59 episodes
Trump's Trials Trump's Trials
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4.3 • 194 Ratings
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Reporting and analysis on the inquiries, trials, and criminal probes facing former President Donald Trump. From the Jan. 6 insurrection and Georgia election interference, to the ongoing question of classified documents - and beyond - host Scott Detrow, political editor Domenico Montanaro and legal experts dive deep every week to explore the news inside the courtrooms and the stakes for American democracy.Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to Trump's Trials+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/trumpstrials
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Week one of testimony in hush money trial, plus Supreme Court weighs immunity
This week on Trump's Trials, host Scott Detrow and Domenico Montanaro are joined by law professor Kim Wehle.
This was the first week of witness testimony in former President Donald Trump's New York hush money trial. The prosecution used their witnesses to establish Trump's knowledge and involvement in hush money payments for his alleged electoral benefit. Trump's defense team cross-examined witnesses countering that framing with the idea that this is politics as usual.
Meanwhile, at the Supreme Court, justices heard oral arguments over whether Trump is immune from criminal prosecution. Although the justices seemed skeptical of granting Trump absolute immunity, it appeared the majority of the conservatives justices seemed opened to granting some sort of immunity for presidents.
Topics include:- Week one of testimony in hush money trial- David Pecker testimony - Supreme court and immunity
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Witness cross-examined in hush money trial, plus new indictments in Arizona
For this episode of Trump's Trials host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR's Andrea Bernstein about the latest in the New York hush money trial. Later, election law professor Edward Foley explains the fake elector indictments out of Arizona.
In a New York courtroom, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker took the stand for his third day of testimony. In his testimony Pecker said Trump had intimate knowledge of hush money payments from the very beginning. Pecker was then questioned by Trump's defense team, who tried to poke holes in his story.
In Arizona, 18 people have been indicted for their alleged efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election. They include some of former President Donald Trump's closet allies — former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. Trump himself was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator. Arizona becomes the fourth state to criminally charge people related to the fake electors scheme.
Topics include:- Hush money trial testimony - Cross examination begins- Fake electors scheme
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
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Supreme Court likely to deny blanket immunity but could limit scope of prosecution
For this episode of Trump's Trials, NPR's Michel Martin speaks to Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg, Washington Desk Senior Editor and Correspondent Ron Elving, National Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson and former White House Counsel Neil Eggleston.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over whether former President Donald Trump is immune from criminal prosecution. A majority of the justices appeared skeptical of blanket immunity. But some of the conservative justices hinted at the need for some immunity for certain actions taken while in office. The speed at which the court releases an opinion could determine whether the federal election interference case goes to trial before the November election.
Topics include:- Justices' questions- Scope of immunity - Private vs official acts - Impact on federal election interference case
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
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Supreme Court to hear oral arguments on presidential immunity
For this episode of Trump's Trials host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson.
On Thursday the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on whether former President Donald Trump is immune from criminal prosecution.
Trump is charged with four counts related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But he is claiming since he was president at the time he cannot face prosecution. If the Supreme Court sides with Trump, the federal election interference case is dead. If they side against him, the case moves forward, but the likelihood of it going to trial before the November election is slim.
Topics include:- Immunity arguments - Why did the Supreme Court take this case- Potential trial timeline
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
Sign up for sponsor-free episodes and support NPR's political journalism at plus.npr.org/trumpstrials.
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Witness describes 'catch and kill' scheme to help Trump's 2016 campaign
For this episode of Trump's Trials, All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with political reporter Ximena Bustillo.
David Pecker, former publisher for the National Enquirer, took the stand for a second day of testimony. Pecker explained that starting in 2015 he, Michael Cohen and Donald Trump had a deal that involved the National Enquirer buying negative stories about Trump and never publishing them – an arrangement also known as 'catch and kill.' Pecker said this was done to help Trump with his 2016 campaign. In addition, he described planting negative stories about Trump's 2016 rivals, such as the Clintons, then presidential candidate Ted Cruz and other Republican front runners.
The prosecution also argued that Trump violated the gag order placed on him at least 11 times in recent weeks. They cited posts on Truth Social and comments Trump made outside the courtroom about potential witness Michael Cohen and the jury. The judge has yet to make a ruling.
Topics include:- Gag order - Catch and kill deal - What's next
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
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Prosecutors argue "election fraud, pure and simple" in Trump hush money case
For this episode of Trump's Trials, we hand the mic over to Consider This.
Host Juana Summers speaks with defense lawyer Daniel Horwitz.
As the first criminal trial for a former U.S. president got under way in New York, Donald Trump looked on as prosecution and defense teams presented their opening statements to the jury.
The former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, a felony in New York if done to cover up another crime.
The prosecution argued hush money payments made by former Trump fixer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels were to buy her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. And were made at the former president's direction with the intention of influencing the 2016 election.
The defense countered it was not illegal to affect the outcome of an election and that Cohen had handled the specifics of the hush money payments.
Topics include:- Why the prosecution is arguing election fraud - The role Michael Cohen's credibility as a witness will play- What to look out for as the trial continues
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for new episodes each Saturday.
Sign up for sponsor-free episodes and support NPR's political journalism at plus.npr.org/trumpstrials.
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Customer Reviews
5 simple questions for Trump supporters
If someone, not Trump, a person of color, a woman, someone in the LGBTQ community who’s for birth and gun control was accused of only 1/2 of the charges, would you want them in the White House?
If Trump is innocent, why delay the trials where he could immediately to clear his name?
Do you honestly believe that a multimillionaire has anything in common with you or understands your daily challenges? (You’re mad about the price of eggs while his family is buying islands from foreign governments)
Why is he the only one saying he’s innocent while the rest are calling this a political attack? (Kinda like a murder who says “You just don’t like me!”)
If he did nothing wrong, why does he need immunity?
News with both sides
If you want both sides Trump news, this is the podcast for you, because as God knows, Democrats mst be held account for Trump’s crimes.
Get your facts straight
Your reporting has repeatedly said that Trump’s penalty was reduced by the appeals court. That is FALSE. Trump’s bond amount, only, was reduced by the appeals court. The overall appeal to the half a billion judgment has not been ruled on. Your reporters lack legal knowledge and experience. Please get the facts straight. I am an avid listener but the reporters are inexperienced and you need someone with deeper legal understanding and experience on this podcast. The details matter.