LIVE: Attorneys demonstrate opening statements in Trump’s ancient hush money case

Tab it's time to buy the right stuff and save big time too The Right Stuff Fridays on GMA you're going to love it reporting in Moscow Idaho I'm Kaa Whitworth wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live right now on America this morning Trump on trial what to expect as opening statements get underway today the key.

Witnesses expected to take the stand and the two other big legal battles on Trump scheduled this week security boosted at Columbia University as Pro Palestinian protests escalate a rabbi now urging Jewish students to leave campus due to security concerns and overseas as the war in Gaza rages a first ofit kind move expected by.

The US to punish an Israeli army unit can cities punish homeless people for sleeping Outdoors the case in front of the Supreme Court today and how it could influence how the government addresses homelessness and the affordable housing crisis caught on camera it felt like a movie it was so chaotic meet the heroes.

Who risk their lives to save this man from a burning SUV a potential ban on Tik Tok moves one step closer to reality what happens next and what the social media platform's owner is now promising plus singer Luke Bryan taking a nasty fall because of something a fan had thrown on stage and face to face with an alligator a diver describes being pulled.

Pulled underwater and how he was able to fight back and survive from ABC news in New York this is America this morning good Monday morning everyone I'm ran and Ali and I'm Andrew diber we begin with history being made in New York today as former president Trump goes on trial we are expecting opening statements today at.

Trump's hush money trial but this is not the only legal battle on the president's schedule today ABC's Morgan Norwood has more from the courthouse in l Manhattan good morning Morgan hey good morning to you Andrew that's right it's the start of a busy week for Trump beginning with that criminal hush money trial here in New.

York City this morning opening statements in former president Donald Trump's historic criminal trial set to get underway this is a giant Witch Hunt to try and hurt a campaign that's beating the worst president in history the New York district attorney accusing Trump of illegally falsifying business records to.

Cover up payments to porn star stormy Daniels to keep allegations of an affair out of the tabloids before the 2016 election Trump is pleaded not guilty in a statement yesterday Trump saying in just 24 hours I'll be back in Biden's corrupt Court the jury of seven men and five women includes a woman in product development two lawyers a retired wealth.

Manager a speech therapist and a teacher at a charter school prosecutors haven't said publicly who their first witnesses will be among the possibilities former National Inquirer publisher David pecker prosecutors say pecker agreed to be the eyes and ears of Trump's campaign by identifying damaging stories about Trump and keeping them out of print Trump's.

Former lawyer Michael Cohen also expected to be a key witness along with Stormy Daniels and former White House communications director hope Hicks it's going to be up to the defense to try and discredit the Witnesses on cross-examination point out inconsistencies in their accounts in the case of one of the key Witnesses Michael.

Cohen they'll hammer on his credibility because he is a convicted felon in a separate casee today a judge will hear arguments over the $175 million bond in Trump's civil fraud case where he was found liable of falsely inflating his real estate assets the New York attorney general is asking the judge to void that Bond payment saying the bond company has.

Failed to show it has the money to cover the amount and another big legal battle for the former president is this Thursday when the Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump's presidential immunity claim and the January 6 election interference case former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney in a New York Times oped today urges the.

Supreme Court to issue its ruling on immunity quickly and decisively adding if delay prevents this Trump case from being tried this year the public may never hear critical and historic evidence developed before the grand jury and back here at the courthouse in lower Manhattan Trump's hush money criminal trial is expected to take at.

Least six weeks weeks with court and session 4 days per week Rihanna all right Morgan Norwood live in Manhattan thank you for that the other big story this morning is the growing concern about security at Colombia University as protest stemming from the Israel Hamas War intensify and one Rabbi is now urging Jewish students to leave.

Campus this morning Columbia University is boosting security ahead of the Passover holiday with more protests expected around campus the school now adding 35 guards and more than 100 additional safety personnel Pro Palestinian demonstrators have gathered at the school since last week rallying against the Israel Hamas.

War and at times using violent rhetoric videos online show protesters promising to carry out massacres similar to the Hamas attack of October 7th chanting phrases like we are Hamas a rabbi associated with the university is now urging Jew students to go home saying Columbia University's Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee.

Jewish students safety New York's mayor says he's horrified by the hate speech but says because Colombia is private property the NYPD can't stay on campus unless the school requests it police made multiple arrests at a protest near campus Saturday days after arresting more than a hundred people on campus when the University's president asked.

Law enforcement to clear out out an encampment the mass arrests and the suppression of students I would say that's galvanized test this is nothing compared to what people in Palestine are dealing with people in Gaza they are starving they have lost everything overseas the Israeli military is vowing to carry out a ground.

Offensive targeting militants in the southern Gaza City of Rafa where air strikes yesterday killed 22 people including 18 children according to the Hamas run Health Ministry meanwhile Israeli leaders are criticizing an expected decision by the US to withhold military aid from a unit of the Israeli military accused of human rights.

Violations in the West Bank an unprecedented move that could widen the rift between President Biden and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and we have breaking news now from Tel Aviv the head of Israel's Military Intelligence has resigned over the failures stemming from that October 7th attack this is the first senior figure to step down after.

The Hamas attack here in the US a 29-year-old man is in custody in Los Angeles after allegedly breaking into the mayor's official residence police say mayor Karen bass and her family were at home at getty house when the suspect broke in through a glass door early yesterday the mayor and her family are okay no word yet on the suspect's motive.

Security at the mayor's home is now being examined the Supreme Court takes up a case today that could influence how cities all across the country confr front the issue of homelessness the case involves whether homeless people can be fined ABC's Allison kic explains this morning the Supreme Court.

Takes up the issue of homelessness and what cities and towns can do about it the question can cities ticket fine or possibly jail homeless people who sleep outside in public areas or does that violate the eth amendment which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment there's no place to go I was holding down two jobs when I was out here and uh.

Still not enough ABC's Devon DWI traveled to gr Pass Oregan that City's Crackdown began this legal battle so the city came in and said you can't Camp right there on those wood chips they yeah yeah the uh the officer said I was too close to the playground and I was too close to the to the fence the case shines a spotlight on an issue cities.

Are grappling with Nationwide how to balance public health and safety we've had shootings in our Parks we've had fights in our Parks chronic drug abuse in our parks in 2013 the city passed an ordinance Banning anyone from sleeping in public but with no public shelters inside City Limits a homeless group sued And1 the reality is um the only thing.

That works is more permanent affordable housing Brian Beller runs the only private homeless shelter in town but it's only half full the shelter has religious requirements and bans smoking drinking and pets that's the big question is there nowhere else to go is there just nowhere else that they want to go elected officials from both.

Parties are urging the Supreme Court to make it easier for cities to clear tent encampments there's those of us that are struggling and fighting and taking one step out as we're digging out of the hole after today's arguments the Court's ruling is expected before the end of June Ranon Andrew Allison thank you Terry Anderson one of the longest held.

Hostages in US history has died the longtime Associated Press correspondent was abducted by Hezbollah in Lebanon in 1985 it was nearly 7 years until he was freed Anderson died at his home north of New York City from complications following heart surgery he was 76 happy earthday everyone President Biden will Mark the day by visiting a national park.

In Virginia and a new poll finds 45% of adults in the US say that they are more concerned Leed about climate change in the past year than they were before that includes about six and 10 Democrats and a quarter of Republicans ABC News has launched a series called The Power of us people the climate and our future featuring reports on the climate.

Challenges we all face and possible solutions those will air on all ABC News platforms all throughout this week time for your Earth Day weather so Denver saw more than 6 Ines of snow snow over the weekend the biggest snowstorm this late in the season in some 17 years it'll melt quickly with temperatures rising to.

Nearly 80 this week but it still feels like winter in much of the country with frost advisories and freeze warnings from Arkansas all the way to New England temperatures across that region are mostly in the 30s this morning checking today's high temperatures mid 60s around the Great Lakes 70s on the west coast nearly 100 in Phoenix.

coming up work begins on a major new high-speed train in the US we'll tell you the cities it will link but first a potential ban on Tik Tok moves one step closer to reality after a weekend vote in Congress so what happens next and later The Rock and Hall of Fame announcing its newest induct.

deed you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the talk now on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception not told us to complete TR yes I did 100% no you didn't I I look at it you're not a good Li do you think just.

Ends in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other new newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of Television get ready America every.

Friday the hottest Trends Styles and must have what's the right stuff to buy right now I really love that it's time to buy the right stuff yes and save big time too The Right Stuff Fridays on GMA you're going to love it it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty.

Good your health your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food gma3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love that whenever wherever news breaks it's so important to always remember that.

Live lives are changed here in London in Buffalo yaldi Texas Edinburgh Scotland reporting from Rolling Fork Mississippi Ukrainian refugees here in warong we're heading to a small community outside of Mexico City getting you behind the stories as they happen ABC News live Prime we'll take you there stream ABC News live week nights wherever you.

Stream your news only on ABC News live traveling with the president to the US Mexico border I'm Mary Bruce wherever the story is will take you there you're streaming ABC News live a groundbreaking is scheduled today for a highspeed rail line that will connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas the 12 billion bright Line West project.

Includes $3 billion from the Biden administration's infrastructure Bill the line could be up and running by 2028 that's when the Olympics will be held in La the train would make the trip in just over 2 hours that is about half the time it takes to drive it there's new uncertainty this morning about the future of Tik Tok proposal to.

Potentially ban the social media app in the US is gaining support ahead of a crucial week this morning the US government is one step closer to potentially Banning Tik Tock the house Saturday passed a foreign aid bill which includes a proposal to force Tik tok's Chinese parent company to sell the social media.

Platform in the US within one year or be banned the bill is passed next The Proposal heads to the Senate where support for the potential ban is growing this is a very important national security issue because we know that those who control B dance the owner of Tik Tock are connected with the Chinese Communist party they use this tool to.

Push disinformation to Americans that they won't allow to be pushed to their own citizens the FBI director has also warned China's government could use Tik Tok to collect users data for Espionage Tik Tok responded yesterday vowing to fight in court saying the bill quote would trample the Free Speech rights of 170 million Americans I don't think it's.

Going to pass First Amendment scrutiny because I think they're less restrictive Alternatives we could have uh made it a crime to transfer Americans data to an adversarial foreign Nation or foreign State interference but to just ban 170 million Americans or aaging speech and livelihood I doubt it survives scrutiny in the Supreme Court the proposed ban is.

Also expected to face legal challenges from Tik Tock users I'm like literally shaking thinking about the possibility of this many have protested on Capitol Hill insisting a ban would take away their livelihoods my whole business would be devastated Tik Tock creators are planning another protest at the capital tomorrow when the Senate takes.

Up the bill which President Biden has promised to sign more to come coming up next country music star Morgan Wallen is opening up about his recent bad behavior also ahead meet the heroes who risk their lives to save a man from this Burning SUV whenever news breaks we are here in Israel a nation at war after that brutal.

Surprise attack by Hamas on the ground in Ukraine reporting from Leon Maine the scene of a horrific mass shooting ABC News live is right there everywhere from the scene of that deadly missile strike in Dena Ukraine reporting from the earthquake in turkey and rolling for this tornado tore through this little town from the most.

Devastating disaster in Hawaii from Charleston South Carolina on the 2024 campaign Trail in Iceland let's go traveling with the president in Mexico City wherever the story from the front lines from Southern Israel outside the Gaza Strip in beir from the FBI reporting from the nurses on the pick line here at 10 Downing Street in London.

Streaming live to you wherever the story is wherever the story is wherever the story is we're going to take you there you're streaming ABC News live ABC News live you're streaming ABC News live ABC news live streaming free everywhere America's number one streaming news it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you.

Need to know you know that sounds pretty good your health your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food gma3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love.

That you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the C now on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception that told us to complete yes I did 100% no you didn't I how I look at it you're not a good life do you think just ends in a good way the.

Interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC back now with country singer Luke bran o taking a tumble there it is he was performing at a festival in Vancouver when he slipped and fell on a Fan's phone that had been thrown on stage it looked like a hard fall but Brian laughed it off joking that his.

Lawyer will be calling he asked another fan to share the video saying he wanted to go viral and country singer Morgan Wallen who faces three felony charges after his arrest at a bar spoke to fans this weekend about his past during a Mississippi concert Wallen said back in high school he nearly got kicked off his baseball team for bad behavior he.

Described himself as a little Rowdy the adult Wallen is accused of throwing a chair off the six floor of a Nashville bar this month nearly hitting some police officers on the ground below he issued a statement saying I'm not proud of my behavior and I accept responsibility he's due in court next week now it's in Minnesota and a man.

Trapped in a burning SUV who may have died if not for The Bravery of some Good Samaritans in St Paul Minnesota complete strangers making a split-second decision to help save a man's life all I see is there's a man in the car that can't get out that needs I help the Good Samaritans running out of their vehicles to try and pry open the door of this.

Burning SUV that had struck a light pole eventually pulling 71-year-old Sam orbovich from the vehicle it felt like a movie it was so chaotic emotions were so high Tessa San was driving by when she saw orbovich trapped several people at the same time I did were out trying to get the door open find me to break the glass trying to find even somewhere.

Around this other side of the car the group tried to get that door open but it was pinned by the guard rail and the fire was intensifying so you know when you're at a bonfire and you can hear the flames and you can hear the crackles it was like that but like 10 times 100 times worse I mean you could feel the flame even from how far back I was.

Standing you could feel how hot it was eventually a Transportation worker arrived and smashed the driver side window allowing them to pull orbovich out and to safety and then just moments later the car just totally went up in Flames orbovich suffered only minor injuries it's 100% a miracle I if those if strangers had not come together to.

Form this community to get this man out of the car I don't think he would still be here today you can see what a miracle it was by that video orbovich told good morning America he is incredibly grateful to those people who pulled over to help him coming up how long a man played chess non-stop to set a world record let hear from the diver who came.

Face to face with yes an alligator and lived to tell the tale you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the talk fell on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception that to us to complete you yes I did 100% no I can my looking it you're.

Not a good Li do you think this SS in a good way the interrogation tape s new 20120 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC hi I'm Andy and I'm Sabrina and we're moms juggling tons of stuff every day like all you moms out there and you know what we love really love Pop Culture so listen now to our new podcast pop culture moms wherever you get your.

Podcasts with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of Television why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a.

Different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you.

Get your podcasts start here it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty good your house your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us.

After news for everything you need to know I love that reporting from the Port of Baltimore I'm Elizabeth schy wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live time to check the PSE we begin with Peter Frampton one of the newest members.

Of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yeah the new inductees were just announced last night the list also includes this iconic band that is of course cool in the gang they are among this here's inductees oie Osborne also on the list it'll be his second time he was already inducted as a.

Member of Black Sabbath though also being inducted this year Mary J bli Sher the Dave Matthews band Foreigner and A Tribe Called Quest congratulations to all and next a life and death struggle against an alligator in South Carolina oh hunt for fossils ended in one man's fight to survival William georgitis is recovering after a gator dragged him to.

The bottom of a river he was diving last month when the gator grabbed him and yet s took him under he was going so fast that he was almost hydroplaning on top of the water he rose up out of the water I mean and it he came at me like a lightning bolt basically when he was about a foot away he turned his head and opened his mouth to Chomp down basically.

On my head and shoulders and I uh defensively put my arm up wow he managed to get away by stabbing the gator with the screwdriver Good Morning America we'll have more of his story of survival including how other divers helped rescue him amazing next another wild scene a dramatic rescue operation in Connecticut a mama bear and her baby were crossing.

This bridge when the Cub fell off and plunged into the river below the Frantic mom responded quickly running off the bridge and making her way down the hill she then dove into the water scooped up her cub and carried it to dry land and finally imagine playing chess for 60 hours non-stop happened in New York's Time Square two Chess Masters one from.

Nigeria and one from Brooklyn faced off trying to set a world record for the longest chess Marathon the old record was 56 hours and 9 minutes but they made it more than 60 hours time to play Checkers after that right this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee.

Centers in Putin's Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destructive Cat 4 story along I Boston is in the bullseye let's go ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 247 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming.

News you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the fell on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception told us to complete you yes I did 100% no you didn't I can I looking it you're not a good Li do you think this ends in a good way the interrogation tapes the.

New 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people.

Are talking about the migrant crisis fast straight forward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about.

Everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty good your help your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and and of course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love.

that checking more top stories now the head of Israel's Military Intelligence has resigned becoming the first senior Israeli official to step down for the intelligence failures that led up to the October 7th attack by MOS which ignited the war in Gaza Columbia University is stepping up patrols and allowing remote.

Learning as Pro Palestinian demonstrators rally against the war in Gaza there's growing concern for the safety of Jewish students as Passover begins tonight in police near Detroit say an intoxicated 66y old woman drove her car into a building where a child's birthday party was being held two siblings aged five and eight were killed.

Several other people were injured and the driver is now in custody today's weather sunny and warming up in the West showers from the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes rain in south Florida but clear in the Northeast finally kids give us their take for Earth Day Danny new spoke to them what do you like about the earth I.

Like how it's blue and green I love how the Earth Keeps Us healthy I mean no Earth we don't we wouldn't be existing wow where would we we be nowhere I really like that the Earth gives us nature we can't live on Mars too hot we can't live on Neptune the whole place gives us food we can't live.

On on Venus cuz then we'd be literally pop Adele what is your favorite thing on earth I don't know my family my friends think it might be the Grand Canyon I like myself maybe McDonald's is McDonald's paying you a big sum of money no like but they should yeah I'm their loyal customer how can we make the Earth.

Better I would um clean up all of the dirty stuff I would like stop pollution I would recycle pick up the litter off the of the streets it's everywhere by cleaning up the ocean pick up all the trash I would recycle do you think New York City is clean not as much sometimes people don't pick up dog poop there's so much dog poop why.

Is Earth Day important Earth Day is important because it's the it's the day where we give back to the Earth let's talk about the Earth Day CU Earth Day is coming up Earth Day oh my gosh why do you like Earth Day I like Earth Day because like the Earth is really dirty and we get to clean it up they give me hope thank you as always.

To Success Academy Manhattan for having us guys are you going to pick up some litter today every day is every day is Earth Day those kids are so smart and they have such great advice that's what we do it for the next Generation that's what's making news in America this morning happy earthday ABC.

News America's number one news source hi I'm Diane Meo let's get straight to our top story for the first time in American history a former president will be tried in Criminal Court after a week of jury selection opening statements are set to begin today in the hush money trial against Donald Trump and they're.

Expected to reveal the clearest view yet of the allegations against the former president and Trump's expected defense Trump pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election we have Team coverage starting with senior investigative correspondent Aon kki outside the.

Courthouse in downtown Manhattan opening statements in the historic criminal trial of former president Trump and it's a shame it's a shame and I'm sitting here for days now from morning till night seated in court Trump has relegated to silence prosecutors will introduce the case which they've said is about whether the.

Defendant Donald Trump broke the the law in falsifying business records to cover up an agreement with others to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election in their opening statement defense attorneys are expected to say Trump relied on lawyers to arrange the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to keep her from revealing her.

Claim of a sexual encounter with Trump which he has long denied I was paying a lawyer and marked it down as a legal expense some accountant that I didn't know marked it down as a legal expense that's exactly what it was prosecutors say Trump worried about his electoral prospects and turned to National inquir publisher David pecker who they say was.

Part of an alleged scheme to buy and bury unflattering stories about Trump peckers among the early Witnesses Stormy Daniels will testify along with Michael Cohen Trump's former fixer who wired her the hush money prosecutors said some of the witnesses have what you might consider some baggage Trump says he could testify too during a trial.

Expected to last 6 weeks I'm testifying I tell the truth I mean all I can do is tell the truth the testimony is going to be heard by a jury of seven men and five women that includes two native New Yorkers and two immigrants seven jurors have advanced degrees one juror praised Trump's outspokenness another called the former president selfish each promised.

To be fair and impartial and ABC News executive editorial producer John santui and ABC News contributor Kim wayy joins me now for more John what are you watching for as these opening statements get started you know it's funny I'm going to be watching for a couple of things first I think that to see an image and it's such.

A shame there's no cameras in New York state court but to see Donald Trump sitting there as prosecutors describe him as a criminal right to think Donald Trump cannot say anything cannot do anything you know there's a great piece in the New York Times over the weekend Diane and it said it was one of the rare moments that Donald Trump was ordered to.

Sit down in his life in court on Friday as they were wrapping proceedings that is going to be Donald Trump's life for the next several weeks his schedule his agenda his ability to speak it is all out of his hands for the first time ever so I think just that body language to see Donald Trump sitting there is going to be striking the other thing that I.

Think we're going to see from the defense side of the Trump arguments here is really a breakdown of the witnesses because this is a case that really became to life after Michael Cohen first spoke to special counsel Robert Muller and detailed some ofdonald Trump's Financial practices so Cohen is a main target for team Trump to tear him down.

So I think seeing how much they get into that in opening statements right to of course defend president Trump as it's their job to do but start attacking the other Witnesses are going to be called and it's just a reminder right they're attacking people or probably will attack people that Donald Trump himself hired and I think that's going to be a really.

Hard argument to make for a guy that has said repeatedly I only hire the best people oh and and John you talk about body language Trump has chosen today he has to be in court but he has chosen on many other occasions to be in court by choice so what are you hearing from his inner circle is there a part of him that likes the fact that he gets to be there.

That he gets to look these jurors in the eyes that he gets to look these Witnesses in the eyes complete opposite he hates every single moment of this because again it is not within his control the other thing you have to remember too is that this case is going to get into a lot of Donald Trump's personal and private life you know one.

Of the things that is going to come up at some point during this trial because one of the witnesses is Stormy Daniels they're going to talk about it some way shape or form Donald Trump's I hate to say it but sex life and that's something that Donald Trump is as I've been told by sources embarrassed about he doesn't want to talk about it anybody want to.

Talk about that in open public and that's just a reminder right that so much of this is going to get personal you know think about the other witnesses that have been mentioned in court by judge Maran and included as part of our reporting as a potential list by prosecutors they're going to bring in many former assistants to Donald Trump.

Donald Trump didn't have many assistants during his professional life he only had two believe it or not one was with him up until she died the other up until he went to the White House they knew everything about Donald Trump and in part because Donald Trump in the ERA with which he rose to fame and success didn't use technology didn't use.

Computers it was known that if you had an email or reach out to Donald Trump once we got into the 21st century you went to Rona graph his longtime assistant she is the gatekeeper she knows everything about Donald Trump's life so depending how wide of a scope prose uors do could be a lot of things revealed about Donald Trump that frankly.

None of us knew before now Kim it took a week to select this jury seven men five women what stands out to you about those picked I think it's interesting there are three I think attorneys on the jury uh that is unusual uh when I was a first year law student my law professor told the class look around none of you will ever be on a jury so someone will be the.

Four person and that person I think will help potentially the other jurors understand the legal concept this idea that it's not just the falsifying records it's not the hush money it's the connection between uh stopping this bad information from getting out in the 2016 election and then allegedly falsifying the business records it's a novel Theory.

Uh this is unusual to have the falsification of business records the Standalone uh alleged crime here usually it's it's an add-on to other serious crimes so I think the the jurors are are probably going to look to some of these lawyers the other piece of course has to come down to credibility as John said it will be in a way the dueling credibility.

Of Donald Trump who's a who's claiming publicly anyway that he had no knowledge of this that he was just passing it along to his lawyers and then people like um David pecker and and Michael Cohen who might testify listen I had a conversation or I knew he knew exactly why this $130,000 was going to Stormy Daniels and it did have to do with the.

Election it wasn't about embarrassing information getting to his wife Bania for example and we're watching the motorcade now we just saw former president Trump leave Trump Tower get into the SUV and now we're watching the motorcade make its way down to court John what are you hearing from Trump's Inner Circle as they prepare for opening.

Statements in this historic trial now this is the first time we're going to see this happening in criminal court with the former president well I think that one of the things that they've been talking about Diane is that they want to be able to bring other people into court to be around Donald Trump now that's going to be a little challenging because.

Of just the setup of the courthouse but one of the things that they are preparing for in part is twofold right number one it's the audience of one in the sense that you know though Donald Trump's lawyers have a job to do if they don't hit certain points if they don't you know get certain you know items across the board that Donald Trump wants.

To make sure are said or heard that's going to be a struggle for them because we know and we saw it in court during jury selection Donald Trump will not hold back when he has an opinion he'll pull his lawyers down he'll write them notes I mean he's a very active client he doesn't sit there passively at all I don't think there's anybody who would.

Ever say Donald Trump is passive in any aspect of his life um the other thing that you know you have to just brace for here in part as this gets underway you know when we saw some of the reporting from the jury selection that Donald Trump was you know closing his eyes moving around there's going to be parts of this forgive me that are going to be.

A little boring when you go through Witnesses and whatnot you know not every witness is going to be explosive some of it is going to be very paper if you will because it's a financial case at the end of the day so we'll hear from sign what document what date what does that line mean exactly so I mean some of that's just going to you know frankly put.

Anybody to sleep so I think Donald Trump actually keeping his attention when he can't be on his cell phone can't be talking to anybody can't again we said earlier get up and move around I think just that's going to be interesting to see how you control Donald Trump as a client and again don't take my word for it right we've now seen Donald Trump in.

A courtroom think about at egene Caroll the case that happened earlier this year he got so annoyed at one point during Roberta kaplan's closing statements remember he got up and bolted right that's that iconic image of the sketch artist drew of him just saying I'm out of here can't do that in criminal court and again I do think you made a great.

Point earlier where Donald Trump you know said he you know went to court cuz he had to go and he liked being there that was civil when he could pick this is Criminal he cannot different world and again for anyone just joining us we're watching the motorcade there with former president Trump headed to court in downtown Manhattan for the hush money.

Trial against him this will be the first time prosecutors will be presenting a criminal case against a former president before a newly seated jury uh Kim Trump's lawyers are expected to focus on The credibility of the prosecution's witnesses here suggesting the case is politically motivated how big of a hurdle is the political timing here for.

The prosecution former president Trump is running for president currently the Republican presumptive nominee and that uh election it's just a few few months away now well anytime there's a a a public figure that's in politics that is indicted and prosecuted arguably it's it's political because it's they're a.

Politician so I think that that the idea that somehow this is politically motivated was probably sorted out during jury selection that's part of the point of the Vader is to to make sure the jurors not so much know nothing about Donald Trump that's probably not someone you'd want on a jury that is just asleep and has no idea what's going on but.

Someone who can say listen I can set my th those biases potentially those viewpoints aside and just decide the the case based on the evidence I think the defense is going to argue like most Pro defense attorneys that the burden of proof is on the government they they have to put all the beans on the scale in theory Donald Trump doesn't have to.

Prove or disprove anything his lawyers could just sit there and say listen you've heard all the evidence they just haven't demonstrated that Donald Trump had the intent to defraud it's that state of mind it's climbing in his brain and his thinking that that really is the line between a civil type of case where you could have money damages or an.

Injunction and a criminal case the big line being a criminal case can deprive someone of their Liberty that can actually end up putting the person in prison and that's why it's so important that the government uh be be held to its burden ofof uh the government's also though going to have to make sure however it does things it it preserves.

The appeal that he it doesn't allow things to get in or mistakes to be made that Donald Trump later if there is a a verdict um against him can can use to overturn it so all of these moving Parts have to be taken into account and I do think that the prosecution is motivated to make sure it's this is not about politics it's about the evidence it's.

Making sure the evidence is in there pursuant to the Rules of Evidence legally uh and that they persuade the jury that the elements of this crime have been proven Beyond A Reasonable Doubt all right former president Trump now headed to that Court as we speak John santui Kim wayy thank you both and we will be following this trial all day.

Long we will bring you updates right here on ABC News live as soon as we have them meanwhile house Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be gaining new support from across the aisle after putting his job on the line to push through a $95 billion foreign aid package some hard-right Republicans opposed to that package are threatening.

To force a vote to remove Johnson as Speaker of the House now a top Republican and Progressive Democrat are praising the speaker suggesting he'll be able to on to his job if it does come to a vote meanwhile the Senate is expected to vote early this week on that package of four bills senior White House correspondent Selena Wang has the.

Latest the bill is passed Congress is one step closer to passing billions in foreign aid that's desperately needed by America's allies with the Senate set to vote on critical funding for Ukraine Israel and Taiwan after a dramatic weekend in the house the house will be in order speaker Mike Johnson putting his job on the line.

To push through the massive Aid package $60 billion for Ukraine 26 billion for Israel 8 billion for Taiwan and indopacific allies and legislation to force a sale of Tik Tok from its Chinese parent company or face a ban in the US we did our work here and I think uh history will judge it well for months Johnson stalled on President Biden's.

Request for more funding but after classified briefings including with the CIA director and lots of praying The Devout Christian made a dramatic turnaround arguing to his fellow Republicans that helping Ukraine is critical to US National Security and that they need to be on the right side of History to put it bluntly I would.

Rather send bullets uh to Ukraine than American boys my son is going to begin in the Naval Academy this fall this is a live fire exercise for me as it is so many American families but a majority of his members revolted more than half of Republicans voting against a to Ukraine with Johnson forced to rely on Democrats to even bring it up for a vote now at.

Least three hardliners are threatening to Johnson over it he betrayed us three times the vote was held today Mike Johnson is a lame duck he's done he's done with the gop's razor thin majority in the house that's enough Republicans to push Johnson out as Democrats and moderate Republicans praise Johnson for bringing these bills to the floor I.

Commended by name traditional conservatives led by Speaker Mike Johnson for doing the right thing but speaker Johnson's job is still under threat those Hardline Republicans can still try to oust him when the house is back in session next week in the meantime the Senate will vote on this.

Tomorrow President Biden says he's ready to sign this legislation right away even though it includes that possible ban on Tik Tok which the Biden campaign uses to reach those young voters Diane senior White House correspondent Selena Wang thank you and that massive foreign aid bill uh also includes a potential ban on Tik Tok in the US the bill gives a.

Chinese owned bite dance one year to divest Tik Tok or face a nationwide ban ABC's Jana Norman has more on what it could mean for Content creators in the more than 170 million Tik Tok users today I'm saying my final goodbye to Tik Tok the clock could be ticking for popular app Tik Tock breaking news right now the House of Representatives.

Has officially passed another Tik Tock band over the weekend the House of Representatives passing legislation that could see the app banned in the US if Chinese owner bite dance doesn't sell within a year the two options are sell to a US owner or cease operating in the US an unprecedented move that sparked serious concerns for some content.

Creators I'm happier than I have ever been and it is because this app has opened the door for me to figure out how I can make a difference in the world there are over 170 million users on Tik Tok in the US many like content creator Jennifer gay have found Financial Security from the platform suddenly my voice mattered and I had a purpose and I.

Started Living boldly 100% of my livelihood is connected to Tik Tok the Tik Tok ban is a response to top intelligence and lawmakers concerns that user data could become compromised a Tik Tok spokesperson calling the move unfortunate telling ABC News the bill would trample the Free Speech rights of 170 million Americans devastate 7.

Million businesses and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the US economy annually I don't think it's going to pass First Amendment scrutiny because I think they're less restrictive Alternatives we could have uh made it a crime to transfer Americans data to an adversarial foreign Nation or foreign State interference bill has now.

Passed the and it is on the fast track to becoming actual law the Senate is expected to take up the legislation tomorrow and if passed President Biden has already indicated he will quickly sign it into law but not so fast experts say don't expect the app to go away anytime soon it's not like the app is going to delete off your phone right.

Away it could be months it could be years of of waiting through Regulatory and legal hurdles to actually get this done so for now Tik Tok is not for sale but if and when that bill passes it would likely kick off a very lengthy legal battle Diane J Norman thank you and two gunmen are under arrest in Jerusalem.

After a car plowed into a group of pedestrians earlier this morning surveillance video shows the car ramming into a crowd and Men then jumping out of the car firing rifles three people are slightly injured in the IDF is calling it terrorism meanwhile 22 people including 18 children are dead after two Israeli strikes.

In Rafa in southern Gaza at least one of the blasts happened at a refugee camp according to a spokesperson for the Kuwait hospital and the first Israeli military official has resigned in the wake of hamas's initial attack on October 7th citing intelligence failures foreign correspondent Tom Sufi burd is in Tel Aviv with the latest good morning.

Diane yet shocking video a car ramming pedestrians in Jerusalem three people just lightly injured then escaping the two gunmen who were later arrested and after that major intelligence failure prior to the October 7th terror attack the head of Israeli military intelligence stepping down in Gaza Israel ramping up attacks on the.

Southern city of Rafa ahead of an expected Invasion 22 people including 18 children killed this weekend say local doctors as us lawmakers approve $17 billion of additional military aid for Israel thanks from Israel's prime minister for that but Netanyahu reacting angrily to unconfirmed reports that the US could take measur against an ultra.

Orthodox unit of the IDF which has been accused of Human Rights abuses in the West Bank the Israeli leader saying he will fight such a move with all his strength Secretary of State blinken expected to address the issue later today Diane Tom suy Burge in Tel Aviv thank you coming up Highway Heroes here from The Good Samaritans who saved a man.

Trapped in his burning car whenever news breaks we are here in Israel a nation at war after that brutal surprise attack by Hamas on the ground in Ukraine reporting from Leon main the scene of a horrific mass shooting ABC News live is right there everywhere from the scene of that deadly missile strike.

In Dena Ukraine reporting from the earthquake in Turkey en rolling Fort This Tornado tore through this little town from the most devastating disaster in Hawaii from Charleston South Carolina on the 2024 C Trail in Iceland let's go traveling with the president in Mexico City wherever the story from the front lines from.

Southern Israel outside the Gaza Strip in beir from the FBI reporting from the nurses on the picket line here at 10 Downing Street in London streaming live to you wherever the story is wherever the story is wherever the story is we're going to take you there you're streaming ABC News live ABC News live you're streaming ABC News live ABC news live.

Streaming free everywhere America's number one streaming news this is not about parents who just let their kid watch violent movies play violent video games this is about parents who neglected their son ignored his cries for help then bought him a gun the first parents in America to be charged in a school shooting they purchased that gun.

For him and bragged about it you don't get to walk away from that that's a criminal act sins of the parents the crumbly trials the opposite of love is not hate it's just being ignored only on Hol you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died1 the C on my.

Stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception have not told us to complete your yes I did 100% no you didn't I I looking it you're not a good Li do you think this ends in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC welcome back to ABC News live first.

Good Samaritans are speaking out after a fiery car rescue caught on camera the group rushed across a busy highway to pull a man from his burning car now the 71-year-old driver is doing okay as one witness calls it a quote 100% Miracle gma3 anchor Eva Pilgrim has the details it's the fiery Minnesota highway rescue caught on tape all I see is.

There's a man in the car that can't get out that needs our help watch as Good Samaritans jump into action racing to rescue 71-year-old Sam orbovich who was trapped inside his Honda SUV that was engulfed in flames you could feel how hot it was the smell of the smoke just wafting in the air Minnesota state patrol telling ABC News orbovich is.

Vehicle struck a light pull and then guard rail Thursday during rush hour on Interstate 94 in St Paul one of those Good Samaritans 24-year-old registered nurse Tessa sand I was scared like shaking scared the car just totally went up in Flames sand and several others stopping their own cars rushing to help free orbovich San directing.

Others to pull on the doors I was trying to figure out one how to get him out of the car so trying to break the guard rail down pulling the car trying to see get him out on the passenger side which was also um engulfed in Flames then Highway response stepping in smashing the driver side window The Good Samaritans pulling orbovich out of that.

Window to safety you could see the fear and the panic in his eyes he was taken to an area Hospital surviving with minor injuries it's 100% a miracle if strangers had not come together to form this community to get this man out of the car I don't think he would still be here today and a lot of people calling these.

Good Samaritans Heroes one telling me he doesn't consider himself a hero but it does feel good he could help Diane a so great to have a happy ending there Eva Pilgrim thank you coming up kids are giving us their hot take on Earth Day what they say is their favorite thing on the planet.

Next can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms are Across America oh my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning america.com or scan this QR code to find out how to.

Enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed so these bags are identical but one is real and one is fake this feels feels like real so I got a bunch of super fakes some of these are chef's kiss this is a counterfeit really the.

Louis Vuitton the Prada the Gucci we get everything to make a a super fake is easier now than ever before anybody can be food anybody super fakes now streaming on Hulu welcome back today is Earth Day and all week long ABC News is celebrating the power of us throughout the week we will feature reports on climate challenges we.

Face and possible solutions and today we're kicking things off by looking to the Future ABC's Danny new talked to some students at Success Academy here in New York City about what they love about our planet what do you like about the earth I like how it's blue and green our love how the.

Earth Keeps Us healthy I mean no Earth we don't we wouldn't be existing wow where would we be nowhere I really like that the Earth gives us nature we can't live on Mars too hot we can't live on Neptune the whole place gives us food we can't live on on Venus cuz then we'd be literally.

Pop Adele what is your favorite thing on earth I don't know my family my friends I think it might be the Grand Canyon I like myself maybe McDonald's is McDonald's paying you a big sum of money no like but they should yeah I'm their loyal customer how can we make the Earth better I would um clean up up all of the.

Dirty stuff I would like stop pollution I would recycle pick up the litter off the off the streets it's everywhere by cleaning up the ocean pick up all the trash I would recycle do you think New York City is clean not as much sometimes people don't pick up dog poop there's so much dog poop why is Earth Day important Earth.

Day is important because it's the it's the day where we give back to the Earth Earth let's talk about the Earth Day CU Earth Day is coming up Earth Day oh my gosh why do you like Earth Day I like Earth Day because like the Earth is really dirty and we get to clean it up a thanks to Daddy new for that story we'll be right back happy Earth Day to.

You all whenever news breaks we are here in Israel a nation at war after that brutal surprise attack by ham on the ground in Ukraine reporting from Leon main the scene of a horrific mass shooting ABC News live is right there everywhere from the scene of that deadly missile strike in Dena.

Ukraine reporting from the earthquake in Turkey in Rolling Fort This Tornado tore through this little town from the most devastating disaster in Hawaii from Charleston South Carolina on the 2024 campaign Trail in Iceland let's go traveling with the president in Mexico City wherever the story from the front lines from Southern is is outside the.

Gaza Strip inir from the FBI reporting from the nurses on the pick line here at 10 Downing Street in London streaming live to you wherever the story is wherever the story is wherever the story is we're going to take you there you're streaming ABC News live ABC News live you're streaming ABC News live ABC news live streaming free everywhere America's.

Number one streaming news you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the C so on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception have not told us to complete you yes I did 100% no you didn't I I look in it you're not a good Li do you.

Think just sends in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and bed.

Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America we are part of an operation is this our combat Operation Center we're.

Approaching the gate militants came in from different directions nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag not car any how important it made the USA great work hi apprciate is David David I'm David I know who you are watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's.

Most watched newscast Whenever Wherever news breaks it's so important to always remember that lives are changed here in London in Buffalo yaldi Texas Edinburgh Scotland reporting from Rolling Fork Mississippi Ukrainian refugees here in warong we're heading to a small community outside of Mexico City getting you behind the stories as they happen.

ABC News live Prime we'll take you there stream ABC News live week nights wherever you stream your news only on ABC News live hi I'm D let's get straight to our top story former president Trump has arrived at the courthouse in downtown Manhattan for his historic criminal trial after a.

Week of jury selection opening statements are set to begin today in that hush money trial against former president Trump they're expected to reveal the clearest view yet of the allegations against the former president and Trump's expected defense Trump pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money.

Payment to stormmy Daniels before the 2016 election ABC News senior investigative correspondent Aaron kerki joins me now from outside the courthouse along with ABC News Chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Carl ABC News editorial producer John santui ABC News White House correspondent Mari Ellis parks and ABC News legal contributor Kim.

Wayy Ain what are you watching for as these opening statements get started today each side is expected to go about an hour Diane and we expect prosecutors to lay out what they consider to be the original election interference case against former president Trump they'll take the jury back to the eve of the 2016 election the Access Hollywood tape.

Had just come out a number of women had just come public with allegations of sexual misconduct against former president Trump and Stormy Daniels was out there with this claim of having a sexual encounter with Trump years earlier which he has always denied and prosecutors are going to say he decided to pay her.

$130,000 to make sure she stayed quiet paying hush money is not a crime but the way the payment was loged prosecutors say was falsified business records to conceal this payment from the voters so they wouldn't find out about it and damage his electoral prospects and the defense Diane is expected to say there was no crime here the expense was paid.

By Michael Cohen who was then the former president's attorney Trump reimbursed him it was logged as a legal expense which is what it was they say because Cohen was after all his attorney John Carl big picture what's at stake here for the former president well you're seeing him now as a criminal defendant you know he's been through the.

Indictments those each were big moments and all this but this is the first time he actually has to sit through an entire uh criminal trial this one is by far the one where his defense is the strongest uh I mean there is a clear defense here uh the argument as you heard eron say they will make is that Michael Cohen was Donald Trump's lawyer that those.

Payments were simply a retainer that even if it was a payment for hush money there's absolutely nothing wrong in fact it's quite routine for wealthy uh famous people to try to protect their reputations uh by using uh ndas which is what Stormy Daniels was paid for uh but look the country is going to see him stuck in a courtroom for a matter of.

Weeks it's a trial that could go 68 weeks it might not go that long but it but it's going to be a matter of weeks and uh he doesn't look like a presidential candidate he looks like a defendant John what are you hearing santui what are you hearing from Trump's inner circle in terms of how he's been preparing for this moment I mean not.

Well is the reality right I think Donald Trump you know just look at his body language on Friday but frankly as you went through the week of seeing Donald Trump leave court right I mean you went from somebody that you know looked a little bigger and then suddenly every day just a little more sunken down right because the reality is that Donald Trump.

Can't control anything in this courtroom he can't control the temperature in the courtroom I mean the fact that he said repeatedly it's a little cold and here can we do something about that and nothing happened it's the first time Donald Trump in his entire life has not been able to control any form of the situation and I do think you know just.

Looking at his week right like John talked about this doesn't look like a presidential candidate there was a great line I forgot who wrote it it was over the weekend but even Donald Trump campaigning last week in New York he went to a bodega and the line I think it was habberman in the times she said that it was more like a mayoral candidate not.

A presidential candidate it just talks about how this ability for Donald Trump to be on the road as a presidential candidate is completely on hold because of what we're doing right now and we just saw that video of the former president walking into court uh Mary Alis the former president's campaign sent out an email over the weekend.

Saying he would be trapped in court how is this impacting his ability to campaign for to John tu's point you know the the election is just a few months away what does this all do for that side of things yeah I mean just like you guys were talking about the biggest impact is on his schedule he can't control the temperature in the room he can't control.

His own schedule I'm thinking about this past weekend he finally had some days where he could go out before having to sit for the next few weeks in this courtroom and he wanted to hold a campaign rally he also couldn't control the weather you know he said that to that crowd in North Carolina that he was going to reschedule uh but his options.

Are going to be limited he doesn't have much control of the days and the weeks ahead and that's going to make a big difference of course that has been an argument from the Trump campaign that they view this case as a different kind of election interference that it is impacting his ability to campaign you know on the flip side of course here.

President Biden is taking advantage of these weeks he is hitting the campaign Trail himself he has a big campaign event scheduled tomorrow in Florida a big speech on abortion uh it's a one week before a new rri abortion laws set to go into effect there so we are going to see some of that split screen too President Biden able to be out and.

Campaigning while as we've all been talking about the former president is there in court Kim Trump's lawyers are expected to focus on The credibility of the prosecution's witnesses suggesting that this case is politically motivated how strong is that argument given the timing here well it's indic the timing is a big.

Piece the the the fact that this was after the Access Hollywood tape and very shortly before the 2016 election the inference drawn there that it was the intent of this was to cover up information relating to the election and there are federal election laws that require that certain information be disclosed to the voters and and to the.

Public um uh Michael Cohen has uh has is has a track record of lying to Congress although he said after the fact that it was to cover up for uh the Loyalty I mean it was it was a loyalty uh move at the time when he was still a Donald Trump's fixer so uh this will I think come down to for the jury whether Michael Cohen is to believed or.

Potentially Donald Trump is to believe because the the defense even if he doesn't actually testify is that he knew nothing uh and that we that the jury's expected to believe that someone who has this kind of tight control over his business over his campaign would allow something like this to happen under his nose with people close to him and have.

No idea about it that's really at the end of the day the the jurries are jury's going to have to decide um who's more credible and whether the government proven that Donald Trump uh had this knowledge Beyond A Reasonable Doubt and John what about the Optics of the timing of the case itself the fact that it's being brought now so close to the 2024.

Election when they're talking about something that happened before the 2016 election you know in in a way the timing actually works for Trump in that it is this case that is going first and perhaps the only case that will go before the election because again it is the weakest of the cases one of the I The credibility of Michael Cohen the.

Central witness this is somebody uh who is a convicted perjurer he has lied to court before he has lied to Congress before uh and and they will clearly make that case uh but you know I mean having being stuck in a courtroom for whatever case however strong or weak uh in the midst of a presidential campaign is not what you want to be if you're a.

Presidential candidate and John santui what are you looking for in terms of some of the key Witnesses we're expecting the national inquirers David pecker to testify Stormy Daniels to testify Michael Cohen to testify what are you watching for well actually right now I was texting our colleagues Aaron gurki and kathern folders they've just.

Learned that indeed the first witness in this case will be David pecker now David pecker a longtime friend of Donald Trump's he is the one that prosecutors going to argue along with Cohen and Trump devis this catch and kill scheme and the big thing here is that you and I were talking offir that though this case is about Stormy Daniels and this payment.

There's more than just that right it's car McDougall who he also had an affair with there's another incident in which a doorman was paid for something about a child out of wedlock that never came to fruition but the idea that pcker Cohen and Trump did this repeatedly this was not a one-time thing that when the campaign started there was almost like.

Basically an understanding that if we hear anything pcker you're going to be the one to go catch the story pay the person off we'll reimburse it and make it all go away and that's exactly what they're going to try to do with setting him up as the and again they'll say this is simply a wealthy famous person trying to protect his reput John I was going to.

Ask you is this the kind of thing that has happened in politics for a long time not that it's okay but is this something not the head of the national enire having a catch and kill sche for a presidential candidate to cover up uh Affairs but you certainly I mean you had the case with John Edwards uh and and his child out of wedlock and a supporter.

Who you know allegedly paid to cover cover that up but but but look uh you know there is going to be a lot that comes out during this a lot of facts that that have been known but we've never heard David pecker speak publicly about this even though we've known about the catch and skill thing it's going be fascinating to see that and the key.

Thing here that is although the lawyers Trump's lawyers will argue look this was uh simply him protecting his reputation what's the timeline it happened As Trump was running for president and there's a key meeting we're going to hear about uh between pecker Cohen and Donald Trump after Trump announces is running for president uh basically outlining all.

This there was clearly stepped up activity to protect that storied reputation after he became a presidential candidate all right and we're going to hear it all laid out today as those opening statements get started Aaron kki John Carl John santui Mary Alis parks and Kim Wy thank you all and we will be following this trial all.

Day long we of course will bring you updates right here on ABC News live as we get them meanwhile house Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be gaining some new support from across the aisle after putting his job on the line to push through a $95 billion foreign aid package some hard-right Republicans opposed to that package are threatening.

To force a vote to remove Johnson as Speaker of the House now a top Republican and Progressive Democrat are praising the speaker suggesting he'll be able to hold on to his job even if it does come to a vote meanwhile the Senate is expected to vote early this week on that package of four bills senior White House correspondent Selena Wang has the.

Latest the bill is passed Congress is one step closer closer to passing billions in foreign aid that's desperately needed by America's allies with the Senate set to vote on critical funding for Ukraine Israel and Taiwan after a dramatic weekend in the house the house will be in order speaker Mike Johnson putting his job on the line.

To push through the massive Aid package $60 billion for Ukraine 26 billion for Israel 8 billion for Taiwan and indopacific allies and legislation to force a sale of Tik Tok from its Chinese parent company or face a ban in the US we did our work here and I think history will judge it well for months Johnson stalled on President Biden's request for.

More funding but after classified briefings including with the CIA director and lots of praying The Devout Christian made a dramatic turnaround arguing to his fellow Republicans that helping Ukraine is critical to US National Security and that they need to be on the right side of History to put it bluntly I would.

Rather send bullets uh to Ukraine than American boys my son is going to begin in the Naval Academy this fall this is a live fire exercise for me as it is so many American families but a majority of his members revolted more than half of Republicans voting against Aid to Ukraine with Johnson forced to rely on Democrats to even bring it up for a vote.

Now at least three hardliners are threatening to OU Johnson over it he betrayed us three times the vote was held today Mike Johnson is a lame duck are you he's done he's done with the gop's razor thin majority in the house that's enough Republicans to push Johnson out as Democrats and moderate Republicans praise Johnson for bringing.

These bills to the floor I commended by name traditional conservatives led by Speaker Mike Johnson for doing the right thing but speaker Johnson's job is still under threat those Hardline Republicans can still try to OU him when the house is back in session next week in the meantime the Senate will vote on this tomorrow President Biden says he's ready.

To sign this legislation right away even though it includes that possible ban on Tik Tok which the Biden campaign uses to reach those young voters Diane senior White House correspondent Selena Wang thank you and the Supreme Court is hearing one of the most significant cases on homelessness ever to reach the Justices today the high court will.

Consider a California ruling that found fining people for sleeping on the streets amounts to cruel and unusual punishment ABC News live anchor K Moran has more the Supreme Court is tackling its biggest case on homelessness in more than 40 years as cities and towns across the country struggle to deal with more and more people living on the streets.

For all intents and purposes a lot of the behavior you see here today uh is illegal at the center of the case is Grant's Pass a small city of 40,000 in Southwest Oregon in the parks around town hundreds of homeless people have set up encampments in 2013 the city City cracked down local officials citing unsanitary conditions and crime Banning.

Anyone sleeping in public from using a blanket pillow or cardboard box penalties included civil fines and a potential 30-day jail term for repeat offenders but with no public shelters in Grants Pass a group of homeless residents sued the city in federal court arguing that the law is unconstitutional because it violates the eth amendment's.

Ban on cruel and unusual punishment criminalizing people for being homeless is not the solution the case has huge implications for the rest of the country so many communities are swamped by homeless encampments which are often Rife with unsanitary conditions drug use untreated mental illness and crime these encampments in California are.

Unacceptable these homeless camps overwhelm just the quality of life but Advocates say the homeless have nowhere else to go criminalizing the victims of our failed housing policy is morally wrong and it's unconstitutional and that's essentially what the city's the city of Grants Pass has done by making it illegal for.

Someone to exist while being homeless after over 5 years living in Parks before a nearby Church took her in Helen Cruz telling our Devon DWI she received more than $5,000 in camping related fines I was holding down two jobs when I was out here and uh still not enough to be able to rent a place their uh terms of low-income housing here is $1,000 a.

Month and that's not workable either you know it is a national crisis but the big legal question that the justices must consider in this case is whether what Grants Pass has done really qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment under the Constitution a decision in this case is expected by late June Diane ABC News live anchor Terry Moran thank you coming.

Up climate change on the ballot how environmental Advocates are pushing people to get out and vote and why they say turnout is their biggest challenge whenever news breaks we are here in Israel a nation at war after that brutal surprise attack by Hamas on the ground in Ukraine reporting from.

Leon Maine the scene of a horrific mass shooting ABC News live is right there everywhere from the scene of that deadly missile strike in Dena Ukraine reporting from the earthquake in Turkey in Rolling Fort This Tornado tore through this little town from the most devastating disaster in Hawaii from Charleston South Carolina on the 20124.

Campaign Trail in Iceland let's go traveling with the president in Mexico City wherever the story from the front lines from Southern Israel outside the Gaza Strip in Beirut from the FBI reporting from the nurses on the picket line here at 10 Downing Street in London streaming live to you wherever the story is wherever the story is wherever the.

Story is we're going to take you there you're streaming ABC News live ABC News live you're streaming ABC News live ABC news live streaming free everywhere America's number one streaming news it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty good your health your money breaking.

News pup culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son.

Died 911 the talk fell on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception that to us to complete you yes I did 100% no you didn't I can I look at it you're not a good Li do you think just sounds in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on.

ABC welcome back to ABC News live climate advocates in the US are rallying voters to make their voices heard during this year's election a new poll shows climate is not among the top issues for registered voters so now a group in Pittsburgh is trying to change that ABC News White House correspondent Mar Alis Parks has.

More Emily church is a biologist turn activist I'm aiming for around 80 today knocking on doors in Pittsburgh she tells me she used to spend time pushing lawmakers on climate change but lawmakers told her voters didn't care the people who prioritize climate and uh the environment need to show up if the voter comes to the door basically just.

Follow the scrip the environmental voter project is targeting very specific voters environmentally conscious citizens often young people and people of color who rarely head to the polls of all the ways to work on climate change why this because people who vote are who politicians pay attention to and so they make the decisions and that's our.

Biggest problem in the climate movement right now we don't have enough voting power the group's founder Nathaniel stinet says they've had some success we've sometimes increased turnout as much as 1.8 percentage points in general elections 3.6 points in primaries and 5.7 points in local elections okay if I'm being honest that doesn't sound like.

A lot ask Donald Trump how big a deal 1.8% is in Pennsylvania and I'll tell you the group is nonpartisan though acknowledges it's almost exclusively Democrats right now working to address climate change they hope they can push Republicans to come to the table too we want to scare the beesus out of as many politicians as possible no matter what.

Side of the aisle they're on until they think you know what the only way I can win elections is if I start recognizing the biggest CL crisis that Humanity faces but that's no easy task across the board this election registered voters list immigration the economy abortion and democracy as their top issues with climate change not even making the top.

10 partisan and generational divides at play basically the younger the voter the more they're likely to prioritize climate change as a voting issue and yeah that is going to be a reality that Republicans are going to need to Grapple with eventually in November the choice before voters is Stark but many Democrats worry young progressives might.

Still stay home despite the Biden Administration investing billions to fight climate change what do you say to those young voters who argue he hasn't done enough well the fact is president bid has done more to address climate change than any president in US history and there's a lot more to be done scientists have said that we still can.

Avoid the worst of the worst of the climate crisis but what we do in these next few years is essential Nathaniel says big policy matters and too often Americans have been told to focus on their own small habits hey don't pay attention to that Coal Fired power plant back there instead it's all your fault for having a plastic water bottle in.

Your hand and we bought it when in truth it is far more of a political and a systemic problem that needs political and systemic Solutions it's an uphill battle but for Emily finding and activating these new voters is worth the fight the science is very clear so um we know what we need to do it's just a matter of getting it.

Done our thanks to Mary Alice parks for that report we'll be right back this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee centers in Putin's Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital Destructor Cat 4 stor I Boston is in the bull let's go.

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One most watched newscast across all of Television why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the the New York Times calls.

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Good your heal your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afterno for everything you need to know I love that hi I'm Andy and I'm Sabrina and we're moms juggling tons of stuff every.

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Live we have breaking news former president Trump is speaking outside a Manhattan courtroom as he heads into court for his criminal trial let's listen all right thank you very much I just want to say before we begin these are all Bon trials this this is done as election interference everybody knows it I'm here instead of being able to be in.

Pennsylvania and Georgia and lots of other places campaigning and it's very unfair fortunately the poll numbers are very good they've been going up because people understand what's going on this is a Witch Hunt and it's a shame and it comes out of Washington it's in coordination with Washington everything including the DA's office it's in.

Coordination with Washington I just want people to understand that this is done for purposes of hurting the opponent of the worst president in the history of our country second of all we have another trial going on right now that's Leticia James she campaigned on the fact that I will get Trump I'm going to get Trump and it has to do with a bond of.

$175 million first of all she doesn't want me to participate with financial companies in New York so we have a company I guess based in California it's a bonding company and I put up 175 million in cash but she says the bonding company is not good she doesn't like the bonding company because she doesn't know if the collateral is good and I put up.

175 billion in cash and she's questioning the bonding company well when you put up cash and the number is 175 which is what was supposed to be putting up but I give it in cash she shouldn't be complaining about the bonding company the bonding company would be good for it because I put up the money and I have plenty of money to.

Put up but nobody is going to be putting up with this nobody's going to be listening or coming to New York any more businesses are going to be fleeing because people are treated so badly it's got to be the most unfriendly place to do business and that's why businesses are leaving and people are leaving as migrants come in and take over our parks.

And our schools and everything else so on the Leticia James case she's the worst attorney general in the country by the way on Leticia and she keeps a lot of business out of New York and business business that are here are leaving and that means jobs and a lot of Revenue somebody's going to step in the governor somebody has to step in and do something.

Because your business is are fing but on Laticia James the money was put up it's 175 million and I don't think she's complaining about me for the first time ever she's complaining about the company but why would she be doing that when I put up the money so I just want you to know that that's taking place in front of an extremely crazed judge who's the.

Most overturned judge in New York state he was overturned four or five times on that case alone that's uh you know who it is I don't have to mention names I want to be nice I want to be very nice but uh a thing like that and a thing like what's going on right here should never be happening it's a very very sad day in America I can tell you that thank.

You very much that was former president Trump as he gets ready to head into the courtroom for opening statements in the criminal hush money trial against him I want to bring in ABC News Chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Carl along with ABC News executive editorial producer.

John santui uh John I want to go to you for context first because we're hearing former president Trump call this one of the Biden trials talking about this being a coordinated effort with Washington put this all into context where are these accusations coming from and is there evidence for it well there's absolutely no evidence this has.

Nothing to do with Joe Biden this is uh this is the Manhattan district attorney the other case he was complaining about is from the New York attorney General that the Civil fraud case against uh his company the Biden uh White House the Biden justice department uh have nothing to do with with any of this but he is trying to tie this all together and make.

The point that he is being politically persecuted this is not just his message Visa his trials this is in a way his Central campaign message uh this and and this is a his campaign appearance every day you're going to see he comes before the cameras everybody Tunes in at the beginning and at the end of the day he may add on some events in New York as.

This goes forward but this is his uh this is his campaign now what I thought was interesting here is he got into the weeds of the money that he had to put up in the Civil fraud case and and and this challenge that the New York attorney general has made to the company that helped him put up the bond it's pretty weedy but it clearly has bothered him.

Greatly I'm not sure any of that actually resonates with voters or if they can even follow what he's talking about John santui what is the latest on that the fact that he put up the the bond for this civil fraud case and now Lissa James is saying she's not so sure about the company underwriting so exactly that she's challenging the.

Company that underr this is a California bonding company that stepped in remember originally Donald Trump was on the hook for the whole thing nearly $500 million the appell court stepped in lowered it to 175 million because in part Donald Trump went around with his legal counsel approaching nearly 30 bonding companies and couldn't get anybody to underwrite.

Him for half a billion bucks so that is where that has ended up now that argument has not begun yet it'll begin later this morning at just a courthouse a few feet away and I think it's actually remarkable I mean you're laughing but it's true right I mean the fact that you have two cour houses on the same street hearing Trump cases.

Today it just goes to speak about how this election for Donald Trump is less about the politics and more about the courtroom and the week he's going to have I mean it's it's a courthouse election and then of course on Thursday to see the Supreme Court is going to hear his lawyers argue that a president should have essentially absolute.

Immunity for any actions they take as president that can be remotely tied to their official duties uh so you have three cour houses two in New York uh a really big one in Washington uh all consumed with Donald Trump but it's also interesting the fact that you know given that you can't be in three places at once he is told he can't be in any of.

The other places at the same time but judge michan cuz you'll recall last week as they were going through the scheduling process of this hearing judge Maran was said anything you want to bring up Trump's team said Well we'd like to go to the Supreme Court on Thursday the judge turned around and said sorry you are a criminal defendant.

We're now in trial you have to be here it just speaks to how the whole tone tenor control everything Donald Trump's been used to in his life I mean the guy ran his business was a television star was the leader of the Free World but now stood when he walks in the room now he has to stand when the judge walks in the room Kim Trump's critics are going to.

Look at that and say this is a man who has no regard for the law and so that's why he's facing all these cases and so on his supporters are going to look at this and say this shows that this is all politically motivated that he's being prosecuted for things that other being people wouldn't be prosecuted for how much of that do you expect to come into.

The courtroom it's one thing to say these things outside of court but how much do you expect to hear that from his attorneys once they actually start opening statements today and they start presenting this case formally sorry about that it's okay we got you now okay so of course the jury is is required to make uh a decision based on.

The evidence in the trial but of course the the prosecution the defense lawyers in their opening and closing statements can can try to to to reframe The Narrative to demonstrate or argue essentially that this is a for lack of a better word a trumped up crime that that this is a crime within a crime these are B falsification of business records.

Which do don't tend to be a standalone indictment usually it's tacked on to more serious crimes in New York and that there really isn't a strong uh precedent set for saying that a hush money payment is a federal election crime the the Department of Justice declined to actually prosecute Donald Trump for that that thing under federal law so they can.

Say listen if you put all these pieces together uh this is not someone if it weren't for Donald Trump who would be in the hot seat um I think the prosecution could say listen well uh someone who is president is going to put themselves in the hot seat or someone who's running for president uh should have more accountability not less accountability.

And it'll be up to these New Yorkers a jury of his peers um to decide at the end of the day not only whether he should potentially get a prison sentence because remember uh these these uh these crimes do carry four years in prison uh there's no no knowing whether he'd actually get that but everyone knows this does impact um the future of the.

Country and then in the election in November and I I do think it's unlikely that that there'll be any other criminal trial that will go uh to verdict before November so there's so much writing on this the very first case that many legal analysts thought was a weak one that shouldn't have been brought and it's now uh one of the most important uh cases in.

The history of the United States probably so John Carl those are the legal Stakes here what are the political Stakes here well you know the the political Stakes the one thing that we just don't know is how does it affect his standing with voters if he is actually convicted of a felony we've seen polling and including exit polling.

In in in in the early primary States uh that suggests that people that have supported him even though he is indicted would rethink that if he was actually convicted of a crime now whether or not that actually happens once and if he is convicted uh you know who knows because he will make the case political prosecution this is ridiculous.

Democratic City Democratic prosecutor but the other thing that we don't talk about as much what what if he's acquitted which is really possible um uh that could be a boost a real boost I mean look at what I I was on hand twice when he was acquitted in Senate impeachment trials and he you know took that as a uh to to took a real Victory.

Laugh on that on that uh saying this was uh you know he he was declared innocent of all charges which is not exactly what happens it means that the charges were not proven doesn't mean you're Innocent but he he will uh take that to the people as well so I I I don't think we know uh you know the the the political impact of this sanui how much does it.

Matter that this is the first criminal trial going forward of the indictments that Trump is facing well as John Carl made the point earlier which I completely agree with shocking that don't let go to your head John but the reality is that this is the best one for him politically right I mean all the other cases besides the fact that a they.

All pretty much have indicated they would go on for months if and when they go to trial this will be the shortest but this is the one that is so far away from the 24 election just the idea having to re-educate the voter alone we're talking in 2016 involved in Affair of Michael Cohen all of it and the fact that again fair from 2006 right we're.

Going back another decade but I think all of that again to just reinforce that you know this is so far in the past they're going to make the argument why you're bringing it now and again as John said which I agree with that this was standard procedure right an NDA that frankly as Donald Trump has gained more and more National popularity has been.

Around I think more Americans know the phrase NDA because of Donald Trump than anything else I would though want to make a quick pivot because as court is getting underway you know we talked last week about just so much of the process of things going on our team just talk about how the jurors really impact the day one of the alternate jurors.

Apparently has a toothache this morning so Court was going to go until 2:00 today ending early to observe Passover now we're going to end even earlier at 12:30 because the juror with the toothache has an appointment with dentist has to go to the dentist is not at 2:30 no it's sorry I know you'd think the dentists would make a little room in.

Their schedule and squeeze them in but I think it just as they go through so much of this right I mean you're you're seeing already comments about you know concern about the media attention whatnot this is just really going to be a lot of process before we get to opening statements which should begin shortly just a reminder this is real.

Life real people with real toothaches apparently John Carl John santui Kim wayy thank you all and we will be following this trial all day long we'll bring you up upates as we get them right here on ABC News live keep it here meanwhile Columbia University is holding all classes remotely today as the University's president calls for reset.

On campus the move is part of increased safety measures as protests related to the Israel Hamas War intensify around campus one Rabbi is now urging Jewish students to leave campus ABC's Rihanna Al has more Columbia University is boosting security ahead of the Passover holiday with More protest expected around campus.

The school now adding 35 guards and more than 100 additional safety personnel Pro Palestinian demonstrators have gathered at the school since last week rallying against the Israel Hamas war and at times using violent rhetoric videos online show protesters promising to carry out massacres similar to the Hamas attack of October 7th.

Chanting phrases like we are Moss a rabbi associated with the university is now urging Jewish students to go home saying Columbia University's Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students safety New York's mayor says he's horrified by the hate speech but says because Colombia is private property the NYPD can't stay on campus.

Unless the school requests it police made multiple arrests at a protest near campus Saturday days after arresting more than a hundred people on campus when the University's president asked law enforcement to clear out an encampment the mass arrests and the suppression of students I would say that's galvanized us this is nothing.

Compared to what people in Palestine are dealing with people in Gaza they are starving they have lost everything overseas the Israeli military is vowing to carry out a ground offensive targeting militants in the southern Gaza City of Rafa where air strikes yesterday killed 2 2 people including 18 children according to the.

Hamas run Health Ministry meanwhile Israeli leaders are criticizing an expected decision by the US to withhold military aid from a unit of the Israeli military accused of human rights violations in the West Bank an unprecedented move that could widen the rift between President Biden and prime minister Benjamin.

Netanyahu Rihanna NY thank you and Reagan Mei from our New York station WABC is near Columbia's campus joining me now for more Reagan what's the latest there on campus well you know the latest is that the president of the University Dr Manu shafik had sent an email in the overnight hours telling the students.

That the classes today will be remote because of all of the protesting and as I speak about that protesting behind me I know if you can get a look at it we it appears that we have a group of pro-israel protesters uh there's an American flag that's divided into the Israel flag and the American flag and there seems to be a.

Peaceful Congregation of people at this hour uh this is important because we're expected to have some congressmen here later on this afternoon talking about the anti-Semitism violence and the harassment among the Jewish students uh allegedly on campus so um in addition to the virtual classes uh that's a way for the president to save the UN univers.

Just to have a reset day as we know sundown tonight begins the holiday Passover Lan so what are protesters demanding from the University yeah so what basically they're demanding is for the uh Columbia University to divest in any Israel backed business so um things like they say divest its stocks it's funds and an.

Endowment from companies that they say profit from from Israel's violations of international law and Palestinian human rights and they said that they are vowing this they're going to stay protesting on campus in fact they're allowed to go back onto the South lawn and protest peacefully and they say they are sticking around until their demands.

Are met rean meie from our New York station WABC thank you coming up is sleeping on the street a crime the Supreme Court is weighing that very question today why some major cities say fines aren are necessary with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here.

Than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of Television get ready America every Friday the hottest Trends Styles and must have what's the right stuff to buy right now I really love that it's time to buy the right stuff yes and save big.

Time too the right Stu Fridays on GMA you're going to love it this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee Cent In Putin Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destru c 4 store along I Boston is in the bullseye let's go ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere.

Streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming news first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating.

Tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America This Morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live it's lunchtime in America so what.

Are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty good your help your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to.

Know I love that welcome back to ABC News live here are some of the top stories we're watching today for the first time in American history a former president will be tried in Criminal Court opening statements are now underway as prosecutors lay out in detail their hush.

Money case against former president Trump and Trump's team gives a preview of their defense former porn star Stormy Daniels will testify along with Michael Cohen Trump's former fixer who wired her the alleged hush money we'll be covering the very latest all day right here on ABC News live meanwhile a man is under arrest.

Suspected of breaking into the home of Los Angeles mayor Karen bass police say the 29-year-old smashed a window to get into the mayor's official residence early Sunday morning the mayor was home at the time but she and her family were not injured and nothing was taken the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its newest inductees the.

Latest class includes Azie Osborne Mary J Blas A Tribe Called Quest and Dave Matthews Band four of the eight indues were on the ballot for the first time including Sher Foreigner cool and the Gang and Peter Frampton the induction ceremony will happen in October and stream later on Disney plus and this Earth Day Hong Kong is.

Taking the major step of banning single-use plastic items straws utensils and plates will no longer be an option in the city's restaurant starting today according to Green pece single-use plastic utensils are the second largest source of plastic waste in Hong Kong after single-use plastic bags and the Supreme Court is expected.

To hear oral arguments on homelessness today this after a lower court in Los Angeles found punishing unhoused people to be cruel unusual and unconstitutional ABC senior Washington reporter Devon DWI has more on what's at stake from Grants Pass Oregon on the banks of the Rogue River tucked away under trees on the side of.

The road even in center field of the local Little League ballpark the homelessness epidemic is inescapable even in Sleepy Grants Pass Oregon population 40,000 roughly 600 call Parks like this one home Brandon a 38-year-old Grants Pass native says he has no choice so the city came in and said you can't Camp right there on those wood chips.

They yeah yeah the uh the the officer said I was too close to the playground and I was too close to the to the fence local law requires that he move his Camp every 72 hours the city had tried to ban camping in Parks outright but was blocked by a federal court for now if I don't feel like I just I belong I'm going to feel like an outsider and then.

I'm going to want to continue doing the same thing because there's no reason to to thrive for anything different there's no place to go Helen Cruz knows the indignity firsthand over 5 years living in Parks before a nearby Church took her in she says she received more than $5,000 in camping related fines I was holding down two jobs when I was out.

Here and uh still not enough to be able to rent a place their their uh terms of low-income housing here is $1,000 a month and that's that's not workable either you know so when the police come through and they do a sweep of this area what do they do what do they tell you if you don't comply you are trespassed and you could possibly go to jail the city.

Of Grants Pass is among a growing number of American communities passing laws to crack down on homeless encampments a perfect storm of skyrocketing housing prices sunsetting covid relief programs a mental health and drug abuse crisis and an aging population without retirement savings has led to record numbers of unhoused.

People Nationwide for all intents and purposes a lot of the behavior you see here today uh is illegal and then our community will ask well what are you doing about the chief chief Warren hensman says his officers are caught in the middle we have community members in Grant's Pass that are afraid to come to their Parks we've had shootings in our.

Parks we've had fights in our Parks chronic drug abuse in our Parks so so much of our citizenry are not walking through our parks in 2013 the city passed an ordinance Banning anyone from using a blanket pillow or cardboard box for protection from the El ments while sleeping in public local representative Dwayne yunker says it was intended to.

Crack down on unsanitary conditions and crime critics of Grant's Pass say the the council has tried to criminalize homelessness is that what's going on here we do have a responsibility to keep people safe and that's the struggle is how do we keep everybody safe is it safe to have a kid playing in a park where.

There's a tent 20 ft away I don't know what the people in the tent are doing but with no public shelters inside City limits a group of homeless residents alleged the new law was cruel and unusual punishment they sued in federal court and won we're fighting between what the law is telling us and what the people want us to do and trying to make.

Everybody happy that's a big huge struggle for a a city government criminalizing the the victims of our failed housing policy is morally wrong and it's unconstitutional and that's essentially what the city's the city of Grants Pass has done by making it illegal for someone to exist while being homeless I.

Had a beautiful vegetable garden I love to cook Laura a 55-year-old grants past native and mother of three says homelessness hits suddenly after her husband died in 2021 and health problems sent her to the hospital have you been ticketed by the city yeah um I have over a dozen citations and what are the citations for.

Um mostly for scattering rubbish and that means that uh anything outside of you're 8T by 8T diameter limits is considered rubbish trash her home is now a tent in this park I needed a little bit of color out here a single daffodil one small sign Laura is clinging to hope there's those of us that are struggling and fighting and taking one step out as.

We're digging out of the hole knowwhere else to go yeah yeah but across the river you've got 78 beds in this building it's only half full why is that well there's a lot of reasons so this is what we call our 30-day dorm Brian Bowell says the doors are open at the only private homeless shelter in town the Grants Pass gospel rescue.

Mission for over 40 years it's provided warm beds and meals but with religious requirements how many times a day do they go to Chapel twice a day our guys go to go to Chapel they go to Chapel once in the morning once in the evening the Lord said learn a lesson from this unjust judge residents must also quit smoking drinking and drug use and give.

Up their pets the ninth circuit said that it's cruel and unusual punishment on the part of Grant's Pass to sight and find some homeless folks for living in the park when there's nowhere else to go well that's the part that's the big question is there nowhere else to go or is there just nowhere else that they want to go both teller says so long as.

Courts say Grants Pass cannot ban camping in public more people will choose to stay on the streets we've seen a drop in our residency and we've seen an increase in people in our parks and freeway over underpasses and and that kind of stuff in places where they ought not be cities from Phoenix to Los Angeles to Seattle have joined Grant's.

Pass in appealing to the US Supreme Court these encampments in California are unacceptable elected officials from both part parties urging the justices to make it easier for cities to clear tent encampments like these it's not acceptable for anyone to call the streets or Park their home and cities need to have these ordinances so that.

They can help to incentivize people to accept offers of help that's what these laws do the reality is um the only thing that works is more permanent affordable housing this case is not going to solve solve homelessness if we Prevail in this case our homeless problem is still going to be there it just means that we can't criminalize people while they're.

Homeless for Helen Cruz and Brandon a lot is on the line we're just a small little Community with a really big homeless problem and no place to put us Devon dwire thank you coming up soaking up the Sun and all its benefits how spending time Outdoors can help your health on this Earth Day.

Em's here in Poland at Refugee centers in Putin's Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destructive Cat 4 storm along I Boston is in the bullseye let's go ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC News live America's number.

One streaming news it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty good your health your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us.

Afternoon for everything you need to know I love that you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the TRU on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception have not told us to complete you yes I did 100% no you didn't I get.

My looking it you're not a good Li do you think just ends in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of.

Television hi I'm Andy and I'm Sabrina and we're moms juggling tons of stuff every day like all you moms out there and you know what we love really love Pop Culture so listen now to our new podcast pop culture moms wherever you get your podcast reporting from the 2024 campaign Trail.

I'm Eva Pilgrim wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live welcome back to ABC News live first a new initiative from the National Park Service is encouraging doctors to write Park prescriptions this comes as a number of medical programs are stressing the benefit of getting outside and.

Moving ABC News medical correspondent Dr Daran Sutton has more on this Earth Day Park RX is a community health initiative that works to provide the prescription for wellness by getting more people Outdoors you cannot get a better opportunity to reinvigorate yourself to reset yourself and then getting outside in The outoor Great.

Outdoors and taking a walk and being in the national parks getting outside and exercising can help your health in a number of ways just simply getting exposure to sunlight can help you build up by D improving your immune health and your muscle function also just simply being outside in green spaces can benefit your mental health walking and.

Incorporating aerobic exercise can help keep your heart healthy and reduce stress dozens of programs across the country are now available to help increase Outdoor Activity one of these programs walk with the doc encourages patients to go outside and walk Walking is medicine and for me it's a form of medicine and when I get outside and I.

Start walking it just feels freeing like the weight of the world starts to fall off of me when I have a chance to walk how much walking do I need to do every week is there a specific amount or is there too little too much what what do I need to do important question it's 150 minutes a week so 20 25 minutes a day um and if you miss a day it's okay um but.

Key is just sticking with it and I always think about this you know walking versus running you know do I have to be extra you know exert myself Beyond or can I just simply walk yeah walking really gets it done running gets it done a little faster but you get all the benefits from walking and its lower impact when I look across our medical.

System and the ability of doctors to use all the tools that they can atend our Parks prescription program is probably a key to that being able to get and prescribe to people who are having stressful issues or who who may need to do Rehabilitation getting them outside into the national parks or any park for that matter so that they can enjoy and.

Get through recovery so that they can again reduce their stress level so that they can Center and focus on their own personal well-being you can't ask for a better program Dr Darian Sutton thank you and thank you for streaming with us I'm Diane meedo ABC News live is here for you anytime with the latest news context.

And Analysis we'll be right back first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis.

Fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News.

Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of Television get ready America every Friday the hottest Trends Styles and must have what's the right stuff to buy right now I really love that it's time to buy the right stuff yes and save big time too The Right Stuff Fridays on GMA you're going to love it why do so many.

People start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it.

Your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you deny coming wherever you get your podcasts start here it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty good to me help your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course.

Good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us after news for everything you need to know I love that so these boxs are identical but one is real and one is fake this feels like real so I got a bunch of super fakes some of these are.

Chef's kiss this is a counterfeit really the Louis Vuitton the Prada the Gucci we get everything to make a a super fake is easier now than ever before anybody can be fooled anybody super fakes now streaming on Hulu this is ABC News live the crush of families on the ground in.

Ukraine ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 247 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming news I'm Kaa Whitworth at the Apex Summit in San Francisco wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News.

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Here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here hi I'm diedo let's get straight to our top story former president Trump is inside a New York courtroom for opening statements underway now in his historic.

Criminal hos money trial it's the first time ever prosecutors will present a criminal case against a former president before a jury opening statements will also reveal the clearest view yet of Trump's expected defense he pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 16 election sources.

Tell us the District Attorney's Office plans to call former National inquire publisher and longtime friend of Donald Trump's David pecker as its first witness I want to bring in ABC News political director Rick Klein along with ABC News executive editorial producer John santui and ABC News legal contributor Brian buckmire for more Rick.

How big are the stakes here for the former president well this is obviously huge I mean this is an actual criminal trial with actual evidence being presented against him never happened before in in American history for a former president or for a presidential candidate the presumptive Presidential nominee and look the.

Details matter we've seen public opinion polling that suggests that a lot of Americans don't think anything criminal happened here does the jury agree with that we've also seen polling to suggest that if he's convicted of a crime that changes public opinions that there are people who now say they are Trump supporters who are at least saying now.

That they would not be Trump supporters if they uh if he is found guilty of a crime so the the fact of that criminal conviction doesn't disqualify him from everything but it obviously has an impact on the the immediate campaign and the longer term Outlook over the next six months so Rick how does he play this politically are we going to see a lot.

More Trump speeches outside the courtroom for example more emails from his campaign he has telegraphed this strategy for mons Diane and it is one of suggesting that he's a victim of political persecution often without evidence and often very much straining the fact suggesting that President Biden and Democrats are behind this.

Prosecution that they just want to disqualify him from office and that this is in his words of witch hun that's the political message he has raised a lot of money off of it he has got his supporters dug in on it the question will be now that we're in general election mode to voters agree with that because if he is convicted he's going to.

Count on a backlash against that very conviction that is a wild scenario but it's the it's the best scenario that he has right now in staring down not this not just this one but other cases where he could end up being criminally convicted and I want to bring in our chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Carl as well.

Given what Rick just said could this case end up benefiting Trump politically depending on how it goes well I I I think as we discussed earlier that if this ends up in an acquittal uh that it will give him momentum and he will certainly play that up and he will go on but even if not um you know he he has certainly benefited from being it's just.

The oddest thing to say but he has benefited politically and financially from being indicted uh he has used it every indictment is led to a big boost in his fundraising and actually if you look at the polling his campaign in the Republican primary was at its low point before the first indictments and then he dominated the field playing victim has.

Worked very well for him at least among Republicans what we don't know is how's it play in a general election and again day after day of seeing Donald Trump as a criminal defendant stuck in a courtroom I'm not sure this will benefit him uh but as we have seen this has not played out in a predictable way now John sanui the judge is now saying that one.

Of the seated jurors was concerned about the media attention surrounding this case what's the latest on that so for now juror number nine is staying they had a sidebar with the judge discuss that concern but again not too surprising right because we saw how many P potential jurors last week basically disqualified themselves when they talked.

About the case said they were afraid for their safety their security um we also saw that you know a lot of the personal information of jur was reported in some media Outlets you know pretty full-blown right giving enough details that you know even though it's Anonymous their names are announced in court but between where they work where they live some of.

Their Hobbies people were pretty easily identifiable to their friends neighbors and colleagues so I think that the reality of this case is that though for the moment we're fully intact 12 jurors six alternates you know alternates are there for a reason that if one of the jurors has to bow out for any reason cause Etc we may see as this goes on.

That you know this original slate if you will that we're beginning with is not the final slate that judges Donald Trump uh Brian soures say that former National Inquirer publisher David pecker said to be the first witness the prosecution calls now the da alleges that pecker met with Trump shortly after he announced his presidential campaign and agreed to.

Act as his eyes and ears in this catch and kill scheme where he was supposed to look out for negative stories about Trump and kill them by paying people off for example so what do you listening for as he takes the stand D let's put it this way a prosecutor's best friend is chronology well for defense attorney it's often chaos so for the prosecution.

They want to go through a chronological setting of this is when Donald Trump met with pecker and these were the conversations that were had and these were the agreements that were made and then this system of catch and kill was created and then from there I would expect that more facts would be substituted into that narrative to kind.

Of give the jury a glimpse as to how the prosecutors themselves came to the understanding that this system worked and the way that it benefited the president and then ultimately lead to those bigger Witnesses and those bigger uh stories namely Michael Cohen and stormmy Daniels stuchi we're also just learning.

Trump can be questioned on some previous legal issues if he testifies what do you make of that because he has suggested that he might take the stand here I got to tell you based on reading this note from our team in court if I'm Donald Trump I ain't taking the stand so let me just read you from our Olivia ruin in court Diane.

Judge Maran specifically ruled the Donald Trump can be questioned by prosecutors on Six determinations from four of the previous proceedings and what we mean by that is think about all the cases Donald Trump has gone through up until this moment the two eege Carrol cases Etc all of that can come up in court and talking about where Donald.

Trump of course violated the gag order in some of those proceedings being the Attorney General's case and was hit with fines Etc um of course there are other determinations they wanted they wanted to talk about other elements of Donald Trump's life but this is the scope that he's limited to and you know I think the reality of this is that you know they're.

Going to try to build a case here about Donald Trump and the fact that you know he's done this before his behavior we've talked about that in the catch and kill of it but now they're going to be able to do this in Donald Trump the courtroom the defendant in other examples and that of course is not a good thing for Donald Trump or his legal teams they're trying.

To say this is politically motivated it's a one-off case because they're then able to introduce all the other for lack of a better word shenanigans that Donald Trump has been engrossed with the last year between all the Civil proceedings all of which let's be clear did not go Donald Trump's way between the egene Carol verdict and the New York attorney.

General's verdict we're talking nearly half a billion dollars Donald Trump is on the hook for in Damages in both those cases alone damages does not mean you did not commit a crime but it doesn't mean you're innocent either and obviously that's exactly what they're going to try to build here as they introd this if and only if he takes the.

Stand I mean the bottom line is if he takes the stand he's going to face a very uncomfortable cross-examination he may ultimately decide to still take the stand again he's going to be sitting in that courtroom day after day listening to the likes of Michael Cohen testify against him he may want to get up there and take that take that shot but what.

This makes clear is if he does that cross examination will not be uh enjoyable but but I also think that again and will be risky will be totally risky but also it'll touch on the issues that Donald Trump does not want to talk about right like he's when absolutely awall after the verdict in the New York attorney general's case to have to.

Relive that again to have to Rel R EEG Carol both the damages and the original accusation that he was ultimately found liable for sexual assault I mean all of that to come up in this case not a great day Brian you're the lawyer here if he's your client what's your advice now that we know the scope I've had this conversation many times with my clients.

I would say this is just the tip of the iceberg because when a prosecutor has given the ability to go into these issues it doesn't mean that if uh Donald Trump takes the stand and says I never said that I would never do this he starts using superlatives as he often uses in his speech that allows the the prosecution to say oh you've never said.

That okay your honor the defendant has opened the door for me to be able to go into more detail after this let me play the audio your honor that you said I was not able to play let me get another witness to impeach Donald Trump so the rulings that uh John Cuchi has given us that's just the tip of the iceberg because if you have a defendant takes.

The stand and starts answering the way that we've typically seen Donald Trump answer in some of these pressers the prosecutor is going to have a field day going into each and every detail within that issue and potentially more all right Rick Klein John Carl John santui and Brian buckmeier thank you we will be following this trial all day long we.

Will bring you updates right here on ABC News live meanwhile house Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be gaining new support from a cross the aisle after putting his job on the line to push through a $95 billion foreign aid package some hard-right Republicans opposed to the package are threatening to force a vote to remove Johnson as.

Speaker of the House now a top Republican and Progressive Democrat are praising the speaker suggesting he will be able to hold on to his job if it does come to a vote meanwhile the Senate is expected to vote early this week on the package of four bills senior White House correspondent Selena Wang has that story the bill is passed Congress is one step.

Closer to passing billions in foreign aid that's desperately needed by America's allies with the Senate set to vote on critical funding for Ukraine Israel and Taiwan after a dramatic weekend in the house the house will be in order speaker Mike Johnson putting his job on the line to push through the massive Aid package.

$60 billion for Ukraine 26 billion for Israel 8 billion for Taiwan and indopacific allies and legislation to force a sale of Tik Tok from its Chinese parent company or face a ban in the US we did our work here and I think history will judge it will for months Johnson stalled on President Biden's requests for more funding but after classified.

Briefings including with the CIA director and lots of praying The Devout Christian made a dramatic turnaround arguing to his fellow Republicans that helping Ukraine is critical to US National Security and that they need to be on the right side of history to put it bluntly I would rather send bullets uh to Ukraine than.

American boys my son is going to begin in the Naval Academy this fall this is a live fire exercise for me as it is so many American families but a majority of his members revolted more than half of Republicans voting against Aid to Ukraine with Johnson forced to rely on Democrats to even bring it up for a vote now at least three hardliners are.

Threatening to OU Johnson over it he betrayed us three times the vote was held today Mike Johnson is a duck he's done he's done with the gop's razor thin majority in the house that's enough Republicans to push Johnson out as Democrats and moderate Republicans praise Johnson for bringing these bills to the floor I commended by name.

Traditional conservatives led by Speaker Mike Johnson for doing the right thing and Senior White House correspondent Selena Wang joins me now from Capitol Hill for more on this Selena let's first talk about this big moment moment for speaker Johnson why did he change his stance on Ukraine Aid and what's in this.

Legislation yeah Diane this is a really transformational moment for speaker Mike Johnson I mean he went from being staunchly opposed to any more a to Ukraine to then putting his own job on the line to try and get this 95 billion Aid package passed so the big question Diane is what caused this dramatic turnaround well for one there was this.

Massive pressure campaign from the president other Congressional leaders and world leaders then on top of that were these classified intelligence briefings including with the CIA director which played a role in shifting his perspective and then thirdly he's a devout Christian and his colleague Congressman McCall said that he prayed.

He got on his knees and prayed for guidance on what to do here so this bill this is a big deal it's something that's been stalled in Congress for months it includes $95 billion in Aid to Ukraine Israel Taiwan and other Indo Pacific allies in order to get past the far right wing of his party this Mike joh said he had to divide this into a bunch.

Of separate bills so that he could find a majority for each one of these different Aid packages and then he bundled it all together including a fourth part of this which includes that Tick Tock ban so the Senate is going to vote on this tomorrow and given the bipartisan support Diane there is a possibility that this actually speeds.

Its way through the Senate all right senior White House correspondent Lena Wang on Capital Hill thank you coming up Highway Heroes here from The Good Samaritans who saved a man trash trapped in his burning car first thing in the morning there's a.

Lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound.

Sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest.

Surprise yet a full-on breakfast in bed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed welcome back to ABC News live first Good Samaritans are speaking out after a.

Fiery car rescue caught on camera the group rushed across a busy highway to pull a man from his burning car now the 7y1 old driver is doing okay as one witness calls it a 100% miracle gma3 anchor Eva Pilgrim has their story it's the fiery Minnesota highway rescue caught on tape all I see is there's a man in the car that can't get.

Out that needs our help watch as Good Samaritans jump into action racing to rescue 71-year-old Sam orbovich who was trapped inside his Honda SUV that was engulfed in flames you could feel how hot it was the smell of the smoke just wafting in the air Minnesota state patrol telling ABC News Orbit's vehicle struck a light pull and then guard rail.

Thursday during rush hour on Interstate 94 in St Paul one of those Good Samaritans 24-year-old registered nurse Tessa sand I was scared like shaking scared the car just totally went up in Flames sand and several others stopping their own cars rushing to help free orbovich sand directing others to pull on the doors I was trying to figure out.

One how to get him out of the car so trying to break the guard rail down pulling the car trying to see get him out on the passenger side which was also um engulfed in flames then Highway response stepping in smashing the driver side window The Good Samaritans pulling orbovich out of that window to safety you could see the fear and the panic in.

His eyes he was taken to an area Hospital surviving with minor injuries it's 100% a miracle if strangers had not come together to form this community to get this man out of the car I don't think he would still be here today and a lot of people calling these Good Samaritans Heroes one telling me he doesn't consider himself a hero but it.

