Criminal defense attorney and former assistant district attorney in Fulton County, Darryl Cohen, discusses District Attorney Fani Willis' request for Trump's trial. Marc Short analyzes Mike Pence's debate performance. Topics include Trump's surrender, upcoming trials, doubts about a speedy trial, and divided opinions on Vivek Ramaswami in the recent debate. Strategies of Democratic primary candidates and Chris Christie's performance are also discussed.
Despite facing criminal charges, Donald Trump remains a frontrunner in the polls and has strong support within the Republican Party.
The Republican presidential debate highlighted the hesitance of other candidates to distance themselves from Trump, even if he is convicted in court.
Vivek Ramaswami, a political newcomer and Trump acolyte, gained visibility and relevance during the debate, positioning himself as a backup plan if Trump does not secure the nomination.
Deep dives
Donald Trump surrenders in Georgia amidst legal woes
Donald Trump, the former reality TV star and Republican presidential frontrunner, surrendered to authorities in Georgia less than 24 hours after skipping the first Republican presidential debate. He faces 13 new criminal counts related to alleged racketeering in an attempt to overturn Georgia's presidential election results. Trump's surrender is seen as an intentional move to draw attention to his legal woes, which he has made a centerpiece of his primary campaign strategy. Despite the legal troubles, Trump remains a frontrunner in the polls and continues to have strong support within the Republican Party.
Republican candidates pledge support for Trump even if convicted
During the Republican presidential debate, six out of eight candidates on stage, including Trump's top primary rival, pledged to support him even if he is convicted in a court of law. This reaffirms Trump's position as the leader of the Republican Party and highlights the hesitance of other candidates to distance themselves from him, despite his legal challenges. The debate primarily focused on attacking Trump acolyte Vivek Ramaswami, who faced 11 separate attacks from his rivals for his lack of experience and views on foreign policy. Overall, Trump emerged relatively unscathed from the debate and his position as the Republican frontrunner remains stable.
The emergence of Vivek Ramaswami and his impact on the Republican party
Vivek Ramaswami, a political newcomer and Trump acolyte, gained visibility and relevance during the Republican presidential debate. Despite being attacked by other candidates for his lack of experience and extreme views, Ramaswami made an impression with his presence on stage. He positioned himself as a backup plan if Trump does not secure the nomination, capitalizing on his rising popularity in the polls. While Ramaswami is not expected to be the nominee, he represents the evolving nature of the Republican party in the post-Trump era.
Assessing the performance of Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had a solid performance during the debate, avoiding major attacks and sticking to his talking points on COVID, education, and the border. While he did not steal the show, he maintained his position as a top contender in the race. On the other hand, Nikki Haley stood out with her general election approach, delivering a memorable Margaret Thatcher quote and presenting herself as a strong candidate. However, her support for a federal abortion ban diverges from the Republican base, and it remains to be seen if her debate performance will translate into increased donor support.
Mike Pence defends his actions on January 6, faces mixed reactions from other candidates
Former Vice President Mike Pence defended his refusal to overturn the election results on January 6, emphasizing his commitment to upholding the Constitution. While most candidates on the debate stage supported Pence's decision, there were a few dissenting voices, casting doubt on his actions. Pence's performance showcased his conviction and adherence to conservative principles, but it remains to be seen how his role in the events of January 6 will impact his standing within the Republican Party.
Former President Donald Trump prepares to surrender to authorities in Georgia after emerging from last night's GOP president debate relatively unscathed. Darryl Cohen, a criminal defense attorney and former assistant district attorney in Fulton County discusses District Attorney Fani Willis’ request to begin the trial of Trump and his 18 co-defendants in October 2023. Marc Short, former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, analyzes the former vice president’s debate performance on Wednesday night.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode