
Laura Coates Live
Laura Coates sparks unique conversations and covers the most interesting stories of the day through a news, legal and pop culture lens.
Latest episodes

May 23, 2025 • 47min
Hotel Records On Diddy: “Uses Excessive Amounts Of Oil”
Rapper Kid Cudi — who had a brief relationship with Cassie Ventura — testified about his interactions with Combs. Ventura testified last week that she endured physical and sexual abuse from Combs and detailed how he orchestrated drug-fueled sex performances called “Freak Offs.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 21, 2025 • 47min
Prosecutors Plan To Call Kid Cudi To Testify
Prosecutors said they plan to call Scott Mescudi, the musician known as Kid Cudi, to the stand Wednesday or Thursday. The prosecution has argued Combs and some in his inner circle used threats, violence, drugs, bribery, arson, kidnapping and lies to coerce Ventura and another woman into participating in sex parties he called “Freak Offs” and to protect the music mogul’s reputation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 21, 2025 • 24min
Inside Diddy’s World: What His Assistant Saw
As week two of the RICO and sex trafficking trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs continues, Laura Coates sits down with Suzi Siegel, one of Combs’ former assistants, to hear more about what went down in Diddy’s world behind the scenes. Plus, we learn from CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister about a key piece of testimony from Cassie Ventura’s mother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 20, 2025 • 47min
Diddy’s Ex-Assistant Says Cassie Told Him “I Can’t Get Out”
Cassie Ventura is no longer on the stand, but she was the central character in testimony from three witnesses on Monday in the federal criminal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Pop singer Dawn Richard, Ventura’s former best friend and one of Combs’ former assistants each testified about their interactions with Ventura as the prosecution sought to bolster Ventura’s testimony last week that Combs physically abused her and controlled her life for over a decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 17, 2025 • 47min
Next Week: Cassie’s Mom And Former Best Friend To Testify
The singer Cassie Ventura wrapped up her dramatic testimony Friday afternoon after answering questions for nearly 20 hours over four days at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ racketeering and sex-trafficking trial. Ventura, Combs’ former longtime girlfriend, is the star witness in the case and has alleged Combs physically and sexually abused her and used violence and blackmail to make her participate in drug-fueled sex parties known as “Freak Offs” over more than a decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 17, 2025 • 27min
Cassie's Testimony Rocked Week One of Diddy's Trial
Laura Coates catches entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister just after court concludes for the week for a breakdown of the most important moments and the biggest shocks from the first week of the federal criminal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. They get into Cassie Ventura’s emotional testimony, the potential impact of the settlements she’s now disclosed, and the surprising testimony from another witness that puts the case in a new light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 16, 2025 • 47min
Cassie: Diddy Was Hospitalized For Drug Overdose In 2012
Cassie Ventura, ex-girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and one of his accusers, took the stand for a third day today in Combs’ federal criminal trial. Cross-examination will continue tomorrow, and the judge is urging lawyers to wrap up Ventura’s testimony before the weekend, as she’s due to give birth soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 15, 2025 • 48min
Not Safe: Cassie Says She Couldn’t Leave After Diddy Beat Her
Building on her testimony a day earlier, on Wednesday the pregnant 38-year-old pop singer Cassie described in disturbing detail what happened after her 2016 assault in a Los Angeles hotel, offered visual proof of other alleged assaults, acknowledged she settled a civil lawsuit for $20 million and explained to the jury why she decided to speak out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 15, 2025 • 22min
Cassie’s Words Hit Hard. Will Diddy's Team Pivot?
On day three of Diddy’s federal criminal trial, Cassie Ventura wrapped up her harrowing testimony — and the effects were immediate. Her words, and the disturbing details of Diddy’s alleged abuse and so-called “freak offs," will have a big impact on the defense's strategy when they cross examine her tomorrow. Laura Coates breaks down what it all means with criminal defense attorney and CNN legal analyst Mark O’Mara. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 15, 2025 • 13min
Trial by Jury: Violence, Fear and “Freak-offs” Cassie Takes the Stand
On the second day of Diddy’s federal trial, all eyes turned to star witness Cassie Ventura. The singer, once signed to Bad Boy records, had a complex relationship with Diddy marked by abuse. But will the jury see her only as a victim? We’ll ask one of Bill Cosby’s former attorneys, Monique Pressley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices