The Trump Trials: Sidebar

In this week's episode, the crew discusses what's happened in former president Donald Trump's New York trial so far – and what we're hearing from witnesses. Washington Post reporter Devlin Barrett returns to take us inside the courtroom, while senior video journalist JM Rieger analyzes Trump's repetitive, falsehood-filled statements outside the courtroom. Read more in The Trump Trials newsletter [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/25/trump-trial-takeaways-hush-money/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=can-he-do-that].

At the start of Trump's Manhattan criminal trial, the court needs 12 jurors and six alternates – but many times that number have been dismissed, for a whole variety of reasons, some mundane and others surprising. Seven have been sworn in so far, including a foreman. In our second episode, the crew discusses the jurors selected during the first two days in court. Plus, the dynamic between Trump's lawyers, Judge Juan Merchan and the former president himself is getting tense, with Merchan sternly warning Trump not to gesture at or speak to potential jurors. And is Trump having trouble staying awake at times? Washington Post national security and law enforcement reporter Devlin Barrett - an author of our sister newsletter, The Trump Trials [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/04/16/trump-trials-tracker-latest-news/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=can-he-do-that] - joins the show to reveal what it's like covering the trial from inside the courthouse.

Former president Donald Trump arrived at the Manhattan criminal court on April 15 for a first: Charged with falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, he becomes the first former president in U.S. history to be put on criminal trial. In our first episode, the crew discusses the first day of Trump's trial in the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and how jury selection could play out. Plus - why the trial won't be televised, and how much trouble he could be in. Washington Post video journalist Michael Cadenhead joins to discuss his recent trip to New York to ask Manhattanites if they could serve as impartial jurors in the trial. Read his story with The Post's Azi Paybarah here. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/jury-trump-new-york-hush-money-trial/?itid=hp-top-table-main_p001_f003&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=can-he-do-that] You can also watch the show on Youtube here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpg-vKPVGQg].

When The Washington Post started the "Can He Do That?" podcast, the U.S. faced unprecedented questions as former president Donald Trump pushed on the limits of presidential power. Now, his legal challenges raise new questions.  The Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann will host a weekly conversation as trials loom in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C. On the new show, "The Trump Trials: Sidebar," the hosts will break down the latest twists and turns as Trump contends with court appearances and seeks a second presidential term.  Trump's hush money trial in New York starts April 15. Look out for the first episode that evening. You can also watch the show on Youtube here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpg-vKPVGQg].

Check out The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and investigative political reporter Josh Dawsey join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how election denial is becoming more central to the RNC, what to make of this week’s NBC/Ronna McDaniel drama, the latest on efforts by a group trying to recruit a third-party candidate, the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. factor and why Josh says former president Donald Trump is “running for his freedom.” Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/campaign-moment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=can-he-do-that;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs]. The show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.