against” the country — after previously taking an oath to support the Constitution — from serving in any federal office.

It’s a longshot bid by the groups, but spells out the kind of resistance Mr Trump is going to face from even centrist-aligned organisations heading in to 2024, thanks to the chaos that was 2020 and early 2021.

Read more from Andrew Feinberg:

Trump could be banned from ever entering White House again using Civil War-era clause

Trump: DeSantis is being ‘destroyed by Disney'

Tuesday 18 April 2023 15:14 , John Bowden

Donald Trump speculated that Ron DeSantis would lose his political war against the Disney corporation on Tuesday.

The president issued his latest attempt in his now months-long campaign to bait the Florida governor, who has not yet announced whether he will run for president despite heavy speculation around the matter, into a fight with a post on Truth Social that went live Tuesday morning after the governor made what his aides later clarified was a joking threat to place a new state prison near the massive Disney World resort.

“DeSanctus is being absolutely destroyed by Disney,” Mr Trump claimed in the post. “His original P.R. plan fizzled, so now he’s going back with a new one in order to save face. Disney’s next move will be the announcement that no more money will be invested in Florida because of the Governor - In fact, they could even announce a slow withdrawal or sale of certain properties, or the whole thing. Watch! That would be a killer. In the meantime, this is all so unnecessary, a political STUNT! Ron should work on the squatter MESS!”

FEC filings show Trump made less than $200 from Truth Social

Tuesday 18 April 2023 14:37 , John Bowden

Donald Trump’s personal financial disclosure reports with the Federal Election Commission offer the first public glimpse into his earnings and financial state since leaving the White House in 2021.

Alex Woodward took a look at the details.

Donald Trump made less than $200 from Truth Social, filings show

ICYMI: Protesters shout at Jim Jordan outside of House hearing in New York City

Tuesday 18 April 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As Republican Representative Jim Jordan attempted to hold a House Judiciary Committee hearing in New York attacking Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, protesters could be heard shouting and chanting outside.

“Let the public in,” a group of protesters shouted from the hallway located directly outside of the room where Mr Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee held their meeting on Monday,

Outside of the Jacob Javits Federal Building in downtown Manhattan, another group of protesters chanted, “Hey hey, ho, ho, Jim Jordan’s got to go.”

Ariana Baio reports from New York City.

Protesters shout at Jim Jordan outside of House hearing in NYC on Alvin Bragg

McCarthy hits Biden for not negotiating with GOP on debt ceiling

Tuesday 18 April 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House may be on track for a political victory over the debt limit as the GOP Speaker of the House looks at least somewhat unwilling to threaten America’s credit by blocking an increase to the debt limit.

But that didn’t stop Kevin McCarthy from hammering President Joe Biden on the issue of not negotiating with Republicans over spending decreases at all, as the White House has maintained that the president wants to see the GOP’s budget proposal in full before any such talks begin.

Mr McCarthy spoke Monday morning at the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange, before sitting down for a Q&A with the NYSE’s president.

John Bowden reports.

Kevin McCarthy hits Biden for not negotiating with GOP on debt limit

Stephen Colbert trolls Trump and Melania

Tuesday 18 April 2023 12:45 , Rachel Sharp

Stephen Colbert trolled Donald and Melania Trump on his late-night show on Monday.

OnThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Melania – played by Laura Benanti – made an appearance, seeking to put to bed the rumours about why she has fallen quiet after her husband’s indictment.

The spoof Melania boasted she had been enjoying her life “spending time with my family, enjoying roped-off brunches at my live-in golf prison, and disposing of top secret documents”.

She was also spending time eating classified documents. “You can really taste the national security,” she said.

George Santos puts forward bill named after Nicki Minaj as he announces re-election bid

Tuesday 18 April 2023 22:00 , John Bowden

George Santos is officially running for re-election in 2024, even as he faces multiple investigations headed up by the House Ethics Committee, the FBI and local authorities.

And he’s marking his bid for a second term with a bill named in honour of Nicki Minaj, the New York-born rapper whose comments expressing skepticism about vaccines clearly resonated with the congressman as he seeks to prevent the federal government from mandating administration of any vaccine that hasn’t been on the market for a decade.

It would, however, carve out an exception for cases of a public health emergency – like the Covid-19 crisis.

Read more about New York’s scandal-plagued pro-Trump congressman:

George Santos introduces bill named for Nicki Minaj as he announces re-election bid

Trump could be banned from office over Jan 6

Tuesday 18 April 2023 12:15 , John Bowden

Donald Trump could be banned from ever entering the White House again due to his role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Two nonprofit groups argue that a Civil War-era rule disqualifies any “officer of the United States” from entering office in future after they have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against” the US.

They claim Mr Trump’s role before and during the riot proves he engaged in an insurrection and so, under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, cannot run for president in 2024.

The groups have sent letters to state election officials asking them to block Mr Trump from going on the ballot, reported The Washington Post.

Trump takes Truth Social shot at DeSantis over Second Amendment record

Tuesday 18 April 2023 11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Monday lunchtime on Truth Social, and former President Donald Trump has hit out at his favourite foe, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

This time the topic was the Second Amendment, with the former president disputing Mr DeSantis’s claim in an ad that he was aligned with Democrats over the issue of gun rights.

”Wow, that’s like Democrat Disinformation!” he wrote, also claiming that “Ron DeSanctus” didn’t attend the NRA Convention over the weekend in person because he was concerned about being booed.

Here’s the full post:

And here’s what got him wound up:

George Santos announces re-election bid

Tuesday 18 April 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s happening, GOP Rep George Santos is officially running for re-election in New York’s 3rd District.

The controversial congressman made the announcement on Twitter on Monday afternoon. He is the subject of ongoing investigations at the local, state, and federal levels, and there have been numerous calls for him to resign.

If news taints rape-trial jurors, Trump shares blame, says judge

Tuesday 18 April 2023 09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s rape trial will begin next week as scheduled after a federal judge on Monday rejected his lawyer’s request for a one-month delay, saying the former president cannot make public statements to promote pretrial publicity and then claim it’s prejudicial to him and reason to delay a trial.

Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan said the civil trial on claims against Trump by a longtime columnist, E Jean Carroll, will begin as scheduled on 25 April. Trump denies the rape happened or that he ever knew Carroll.

Read more...

Judge: If news taints rape-trial jurors, Trump shares blame

Is Fox News about to pay the price for giving Trump’s 2020 lies a platform?

Tuesday 18 April 2023 07:45 , Oliver O'Connell

This week, a judge in Delaware, where Fox is incorporated, is expected to preside over a six-week jury trial stemming from Dominion’s $1.6bn lawsuit against the network, which will defend itself against Dominion’s argument that false statements about the company in the wake of the election were defamatory, costing Dominion significant business and reputational harm.

On Sunday evening Judge Eric Davis announced that the trial had been suddenly delayed – mere hours before opening statements were scheduled to begin on Monday morning.

No explanation was given for the sudden delay but multiple reports have revealed that Fox News is now pushing to settle the case before the trial gets under way.

Alex Woodward reports from Delaware.

Will Fox News pay the price for giving a platform to Trump’s election lies?

Judge rejects Trump’s last-minute bid to delay E Jean Carroll trial

Tuesday 18 April 2023 05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge in New York City has rejected former president Donald Trump’s 11th-hour attempt to once again postpone his long-delayed civil defamation and rape trial on the grounds that publicity surrounding his recent indictment necessitated a “cooling-off” period to ensure an impartial jury.

Judge Lewis Kaplan on Monday ordered the trial, which stems from two civil lawsuits brought against the ex-president by writer E Jean Carroll, to commence on 25 April as previously scheduled.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Judge rejects Trump’s last-minute bid to delay rape and defamation trial

Fox News to point finger at Trump in defence of defamation case

Tuesday 18 April 2023 03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News could introduce evidence that “others” – including former president Donald Trump – “made similar claims” about Dominion Voting Systems for the purposes of “rebutting Dominion’s malice case” in a closely watched defamation trial against the right-wing network.

Fox also could present “evidence of ‘other defamers’ for purposes of contesting causation,” according to a filing in Delaware Superior Court.

Alex Woodward reports from Wilmington.

Fox News plans to fight Dominion’s defamation case by pointing finger at Trump

McCarthy hits Biden for not negotiating with GOP on debt limit

Tuesday 18 April 2023 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House may be on track for a political victory over the debt limit as the GOP Speaker of the House looks at least somewhat unwilling to threaten America’s credit by blocking an increase to the debt limit.

But that didn’t stop Kevin McCarthy from hammering President Joe Biden on the issue of not negotiating with Republicans over spending decreases at all, as the White House has maintained that the president wants to see the GOP’s budget proposal in full before any such talks begin.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Kevin McCarthy hits Biden for not negotiating with GOP on debt limit

Trump says if elected he will force federal workers to pass a political test

Monday 17 April 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump said that if he returns to the White House in 2025, he will mandate that federal employes take a civil service test and workers who do not pass would be fired.

The former president made the remarks in a video released on Friday.

Eric Garcia has the story.

Trump says he will make federal workers take political test and fire those who fail

Kari Lake claims Trump is only person who could beat her in Senate race

Monday 17 April 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Kari Lake claims Donald Trump is the only person who could beat her in the Arizona Senate race. She made the remarks in conversation with Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Watch:

Fetterman puts hands over heart as he returns to Senate after six-week hospitalization for depression

Monday 17 April 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

SenatorJohn Fetterman returned to the United States Senate on Monday after treatment for depression kept him away for six weeks.

Mr Fetterman exited his car in his trademark black hooded sweatshirt, gym shorts and sneakers and placed his hand over his heart as he returned to the chamber ahead of votes on Monday afternoon.

Mr Fetterman posted a photo of his return to the Senate.

“It’s good to be back,” he tweeted.

Eric Garcia reports from Capitol Hill.

John Fetterman returns to Senate after six-week hospitalization for depression

Earlier: Judge rejects Trump’s last-minute bid to delay rape and defamation trial

Monday 17 April 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge in New York City has rejected former president Donald Trump’s 11th-hour attempt to once again postpone his long-delayed civil defamation and rape trial on the grounds that publicity surrounding his recent indictment necessitated a “cooling-off” period to ensure an impartial jury.

Judge Lewis Kaplan on Monday ordered the trial, which stems from two civil lawsuits brought against the ex-president by writer E Jean Carroll, to commence on 25 April as previously scheduled.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest:

Judge rejects Trump’s last-minute bid to delay rape and defamation trial

Schiff: ‘Blind loyalty to the disgraced former president is all that matters'

Monday 17 April 2023 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

California Democratic Rep Adam Schiff had a few thoughts on Jim Jordan’s away day in New York City this morning.

Rep Adam Schiff

Watch below:

McConnell: ‘It’s good to be back'

Monday 17 April 2023 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Senator Mitch McConnell is back in the Senate after recovering from a concussion and a broken rib sustained during a fall.

“It’s good to be back. I want to thank all my colleagues for their warm wishes shared over the past few weeks,” he told the upper chamber of Congress. “This wasn’t the first time that being hardheaded has served me very well.”

Watch:

Here’s what happened to Mr McConnell:

Mitch McConnell discharged from hospital six days after hotel fall

Schumer says ‘McCarthy continues to bumble our economy towards a catastrophic default’

Monday 17 April 2023 21:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Senator Chuck Schumer

Watch:

George Santos announces re-election bid

Monday 17 April 2023 20:57 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s happening, GOP Rep George Santos is officially running for re-election in New York’s 3rd District.

The controversial congressman made the announcement on Twitter on Monday afternoon. He is the subject of ongoing investigations at the local, state, and federal levels, and there have been numerous calls for him to resign.

FEC filings show Trump made less than $200 from Truth Social

Monday 17 April 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s personal financial disclosure reports with the Federal Election Commission offer the first public glimpse into his earnings and financial state since leaving the White House in 2021.

Alex Woodward took a look at the details.

Donald Trump made less than $200 from Truth Social, filings show

Fetterman returns to Congress

Monday 17 April 2023 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Senator John Fetterman has returned to Capitol Hill for the first time since mid-February after treatment for clinical depression.

DeSantis supporting super PAC launches Trump attack ad

Monday 17 April 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis released a television ad attacking former President Donald Trump, accusing him of spending airtime and money attacking the likely Republican presidential candidate.

“Donald Trump is being attacked by a Democrat prosecutor in New York,” the ad’s narrator says. “So why is he spending millions attacking the Republican governor of Florida? Trump’s stealing pages from the Biden-Pelosi playbook.”

Graig Graziosi reports.

‘What happened to Donald Trump?’ DeSantis super PAC launches attack ad

Trump takes Truth Social shot at DeSantis over Second Amendment record

Monday 17 April 2023 19:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Monday lunchtime on Truth Social, and former President Donald Trump has hit out at his favourite foe, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

This time the topic was the Second Amendment, with the former president disputing Mr DeSantis’s claim in an ad that he was aligned with Democrats over the issue of gun rights.

”Wow, that’s like Democrat Disinformation!” he wrote, also claiming that “Ron DeSanctus” didn’t attend the NRA Convention over the weekend in person because he was concerned about being booed.

Here’s the full post:

And here’s what got him wound up:

Investigation into possible gunshot near Vice President’s residence

Monday 17 April 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The Secret Service is investigating reports of a single shot that was fired near the US Naval Observatory which is the home of Vice President Kamala Harris and First Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

Officers with the Secret Service Uniformed Division responded to the reports around 1.30 am EST on Monday according to a report from NBC News.

Ariana Baio reports.

