Trump's Trials

For this episode of Trump's Trials , host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR political reporter Ximena Bustillo and Boston University law professor Jed Shugerman.
The prosecution's star witness, Michael Cohen was on the stand for three days this week. He testified about the alleged scheme to pay off adult film star Stormy Daniels and the alleged business fraud that followed. Cohen placed former President Trump at the scene saying he was aware and involved in the alleged cover up.
But Cohen is an admitted liar and the defense called into question his credibility.
Cohen is expected back on the stand on Monday and is likely the prosecution's final witness. Closing statements may begin as soon as Tuesday.
Topics include:
- Michael Cohen testimony
- What prosecution needs to prove
- What's next
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For this episode of Trump's Trials , All Things Considered host Juana Summers speaks with NPR political reporter Ximena Bustillo.
The prosecution's star witness Michael Cohen was back on the stand today in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial. Trump's defense team took direct aim at Cohen's credibility, asking him about his criminal history, times he's lied and questioned his memory of events.
Topics include:
- Cross-examination of Cohen
- What's next
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For this episode of Trump's Trials , All Things Considered host Juana Summers speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein and attorney Kim Wehle.
Donald Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen spent a second day on the witness stand testifying against his one time boss. Cohen mostly testified about purposefully mislabeling checks, false receipts and his previous loyalty to Trump.
Cohen was aggressively cross-examined by Trump's defense team over social media statements he's made about Trump and whether he wants to see Trump in jail. Cohen is expected to be the final witness for the prosecution then defense will present their case to the jury.
Topics include:
- Cohen testimony
- Cross-examination of Cohen
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For this episode of Trump's Trials , All Things Considered host Ailsa Chang speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein and attorney Andrew Weissmann.
Donald Trump's former personal attorney and "fixer" Michael Cohen gave an extended, first-hand account of what happened in the turbulent months at the end of the 2016 campaign.
At the New York criminal courthouse, Cohen said that then-presidential candidate Trump directed him to negotiate an agreement with adult film actor Stormy Daniels.
Topics include:
- What Cohen said on the stand
- If Cohen's testimony is necessary in this case
- A preview of the defense's strategy for cross examination
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For this episode of Trump's Trials , host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro and Boston University law professor Jed Shugerman.
This week adult film actress Stormy Daniels testified about her alleged sexual encounter with former president Donald Trump in 2006. Daniels described the encounter, which Trump denies took place, in great detail. Although whether or not Trump and Daniels had sex is not what the jury will rule on, it is the alleged event that led to a payment 10 years later that lies at the heart of the case.
Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen is expected to testify on Monday. His testimony will be key for the prosecution's case. And calling Cohen's testimony into question will be a top priority for Trump's defense team.
Topics include:
- Stormy Daniels' testimony
- Stormy Daniels' impact on the case
- Michael Cohen to testify
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
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For this episode of Trump's Trials , All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein.
Adult film actress Stormy Daniels took the stand for the second time in the New York hush money case. The defense continued their cross-examination of Daniels attempting to highlight inconsistencies in her story about meeting Trump in 2006. Defense attorneys questioned whether Daniels was out to make money, asking her about a book deal and documentary she was in.
Topics include:
- Stormy Daniels testimony
- Cross-examination
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For this episode of Trump's Trials, host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson.
In Florida, Judge Aileen Cannon delayed a trial over Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents indefinitely, citing the backlog of pre-trial motions that must be handled before a trial date can even be set. This all but ensures that the trial will not happen before the November election.
In Georgia, an appeals court has agreed to hear Trump's challenge to the decision that allowed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to remain on the state's election interference case. Willis was previously accused of having a conflict of interest because of a relationship she had with a prosecutor she hired. After holding a lengthy hearing earlier this year, Judge Scott McAfee ruled Willis could stay on the case but noted there was an "appearance of impropriety."
Topics include:
- Documents case delayed
- Georgia election interference appeal
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For this episode of Trump's Trials, All Things Considered host Juana Summers speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein and later, former White House special counsel Ty Cobb.
Adult film actress Stormy Daniels testified about her alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006 and hush money payment in 2016. Tensions were high as Daniels detailed her experience with Trump, sometimes in a level of detail that drew multiple objections from the defense and a mistrial request that was denied by the judge.
Separately, former White House special counsel Ty Cobb discussed the possibility of Trump being sent to jail if he violates the judge's gag order again. Judge Juan Merchan has already found Trump violated the order 10 times and fined him 10 thousand dollars.
Topics include:
- Daniels testimony
- Cross-examination of Daniels
- Gag order
- Can Trump be sent to jail
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
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For this episode of Trump's Trials , All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein.
Judge Juan Merchan says former President Donald Trump has violated a gag order in his New York criminal trial for a 10th time. Merchan threatened the next violation could land the presidential candidate in jail.
Topics include:
- Judge Merchan's reaction to Trump's latest violation
- How this admonishment differs from other times Trump has tussled with judges
- Highlights from Monday's testimonies
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
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For this episode of Trump's Trials, host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR's Ximena Bustillo and former New York Prosecutor Tristan Snell. He's a former New York prosecutor who led the state's case against Trump University, and author of the book Taking Down Trump.
The third week of former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial ended with a high-profile witness: former Trump aide Hope Hicks. She testified about the Trump campaign's damage control efforts in the 2016 election and even took a break after briefly breaking down on the witness stand.
Earlier in the week, Judge Juan Merchan fined Trump $9,000 for contempt of court for violating a gag order. And on Thursday prosecutors asked Merchan to hold him in contempt for a second time for recent comments he's made about jurors and witnesses.
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
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