Donald Trump is on trial in Manhattan facing 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of another crime: conspiring to influence the 2016 election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argues that, to squelch negative publicity that might hurt Trump’s 2016 campaign, Trump directed the creation of fake records to hide hush-money payments to women who claimed they’d had extramarital sex with him. 

That’s a complicated case to prove. And one in which it does not matter one whit, at least legally, who Trump actually had sex with. All Trump’s lawyers have to argue is that the payoffs, while perhaps unseemly, were legal. And they’re doing that. Yet Trump’s lawyers are also going further, asserting that the former president didn’t have sex with any of the three woman whose possible encounters with him resulted in payoffs for silence.

In one case—a $30,000 payout to a doorman who claimed to know of Trump fathering an out-of-wedlock child—the underlying allegation in fact seems to be false. But it’s striking that Trump’s defense includes denials that he slept with porn star Stormy Daniels (who received $130,000) and Playboy model Karen McDougal ($150,000). That’s because, to exaggerate only a bit, no one believes him.

The ongoing testimony of David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, who helped spearhead the so-called “catch and kill” scheme to buy the rights to stories about Trump’s alleged encounters in order to suppress the claims, drives home that point. Pecker on Thursday indicated that he, former Enquirer editor Dylan Howard, and Trump fixer Michael Cohen all believed McDougal’s account of a year-long sexual affair with Trump.

What’s more, according to Pecker, Trump did nothing at the time to counter that impression. Pecker recounted a June 2016 call with Trump which came while Pecker’s company was in the process of buying the rights to McDougal’s story. Trump, who Pecker said knew of McDougal’s claims and the talks about paying her to stay quiet, remarked that “she is a nice girl,” Pecker recalled. Trump then asked: “What do you think I should do?” Pecker said. Pecker said he suggested paying her. Trump, that is, did not deny McDougal’s claims. Nor, according to Pecker, did Trump dispute her claims in a January 2017 Trump Tower meeting in which he thanked Pecker for “handling” the matter.

As Liverpool found out, all the romantic farewell narrative in the world can’t stop a freshly tracksuit-bottomed Sean Dyche delivering a hammer blow to your title chances. And what a performance from that new lad, Daniel Calvert-Lewin!

Marcus and Luke give their takes on a dismal night for Liverpool which needed a calm slot into the bottom corner, but instead got Darwin Núñez desperately smashing the ball into Jordan Pickford’s meaty thighs. Elsewhere, Erik ten Hag serves up smiley faces covered in chocolate sauce (again), there's an unwelcome reminder of Paul Jewell’s jewel, and we have live reports from Pete Donaldson on Jason Tindall Watch at Selhurst Park. What more could you ask for!

We're back on stage! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Tickets go on sale on Friday at footballramblelive.com. You can get presale tickets from Thursday 25th at 10am by signing up to our mailing list here!

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“We’ve just beat Chelsea 5-0. Shall we take this upstairs?” Marcus, Luke, Pete and Vish react to a demolition job at the Emirates and some extremely intimate celebrations for the Arsenal fans.

Elsewhere, the Ramblers show their support for Gary Neville being taken to task, even if Nottingham Forest are still embarrassing. Speaking of which, Luke also gives his thoughts on Erik ten Hag’s latest press conference. Plus, Marcus prepares to honour Bruce Forsyth live at The London Palladium!

We're back on stage! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Tickets go on sale on Friday at footballramblelive.com. You can get presale tickets right now by signing up to our Patreon here or sign up to our mailing list here and get them straight in your inbox tomorrow!

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Israel and its allies were scrambling to shoot down a fleet of Iran-launched drones on Saturday evening, according to both countries’ militaries, in a major escalation of a regional conflict sparked by the Israel-Hamas war. Iranian state media claimed that the country was coordinating the drones with a barrage of ballistic missiles.

The unfolding aerial attack comes in retaliation for Israel’s strike on an Iranian embassy in Syria earlier this month. Israel’s war cabinet held emergency meetings as President Biden cut short a weekend trip to Delaware to huddle with officials in the White House Situation Room. Flight tracking websites were reporting widespread airspace closures across multiple countries in the region as Israeli officials confirmed efforts to intercept the weapons before they entered Israeli territory, according to the New York Times. The exact targets of the offensive remained unclear.

Iran said that the April 1 attack on its consular facility in Damascus killed seven military advisers, including three top commanders, and in the weeks since, according to Reuters. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed retaliation, saying Israel “must be punished and shall be.” As recently as Friday, when asked to assess how close Iran was to attacking Israel, President Biden said “my expectation is sooner than later.” As of early Saturday evening in the United States, the US claimed to be shooting down incoming Iranian drones, as television images showed the night sky above Israel lighting up with what appeared to be intercept fire. 

Cesc Fàbregas is the latest former Arsenal player to transition into management as his next career path.

The Gunners have witnessed many former players become managers upon retiring, including their current head coach, Mikel Arteta.

Arteta was a formidable leader during his time with the Gunners and is currently excelling as the club’s manager.

Another ex-Arsenal player who may soon join the ranks of Premier League managers is Cesc Fàbregas.

The Spaniard spent approximately a decade at Arsenal after being recruited from Barcelona as a teenage sensation.

Charlie Patino is serious about his future away from Arsenal as he concludes another loan spell at Swansea.

The midfielder was hailed as one of the best talents ever to emerge from Arsenal’s academy before he earned promotion to the Gunners’ first team.

With numerous midfielders ahead of him in the pecking order, he has spent the last two seasons on loan away from the Emirates.

Now, as he wraps up his time at Swansea, the prospect of regular playing time at Arsenal appears unlikely.

This situation necessitates finding a new club to continue his development, and according to Pianet Milan, Serie A could be his next destination.

Marquinhos struggled in the first half of this season as he spent time on loan at Nantes and could hardly secure game time at the Ligue 1 club.

Arsenal believed he was good enough to start for the French team and recalled him at the end of 2023.

Currently, he is spending the second half of the term at Fluminense and has made a promising start at the Brazilian club.

With two goals and one assist from two Copa Libertadores games, Marquinhos is making the type of impact Arsenal is delighted to see.

Additionally, the attacker is relishing his time back home in Brazil and recently shared his thoughts on his experience at his current club in a recent interview.

Jorginho’s future remains uncertain despite his significant role as one of the most important players at Arsenal this year.

The Brazilian-Italian has emerged as a key influence in Arsenal’s game plan as the Gunners aim for success in the Premier League.

With an option to extend his contract for one more season, ideally, Arsenal should have triggered it by now.

However, they have not, and clubs continue to show interest in the former Chelsea star every time he plays.

Juventus has been monitoring him for several seasons, hoping to bring him back to Serie A.

On Sunday evening, Arsenal face Aston Villa in what is likely to be the Premier League’s headline fixture this weekend. The Gunners will be hoping that their familiar surroundings at the Emirates, as well as their desire for a league triumph, will motivate them to go all out against a weakened Aston Villa.

Mikel Arteta should field his strongest lineup on Sunday to secure the victory. However, of the lineup he fields, he may not have the pleasure of fielding Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber.

Coming into this weekend, there were concerns regarding Gabriel’s fitness. When asked if the Brazilian was fit and ready to start on Sunday, Arteta responded, “We’ve got one more day to prepare for the match, and we’ll see tomorrow if everybody is available. We have some [other injury concerns], but hopefully with another day, we’re going to be okay.”

Hopefully, Gabriel will be fit for Villa. Concerns have been raised that he is currently playing with a swollen Achilles tendon and has been limping visibly for the last several games. If there is the slightest concern I would hope Arteta gave him more time to recover ahead of our visit to Bayern Munich in midweek. If he isn’t fit, Jakub Kiwior or Takehiro Tomiyasu may have to step up.

Jurrien Timber, although he has returned to full training, is not yet ready to play, and Mikel Arteta revealed why: “He’s still got a few steps to make. He needs to play a game, at least with the U21s, and he’s going to have an in-house game soon. He’s done everything in training; now it’s getting that match fitness and having people around him to start competing in a full match.”

Arsenal play Aston Villa in a must-win Premier League match on Sunday evening. There has been a lot of discussion about this game, but I believe Gooners are eager to hear Unai Emery’s perspective.

The former Arsenal manager has properly stated that he and his team would enter that game as underdogs. He admits that, despite beating Arsenal 1-0 at Villa Park, it will be difficult to face this Arsenal side at the Emirates, where they have not lost in their last seven games. He believes Arsenal’s passion and desire to win the league will make them more determined. He’s also worried that he will not be able to have his strongest squad.

Reports have suggested Jacob Ramsey, Emi Buendia, Boubacar Kamara, Matty Cash, and Tyrone Mings are all out due to injuries. And Arsenal transfer target Douglas Luiz is also anticipated to miss the game after receiving his tenth red card of the season, last weekend, when Villa and Brentford drew 3-3.

“It’s different, completely different,” Emery said. “We played at home here at Villa Park in December (compared to) the match we are going to play on Sunday.

“Something similar because there’s a lot of players again playing, fighting in those teams. But different because we’re playing at the Emirates, we’re playing as well in a different context, now they are fighting for the Premier League trophy.

Should Trossard start against Bayern?

Leandro Trossard has been very good for Arsenal this season and has settled into life at Arsenal seamlessly. He seems to have taken everything Arteta, the coaches and the players around him have said on board and has been progressing every chance he gets to play. Coming on against Bayern and scoring the equalising goal is not a small achievement and you have to give him his flowers for that, but do you think he should be starting in the second leg in Germany?

Me personally, yes I do think he should be starting. Not only because he scored the equalising goal that has put us back on equal terms and into the game, but also because I think once he came on, he changed the game.

Martinelli I obviously a great player for us down the wing and picking out of the two of the must be somewhat difficult for Arteta as they both bring quality but in different ways. Martinelli is more the type of winger who with pace will run it down the wing and likes to cross and square the ball into the box for his teammates, whereas Trossard is the type of winger who likes to run down the wing but also cut inside and create chances for himself and his teammates.

Both two great choices to have, and I only say Trossard should start because I think it would work against Bayern’s game plan. Trossard came on and made it look a bit easier to face off against Joahua Kimmich, who by my standards, was having a great game and Martinelli seemed to be struggling against him a bit. But Trossard managed to open up spaces against him and was able to cut inside him.

In Gaza, the health care system has collapsed, but nearly 200 women each day still need to find a safe place to give birth. In this week’s episode of Reveal, reporters Gabrielle Berbey and Salmad Ahad Khan tell the story of one woman, 42-year-old Lubna Al Rayyes, as she deals with a complicated pregnancy in the midst of the war. After fleeing her home in Gaza City, Al Rayyes tries to find refuge in Khan Younis—only to be forced to evacuate again when that city comes under attack too. 

Also in this episode, reporters speak with Dutch researcher Dr. Tessa Roseboom, who has been studying how famine affects the development of babies in the womb, and Dr. Ghassan Jawad, an OB-GYN who had worked at Al-Shifa hospital before it was left in ruins by an Israeli military attack. 

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Micah Richards thinks Arsenal will knock Bayern out of the UCL

Arsenal faces a huge task against Bayern next week, and after being out of the UCL for so long, the progress we have made so far has been great. Yes, we’ve faced some struggling games and at times have looked a bit like fish out of water, but we never seem to give up. When we travel to Germany to face off against Bayern in the second leg, we are going to need that level of belief and desire to push forward and win the game away from home.

Ex Manchester City legend, turned pundit, Michah Richards has had his say on the big clash at the Allianz Arena next week, saying this: “Going to the Allianz next week, it’s going to be a tough game, really tough. If something clicks for them, Arsenal could be in trouble. But the only reason I would say Arsenal have a better chance is because right now, they are performing better as a team.

“There’s been grumbles in the Bayern camp that the players are not getting up. Obviously, Tuchel’s leaving. But do you remember Tuchel at Chelsea? Things were not going well and they go and win the Champions League.”

“So, don’t put it past them that they could win that game, but I just think Arsenal as a team are just a little bit more together.”

Days after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a near-total ban on abortion could be enforced in the state, Kamala Harris went after Trump for his position on abortion in a campaign speech Friday in Tucson. Harris said that the ruling, which granted abortion exceptions only when it was “necessary to save” a woman’s life, “demonstrated once and for all that overturning Roe was just the opening act of a larger strategy.”

“And we all must understand who all is to blame,” Harris, who has become the Biden administration’s most vocal official on abortion, said. “Former President Donald Trump did this.” She said that a second Trump term would produce even more abortion bans and adversely affect reproductive care for women. 

Harris calling out Trump comes as the former president appears to be carving out distance between himself and anti-abortion policies. Over the past week, he has repeatedly said that there is no longer a need for a federal abortion ban, because “we broke Roe v. Wade.” On Wednesday, he said he would decline to sign such a ban, and on Monday, he claimed that abortion policy should be left to the states. He also released a statement opposing the Arizona ban. 

Democrats, including President Biden, have accused Trump of lying as he attempts to avoid the political fallout of being associated with strict anti-abortion policies, which consistently poll as extremely unpopular among voters. 

Trump has moved back and forth on abortion as it has been politically expedient—prior to running for office, he both claimed to be “very pro-choice” and then “pro-life.” In 2016, he said he would attempt to defund Planned Parenthood and then try to provide “some form of punishment” to women seeking abortions. In 2017, he supported the 20-week abortion ban that the House passed, saying that he would sign it, though the bill never made it through the Senate. 

Arsenal Women and Norway’s dependable midfielder, Frida Maanum, could return to action when Arsenal women face Leicester on April 21st. Jonas Eidevall provided the latest details regarding the midfielder during his press conference on Friday.

In Arsenal’s 1-0 Continental Cup victory over Chelsea two weeks ago, Frida Maanum fell off the ball towards the end of extra time. She did not lose consciousness but was treated by medics for several minutes, before being stretchered off the pitch.

The 24 year old Norwegian international, who has won 77 caps for her country, scoring 14 goals. missed the Euro 2025 qualifiers during the recent international break, as she underwent further testing at Arsenal, to try and determine the cause of her collapse.

Arsenal boss Eidevall stated that Maanum would not be available for our Gunners next WSL match, against Bristol City, which will take place on Sunday evening at Meadow Park, kick-off 18:45 UK. However, he hinted that she is making good progress, and the findings from her observations are promising.

“Everything is looking good; that’s the most important thing. She’s on a graduated monitored protocol to return back to play, but won’t be available for selection this weekend. But after that, it looks promising,” said Eidevall. “Against Leicester, maybe.”

Arsenal have one great advantage before their outing against Aston Villa 

Arsenal head into the weekend clash with their former manager Unai Emery’s team Aston Villa after drawing 2-2 with German giants Bayern Munich. 

That places the Gunners in contention of qualifying for the next round of the prestigious competition as well as lifting the Premier League title. 

A win at the Emirates on Sunday will ensure that Mikel Arteta’s side will not be dethroned from top of the table for one more week atleast. 

And the North London side have one major advantage over their rivals ahead of this exciting clash in the heart of London. 

Famine is already happening in parts of Gaza, a top US humanitarian official publicly acknowledged this week for the first time. After six months of Israeli war and blockades, an estimated 2.2 million people are facing acute or catastrophic food shortages. One in three children in northern Gaza are malnourished, and deaths due to hunger are expected to accelerate quickly, US officials have warned.

According to the groundbreaking work of Dutch researcher Dr. Tessa Roseboom, the impacts of near starvation are also likely being experienced by generations not yet born. Roseboom, a biologist and professor of early development and health at the Amsterdam UMC/University of Amsterdam, has been studying the long-term consequences of prenatal malnutrition for almost 30 years.

Much of her work focuses on people like her parents, who were born around the time of the Dutch “Hunger Winter” at the end of World War II. In dozens of studies, Roseboom and her colleagues have provided some of the first direct evidence in humans of the intergenerational impact of in-utero exposure to stresses such as famine. Their work suggests that malnutrition during pregnancy can have lasting consequences not only for the future health of the child but for subsequent generations. “It’s one of the things that makes me very passionate to talk about how the decisions we make today will have an effect for many, many decades,” Roseboom says. “I really feel the generations before me urging me to speak out.”

Audio journalists Neroli Price, Salman Ahad Khan, and Gabrielle Berbey talked with Roseboom as part of their investigation into how Israel’s blocking of aid trucks carrying food and medical supplies is leading to a maternal and infant health disaster. Excerpts of their conversation can be heard on the latest Reveal radio episode, “In Gaza, Every Pregnancy is Complicated,” (available for listening on nearly 600 NPR stations or for download).  Given the timeliness and urgency of the subject, we are presenting a longer digital version here. 

Let’s start with the Hunger Winter. What was the confluence of events that made the winter of 1944-1945 so devastating for people in the Netherlands?

On CNN, John Bolton, a former national security adviser to Donald Trump and rabid war lover who wants to bomb Iran and North Korea (among others), revealed that he is voting for a write-in candidate in 2024.

“I might as well say it now,” Bolton said, “I voted for Dick Cheney [in 2020]. And I’ll vote for Dick Cheney again this November.”

Why would Bolton do this? “Because [Cheney] was a principled Reaganite conservative, and he still is,” Bolton told the CNN viewers. Bolton then went on to explain that age is no longer a factor, allowing him to vote for a man who is 83 years old. And he continued, in a bit of a joking tone, to say that if he could sway the nation toward a write-in campaign for Cheney to prevent either Biden or Trump from being president, he would. Bolton also noted that someday he might vote for Cheney’s very hawkish, very anti-Trump daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney.

John Bolton: “I might as well say it now: I voted for Dick Cheney [in 2020]. And I’ll vote for Dick Cheney again this November.” pic.twitter.com/RCJGpeJQBJ

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 11, 2024

Everyone seems to be talking about saving democracy this year. “American democracy, that’s what the 2024 election is all about,” Joe Biden has emphasized, painting the threat of Donald Trump’s return to power as the central issue in the 2024 campaign. “We have to prove that our model isn’t a relic of history.”

But the crisis facing American democracy is much older and deeper than Trump and it is, indeed, a relic of a very different time in US history.

In a new video companion for Mother Jones, based on my forthcoming book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It, digital producer Sam Van Pykeren explores how the US political system was created to restrain democracy, not protect it. The founders essentially placed a ticking time bomb at the heart of our political system—and this could be the year it explodes.

As I explain in my book, it all dates back to the birth of American democracy, when the Founding Fathers created political institutions within a system that concentrated power in the hands of an elite, propertied, white male minority. More than 200 years later, the series of compromises the founders made have increasingly vested the majority of political power in the hands of a minority of the population—a reactionary conservative white minority that is seeking to entrench and hold onto power through a wide variety of anti-democratic means.

You can pre-order Minority Rule here, and find the exclusive Mother Jones excerpt here.

This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

With just two weeks left until the Democratic primary for western Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district, climate and environmental groups have overwhelmingly endorsed the anti-fracking incumbent, Rep. Summer Lee. 

One of the only contested Democratic congressional primaries in the state, the race between Lee and Edgewood Borough Council member Bhavini Patel has drawn attention, with the candidates clashing over the Biden Administration’s continued military funding for Israel and the GOP-funded Moderate PAC bankrolling advertisements targeting Lee on behalf of Patel, who supports continuing military aid. 

On Wednesday, the Lee campaign said it has received a slate of new and existing endorsements from 14 prominent climate and environmental groups, including Greenpeace, the Sunrise Movement, Sunrise Pittsburgh, Zero Hour, the Sierra Club of Pennsylvania, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Jane Fonda Climate PAC. The endorsements shift focus away from Israel and Palestine to Lee’s environmental justice platform, which advocates for bringing jobs and money to a district mostly made up of Pittsburgh that has spent decades under the thumb of the fossil fuel industry.

Edith Abeyta, an environmental justice organizer and air quality advocate in the district, said she is an enthusiastic supporter of Lee’s re-election campaign. “For me, it’s this intersectionality that Lee upholds within her district,” Abeyta said. “She represents a lot of people that live in environmental justice zones and frontline communities, and I think she gets it…she’s a voice for the people.”