Does feel good he could help Diane I love that ending to the story Eva Pilgrim thank you coming up you've heard of spaceships before but how about an Earth Ship on this Earth Day Ginger Z gives us a firsthand look at what it's like to live in a totally sustainable home right after the break.

It's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty good your health your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food gma3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoons for everything you need to.

Know I love that with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of Television get ready America every Friday the hottest Trends Styles and must have what's the right stuff to buy.

Right now I really love that it's time to buy the right stuff yes and save big time too great stuff Fridays on GMA you're going to love it I'm Alex pet in East Palestina Ohio one year after that toxic train derailment wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live welcome back to ABC News live first.

Heating cooling and powering buildings creates more greenhouse gas emissions than anything else in the US construction and demolition also creates more than 500 million tons of debris each year but things can be done differently as part of our series The Power of us ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Z takes a look inside an Earth.

Ship in New Mexico one of more than 100 so-called living vessels built into the Earth not connected to any water or electricity take a look this is my routine in the morning at first glance Mike reynolds's morning probably doesn't look much different than many of ours this water was rain but he doesn't live in a.

Typical house he lives in something different this is an Earth Ship a home built into the Earth made from trash concrete and dirt it is fully self- sustaining I imagine that everybody on the planet can wake up in the morning and be comfortable without fossil fuel everybody can grow food in their house.

That everybody can have electricity from the Sun and wind these buildings do that look closely at the Magnificent architecture it's mostly upcycled trash that beer bottle there that's not garbage that's a glass bottle that will turn into a stained glass brick they have timers to save energy on hot water you got a washer and dryer all the.

Niceties of life you got to washer dryer you got a cook stove you got a refrigerator hot and cold running water it's just done smarter like the rain water used four times so I'm using 5 gallons or you know 3 gallons of water to take a shower that same 3 gallons of water Waters my banana trees and my tomatoes that same three gallons of.

Water is recollected to flush the toilet they have solar but not for heat or AC Earth ships heat themselves with used tires each tire gets about four or five wheelbarrows of dirt pounded into them and the Sun comes in in and it hits that mass and then the tire retains it and as the temperature in here were to drop.

That heat would be released we tested out the tire wall living in an Earth Ship for 3 Days the house itself is 5,400 squ ft and 2,000 of is dedicated to Growing space and in this house there's two ponds in the greenhouse and we have tilapia out there and then you could catch a fish pick your citrus wrap it in a banana leavea.

And Grill it out on the Fire our Earth ship has a wood burning fire but we did not keep the fire stoked so we're going to go for the night without supplemental hate good morning first night down and I slept pretty well so I was definitely warm and I guess that's what counts an obvious part of living in an Earthship is return.

Things to Nature leftover coffee going in the compost but if there had to be one thing from Earth ships that we could apply to homes Across America what would be the most important you can add a greenhouse on the south side of your house and that will heat those rooms that are near that you can become aware of the fact that.

Heat comes from that thing and you can catch that heat back in New York I'm taking Mike's advice I love to Garden but our season in New York is really short so it's not an Earth Ship but there are any of these kind of smaller green houses that you could invest in and extend your season be a little closer to.

Earth there are more than a 100 Earth ships near T but Mike says we need more I mean the solutions are the way forward on this planet it's going to have to be extreme there are at least one R ship in each state and so they work in other places you know the base model uh that starts at 4 $400,000 for a two-bedroom.

Two B and it really is less sacrificed than you can imagine we enjoyed it so thoroughly so much so that when I got home Diane my husband was like we're not going to really live in a Nur ship are we and I was like well we might get close I can imagine Ben's face and your look incredibly serious thinking about it um but Ginger can you give us a a.

Tour and show us how some of these key featur work in practice yes so you know it's so cold it was freezing this morning and you're inside and you're like okay so the the tire wall is working there's a thermal Mass but they also utilize things like beautiful drapes to be insulation so you know pretty can also be functional and.

Then living with your food you know it's pesticide free you know that you can enjoy it and live with your plants you have washer dryer and the water from that and the water from your showers goes into the drain from that drain it is filtered and then goes into the Planters which are in every room the plants then filter the water again and.

Then the water goes into the toilet before the toilet puts it out through a septic here into a Blackwater area that they utilize for other plantings it is so different but yet so simple and I feel like conventional building Diane should really take note because something like that water efficiency could be used in many more places than.

Just here in New Mexico well and that's kind of my question ginger as I watch this I think why don't all homes work that way so I know Mike referenced the greenhouse I love the idea of glass cabinet but are there more features of the Earth Ship that could be either added to traditional homes or built into new.

Ones yes I mean the geothermal aspect of it we used to do it if you think of Laura Eng Les and Little House on the Prairie there was a reason that we used to do that but also just the orientation of a building we've gotten so far away from using the Sun and then blocking the sun when it should be that depending on where you live we got more into like.

Facing the street why do our front doors all face the way same way why do we have to do that rather than working with the sun and using it for what it is and that's beyond just solar right like that's just thermal mass and how things work like the physics of a house we have gotten not so smart about and that's what Earth ships remind us to do so.

Interesting and so beautiful at that ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Z such a fascinating story thank you Ginger you're welcome thank you and you can see more of Ginger's reporting tonight on ABC News live Prime with lindsy Davis at 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on ABC News live thanks for streaming with us I'm Diane Meo ABC News.

Live is here for you anytime with the latest news context analysis and architecture ideas we'll be right back what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came.

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Streaming news first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis.

Fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live here to good mornings in America Can You Feel The Love oh yeah mornings that Inspire filled with hope kindness joyous.

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Little ray of sunshine welcome back to ABC News live first I'm Dian M and we want to get straight to our top story former president Trump is inside a New York courtroom as opening statements are underway in his historic criminal hush money trial this is the first time ever prosecutors are.

Presenting a criminal case against a former president before a jury opening statements will also reveal the clearest view yet of Trump's expected defense Trump pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election sources tell us the District Attorney's Office plans to call.

Former National inquir publisher and longtime friend of Donald Trumps David pecker as its first witness let's bring in ABC News executive editorial producer John santui ABC News senior reporter kathern falders ABC News political director Rick Klein and ABC News legal contributor Brian buckmire for more John what's the latest from inside the.

Courtroom well so far this has been the show of Judge Maran he's been going through you know the day's business of course earlier we learned that Court's going to wrap a little earlier because one of the alternate jurors has a toothache and can't be there again everybody has life happen it's the way it goes but one of the things that we.

Have learned so far is that we got a ruling in the sand ofal proceedings which basically regarded Donald Trump's potential testimony in this case should he take the stand and we've learned about the guard rails that the judge has put up for prosecutors and the fact that some of the previous cases that Donald Trump has lived through over the last.

Couple months between the New York attorney general the EEG Carol cases that EV in those cases could come up if Donald Trump opens the door on them and they start discussing them which is obviously not good for Donald Trump now that doesn't mean that we know yet if he will or will he not take the stand but nevertheless just interesting process um.

We have learned also that besides the fact the Court's going to wrap early today got a sense of where opening statements are going to be prosecutors going for just under an hour the defense team about a half hour or so and going to start to lay out the case which is happening right now and I think that you know as we start to get on the road here.

For the day depending on how quickly they move we could get to the first witness which we understand will be David pecker the former publisher of the national inquire Brian I want to start with that ruling in terms of if Donald Trump takes a stand how significant is it that the judge is saying that he can be asked about some of these other cases.

If he does choose to testify in his own defense yeah so let's just be very clear sandal hearings that's what it's called um happen in every criminal case where someone has either prior bad acts uh open criminal cases or criminal conviction so it's not unique to this this case but it does as John points out kind of gives you those guard rails as.

To what the prosecutor can and cannot go into but you can often times go off those guard rails so significant in the sense of it gives Donald Trump an idea as to what they can go into how it may hurt his case and ultimately whether or not his defense advises him that he should not take the stand that they may be able to prove this case without him.

Uh or sorry not prove the case but try to disprove the case without him or that him taking the stand could hurt more than it can help uh Rick Trump's campaign is sending fundraising emails talking about him being locked away in Court how big of an impact could this case have on his campaign and could it end up helping him politically I'm.

Curious if these fundraising appeals because they been so many of them have the same kind of open rate the same kind of response rate the same kind of uh uh dollars brought in that some of the earlier appeals have had because he's been saying this for a long time including when it really wasn't true that he was forced into court sometimes.

He was showing up voluntarily it is different this time and it will dominate the news and it will dominate The Campaign discussion for the foreseeable future it limits in some ways what what Trump can do it also though gives him an opportunity a platform to command the media environment knowing that wall to–all coverage is going to be around.

This what is it going to look like when Joe Biden is out on the campaign Trail later this week talking about abortion rights when you know that the former president is there in the courthouse he now has that political strategy that is the same as his legal strategy of making this look like this is a political and legal persecution and he's going to.

Communicate to that to his followers I think very consistently as long as this trial lasts and then probably Beyond uh Katherine as John mentioned you know sources say former National Security excuse me former National inquir publisher David pecker is set to be the first witness the prosecution calls here now the da alleges that pecker met with.

Trump shortly after he announced his presidential campaign and agreed to act as the eyes and ears of the campaign looking out for negative stories about Donald Trump and killing them by for example paying people off so what are you listening for there assuming he does take the stand as expected well look I think it's exactly that how do they.

Expand on that argument what type of questions do they ask him he also pecker allegedly directed a 2015 deal to pay 30,000 into uh the former Trump doorman for example how do they expand on that and then of course how does the Trump legal team cross-examine him I'm told that one of the other lawyers Amil B will cross-examine pecker when that time.

Comes as John said if we see we could possibly see pecker on the stand today court is wrapping a little bit early but again what arguments uh do prosecute uters get in into there how much of as you mentioned uh the eyes and ears pcker they alleg pecker acted as the eyes and ears in multiple meetings how much uh do they go into on that is there any new.

Information all of that is something to be looking out for obviously he's Central uh to the catch and kill schemes that we've been talking about so again I think that he will be on the stand uh for potentially quite maybe a couple days here and John the judge said one of the seated jurors was concerned about media attention different juror than the.

One with tooth apparently um so where are we now in terms of the jury well let me just say one thing um literally opening statements are beginning right now so talking about that process moving forward but as far as the jurors are concerned hoping the Tooth goes well everybody is intact meaning that that juror you mentioned juror number nine.

Talked about media attention had a conversation with the judge for now judge michan announced the juror nine would be staying with the case so we still have the 12 jurors still have the six alternates but look I do think the media attention thing is a really important part of this conversation because recall so many jurors potential.

Jurors that were questioned throughout last week reminder used to three weeks it lasted a week just had a button that while we're here face to face with each other Diane missed that bet I won he lost anyway but just had to do that but the reality is that you know for those jurors so many of them said that they were concerned for their safety right.

How much attention Donald Trump brought to these proceedings many of them really having a tough reaction as they were going through some of the question questioning by Donald Trump's attorneys and prosecutors having to basically say sometimes positive sometimes negative things about Donald Trump would Donald Trump physically right there staring.

Them down in some cases so I think for now this is where we are I'm actually curious if you agree with me I would be very stunned if the 12 and six as it is right now is the final group that ends up judging this case once we get to the final well Brian I'll put that to you and also to elaborate a little bit more on that moment and what you made of it.

Where these jurors were asked what did you I mean we all know that you know who this man is because he was our president so we can't pretend like anybody doesn't know Donald Trump so we want to know what you think about him and they had to get up there and some one person called him selfish another person said they like that he speaks his mind and Donald.

Trump is there in the room throughout all of this yeah it's an interesting uh process especially like I'm imagine when you're Donald Trump but that's the name of the game I mean I mean I I've had it both for for clients and myself you kind of have to put yourself out there for the jury to really examine your case your attorney your defendant because you.

Have to make sure that you get someone who's impartial and not going to hold anything against you whether you're the the former president whether you're charge with a certain crime however it may be um but that's got to be difficult but I think at least at this point and to John's Point yeah I've been wrong before I'll probably be wrong again but.

Is there a possibility that we lose potential jurors in this case that's why you have six alternates and so yeah it could be a toothache it could be child care it could be someone's sick it could be whatever it is but that back stop of having six alternates hopefully we get to 12 that can decide this case because you must have 12 jurors to to deliberate.

If it gets below that that's a mistrial then the bigger question becomes will the prosecutors retry this case if we get to that situation Rick how big are the stakes here for the former president it's unprecedented in every way and I think even former president Trump has to know that that his entire campaign and uh even beyond that his.

Freedom are at stake uh it's hard to think of anything bigger than that he could be sentenced to prison time as a result of this he could also uh see his campaign take a turn for the for the worst um he has pointed out that a lot of polls have shown in beating Joe Biden does it still look like that on the other side not just because of the.

Todrey details and there will be lots of embarrassing details coming out over the last couple of weeks Donald Trump's used to that but the fact of a criminal conviction we've seen it in public opinion polling that even if people don't right now think that this case necessarily meets the bar of criminality they do think that voting for a.

Convicted criminal is problematic and there are Trump supporters who told pollsters pretty pretty uh pretty consistently actually that if he is convicted of a crime they are less likely to vote for him and may not vote for him at all so that's real uh in in his his his potential for return to office and yeah his actual Freedom as a.

As as an American citizen both at stake and Rick what happens if he's acquitted does this become a Redemption Story how much does that help Donald Trump politically I think that'd be rocket fuel for his campaign it would play into so perfectly The Narrative that he has crafted often based on half truths but to have that uh to to say look well they.

They tried to bring their best he did it with impeachment the first time around if you'll recall made in the meller report every time that they aim for him and they don't get it that they don't take him out he uses that as a rallying cry and I think it would make this look like what he has said that it has been which is a politically motivated effort.

To bring him down legally uh and I think an AC quid would be an absolute best case scenario for Donald Trump that would then I think Propel him into an even stronger position he is in now politically all right John santui kathern falers Rick Klein Brian buckmire thank you all and we will be following this trial along the the whole day again.

Opening statements underway in the criminal hush money trial against former president Trump we will continue to bring you updates right here on ABC News live meanwhile Columbia University is holding all classes remotely today as the University's president calls for a reset on campus the move is part of increased safety measures as protests.

Related to the Israel Hamas War intensify around campus one Rabbi is now urging Jewish students to leave campus ABC's Ranna n has more Columbia University is boosting security ahead of the Passover holiday with more protests expected around campus the school now adding 35 guards and more than 100 additional safety.

Personnel Pro Palestinian demonstrators have gathered at the school since last week rallying against the Israel Hamas War and at times using violent rhetoric videos online show protesters promising to carry out massacres similar to the Hamas attack of October 7th chanting phrases like we are Hamas a rabbi associated with the university is.

Now urging Jewish students to go home saying Columbia University's Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students safety New York's mayor says he's horrified by the hate speech but says because Colombia is private property the NYPD can't stay on campus unless the school requests it police made multiple arrests at a protest near.

Campus Saturday days after arresting more than a hundred people on campus when the University's president asked law enforcement to clear out an encampment the mass arrests and the suppression of students I would say that's galvanized us this is nothing compared to what people in Palestine are dealing with people in Gaza they are.

Starving have lost everything overseas the Israeli military is vowing to carry out a ground offensive targeting militants in the southern Gaza City of Rafa where air strikes yesterday killed 22 people including 18 children according to the Hamas run Health Ministry meanwhile Israeli leaders are criticizing an.

Expected decision by the US to withhold military aid from a unit of the Israeli military accused of Human Rights violations in the West Bank an unprecedented move that could widen the rift between President Biden and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Rihanna NY thank you and Reagan Mei from our New York station.

WABC is near Columbia's campus joining me now for more Reagan what's the latest there on campus well you know the latest is that the president of the University Dr Manu shafik had sent an email in the over overnight hours telling the students that the classes today will be remote because of all of the protesting and as.

I speak about that protesting behind me I don't know if you can get a look at it we it appears that we have a group of pro-israel protesters uh there's an American flag that's divided into the Israel flag and the American flag and there seems to be a peaceful Congregation of people at this hour uh this is important because we're expected.

To have some congressmen here later on this afternoon noon talking about the anti-Semitism violence and the harassment among the Jewish students uh allegedly on campus so um in addition to the virtual classes uh that's a way for the president to stve the university just to have a reset day as we know sundown tonight begins the holiday.

Passover Lan so what are protesters demanding from the University yeah so what basically they're demanding is for the uh Colombia University to divest in any Israel backed business so um things like they say divest its stocks its funds and an endowment from companies that they say profit from Israel's violations of.

International law and Palestinian human rights and they said that they are vowing this they're going to stay protesting on campus in fact they're allowed to go back onto the South lawn and protest peacefully and they say they are sticking around until their demands are met rean meie from our New York station.

WABC thank you coming up is sleeping on the street a crime the Supreme Court is weighing that very question today why some major cities say fines are necessary what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to cap Isis fighter is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants.

Came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great work.

Hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you d is David David yes yes I'm David M I know you are watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watch newscast ABC News America's number one news.

Source welcome back to ABC News live here's some of the top stories we're watching today for the first time in American history a former president will be tried in Criminal Court opening statements are now underway as prosecutors lay out in detail their hush money case against former president Trump and Trump's team gives a preview.

Of their defense uh former porn star Stormy Daniels will testify along with Michael Cohen Trump's former fixer who wired her the alleged hush money we'll be covering the very latest all day right here on ABC News live meanwhile a man is under arrest suspected of breaking into the home of Los Angeles mayor Karen bass police say the.

29-year-old smashed a window to get into the mayor's official residence early Sunday morning the mayor was home at the time but she and her family were not injured and nothing was taken the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its newest inductees the latest class includes aie Osborne Mary J Blas A Tribe Called Quest and Dave.

Matthews Band four of the eight undues were on the ballot for the first time including Sher Foreigner cool and the Gang and Peter Frampton the ruction ceremony will happen in October and stream later on Disney plus and this Earth Day Hong Kong is taking the major step of banning single use plastic items straws utensils and.

Plates will no longer be an option in the city's restaurant starting today according to green pece single-use plastic utensils are the second largest source of plastic waste in Hong Kong after single-use plastic bags and the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on homelessness today this after a lower court in Los.

Angeles found punishing unhoused people to be cruel unusual and unconstitutional ABC senior Washington reporter Devon DWI has more on what's at stake from Grant Pass Oregon on the banks of the Rogue River tucked away under trees on the side of the road even in center field of the local Little League ballpark the.

Homelessness epidemic is inescapable even in Sleepy Grants Pass Oregon population 40,000 roughly 600 call Parks like this one home Brandon a 38-year-old Grants Pass native says he has no choice so the city came in and said you can't Camp right there on those wood chips they yeah yeah the uh the the officer said I was too close to the playground.

And I was too close to the to the fence loal Law requires that he move his Camp every 72 hours the city had tried to ban camping in Parks outright but was blocked by a federal court for now if I don't feel like I just I belong I'm going to feel like an outside then I'm going to want to continue doing the same thing because there's no reason to to.

Thrive for anything different there's no place to go Helen Cruz knows the indignity firsthand over 5 years living in Parks before a nearby Church took her in she says she received more than $5,000 in camping related fines I was holding down two jobs when I was out here and uh still not enough to be able to rent a place their their uh terms of.

Low-income house here is $11,000 a month and that's that's not workable either you know so when the police come through and they do a sweep of this area what do they do what do they tell you if you don't comply you are trespassed and you could possibly go to jail the city of Grants Pass is among a growing number of American communities passing laws to.

Crack down on homeless encampments a perfect storm of skyrocketing housing prices sunsetting Co relief programs a mental health and drug abuse crisis and an aging population without retirement savings has led to record numbers of unhoused people Nationwide for all intents and purposes a lot of the behavior you see.

Here today uh is illegal and then our community will ask well what are you doing about a chief chief Warren hensman says his officers are caught in the middle we have community members in gr's pass that are afraid to come to their Parks we've had shootings in our Parks we've had fights in our Parks chronic drug abuse in our Parks so so much of.

Our citizenry are not walking through our parks in 2013 the city passed an ordinance Banning anyone from using a blanket pillow or cardboard box for protection from the elements while sleeping in public local representative Dwayne yunker says it was intended to crack down on unsanitary conditions and crime critics of Grant's Pass say the.

The council has tried to criminalize homelessness is that what that's going on here we do have a responsibility to keep people safe and that's the struggle is how do we keep everybody safe is it safe to have a kid playing in a park where there's a tent 20 ft away I don't know what the people in the tent are doing.

But with no public shelters inside City Limits a group of homeless residents alleged the new law was cruel and unusual punishment they sued in federal court and won we're fighting between what the law is telling us and what the people want us to do and trying to make everybody happy that's a big huge struggle for a city government.

Criminalizing the the victims of our failed housing policy is morally wrong and it's unconstitutional and that's essentially what the city's the city of Grants Pass has done by making it illegal for someone to exist while being homeless I had a beautiful vegetable garden I love to cook Laura a 55-year-old grants past.

Native and mother of three says homelessness hit suddenly after her husband died in 2021 and health problems sent her to the hospital have you been ticketed by the city yeah um I have over a dozen citations what are the citations for um mostly for scattering rubbish and that means that uh anything outside of your.

8T by 8T diameter limits is considered rubbish trash her home is now a tent in this park I needed a little bit of color out here a single daffodil one small sign Laura is clinging to hope there's those of us that are struggling and fighting and taking one step out as we're digging out of the hole you have nowhere else to go yeah yeah but across.

The river you've got 78 beds in this building it's only half full why is that well there's a lot of reasons so this is what we call our 30-day dorm Brian Bowell says the doors are open at the only private homeless shelter in town the Grants Pass gospel rescue mission for over 40 years it's provided warm beds and meals but with religious.

Requirements how many times a day do they go to Chapel twice a day our guys go to go to Chapel they go to the chapel once in the morning once in the evening the Lord said learn a lesson from this unjust judge residents must also quit smoking drinking and drug use and give up their pets the ninth circuit said that it's cruel and unusual punishment.

On the part of Grant's Pass to sight and find some homeless folks for living in the park when there's nowhere else to go well that's the part that's the big question is there nowhere else to go is there just nowhere else that they want to go Beller says so long as courts say Grants Pass cannot ban camping in public more people will choose to stay on the.

