As witnesses flip on Trump, he faces uphill fight at both coup trials
Oct 27, 2023
auto_awesome
Experts discuss the recent escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza, analyzing the goals and tactics of the Israeli government and military. Developments in the trial against Donald Trump, including the recruitment of a new star witness and efforts to tighten the gag order on Trump. Pressure on individuals like Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani to cooperate in ongoing legal proceedings. Discussion about Republican Congressman George Santos facing a criminal trial for 10 felony charges.
The selection of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House has raised concerns due to his association with conspiracy theories and his opposition to women's rights.
The recent developments in Georgia, with three former Trump aides flipping and vowing to testify against him, strengthen the case against Donald Trump and increase the chances of a conviction.
Deep dives
The GOP's Choice of Speaker Raises Concerns
Congressional Republicans have chosen Mike Johnson as the Speaker of the House, a candidate who wasn't originally considered for the position. However, scrutiny has been directed towards Johnson's views on conspiracy theories and social issues. It has been noted that Johnson has echoed Tucker Carlson's racist and anti-Semitic conspiracy theory of replacement, which suggests a plan to replace the white majority in countries with other population groups. Johnson's stance on abortion and women's rights has raised concerns, as he has voted for a national abortion ban and expressed opposition to Roe v. Wade. Furthermore, his past writings have advocated for the criminalization of same-sex sexual activity. While he has downplayed his previous statements, his positions have attracted attention and put him under scrutiny as the new Speaker of the House.
The Strengthening of Jack Smith's Case Against Trump
Special Counsel Jack Smith's case against former President Donald Trump is being strengthened by recent developments in Georgia. Three former Trump aides have pled guilty and vowed to testify against Trump in the Georgia criminal case. These same aides are also considered unindicted co-conspirators in Smith's federal coup case against Trump. The pressure on Mark Meadows, in particular, is increasing as he faces legal heat from both jurisdictions. Additionally, Smith is using statements made by Trump, including those on social media, to suggest witness intimidation and a violation of the gag order. While Trump may be banking on not being jailed before trial, the mounting evidence and witnesses against him increase the chances of a conviction.
Scrutiny of the New Speaker of the House
The recent selection of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House by Republicans has led to increased scrutiny of his views and voting record. Johnson has been associated with conspiracy theories, including the racist and anti-Semitic "replacement theory" pushed by Tucker Carlson. Concerns have also been raised regarding Johnson's opposition to women's rights, including voting for a national abortion ban and expressing support for criminalizing same-sex sexual activity. When questioned about these positions, Johnson evaded directly addressing them. The focus on Johnson's statements and record highlights potential concerns over his appointment as the new Speaker of the House.
Congressman George Santos Faces Additional Felony Charges
Republican Congressman George Santos pleaded not guilty to 10 additional felony charges in court today. The superseding indictment accuses him of lying or falsifying campaign records from the midterm elections. Recognizing the seriousness of the charges, House Republicans from New York are moving to force a vote on expelling Santos from Congress, while others argue that he should be allowed his day in court. The vote on Santos's expulsion could take place as early as next week, as the case against him continues to unfold.
MSNBC’s Ari Melber hosts “The Beat” on Friday, October 27, and reports on Donald Trump’s legal battles, George Santos, new House Speaker Mike Johnson and the latest in the Israel-Hamas war. Kristy Greenberg, Renato Mariotti, David Rothkopf, Elise Labott, David Rohde and Ellison Barber join.
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