Possible gunshot near Vice President Harris’ residence is being investigated

Protesters shout at Jim Jordan outside of House hearing in New York City

Monday 17 April 2023 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

As Republican Representative Jim Jordan attempted to hold a House Judiciary Committee hearing in New York attacking Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, protesters could be heard shouting and chanting outside.

“Let the public in,” a group of protesters shouted from the hallway located directly outside of the room where Mr Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee held their meeting on Monday,

Outside of the Jacob Javits Federal Building in downtown Manhattan, another group of protesters chanted, “Hey hey, ho, ho, Jim Jordan’s got to go.”

Ariana Baio reports from New York City.

Protesters shout at Jim Jordan outside of House hearing in NYC on Alvin Bragg

Schumer hits out at McCarthy over debt ceiling speech

Monday 17 April 2023 18:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Senator Chuck Schumer hit out at Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy over his debt ceiling speech this morning.

“He went all the way to Wall Street and gave us no new details, no new facts, no new information at all,” said Mr Schumer, warning of a “Republican default crisis”.

“President Biden and I are happy to meet with the speaker when he has something to talk about — a plan.”

The senator adds that without a House GOP debt plan “what are we going to talk about? The furniture?”

ICYMI: Trump tells NRA conference he will end Biden’s ‘war’ on guns

Monday 17 April 2023 17:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump told the National Rifle Association conference that he would end Joe Biden’s “war” on guns and vowed to protect ownership rights “forever” despite a recent spate of mass shootings.

The one-term president made the promise during a keynote address in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he told NRA members that he would be the maligned group’s “loyal friend and fearless champion” if he returns to the White House after the 2024 presidential election.

Graeme Massie reports.

Trump tells NRA conference he will end Biden’s ‘war’ on guns

Monday 17 April 2023 17:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News could introduce evidence that “others” – including former president Donald Trump – “made similar claims” about Dominion Voting Systems for the purposes of “rebutting Dominion’s malice case” in a closely watched defamation trial against the right-wing network.

Fox also could present “evidence of ‘other defamers’ for purposes of contesting causation,” according to a filing in Delaware Superior Court.

Fox News plans to fight Dominion’s defamation case by pointing finger at Trump

Will Fox News pay the price over Trump’s 2020 election lies?

Monday 17 April 2023 17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

This week, a judge in Delaware, where Fox is incorporated, is expected to preside over a six-week jury trial stemming from Dominion’s $1.6bn lawsuit against the network, which will defend itself against Dominion’s argument that false statements about the company in the wake of the election were defamatory, costing Dominion significant business and reputational harm.

On Sunday evening Judge Eric Davis announced that the trial had been suddenly delayed – mere hours before opening statements were scheduled to begin on Monday morning.

No explanation was given for the sudden delay but multiple reports have revealed that Fox News is now pushing to settle the case before the trial gets under way.

Alex Woodward reports from Wilmington, Delaware.

Will Fox News pay the price for giving a platform to Trump’s election lies?

McCarthy hits Biden for not negotiating with GOP on debt ceiling

Monday 17 April 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House may be on track for a political victory over the debt limit as the GOP Speaker of the House looks at least somewhat unwilling to threaten America’s credit by blocking an increase to the debt limit.

But that didn’t stop Kevin McCarthy from hammering President Joe Biden on the issue of not negotiating with Republicans over spending decreases at all, as the White House has maintained that the president wants to see the GOP’s budget proposal in full before any such talks begin.

Mr McCarthy spoke Monday morning at the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange, before sitting down for a Q&A with the NYSE’s president.

John Bowden reports.

Kevin McCarthy hits Biden for not negotiating with GOP on debt limit

Full story: Judge rejects Trump’s last-minute bid to delay rape and defamation trial

Monday 17 April 2023 16:25 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge in New York City has rejected former president Donald Trump’s eleventh-hour attempt to once again postpone his long-delayed civil defamation and rape trial on the grounds that publicity surrounding his recent indictment necessitated a “cooling-off” period to ensure an impartial jury.

Judge Lewis Kaplan on Monday ordered the trial, which stems from two civil lawsuits brought against the ex-president by writer E Jean Carroll, to commence on 25 April as previously scheduled.

Andrew Feinberg has the full story.

Judge rejects Trump’s last-minute bid to delay rape and defamation trial

Trump weighs in again on Fox News trial

Monday 17 April 2023 16:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has weighed in again on the Fox News v Dominion trial, which is scheduled to get underway tomorrow.

In an all-caps post on his social media platform, Mr Trump implored Rupert Murdoch: “JUST TELL THE TRUTH AND GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN. THE ELECTION OF 2020 WAS RIGGED AND STOLLEN…YOU KNOW IT, & SO DOES EVERYONE ELSE!”