Streets we've seen a drop in our residency and we've seen an increase in people in our parks and freeway over underpass and and that kind of stuff in places where they ought not be cities from Phoenix to Los Angeles to Seattle have joined Grants Pass and appealing to the US Supreme Court these encampments in California are unacceptable elected.

Officials from both parties urging the justices to make it easier for cities to clear tent encampments like these it's not acceptable for anyone to call the streets or Park their home and cities need to have these ordinances so that they can help to incentivize people to accept offers of help that's what these laws do the reality is um the only thing.

That works is more permanent affordable housing this case is not going to solve homelessness if we Prevail in this case our homeless problem is still going to be there it just means that we can't criminalize people while they're homeless for Helen Cruz and Brandon a lot is on the line we're just a small little community is a really big.

Homeless problem and no place to put us Devon DWI thank you coming up soaking up the Sun and all its benefits how spending time Outdoors can help your health on this Earth day whenever news breaks we are here in Israel a nation at war in Rolling for this tornado tore through this town the.

Scene of a horrific mass shooting from the scene of that deadly missile strike wherever the story is we're going to take you there ABC News live we're streaming ABC News live ABC news live streaming free everywhere ABC News America's number one news source welcome back to ABC News live first a new initiative from the National.

Park Service is encouraging doctors to write Park prescriptions uh this comes as a number of medical programs are stressing the benefits of getting outside and moving ABC News medical correspondent Dr Daran suton has more on this Earth Day Park RX is a community health initiative that works to provide the.

Prescription for wellness by getting more people Outdoors you cannot get a better opportunity to reinvigorate yourself to reset yourself and than getting outside in The outo Great Outdoors and taking a walk and being in the national parks getting outside and exercising can help your in a number of ways just simply getting exposure to.

Sunlight can help you build up vitamin D improving your immune health and your muscle function also just simply being outside in green spaces can benefit your mental health walking and incorporating aerobic exercise can help keep your heart healthy and reduce stress dozens of programs across the country are now available to help increase Outdoor.

Activity one of these programs walk with the doc encourages patients to go outside and walk Walking is medicine and for me it's a form of medicine and when I get outside and I start walking it just feels freeing like the weight of the world starts to fall off of me when I have a chance to walk how much walking do I need to do every week is there a.

Specific amount or is there too little too much what what do I need to do important question it's 150 minutes a week so 20 25 minutes a day um and if you miss a day it's okay um but key is just sticking with it and I always think about this you know walking versus running and you know do I have to be extra you know exert myself Beyond or.

Can I just simply walk yeah walking really gets it done running gets it done a little faster but you get all the benefits from walking and its lower impact when I look across our medical system and the ability of doctors to use all the tools that they can attend our Parks prescription program is probably a key to that being able to get and.

Prescribe to people who are having stressful issues or who who may need to do Rehabilitation getting them outside into the national parks are or any park for that matter so that they can enjoy and get through recovery so that they can again reduce their stress level so that they can Center and focus on their own personal well-being you can't ask.

For a better program Dr Darian Sutton thank you and thank you for streaming with us I'm Diane meedo ABC News live is here for you anytime with the latest news context and Analysis we'll be right back this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee centers in Putin's Russia on the ground.

In Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destructive Cat 4 storm you're along I Boston is in the bullseye let's gobc News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming news what does it take to be the most.

Watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters This our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag.

There's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you than David good to meet you is David D yes yes I'm David M I know you are.

Watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know that sounds pretty good your health your money breaking news music and of course good food a third hour of GMA in the.

Afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love that I'm mola langy on the border of Lebanon and Israel wherever The Story Goes we'll take you there you're watching ABC News live welcome back to ABC News live first I'm Dian M and we want to get straight to.

Our top story opening statements are underway in the historic criminal hush money trial against former president Trump it's the first time ever prosecutors are presenting a criminal case against a former president before a jury the prosecution is outlining its case saying quote this is about a criminal conspiracy the judge emphasized.

That the burden of proof rests on the prosecutors telling jurors they should presume Trump is innocent and quote if you are convinced Beyond a reasonable doubt you must find the defendant guilty Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to stormmy Daniels before the 2016 election sources tell us.

The District Attorney's Office plans to call former National Inquirer publisher and longtime friend of Donald Trump's David pecker as its first witness I want to bring in ABC News investigative reporter Olivia ru from outside the courthouse along with ABC News editorial producer John santui ABC News political director Rick Klein and ABC News legal.

Contributor Brian buckmire for excuse me for more Olivia what's the latest from inside the courtroom well prosecutors are continuing to tick through their opening statements right now laying out their version of the case they started with a meeting between Donald Trump and David pcker and Michael Cohen one where they.

Said they hatched this conspiracy where they were going to buy and bury stories and then they are continuing to tick through each instance they have talked about stormmy Daniels they have talked about another uh former Playboy model Karen McDougall they have talked about a doorman who also received a payment and I will say Diane just before I came out.

Here prosecutors were going through the infamous Access Hollywood tape uh in which Donald Trump was of course heard just days before the election talking about women and saying that he was bragging about sexual assault so it's the prosecutor telling the jury that Donald Trump while he is sitting just feet away has been bragging about sexual.

Assault and again Donald Trump is sort of forced to just sit there and listen to all this before it will be his team's chance to make their own openings Brian the prosecution is calling this a criminal conspiracy saying that's what this case is about so what do they have to prove to reach that bar of Beyond reasonable doubt that the judge was very.

Clear about with the jury today yeah so the judge will ultimately the end of the trial quote what we have is called the criminal justice and or the jury instructions sorry and if I can remember at one point I had it memorized uh A A Reasonable Doubt is an honest doubt that a person would take based on the quantity and quality of the evidence.

It's not an imagy a doubt is an actual doubt based on the evidence or the lack of the evidence and that's just kind of it paraph paraphrased he will explain what the prosecution has to do to reach that level and then ultimately let the jurors be the triers of fact that he the judges Tri of the law the the jurors will take the evidence and see if they.

Have reached that level now they don't have to technically prove a criminal conspiracy he is not being charged with anything in that sense but the criminal conspiracy lends itself towards the falsification of documents as well as the underlying crime so he's going to prove multiple elements uh of each one of those charges Beyond A Reasonable.

Doubt John we're told that Trump hasn't made any eye contact and isn't making any eye contact with the jurors he is going to be in this courtroom daily for weeks what are you hearing from his inner circle in terms of how he's preparing and has already prepared for that well I I think what's interesting is that and Olivia touched on this in.

Some of her reporting uh to us as she's running out of the courtroom you know a big part of what Donald Trump is having to do is sit there and listen to it so we just learned that as Olivia talked about the Access Hollywood tape I guess Liv I guess you missed this part but they because you ran out to come talk to us but they just literally read the.

Transcript of that tape so Donald Trump having to sit there as they're reading that transcript we all know those Infamous words when you're a star you could do anything I'm G to stop the sentence there but that the idea that Donald Trump can't react to any of this right can't show any emotion to this you know he's apparently been p and Olivia.

Could be better this than I can he's apparently been you know writing notes you know banging his lawyer's arm I mean all of that is things that if our people can see it and they're reporting it the jurors can see it right and that's really going to be something that Donald Trump has to have a lot of self-control because this is just openings so when it.

Is the people that you know do get under his skin when it is the Michael cohens the Stormy Daniels and they have told Trump Trump's lawyers and his other advisers have said don't react you know one of the things that I've heard Diane recently is that they're trying to find ways to have people in the courtroom Donald Trump knows so they've talked.

About you know having other senior advisers to his campaign having longtime employees of the Trump organization legal council there people that frankly more than anything else their presence could calm Donald Trump down just to see them right to have a face that you know because he knows Todd blanch and these lawyers a little bit but not well enough.

That you know like you and I at this point we can make eye contact with each other we've been sitting at this for so long and basically when I get those eyes you you're like John shut up stop talking right there's something about that right it it it's the non-communicative language you have with somebody when you have been around them.

For some time and I think that's what they're trying to help help Donald Trump with through this process it's a pretty common practice a lot of my clients often say bring your mom cuz I know if you act out mom go look at you like and then your client kind of gets back in order so it's a common practice it makes sense will we see the Trump family in.

Court so it's been discussed um I I've heard very mixed um uh reactions this so far they haven't been there you'll recall during the Civil proceedings New York attorney general's case um Eric and Don J both showed up because they were required to testify Eric Trump just showed up on days for support with Dad um I think it'll be interesting you know.

Think about this you know while we went through the arraignment process Eric Trump went with his father to several of the arraignments post those indictments last year um but one of the things I do hear consistently is that it's though this case is a business Financial case because it's so much about Donald Trump's personal life there's a bit of.

An embarrassment that he doesn't even want his family to hear some of these things in open court so I think it remains to be seen Rick what does this all do politically on the one hand Trump is in this courtroom which means he's not on the campaign Trail right now on the other hand he's making headlines that he's center of the press right.

Getting all this coverage what does this all do for his campaign and particularly this idea that he you know he can't react in the way he probably would like to in the way we're used to seeing him yeah look when he is the dominant news story he's typically winning but I think things might be a little bit different uh in in the coming in the coming days.

And weeks for a couple of reasons one is these are just todry details to have the Access Hollywood tape read out to the to the jurors read out to the public reminding everyone of of one of the absolute low points of his time in public life um the details are going to come out about this alleged Affair and the hush money payments and and all of.

This it is just is just kind of gross and not good for anyone now Trump may be the exception to that rule as we've seen in the past the other thing is he wants this campaign to not be about him oddly he wants it to be about Joe Biden and when he's in the courtroom it's about him and about his behavior and it's going to remind voters potentially of.

What they didn't like about him so I do think that this might be a little bit of the exception to the rule of trump dominance that this is a case where he doesn't necessarily want to be the center of the action he's going to turn it around he's going to try to turn it around and talk about how this is uh an attempt to get him and you'll be talking.

About gag orders and about politically motivated prosecutions all of which he can do to some extent just to whatever extent is isn't reigned in by those uh by those partial gag orders uh but he's not really fighting this entirely on his own terms no matter what he says outside the courtroom a a lot of the days and a lot of the headlines are going to be.

About some really awful details of his of his personal life some of which are in dispute but many of which actually aren't and Olivia how is Trump doing with those instructions from his legal team to hold back those reactions he's not someone you know he is someone known for his very animated facial expressions and his verbal reactions to things.

Sometimes even when he's in theory not supposed to have them so how's that going so far as as the prosecution lays out in some case some pretty tody details about his his life and allegations against him well we're already starting to see some of that reaction Diane remember in the Overflow room there's sort of a.

Camera directly on Donald Trump's face so we're seeing his reaction to every single word from the prosecutors and what has been drawing some reaction from him specifically is that Access Hollywood tape when the prosecutor said that Trump bragged about his uh uh sexual assault I could see him shake his head uh purse his lips when you know the.

Prosecutor brought up Karen McDougall he could he was shuffling with some papers and grabbing onto a pen and he's sort of fidgeting in his seat a little bit because there's not much more that he can do tilting his head leaning back and forth talking to his lawyers but it's the shaking of the head Diane that I've seen so far twice this morning once.

During uh the bragging about sexual assault claim and once during oh essentially one of the opening remarks of the opening statement When U Matthew Colangelo said that Donald Trump engag in conspiracy to uh unlawfully influence the 2016 election so that he could win that Drew the first headshake from Donald Trump and that's really the most.

That he can do here but I do think you know John brought up something really interesting which is that the jurors are going to be watching him and that was that issue in an earlier egene Carol trial remember he was muttering under his breath he stormed out of the courtroom at one point and the jury watched all of that and the uh attorneys.

In that case encouraged the jury to factor in his courtroom behavior in their verdict so he is under a microscope here not just from the Press but from the jurors as well and it will be interesting to see how he can react uh throughout the next six to eight weeks and Brian the judge has ruled that Trump can be questioned on some of these.

Previous cases if he takes the stand in his own defense how significant is that it's very significant because it gives the defense kind of a road map as to all right this is what we want on direct examination this is how we can probably push forward our case and push back on on the prosecution's case but is it going to be a situation where we take.

One step forward and five steps back because if Donald Trump was questioned on these issues that seems to pertain to this catch and kill uh scheme and let's say he testifies beautifully and doesn't open the door to anything and he's calm cool and collected and answers with short beautiful answers then yeah there's still harm there but it's also.

Donald Trump what's the likelihood of him answering that way so you also have to predict the likelihood of him opening the door to far worse so it to me it could possibly be one step forward and 10 back I I I would say don't do it Donald Trump if I was attorney but as Brian buckmire ABC legal contributor I say please take the stand because.

There'll be a lot more to talk because I'm hoping for a second child and him taking the stand just way opportunity to talk about the case but legally I say don't do it like like it's not smart but I think he'll keep us in business for a long time if he does all right we'll see Olivia Rubin John santui Rick Klein Brian buckmeier thank you and we will be.

Following this trial all day long we'll of course bring you updates right here on ABC News live with those opening statements underway in the criminal hush money trial against former president Trump we'll have more of the day's top stories right after the break stay with us whenever news breaks we are here in.

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Opening statements are underway in the historic criminal hush money trial against former president Trump it's the first time ever prosecutors are presenting a criminal case against a former president before a jury the prosecution is outlining its case saying quote this is about a criminal conspiracy the judge meanwhile.

Emphasized that the burden of proof rests on the prosecutors telling jurors they should presume Trump is innocent and quote if you are convinced Beyond a reasonable doubt you must find the defendant guilty Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to stormmy Daniels before the 2016 election so.

Let's get an update now from ABC News executive editorial producer John santui uh John what's the latest here so for the moment we're going through basically the process of the day right so we've seen opening statements from prosecutors where they've really been outlining what their case is going to be and they've talked about how this was not a one-off.

Thing with Donald Trump he was known to do this they've also talked about certain attitudes and behaviors of Donald Trump and one of the things that we knew would come up at some point but you know it's coming right out of the gate early is that Infamous Access Hollywood tape the one that came out just weeks before the 2016 presidential.

Election in which Donald Trump's heard on audio speaking about a woman talking about how when you're a star they could let you do anything I think most people at home are familiar with that but the reality is prosecutors are trying to build this idea that Donald Trump and the way he acted he behaved as if the law did not apply to him and clearly.

Based on where he is today that is the argument they need to hit home because they're all here because they believe Donald Trump broke the law and thus a 34C count criminal indictment is against him all right John santui thank you and we will be following this trial all day long again opening statements underway in that criminal hush money trial.

Against former president Trump we'll keep you updated right here on ABC News live meanwhile house Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be gaining new support from across the aisle after putting his job on the line to push through a95 billion foreign aid package some hard-right Republicans opposed to the package are threatened to force a.

Vote to remove Johnson as Speaker of the House now a top Republican and Progressive Democrat are praising the speaker suggesting he'll be able to hold on to his job even if it does come to a vote now that massive foreign aid package is headed to the Senate and it also includes a bill that could potentially ban Tick Tock in the US.

Senior White House correspondent Selena Wang joins me now from Capitol Hill for more on that so Selena talk to me about the Tik Tock bill that's part of this package it gives Chinese owned bite dance a year to sell Tik Tok or face a nationwide ban how significant is that and how could that impact the many concrete uh content creators and more.

Than 170 million Tik Tok users yeah Diane so this has been gaining a lot of momentum in Congress over National Security concerns of Tik Tock with fears that American data private data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government that is something that Tik Tok vehemently denies they say their data is secure and that.

Has never happened now as you say this legislation would give Tick Tock about a year to try and find a buyer for bite dance to try and find a buyer for Tik Tok otherwise it would face a ban in the US but look it's a long road to get there this will face legal challenges Tik Tok says they're going to fight this in the court saying it violates the.

First Amendment and on top of that Diane it would be very hard to find a buyer we're talking about tens of billions of dollars here there are not many companies not many buyers who can afford that and on top of that there could be these anti-monopoly concerns so even if Tik Tok is banned and all of this goes through Diane there is still a way for.

People to technically try and access the app for instance through virtual private networks when I was living in China where a whole slew of apps are banned including ironically Tik Tok and Facebook Google Instagram Etc people could technically still access these band apps through virtual private Network so this will be a long road to.

Get there even when it does get there there could be ways around it now the Senate is expected to take this up tomorrow the president has already said he'll sign it quickly if it reaches his desk so what happens to Tik Tock if it is passed yeah exactly so I was just walking through what might happen here so it would take aim at these app stor.

So this means that the app store for Google or Apple if they host the Tik Tok app after it's banned well that means they could be penalized but again it could take a very long time to get there again there's this year-long window they have on top of that there's the intense lobbing effort there is the legal challenges actually finding a buy.

And Dian also interestingly there are some fascinating political Dynamics here President Biden has said he supports this legislation but meanwhile his campaign is actively using Tik Tok to try and reach those young voters and Tik Tok is of course reminding Congress that millions of businesses would be devastated if Tik Tok were.

Banned all right senior White House correspondent Selena Wang thank you and the Supreme Court is hearing one of the most significant cases on homelessness ever to reach the Justices today the high court will consider a California ruling that found finding people for sleeping on the streets amounts to cruel and unusual punishment ABC News senior.

Washington reporter Devon DWI has more on the case Devin Diane It's the biggest case on homelessness to reach the Supreme Court in more than 40 years that issue is whether cities can penalize homeless people who sleep outside when they have nowhere else to go the city of Grants Pass Oregon passed an ordinance prohibiting uh public camping subject to.

A citation or a fine a federal appeals court said that amounts to cruel and unusual punishment because the city has no public uh shelters for those people the city is now appealing to the justices asking them uh to be able to enforce the law which they say would protect Public Safety of course all of this could have sweeping implications.

For cities Nationwide they're all dealing now with a surge in homeless encampments a decision in that case expected by June but it's not the only big case this week Diane on Wednesday the Supreme Court will for the first time since overturning Row versus Wade take up the scope of Idaho's abortion ban and on Thursday the court will hear.

A case on presidential immunity and whether Donald Trump can face criminal prosecution for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election a big week at the court Dian uh and again those decisions coming by the end of June Diane watching those closely senior Washington reporter Devon DWI thank you let's bring ABC News legal contributor.

Former FBI agent Asha Rapa for more on this and some of the other major cases expected before The Supreme Court Asha this homelessness case is the biggest case in on this issue in more than 40 years as Devin said so what kind of implications could this have depending on the Court's ruling well Diane this can have.

Implications on a number of similar kinds of laws that have been passed over the throughout the country now the eth amendment which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment also prohibits excessive fines and that's what's Central here that the city is fining people for quote unquote camping in within the city and those bines can.

Reach thousands of dollars but really I think the heart of this case is whether the city is criminalizing conduct or the status of the people as homeless and there's a 1962 Supreme Court case which said that you can't prohibit people based on their or you can't criminalize People based on their status for example for being a drug user even though you.

Can criminalize their conduct like buying and selling drugs and the challengers here say look these people have no other alternative so they're effectively being criminalized for being homeless of course the city is saying we're just prohibiting camping um and so one thing that this might turn on is whether there needs to be an.

Individualized inquiry into each person's situation to see whether they're doing this voluntarily or not but this could have major implications for a number of cities now Asha on Wednesday the court will consider an abortion ban in Idaho and whether hospitals have to provide access to the procedure When a Woman's.

Health is at risk what sticks out to you in terms of how this case made it to the Supreme Court and what are you watching for now well I think that we're in a situation where we're going to see the impact of Dos um in all of these different uh abortion restrictions throughout the country um so I think.

That what I'm looking for is really the line of questioning that the justices are going to have uh in terms of how they are going to you know I don't want to say split the baby but kind of uh draw some lines um in uh their opening of allowing states to create all of these blanket restrictions all right ABC's legal.

Contributor Asha Rapa Asha thank you we'll be right back what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five.

Different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great.

Work hi where are you where are you apprciate thank you David good to meet you is David David yes yes I'm David M I know who you are you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast can you believe it it's 25.

Years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for.

Breakfast and bed why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it.

A news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here reporting from maatan Mexico I'm Matt Rivers wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live here's to good mornings in America.

Can You Feel The Love oh yeah mornings that Inspire filled with hope kindness joyous surprises and so much fun this is crazy this is absolutely crazy start your day with Good Morning America's ray of sunshine highlighting the best of America and helping make dreams come true wow is so happy it's so good get ready to smile and put the good into.

Your Morning America because you know what would make the morning better a little ray of sunshine welcome back to ABC News live the defense is now up in the opening statements in the trial against former president Trump the historic hush money trial is the first time ever prosecutors are presenting a criminal case against a.

Former president before a jury the prosecution has outlined their case calling it a criminal criminal conspiracy and election fraud the judge emphasized to the jury that the burden of proof rests on the prosecutors telling jurors they should presume Trump is innocent end quote if you are convinced Beyond a reasonable doubt you.

Must find the defendant guilty and Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election let's get an update now from ABC News executive editorial producer John santui John the defense is up now so the prosecution has now laid out their case what do you make of it so.

Far so let's talk first about the prosecution so prosecutors really went through basically all the hot button issues that can and will come up throughout this weeks long trial they talked about axis Hollywood they talked about Michael Cohen which is the reason that this case is all gone underway and one of the things that they did quite.

Well is say listen we know Michael Cohen is a criminal but Michael Cohen did these things at behest of his boss who at the time was Donald Trump and a conversation and dialogue that began leading up to the 2016 campaign which is why prosecutors are saying this whole case boils down to election interference now as soon as prosecutors concluded.

Their nearly hourlong presentation defense attorney Todd blanch Diane got right up according to our team to the podium and said president Trump is innocent and one of the things he said that was actually quite interesting and I think again in part playing to the audience of one Todd Blan said in court I'm going to refer to him as president.

Trump because he earned that title that's a big distinction between the prosecutors and the defense right because so often they've just referred to him as Donald Trump Mr Trump but you see the defense side trying to again insert the politics into that it's very subtle it's little but nevertheless important one of the other things they.

Talked about as part of their opening statements and they're still going through it is attacking Michael Cohen they're going to do that repeatedly trying to destroy the credibility of all the prosecutors Witnesses now the assistant district attorney got up there said this was election fraud pure and simple how do you expect the defense to.

Counter that well one of the things they're going to say and we talked about this a little earlier today is that these were business transactions this is something that Infamous famous people do all the time they have stories or things that are embarrassing they make people sign ndas non-disclosure agreements in their eyes it's a routine business.

