The Evening: Trump trial arguments get underway

Also, pro-Palestinian protests disrupt top college campuses.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 22, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Monday. Opening statements in Trump's trial A homelessness Supreme Court case Plus, a statue to the queen and her corgis Donald Trump in court today. Pool photo by Angela Weiss The first prosecution of a president was laid out in court A New York prosecutor today debuted the state's case against Donald Trump to the jury of Manhattan residents that will be asked to render a verdict in about six weeks. During a 45-minute opening statement, the prosecutor detailed a scandalous story in which he accused the former president of engaging in a "criminal conspiracy" to cover up three sex scandals that threatened Trump's 2016 campaign. "It was election fraud," the prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said. Trump watched from the defense table, occasionally shaking his head. His lead lawyer, Todd Blanche laid out a duel-track defense: He downplayed the charges as a minor "business records violation" and questioned the credibility of the prosecution's witnesses, including Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Before the trial adjourned early for Passover, the jury also heard from the prosecution's first witness, David Pecker, the former tabloid publisher who was close with Trump. Pecker testified that his tabloids practiced "checkbook journalism." Prosecutors said Pecker bought and buried stories that could have imperiled Trump's campaign. They will try to convince the jury that a hush money payment to a porn actress at the center of the trial was part of a larger effort to suppress negative news, which includes two other deals involving Pecker. Go deeper: Here are five takeaways from the opening statements. Activists held a rally outside of the Supreme Court. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Justices appeared to side with city on homeless penalties During more than two and a half hours of arguments today, the Supreme Court's conservative majority appeared inclined to uphold local laws that allowed a small Oregon city to bar homeless people from sleeping in public spaces. The three liberal justices strongly pushed back. The case stems from homeless residents in Grants Pass who challenged the enforcement by arguing that they are involuntarily homeless because there are no shelter beds available. That argument seemed to resonate with the liberal justices — "Where are they supposed to sleep?" Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked — while the conservatives seemed prepared to leave the issue to local lawmakers. In related news, the Supreme Court agreed today to hear a challenge to the Biden administration's regulation of "ghost guns." Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University today.  CS Muncy for The New York Times Pro-Palestinian protests disrupt college campuses At Columbia University, classes were held remotely today after pro-Palestinian demonstrations on and around campus left some Jewish students fearing for their safety. At Yale, the police arrested at least 47 protesters who had defied orders to leave an encampment. At N.Y.U., students refused the university's demand to leave a campus plaza. Demonstrations were reported at M.I.T., Michigan, Tufts and other campuses. Harvard leaders planned for Harvard Yard to be closed for most of the week. Administrators at some schools tried to defuse the protests, while balancing free speech rights and the fears of many Jewish students, who said some of the demonstrations had veered into antisemitism. Here's the latest. In news from the conflict, the head of intelligence for Israel's military resigned today, following the intelligence failures that preceded the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. President Biden said his climate spending would create thousands of jobs for the next generation. Al Drago for The New York Times Biden used Earth Day to appeal to younger voters President Biden today visited a national park in Virginia, where he announced $7 billion in grants to fund solar power for hundreds of thousands of homes, primarily in disadvantaged communities. The event was designed in part to build enthusiasm among young people, a crucial constituency for Biden's re-election bid. A recent poll found that roughly 58 percent of voters had heard "little" or "nothing at all" about his signature climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed in 2022. Ask a climate reporter: In a new series, we answer your climate questions. First up: Is online shopping bad for the planet? More top news Business: The F.T.C. sued to block a $8.5 billion merger that would bring together Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Versace. A.I.: At least two dozen states have introduced bills to combat A.I.-generated sexually explicit images, known as deepfakes, of people under 18. Investigation: The top U.S. drug official called for an inquiry into how antidoping authorities decided to clear 23 elite Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for a banned drug. Health: The H5N1 avian flu has rapidly infiltrated an astonishingly wide array of mammals. Scientists are racing to understand what it could mean for humans. India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Muslims "infiltrators" who would take the country's wealth if his opponents gained power. Asia: A heat wave has scorched millions across the continent, with temperatures reaching nearly 110 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of India and Bangladesh. Ukraine: With Russia preparing a big push, satellite images reveal the immense defensive lines Ukraine's military has built this year. Politics: The prime minister of Papua New Guinea criticized President Biden for suggesting, without evidence, that his uncle was eaten by cannibals there. Sports: The National Labor Relations Board is weighing whether certain student athletes should be considered employees. Restaurants: One of the world's most famous vegan chefs has left a trail of burned investors, bounced paychecks and graphic text messages. TIME TO UNWIND Will Keen, left, as Putin with Luke Thallon, who plays the oligarch Roman Abramovich. Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Putin arrives on Broadway Peter Morgan, who created "The Crown," spent years pulling back the curtain on the British royal family and writing about polite, repressed women like Princess Diana. His new Broadway play, "Patriots," which opened today, is immersed in a very male, very violent setting: Vladimir Putin's rise to power and the Russian oligarchs who mistakenly thought he'd be their puppet. "It felt like a natural thing to do, having spent so much time in the one world to go into another world just to relax a little," Morgan told Maureen Dowd, the Times Opinion columnist. Check out our review. Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times How to dress when you don't want to look young A reader in her 30s recently wrote in asking what to wear to look more mature. Her problem: Several people had mistakenly assumed she was in her early 20s, which could be demoralizing at work. Our fashion critic Vanessa Friedman suggested focusing on the details. Consider it a priority to wear outfits without wrinkles, sweaters without loose threads, a tucked-in shirt and, perhaps most important, a well-tailored jacket. "The more you appear to respect yourself, the more others may respect you," Vanessa wrote. Oscar Nimmo Dinner table topics Switching streams: Viewers are increasingly rotating among streaming services, which could have major implications for the entertainment industry. Taylor Swift fatigue: Even some Swifties are burning out on the musician's deluge of releases. Twice told: Two of the most talked-about novels of recent years have lifted fan fiction to an art form. Pasta myths: Do your noodles really have to be cooked al dente? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott for The New York Times. Prop Stylist: Kalen Kaminski. Cook: Make this crispy potato kugel, or one of our dozens of other Passover recipes. Watch: We talked to Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough about their new true crime series, "Under the Bridge." Read: In "The Rulebreaker," Susan Page details the pioneering career of Barbara Walters. Dine: These are the 25 best restaurants in Austin. Consider: Are you taking multiple medications? You may want to scale back. Compete: Take this week's Flashback history quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING Joshua Bright for The New York Times Elizabeth II gets a statue (corgis included) Eighteen months after Queen Elizabeth II's death, Britain is beginning to commemorate its former monarch with the unveiling of several statues. The first memorial statue, a seven-foot bronze work of the queen in flowing robes with three corgis at her feet, was unveiled yesterday in the English market town of Oakham. The Oakham statue is one of many that portray Queen Elizabeth as warm and approachable — a noticeable contrast to the stern statues of Queen Victoria. Have a regal evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Photo Editor: Brent Lewis Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018