Here’s the full post:

Watch: Congressman says ‘Most of the really angry voices here are faking it’

Monday 17 April 2023 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Federal judge rejects another Trump attempt to delay E Jean Carroll trial

Monday 17 April 2023 15:12 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge has rejected another request by Donald Trump’s legal team to delay the E Jean Carroll civil rape trial.

Mr Trump sought a supposed “cooling off” period from the media coverage of his indictment.

In denying the request for a delay, the judge noted: “Events happen during postponements. Sometimes they can make matters worse.”

Trump says if elected he will force federal workers to pass a political test

Monday 17 April 2023 15:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump said that if he returns to the White House in 2025, he will mandate that federal employes take a civil service test and workers who do not pass would be fired.

The former president made the remarks in a video released on Friday.

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Trump says he will make federal workers take political test and fire those who fail

Ron DeSantis supporters open new front in 2024 campaign: TV ads

Monday 17 April 2023 14:00 , Josh Marcus

A super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis released a television ad attacking former President Donald Trump, accusing him of spending airtime and money attacking the likely Republican presidential candidate.

“Donald Trump is being attacked by a Democrat prosecutor in New York,” the ad’s narrator says. “So why is he spending millions attacking the Republican governor of Florida? Trump’s stealing pages from the Biden-Pelosi playbook.”

Mr DeSantis is expected to announce a bid for the White House in 2024, though he has not formally confirmed his candidacy.

The ad focuses in part on Social Security, which Mr DeSantis has previously stated should begin when American workers turn 70, rather than the current age of 65. The Florida governor has since changed his position, arguing the program should not be touched during negotiations, according to The Hill.

Graig Graziosi reports.

‘What happened to Donald Trump?’ DeSantis super PAC launches attack ad

Trump claims Dominion’s lawsuit against Fox News would be ‘weakened’ if network stands by his election lies

Monday 17 April 2023 13:33 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump is also weighing in on Fox News’ defamation case with Dominion Voting Systems.

In an early morning Truth Social post on Monday, the former president falsely claimed Dominion’s lawsuit would be “weakened” if the network stands by his 2020 presidential election lies.

“IF FOX WOULD FINALLY ADMIT THAT THERE WAS LARGE SCALE CHEATING & IRREGULARITIES IN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WHICH WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THEM, & FOR AMERICA, THE CASE AGAINST THEM, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE EXISTED AT ALL, WOULD BE GREATLY WEAKENED. BACK UP THOSE PATRIOTS AT FOX INSTEAD OF THROWING THEM UNDER THE BUS - & THEY ARE RIGHT! THERE IS SOOO MUCH PROOF, LIKE MASS BALLOT STUFFING CAUGHT ON GOVERNMENT CAMERAS, FBI COLLUDING WITH TWITTER & FACEBOOK, STATE LEGISLATURES NOT USED, etc.” he wrote.

Dominion Voting Systems high-profile $1.6bn defamation trial against Fox News was due to begin on Monday but was suddenly delayed on Sunday night.

Multiple reports have stated that Fox News is pushing to settle the case before it goes to trial with lawyers for the two sides expected to meet on Monday.

The media empire has been defending the company and its Fox Corporation parent from allegations that they defamed the voting machine company by spreading false claims that its systems manipulated the 2020 presidential election’s outcome to ensure Donald Trump’s loss.

Court filings leading up to the trial stitched together a much-larger picture of the Fox organisation, its decision making, and its concerns over declining viewership with competition from other right-wing networks that indulged the former president’s conspiracy theories. Fox News has argued it had an obligation to cover newsworthy allegations and that the lawsuit poses a threat to press freedoms.

Donald Trump joins chorus of Republicans baselessly attacking trans people

Monday 17 April 2023 12:00 , Josh Marcus

In his remarks to a National Rifle Association (NRA) event, Donald Trump vowed to use the full force of the federal government to investigate gender-affirming care for transgender Americans, a statement that elevates his anti-trans rhetoric and Republican threats to LGBT+ people ahead of 2024 elections.

There have been more than 155 mass shootings and more than 12,000 gun-related deaths in 2023, which the GOP presidential candidate blamed on a “mental health problem” and a “spiritual problem” in his remarks in Indiana on 14 April.

He said he would direct the US Food and Drug Administration to study the effects of gender-affirming healthcare and so-called “trans ideology” on mental health and “violence”, should he be elected, amplifying a baseless and dangerous narrative that transgender people are responsible for violent attacks across the country.

“I think most of us already know the answer,” he added.

Alex Woodward has the story.

Trump threatens trans healthcare in NRA speech