Practice and you cover those up so they don't get out as saying they're legal fees or legal consultations or whatever you want to code them as the problem though is that most people are not running to be the leader of the Free World which is exactly what Donald Trump was doing when this happened and part of what prosecutors are going to do to.

Counter that argument is say this happened repeatedly during the 2016 election it happened with Stormy Daniels who is this Cas is about it happened with Karen McDougall another woman that Donald Trump had a relationship with and it happened with a former doorman that also knew some alleged damaging information about the former president.

So that is how this is different than other times all right John santui well I know you're keeping updated soures in the courtroom constantly getting those messages we appreciate it thank you and we of course will continue to have coverage of this historic case all day against opening statements are underway in that historic criminal hush money.

Trial against former president Trump we'll have more on that right after the break with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of television what does it take to be the.

Most watched newscast in America we are part of an operation is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate militants came in from different directions reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag not aan important made the USA great work hi apprciate than it's David D I'm David I.

Know you are you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories start here now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming make it your daily first listen.

Wherever you get your podcasts here's to good mornings in America Can You Feel The Love oh yeah mornings that Inspire filled with hope kindness joyous surprises and so much fun this is crazy this is absolutely crazy start your day with Good Morning America's ray of sunshine highlighting the best of America and helping make dreams come.

True wow you're so happy it's so good get ready to smile and put the good into your Morning America because you know what will make the morning better a little ray of sunshine hi I'm Diane M let's get straight to our top story the defense is now turning in giving opening statements in the.

Historic criminal hush money trial against former president Trump the prosecution outlined its case saying this is about a criminal conspiracy the judge meanwhile emphasized that the burden of proof rests on the prosecutors telling jurors they should presume Trump is innocent and quote if you're convinced Beyond a reasonable doubt you.

Must find the defendant guilty Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election sources tell the District Attorney's Office plans to call former a national Inquirer publisher and a longtime friend of trump David pecker as its first witness so let's bring in ABC.

News editorial producer John santui Senior reporter kathern falers legal contributor Brian Buck Meer for more John Todd Blan Trump attorney is now giving the defenses part of these opening statements what sticks out to you so far from what we've heard in the courtroom to what the prosecution said and now Todd's response so I think this.

Idea that right away and not too surprising but nevertheless still striking to hear these words Donald Trump is innocent president Trump is innocent was what Todd Blen said in court according to our team it it just gets right to the heart of that you know they've got to very quickly start drawing lines here into this case um you.

Know one of the things that they're going to be starting to do as we learn more and Katherine could speak better of this through through her reporting than I can is that you know they're going to move aggressively team Trump to start attacking some of the witnesses here in their opening statements and in part because a that's what you do but also.

Because prosecutors during their opening statements sort of got ahead of it right saying that you know we know Michael Cohen's a criminal you're going to hear about this but the reality is that Michael Cohen at the time was Donald Trump's employee was a part of Team Trump was a member of the legal team did these things at Donald Trump's behest.

And carried out a crime at his Direction uh Katherine the prosecution in its opening statements also told the jury you're going to be hearing a lot about Michael Cohen why the prep there well look Michael Cohen as John was mentioning is a key witness here he's perhaps the only witness that can testify to Trump's intent here but.

Prosecutors already know what the defense is going to do which is really to undermine Michael Cohen's credibility and they got ahead of that prosecutors a little bit in their opening statement and I'm quoting here uh the prosecutor said the defense quote will go to Great Lengths to convince the jury that Cohen's not credible they also said they.

Acknowledge that he lied for example they say that his testimony will be backed up by testimony from other Witnesses uh but they do say that he has a criminal record that he lied to protect the boss and that is going to be Central to the defense's strategy here is this the only witness that you have who could possibly speak to this and if.

It is well he lied previously so how can you possibly find him credible he will be a key witness he will be Central you'll be hearing a lot about him throughout the opening statements throughout the witness testimony and as this trial goes on bran the prosecution called this a criminal conspiracy saying that's with at the heart of this case.

They called it election fraud pure and simple what do they now have to do in order to prove that Beyond A Reasonable Doubt so 34 different accounts and it's a a little bit difficult to describe but they don't actually have to prove that this is a criminal conspiracy or election fraud Beyond A Reasonable Doubt what they have to prove is that that is.

Why uh Donald Trump LED himself to falsifying business records in the first degree the elements of those crimes they have to prove Beyond A Reasonable Doubt and the elements of that crime is that he committed the crime of falsifying business record by deleting omitting altering whatever the long list of it is in that penal law code uh documents in.

His business records and that he did so with the intent of a fraud and that includes an intent to commit a crime or another crime specifically or Aid and Abed in that crime and improving a be reasonable doubt that being the highest standard we have in this country in any Court they have to basically show that it all but sure that he committed these.

Crimes John what are you hearing in terms of Trump's demeanor in the courtroom how is he handling all of this particularly with the detail some of these allegations pretty tody coming out in court while he has to sit there well well just just if I can make one quick pivot just this line from Todd blanch he just it literally just caught my.

Attention as we're talking Todd blanch as he's going through his opening statements says that quote there is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election it's called democracy that's just such a very striking line given everything that Donald Trump is accused of not just in this courtroom but in other proceedings right now especially.

On the federal level and down in Fulton County Georgia related to another election but back back to your question I apologize but it just caught my eye um you know I think that Donald Trump right now is having a very tough time controlling himself Olivia Rubin had the best description earlier about Donald Trump shaking his head I can tell you as.

Somebody that has seen Donald Trump shake his head cuz he's gotten mad at me once or 20 times in my life it's not a very subtle thing right Donald Trump is not one to be subtle ever in his life so Donald Trump having any type of reaction right you know shaking his head writing notes hitting his lawyer all of which our team is seeing that means the jurors.

Are seeing it too and Donald Trump really does need to have discipline in these moments because if he's just reacting like this to prosecutors speaking about him we know based off the fact that we've already seen this other courtrooms Diane Michael Cohen and Donald Trump have a horrible relationship now they were best of.

Friends at one point Inseparable Michael Cohen once said that he would take a bullet for Donald Trump described himself as Trump's Pitbull Donald Trump having to sit there as the once loyal Pitbull is going to attack and destroy everything that Donald Trump has work to build is going to be something that Donald Trump is not I know not going to.

Be able to sit there Stone Face for but he has to find a way to because any reaction any vibe body language alone could impact it Brian how careful uh do Trump's attorneys have to be here in what they say in this case given he is facing several other criminal cases as well I mean I'm playing catchup from what you're just reading they have to be.

Very careful but it doesn't seem like they are being careful I I mean when you look at a criminal defense right what I've learned and what I've practiced myself is you attack the elements of the crime you say okay there was no intent to defraud what is Donald Trump defrauding by writing his own personal documents that's one way of going about.

It you could say the the star witness you have is is not credible you can't trust this person based on the evidence that they're coming forward with you can the investigation was sloppy based on the prosecutor or law enforcer who was involved but this doesn't seem like a careful defense of an individual this seems to just be the reiteration of what.

Donald Trump has said on on the campaign Trail outside of course it seems less of a legal defense and more of a can you believe they're doing this and so I'm trying to parse through it as I'm reading it that to say they should be careful but I'm not quite seeing it just yet but can I ask you a question if if you don't mind as we're just all reading.

These notes might as well be John santui show at this point so go for it I know you don't mean that as a joke either so I'm GNA watch myself but I I do think one of the things they're making this argument here cuz we're both reading the same feed from our team they're trying to say here that Michael Cohen was paid $130,000 for Stormy.

Daniels but in the same time frame total he was paid out $42,000 because he was the attorney and the attorney was doing multiple acts of legal work this was all part of legal work does that you know yeah yeah but John and they also say that bland reportedly iterated that Cohen was truly his attorney that even his email.

Signature said that he's an attorney when I email you to be like hey do you want to go to the Central Park with our kids togethers I'm not doing legal work there and if I buy popcorn for our kids and you pay me back that's not legal work your email signature and the way that you operate no that doesn't make sense to me Brian there is another line.

Though that I wanted to ask you about and Todd blanch said you know he's not just our former president he's not just the Donald Trump that you see on TV he's a man he's a father he's a husband how much of that is going to come into this case the defense trying to remind the jury that despite the Donald Trump that you know he has a family to go home home.

To after this he's a human being it's a very big part it's a way of persuading people in an argument you think of it uh from the standpoint of you humanize your client you argue the logical arguments and you also argue the ethical arguments and we learned it in law school it's Aristotle's ways of persuasion and that's a thing that we all do if you can.

Humanize the character and even he says would a Frugal businessman that is Donald Trump pay back this and this way if you can make it that the personality of the individual doesn't match that of the crime it's a very strong position to take and a very a strong argument that I think is more lawyering than what I'm seeing the other aspects of this opening.

Statement uh Katherine we're hearing that David pecker will be the first witness called by the prosecution he was the publisher of the national inquir and a longtime friend of Donald Trumps what are you watching for there well I think a lot of course how prosecutors bring him in they say he was the eyes and ears to you know multiple meetings uh and and.

Payments for example one of our colleagues Diane actually reminded us too about what former president Trump has said about pecker in the past and there's some of these uh tweets where Trump has called he said this guy is a personal friend of mine uh multiple times and has called out his magazine he said Time Magazine should have named.

David pecker of American Media to be its top guy but they are not smart enough to do that that's what he said about Time magazine in 2013 so a lot of Trump's previous comments here I'm curious obviously how the defense cross examines him Trump's reaction of course we're talking about Trump's reaction his body language while he's sitting inside that.

That courtroom what happens there and and if any of his previous comments about pecker are brought up at all I think that he's a fascinating witness for lots of reasons who knows um looking at the time and I know Court isn't in session for much longer who knows if they will get to him today but he's likely to be a topic of conversation.

This whole week as he is on the stand and and the defense will probably cross-examine him later this week Diane yeah Court expected to be cut short because one of the jurors has a toothache and has to go to the dentist so another reminder all real people involved here and anything can happen John sanui kathern falders Brian.

Buckmire thank you all and we will be following this trial all day long opening statements underway right now in that historic hush money trial against former president Trump we'll keep you updated right here on ABC News live we'll be right back whenever news breaks we are here in.

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Coming make it your daily first listen wherever you get your podcasts you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the talk now on my step fun right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception that to us to complete you yes I did 100% no you didn't I I looking it.

You're not good Li do you think this ends in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC welcome back to ABC News live the defense is now up and opening statements against former president Trump the historic kushman trial is the first time ever prosecutors are presenting a.

Criminal case against a former president before a jury the prosecution outlined its case saying this is about a criminal conspiracy and calling it election fraud Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election and his defense started their opening statements with a.

Very clear statement that Donald Trump is innocent let's get the lat us now from ABC News executive editorial producer John santui uh John what do you make of what we're seeing in opening statement so far well so far defense attorney Todd blanch according to our team a little more of a relaxed approach compared to prosecutors uh saying at one.

Point quote there is nothing illegal about entering into a non-disclosure agreement of course referring to the agreement that Donald Trump Michael Cohen entered with along with David pcker into that agreement with Stormy Daniels to catch and kill her story um what they also have talked about a great length is that how Donal Trump didn't.

Get into the minutia of his company though he was the head the president of the Trump organization before President United States that so much of the bookkeeping and all of those you know little details that other people got into Donald Trump did not he was the boss he was all the way at the top of the food chain so any idea of how an.

Expense or things were labeled as far as legal services to Michael Cohen in the log of the business was not something Donald Trump according to them was privy to so John how how much of a back and forth are we going to see here in terms of the prosecution trying to prove what they say is election fraud and Todd blanch saying you know this is just.

Another NDA like a lot of people use it's going to be a lot of this right because what Donald Trump's team has to prepare for is that so much of their case is going to be tearing down the witnesses that come in to say no this was because of an election we had conversations months before Stormy Daniels that hey we know there's issues.

Donald Trump has damaging stories that could impact the election so let's get David pcker involved to catch them kill them pay these people off and make the stories go away now on the flip side as I just spoke about that is where the Trump defense has to be look it's a normal business procedure we have done this countless times before it was a.

Normal day in the office all right and I know deid picker is expected to be the first witness called by the prosecution we'll be watching that but of course that'll come after opening statements John Cuchi thank you and we will be following this trial all day long as the defense is now giv ing their side of opening statements in that criminal hush.

Money trial against former president Trump we'll keep you updated right here on ABC News live coming up you've heard of spaceships before but how about an Earth Ship on this Earth Day Ginger Z is giving us a firsthand look at what it's like to live in a totally sustainable home right after the.

Break what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to.

go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this great work hi where are you where are you.

Appreciate you thank you D is David David yes yes I'm David M I know you are watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watch newscast this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee centers in Putin's Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from.

The capital destructive Cat 4 storm you're long I Boston is in the Bulls let's go ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming news why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start.

Here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R ml Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I.

Bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed so surprising moms Across America oh my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen.

Before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another avalanch warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice.

Storm is impacting the morning commut what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between that does billionaire sounds sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number.

One early morning news on ABC News live welcome back to ABC News live first heating cooling and powering buildings creates more greenhouse gas emissions than anything else in the US construction and demolition also creates more than 500 million tons of debris each year but things can be done differently as part of our series The.

Power of us ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Z takes a look inside an Earth Ship in New Mexico one of more than 100 so-called living vessels built into the Earth Earth not connected to any water or electricity take a look this is my routine in the morning at first glance Mike reynolds's morning probably doesn't look much.

Different than many of ours this water was rain but he doesn't live in a typical house he lives in something different this is an Earth Ship a home built into the Earth made from trash concrete and dirt it is fully self-sustaining I imagine that everybody on the planet can wake up in the morning.

And be comfortable without fossil fuel everybody can grow food in their house that everybody can have electricity from the Sun and wind these buildings do that look closely at the Magnificent architecture it's mostly upcycled trash that beer bottle there that's not garbage that's a glass bottle that will turn into a stained glass brick they.

Have timers to save energy on hot water you got a washer and dryer all the niceties of life you got to washer dryer you got a cook stove you got a refrigerator hot and cold running water it's just done smarter like the rain water used four times so I'm using five gallons or you know three gallons of water to take a shower that same three.

Gallons of water Waters my banana trees and my tomatoes that same 3 gallons of water is recollected to flush the toilet they have solar but not for heat or AC Earth ships heat themselves with used tires each tire gets about four or five wheelbarrows of dirt pounded into them and the Sun comes in and it hits that.

Mass and then the tire retains it and as the temperature in here were to drop that heat would be released we tested out the tire wall living in an Earth Ship for 3 Days the house itself is 5,400 ft in 2,000 of is dedicated to Growing space and in this house there's two ponds in the greenhouse and we have tilapia out there.

And then you could catch a fish pick your citrus wrap it in a banana leavea and Grill it out on the fire our Earth ship has a wood burning fire but we did not keep the fire stoked so we're going to go for the night without supplemental heat good morning first night down and I slept pretty well so I was definitely warm and.

I guess that's what counts an obvious part of living in an Earth Ship is return things to Nature leftover coffee going in the compost but if there had to be one thing from Earth ships that we could apply to homes Across America what would be the most important you can add a greenhouse on the south side of your house and that will heat those rooms.

That are near that you can become aware of the fact that heat comes from that thing and you can catch that heat back in New York I'm taking Mike's advice I love to guarded but our season in New York is really short so it's not an Earth Ship but there are plenty of these kind of smaller green houses that you can invest in and extend your season be.

A little closer to Earth there are more than 100 Earth ships near ta but Mike says we need more I mean the solutions are the way forward on this planet it's going to have to be extreme there are at least one our ship in each state and so they work in other.

Places you know the base model uh that starts at $400,000 for a two-bedroom two B and it really is less sacrificed than you can imagine we enjoyed it so thoroughly so much so that when I got home Diane my husband was like we're not going to really live in a Nur ship are we and I was like well we might get close I can imagine Ben's face and your.

Look incredibly serious thinking about it um but Ginger can you give us a a tour and show us how some of these key features work in practice yes so you know it's so cold it was freezing this morning and you're inside and you're like okay so the the tire wall is working there's a thermal Mass but they also utilize things like.

Beautiful drapes to be insulation so you know pretty can also be functional and then living with your food you know it's pesticide free you know that you can enjoy it and live with your plants you have washer dryer and the water from that and the water from your showers goes into the drain from that drain it is filtered and then goes into the.

Planters which are in every room the plants then filter the water again and then the water goes into the toilet before the toilet puts it out through a septic here into a Blackwater area that they utilize for other plantings it is so different but yet so simple and I feel like conventional building Diane should really take note because.

Something like that water efficiency could be used in many more places than just here in New Mexico well and that's kind of my question ginger as I watch this I think why don't all homes work that way so I know Mike referenced the greenhouse I love the idea of the glass cabinet but are there more features of the Earth Ship that could be either.

Added to traditional homes or built into new ones yes I mean the geothermal aspect of it we used to do it if you think of Laura Eng Les and Little House on the Prairie there was a reason that we used to do that but also just the orientation of a building we've gotten so far away from using the Sun and then blocking the.

Sun when it should be that depending on where you live we got more into like facing the street why do our front doors all face the way same way why do we have to do that rather than working with the sun and using it for what it is and that's beyond just solar right like that's just thermal mass and how things work like the physics of a house we have.

Gotten not so smart about and that's what Earth ships remind us to do so interesting and so so beautiful at that ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Z such a fascinating story thank you Ginger you're welcome thank you and you can see more of Ginger's reporting tonight on ABC News live Prime with lindsy Davis at 7M Eastern right here on.

ABC News live thanks for streaming with us I'm Diane Meo ABC News live is here for you anytime with the latest news context analysis and architecture ideas we'll be right back with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News.

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You're streaming ABC News live what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America we are part of an operation this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate militants came in from hi apprciate thank is David D ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast.

hi I'm D let's get straight to our top story opening statements have just ended in the historic criminal hush money trial against former president Trump Trump's attorney Todd blanch started his statement by bluntly telling the jury the former president is innocent later adding quote there's nothing wrong with.

Trying to influence an election it's called democracy the prosecution says the case is about a criminal conspiracy and quote election fraud pure and simple Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election let's bring in ABC News editorial producer John santui.

ABC News political director Ric Klein and ABC News legal contributor Brian buckmire for for more on this John what's the latest from the courtroom well waiting quite actually because we went on a quick little break after opening statements were completed by both prosecutors and defense Diane the day is getting cut short because of a.

Personal matter involving one of the alternate jurors so we've only got 30 minutes left of today's proceeding So in theory they could get started with their first witness being David pecker by prosecutors we're waiting to see um if that actually does happen so far I think the biggest takeaways um from opening statements made by both the prosecutors.

And Donald Trump's defense team um you know boils down to two different arguments right from the prosecutor's standpoint this is election interference the behavior of Donald Trump you know is something that was well known both ndas the way he spoke about women they referenced the infamous acts as Hollywood tape that came out just weeks.

Before the 2016 election and on the flip side of things um it's it's the pr the Trump legal team that's making this argument of look this is normal business procedure ndas everybody uses them second Donald Trump's and Michael Cohen had a long-standing relationship as his attorney he was advised by his attorney he was paid back for that and other.

Services he did for Donald Trump as an attorney so I think the other thing that we're going to hear a lot of throughout all these proceedings from both sides is two words Michael Cohen and let's go to that Brian because the defense didn't waste any time here talking about Michael Cohen Trump's former attorney who made this alleged hush money payment.

Saying toward the end of opening statements Michael Cohen is obsessed with Donald Trump he cannot be trusted the prose ution also in their opening statements there's former president Trump live uh walking back into that courtroom Brian the prosecution also prepped the jury here saying you're going to hear a lot about Michael Cohen.

What do you make about that and the level of focus on Michael Cohen just in these opening statements so this is what I think I think both sides are zering in on an element a very important element of this crime when with the intent to defraud and that's going to be a big aspect here because of all the witnesses Michael Cohen is the one that I believe.

Can focus in on the intent aspect he can talk about what Donald Trump allegedly said to him as to why he was implementing this catch and kill program and if Michael Cohen cannot be believed then the whole case falls apart and we're listening to One of former president Trump's attorney speaking now outside the courtroom let's he should.

Not even be here today because he did nothing wrong it is the epitome of a Witch Hunt I just left where a judge asked us whether our cash cash Bond cash sitting in Miss James wanted to argue and say that our cash somehow isn't green enough we wasted time the judge made a comment saying he thought that money market accounts could go down.

Under the amount he doesn't even understand basic principles of Finance but this was the man that decided that we owed money and my client committed fraud we are going to tack every single one one hour the attorney general and that judge realized quickly that they had no idea what they were talking about we came to an agreement that everything.

Would be the same we would modify terms and that was it this is where your taxpayer dollars are going America right here wit hunt after Witch Hunt president Trump's company was worth more in that case than it is now and now what we're here because of something that happened when he was in the White House that wasn't even wrong it was not wrong you.

Hire lawyers to solve problems lawers solve those problems you pay them that's it this is a joke it's an affront to the American Constitution it's an affront our judicial system and it's to front every lawyer that cares about their license that cares about what is right and wrong I am sick of coming in front of the press and saying this but you.

Have to because you people need to understand what is going on God forbid you put an accounting thing in for legal council it's legal counsel and now our taxpayer dollars my time our attorney former president Trump's attorney there Alina habba talking outside the courtroom where opening statements have just wrapped in the hush money trial.

Against the former president uh we heard habba there talking about a different uh case against the former president also playing out in New York today talking about that civil fraud suit and questions now about the bond that former president Trump posted in that case uh John I I want to bring in in let's go over to our editorial producer John.

Sanui just to sort of catch up what's happening because it's interesting to have these two cases playing out just a block away from each other there are literally two things happening at the same time Diane which is just remarkable right now in court so first let's start what's happening in that criminal courtroom with less than a half hour to.

Go in today's proceedings prosecutors have just called their first witness David pecker the former publisher of the national Inquirer to the stand the one who they say was working with Donald Trump and Michael Cohen to build out the catch and kill scheme so that's really going to start to build their case with very little time so obviously he's going.

To come back to the stand tomorrow but nevertheless it just shows the speed to which judge Maran is moving these proceedings with the fact that openings are done we already on the first witness for prosecutors so that's the criminal case on the New York attorney general's case which was also as you noted happening today there was an argument by.

Prosecut I'm sorry attorneys for the New York attorney general that there was some concern and issues with the bond company that eventually stepped up and met Donald Trump at the $175 million Bond he had to put up in that case now it seems as though for now Donald Trump's legal team was successful in stopping the bleeding in that case they.

Met several conditions the New York attorney general's team wanted to basically have stipulations as this goes forward so that's sort of a thing that for the moment we have to sort of see if those conditions are met the judge gave them several days to do so my honest interpretation of that I feel like that's going to basically go their way.

For now now we have to remember that that's bond for now Donald Trump is still on the hook for the entire nearly half a billion dollar ruling that came down from that judge earlier this year of course that ruling is being appealed by Donald Trump so not yet clear when he'd actually have to pay up if the order is stayed so we'll have to wait.

And see there all right and Brian I want to take us back now to the criminal hush money trial that we've been following all morning opening statements are now done the prosecution just called David pecker to the witness stand he's the publisher of the national choir longtime friend of former president Trump and accused in this catch and kill scheme.

Essentially of agreeing to be eyes and ears for Donald Trump once he decided to run for office to seek out negative stories against the president against the former president then candidate Trump and essentially make them go away often by paying people off how much does this testimony weigh into the larger case at hand here it's the it's what we.

Call legally the foundation and from there you build the I am the one who with Donald Trump if you're believing in testimony buil the foundation of this catch and kill scheme and then from there you're just building up from the proverbial home of okay there's the foundation that okay what do we do we caught this story and then they're going.

To go into the details of this one story and then how they are able to then kill that story based on payments and then ultimately they'll come to the Stormy Daniels story and they'll do the same thing and they'll just keep showing how this catch and kill scheme uh worked throughout this process then they'll get to the actual crime that that the prosec.

Are trying to prove in this case that being the cover up that Here's the the scheme here is the cover up this is and hopefully we'll see an underlying crime as to why it's a it's a felony and an explanation as to how these charges fit and then that will be the prosecutor trying to prove their case Beyond a reasonable doubt you you sort of touched.

On my next question but why is it so important for them to show that David pecker is alleged to have been involved in in a payment to Karen McDougall a payment to ad Dorman who had some disparaging information against former president Trump that ended up uh apparently not panning out why do they need to show that since those instances.

Are not at the heart of this case which is the payment to stormmy Daniels it's not necessarily that they need to but it definitely strengthens their case that much more uh they could go straight to it and be a very boring case of here are star Daniels here is Michael Cohen here are the elements of the crime and then done but their ability to have prosecut.

Or discretion and to prosecute a case in the manner in which they uh want in the way that the law allows them to it's build this whole scheme show how this whole entity this Enterprise operated and so that it creates a less of an ability for the defense to pull coals in because if they just came forward with just Stormy Daniels story a defense.

Attorney like myself would come like well no this is just a run-of-the-mill payoff there was no scheme there was no multiple instances of this happening and then this is just a legal expense and so I think for the prosecutor they're trying to build an ironclad case with the multiple uh catch and kill schemes that they're saying Donald Trump.

Participated in uh Rick the judge also ruled today that if Trump does decide to take the stand here that he can be asked about previous cases so that leaves him a bit more vulnerable than maybe previously thought if he does choose to take the stand it's something attorneys May adise him against because of that but politically what does he have to.

Consider in this decision of whether or not to testify in his own defense well first I never thought he was going to take the stand in this case he has said um he said to reporters about a week and a half ago that he'd be glad to do it I remember him saying the same about the Muller probe and like look I I think he he answers yes to that maybe he.

Personally would like to but as Brian and others have been pointing out all morning it would be a bad uh legal move to to take the stand I'd also argue that it's a bad political move because you have a big potential to you're not on camera you have a big potential of getting yourself in further legal Jeopardy of contradicting something.

That's said outside just and his facial expressions would be would be analyzed without him having the benefit of uh of having them broadcast all over the place he can go outside and talk as much as he wants and he will continue to do that and has continued to do that so I think this makes it a little less likely that uh that something that was not likely to.

Happen uh would ever would ever come to pass I don't think he's going to take the stand and John what are you hearing about uh Trump's demeanor inside the courtroom so far and how do you think Trump's team is going to feel about day one so far well well so so far from the demeanor um a lot of passing notes is what our team is is reporting right now.

Um leaning in you know tapping his lawyers obviously we talked earlier about shaking his head what I do think is interesting and talks a little bit about what we were discussing earlier when you were asking me about family or others joining um it seems as though the legal team that was arguing the New York attorney general's case which was just a.

Few blocks away from where they are right now has joined Donald Trump in courtroom we saw Alina Haba obviously another member of his legal team that was working on that that case I'm told that Alan garton Who's chief counsel to the Trump organization is now in there with them and that plays into that conversation the three of us were having.

A little earlier those are people that are a little more familiar to Donald Trump Alan Garden has worked for Donald Trump for nearly two decades Alina Haba has been with him for the last several years there are a little more familiar faces that I think in those moments of trying to keep him calm because especially right now this is really.

Important in the sense that David pecker was a longtime friend of Donald Trump's wasn't a business associate wasn't somebody you randomly saw when you went to go play golf out in Bedminster this is someone that they've had a longtime friendship to think that someone that is your friend that helped you out is getting up there on a stand to divulge.

All about your personal life these are all going to be very difficult Witnesses for Donald Trump let's be clear but this is one it's not like Michael Cohen right where somebody has been so outward publicly facing attacking you pecker has not said a thing about Donald Trump in the last eight plus years today he's going to say a lot Brian what do you.

Think are the next steps here so the next steps based on the schedule I think they're done like 12:30 today so pecker is going to be on the stand I don't think his direct examination is going to end and so he ultimately have to come back uh tomorrow the direct examination ends sometimes tomorrow morning afternoon then cross examination and.

Then it's up to the prosecution to pick their next witness and from my understanding they'll probably go in that similar direction of they go from the foundation they build up so whoever pecker then tapped in terms of getting that next story and how they caught that story a witness will be able to testify to that and then the next witness or the.

Same witness able to talk about how that story was killed and ultimately paid and then logged and then we'll go from one story to the next and ultimately go to St Daniels and Michael Cohen to try to tie this all together the big thing for me though is how these cross examinations going to go because we can kind of gauge where the direct.

Examinations are going to go how are the defense going to poke the holes here and we've already got a bit of a road map from the opening statements oh I was going to ask you that what do you think the opening statements revealed in terms of where that is going uh well we understand what democracy is in the eyes of Donald Trump and that is influencing.

Or at least his attorneys probably more accurate to say and that is the ability to influence an election but also it comes down to credibility which I think is a major aspect of this case will you believe Stormy Daniels uh who got paid for her silence who has a potential book deal and other Financial incentives and I'm sure the defense will weave that.

Into a narrative as to why not to believe them and then Michael Cohen as well there is a very clear guideline here and defense we there's um a jury charge it's Latin it's it basically translates to false in one thing false in all things and if you can get Michael Cohen up there and prove that he was false in one thing and get a jury to.

Decide that he could throw out his entire testimony it's a big win for Donald Trump and I don't think the win here is an quid I think the win here is a hung jury and that would be massive for Donald Trump if he could do that I don't think it's that far off John I see you shaking your head well I think this one pointd nodding Donald Trump shook.

His head I no but you know I think the the the point that Brian made which is important and it's something that prosecutors just said in court is that you mentioned Stormy Daniels and her book Michael Cohen wrote a book Michael Cohen is a podcast and one of the things that the defense team is going to say is that and and they say this in court.

Already in their opening is that Michael Cohen is obsessed with Donald Trump his livelihood is built on tearing Donald Trump down and they do have enough you know things that Michael Cohen has said and done published a book podcast Etc that would support that right he's also been a part of multiple legal cases involving the former president I mean he.

Was you know today they were going through motions on it but he was called to testify as part of the New York attorney general's case here he is again now the flip side of that if you're a prosecutor it's because he was his lawyer he was involved in everything I mean Donald Trump would call Michael Cohen the fixer right some needed fixing.

That was a little not within a courtroom bounds call Michael he'll deal with it I mean the amount of times I heard Donald Trump say oh just call Michael he'll fix it that's the relationship they had the problem is that where we got to today is that part of that relationship cross the line Rick how much do voters care about any of this it's unclear I mean look we.

Haven't seen it play out in his public of fashion that has so far we've seen polling suggest that people don't seem to think that the circumstances around the Stormy Daniels hush money case that the the the the central tenants of this criminal case are necessarily criminal but we have seen people say that if Donald Trump's convicted they're less.

Likely to vote for him so both things can be true and we'll have to see how it plays out I don't think we can underestimate what it means to have wal wall coverage that examines Donald Trump's personal life in in uh in in in minute and often very awkward detail I don't think we can underestimate what it means for Donald Trump's own activities.

His own actions outside the courtroom as a result of this it's given him a new platform for instance to to repeat false claims about the last election I also don't think that we can underestimate what it means simply to have him in a courtroom for this much time not being in control of his surroundings this is not what we're used to with Donald Trump.

This is a different kind of news cycle is dominating it is not happening on his own terms Brian David Pecker's on the stand now what do you think prosecutors need to hear from him or are trying to get out of him those initial conversations what we need to do is get a glimpse with the prosecutor uh the prosec needs to get a glimpse into.

Donald Trump's mindset at that time when that agreement was was was built what's the purpose of this catch and kill scheme if I'm a defense attorney I would say hey I I'm running for public office I'm Donald Trump I'm a multi-millionaire I'm trying to protect my family from negative news are they are the defense going to be able to kind of shift that.

Narrative towards that on cross- examination or the prosecutors is going to be able to hold firm and say like no this was completely about bad press and winning the election this was about killing stories this was about trying to defraud the public the theme that underlines um why this is being done is going to be massive for either side to.

Win all right John santui Rick Klein Brian buckmire thank you all and we will be following this trial all day long we'll bring you updates right here on ABC News live we'll be right back why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take.

On the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts.

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Is wherever the story is wherever the story is we're going to take you there you're streaming ABC News live ABC News live you're streaming ABC News live ABC news live streaming free everywhere America's number one stream news first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened.

Overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this.

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Take you there you're streaming ABC News live house Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be gaining new support from across the aisle after putting his job on the line to push through a 95 billion doll foreign aid package some hard-right Republicans opposed to the package are threatening to force a vote to remove Johnson as Speaker of the House now a.

Top Republican and Progressive Democrat are praising the speaker suggesting he'll be able to hold on to his job even if it does come to a vote now that massive foreign aid package is headed to the Senate and it also includes a bill that could potentially ban ticktock in the US senior White House correspondent Selena Wang joins me now from Capitol.

Hill for more on that so Selena talk to me about The Tick Tock bill that's part of this package it gives Chinese owned bite dance a year to sell Tik tock or face a nationwide ban how significant is that and how could that impact the many concrete uh content creators and more than 170 million Tik Tok users yeah Diane so this has been gaining a lot of.

Momentum in Congress over National Security concerns of Tik Tok with fears that American data private data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government that is something that Tik Tok vehemently denies they say their data is secure and that has never happened now as you say this legislation would give Tick Tock about a year or two.

Trying find a buyer for bite dance to try and find a buyer for Tik Tok otherwise it would face a ban in the US but look it's a long road to get there this will face legal challenges Tik Tok says they're going to fight this in the court saying it violates the First Amendment and on top of that Diane it would be very hard to find a buyer we're.

Talking about tens of billions of dollars here there are not many companies not many buyers who can afford that and on top of that there could be these anti-monopoly concerns so even if talk is banned and all of this goes through Diane there is still a way for people to technically try and access the app for instance through virtual private.

Networks when I was living in China where a whole slew of apps are banned including ironically Tik Tok and Facebook Google Instagram Etc people could technically still access these band apps through virtual private Network so this will be a long road to get there but even when it does get there there could be ways around it now.

The Senate is expected to take this up tomorrow the president has already said he'll sign it quickly if it reaches his desk so what happens to Tik Tock if it is passed yeah exactly so I was just walking through what might happen here so it would take aim at these app stores so this means that the app store for Google or Apple if they host the Tik Tok.

App after it's banned well that means they could be penalized but again it could take a very long time to get there again there's this year-long window they have on top of that there's the intense lobbing effort there is the legal challenges actually finding a buyer and and also interestingly there are some fascinating political Dynamics here.

President Biden has said he supports this legislation but meanwhile his campaign is actively using Tik Tok to try and reach those young voters and Tik Tok is of course reminding Congress that millions of businesses would be devastated if Tik Tok were banned all right senior White House correspondent Selena Wang thank you and.

The Supreme Court is hearing one of the most significant cases on homelessness ever to reach the Justices today the high court will consider a California ruling that found finding people for sleeping on the streets amounts to cruel and unusual punishment ABC News senior Washington reporter Devon DWI has more on the case Devon Diane It's the biggest.

Case on homelessness to reach the Supreme Court in more than 40 years that issue is whether cities can penalize homeless people who sleep outside when they have nowhere else to go the city of Grants Pass Oregon passed an ordinance prohibiting uh public camping subject to a citation or a fine a Federal appeals court said that amounts to cruel and.

Unusual punishment because the city has no public uh shelters for those people the city is now appealing to the justices asking them uh to be able to enforce the law which they say would protect Public Safety of course all of this could have sweeping implications for cities Nationwide they're all dealing now with a surge in homeless.

Encampments a decision in that case expected by June but it's not the only big case this week Diane on Wednesday the Supreme Court will for the first time since overturning r versus Wade take up the scope of Idaho's abortion ban and on Thursday the court will hear a case on presidential immunity and whether Donald Trump can face criminal.

Prosecution for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election a big week at the court Diane uh and again those decisions coming by the end of June Diane watching those closely senior Washington reporter Devon DWI thank you we'll be right back it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you.

Need to know you know that sounds pretty good your health your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love that what does it take to be the most watched.

Newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to.

Go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love it great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David good to meet you is David.

David yes yes I'm David M I know who you are you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast this this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee Cent In Putin Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front from the capital destructive Cat 4 stor.

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Happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this.

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Be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with for Edward R mural Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you.

Didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the C now on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception you have not told us to complete you yes I did 100% no you.

Didn't I I looking it you're not a good Li do you think just end in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of.

Television so these bxs are identical but one is real and one is fake this feels like real so I got a bunch of super F some of these are chef's kiss mil this is a counterfeit really the Louis Vuitton the Prada the Gucci we get everything to make a a super fake is easier now than ever before anybody can.

Be fooled anybody super fakes now streaming on Hulu what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America we are part of an operation is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate militants came in from different directions nulear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag.

Not a car in it how important it made the USA great work hi apprciate think is David David I'm David I know who you are watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast right now there's just so much happening in our world so much at stake at the start of every morning making sense of it all that's.

Not always so easy and that's where we come in Good Morning America we want you to know every morning we're right here and we got you hi I'm dedo let's get straight to our top story prosecutors have called former National inquire editor David pecker as their first witness in the.

Historic criminal hush money trial against former president Trump Trump's attorney Todd Blan started his opening statement today bluntly telling the jury the former president is innocent later adding there's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election it's called democracy the prosecution says the case is about a criminal conspiracy an.

Election fraud pure and simple Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election let's bring in ABC News senior investigative correspondent Aon kki now outside the courthouse along with senior investigative correspondent excuse me ABC News Chief Washington.

Correspondent John John Carl senior reporter Katherine falers political director Rick Klein and former Manhattan prosecutor Jeremy saland Aaron I want to start with you what was it like inside a court today what did you make of Trump's demeanor former president Trump is seated at the defense table and for most.

Of the day Diane he was sort of just hunched in his chair at at varying periods he had his eyes closed whether he was uh paying strict attention to the proceedings we're not sure but he did occasionally seem to shake his head ever so slightly no as if to say when when prosecutors were saying some unflattering things about him in his.

Alleged participation in what they called this criminal scheme to undermine the 2016 election by concealing the true nature of the hush payment to Stormy Daniels uh when the first witness was called David pecker this is somebody you pecker said that that Trump used to be a personal friend Trump once said that he would make meaning pecker a great editor.

And chief of Time Magazine these these two men were close and as pecker took the stand uh Trump sort of folded his arms and leaned forward on the defense table with a rather unhappy look on his face John Carl prosecution uh the prosecution called David pecker as their first witness as expected why is he so critical to this case well he.

Establishes the prosecution's case that this was about politics this was about influencing uh the 2016 election the pivotal moment as you heard in the opening statements was a meeting at Trump Tower that David pecker Michael Cohen and Donald Trump had an August of 2015 this is just shortly after uh Donald Trump has announced his.

Presidential campaign and they talk about ways that David pecker can help that campaign using his publication the national inquir both to push negative stories about Trump's opponents but also uh to do this so-called catch and kill scheme to uh suck up stories uh that would be negative and embarrassing to Donald Trump and to get the people.

Pushing those stories uh to sign non-disclosure agreements again to help Donald Trump because allegedly this case the key thing for this case is the allegation uh that the payoff to stor Stormy Daniels was meant specifically uh to influence the campaign santui pecker just Steed off the witness down so they're wrapped for.

The day now what do you make of day one hearing the the opening statements and the first witness called one just the timing how quickly this is moving but also what you heard in court today well I think as we talked about earlier I think as far as prosecutors are concerned they're going to do everything in their power to make this a case about.

Election interference that you know this was a conversation dialogue and an act that happened repeatedly over the course of the 2016 election and even though you know they're saying it's legal fees they knew exactly what they were doing here now on the flip side for the defense we knew this was going to happen but right out of the gate Donald Trump's legal.

Team came out and took out Michael Cohen did everything they could to try to bring him down saying that Michael Cohen is obsessed with Donald Trump that everything Financial in Michael Cohen's life right now is related to Donald Trump and tearing him down he wrote a book about him he has a podcast about him this is everything that Michael.

Cohen's living off of so thus in their opinion he's doing this put the ulterior motive is to enrich Michael Cohen take all of that aside I think seeing d Avid pecker on the stand Aaron talked a little bit about the body language and the demeanor our Olivia Rubin repeatedly was was texting me notes saying you know just he's shaking his head a lot he's.

Writing notes a lot he's you know you know visibly angry a lot because again David peer and Donald Trump are different than Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels in that Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen have spoken out repeatedly about Donald Trump that is very clear how they feel about Donald Trump David pcker is an actual longtime friend of.

Decades he has not said a word about any of this for nearly a decade since it happened so today and obviously now continuing tomorrow because court is wrapped David pcker for the first time is going to disclose all about that relationship about that friendship and it goes beyond just this payment it goes into so many other activities around.

Donald Trump's life well and Jeremy I want to go to you with with that point because the state says that pecker here was not acting as a publisher they say he was acting as a co-conspirator murder what do you make of those words and could pecker be in danger of of charges coming his way start backwards forward I I don't.

Think that pcker has any exposure on this because otherwise he wouldn't be testifying and saying the things that he is that listen I was involved in this scheme and the scam it's too much for him on the line to to to say that and admit to it but yes he is part of this conspiracy and that's so critical for the prosecution to bring out because who.

Is going to know directly what happened who's going to be involved in the the sort of how it all played out from the beginning to the end what was their intent how did they actually fulfill their goal how did Michael Cohen get involved that person is David pecker he's the one who starts this whole thing in Motion in terms of the prosecution so.

He is also not a person as was just said that really gets a galvanized Donald Trump generally speaking because he hasn't spoken out against Trump to the same capacity he doesn't have as much to gain like Michael Cohen or stormmy Daniels so he's a great person to start I would not expect that he would have exposure.

Otherwise he wouldn't be testifying and yes this is a criminal conspiracy let's dumb this down and make it as simple as we can and pecker does apparently have a non-prosecution agreement but he's just one of several key Witnesses expected in this case John we're also expecting to hear from Stormy Daniels we're expecting to hear from Michael Cohen but the big.

Focus today seemed to be on Michael Cohen we heard his name mentioned several times by the prosecution and he was a big focus of the opening statements by the defense saying Michael Cohen is obsessed with Donald Trump he cannot be trusted what do you make of that because Michael Cohen is Central to the prosecution's case it's Michael.

Cohen's testimony that the payments that he received were not for legal fees they were for this catch and kill scheme this was the the payoff uh I'm sorry the payoff the hush money to Stormy Daniels uh and and really that's the only at least that I've seen direct evidence that the payments were made not for the reasons that they appeared in those.

Ledgers in those in the paperwork not for what Donald Trump has said but they were made specifically uh uh uh so that he would to reimburse him for the payments to uh to stormmy Danos by the way can we take a step back this is the first trial in the history of the American Republic criminal trial of a former president let alone one that is.

Currently running for president and the three key Witnesses in this case are an adult film star a lawyer uh who has been uh who has literally served jail time for lying under oath and the top executive at the national Inquirer I mean this is uh hardly a Shining Moment for American democracy.

That we've come to a point where you have you know the the national Inquirer porn star uh convicted liar at the center of an historic first trial of a former president I don't know how that reflects where that will play out but that is certainly something to take note of if only there was a camera that we could see it all play out now Rick I.

Want to take that point to you you know what do you think this moment not not necessarily the whole trial itself but just the fact that we're here at all what is this how does this play out in history I don't know that there's any way to know it without knowing how it ends in 6 months with the election you know there's a world in which uh Donald.

Trump this all plays out he has acquitted or otherwise the prosecution is discredited and he uses it to bolster his reelection efforts or his efforts to to to come back to the White House there's a world where this uh portends uh the beginning of a of a spiral where support bleeds away from him for any combination of reasons we're not going.

To know the historical question Dian think until we know what happens with this case and then what happens with the election but John is right I mean this is this is a wild set of circumstances it's incredibly unpredictable and it's also unpredictable for Trump himself a man who is so used to being in control of every situation here has to listen.

Try to have a poker face uh try to restrain some of his own impulses inside and outside the courthouse knowing that those implications affect his freedom his potential Freedom whether he's convicted or not whether he serves in jail and of course his political future his prospects around winning another term in the white house now Katherine.

Tomorrow the judge says he'll hold a hearing about Trump's alleged violations of the gag order against him what are you watching for there yeah so this hearing will happen in the morning before pecker takes the stand again at 11:00 now this hearing came about because prosecutors alleged that Trump had violated the gag order in three of.

His social media posts on true social since they brought that up last week at the beginning of last week later in the week prosecutors said that he violated it allegedly violated it seven more times since then so that is likely to be a topic of conversation obviously at the hearing tomorrow the judge says that he will deal with those alleged seven.

Additional violations then but this is certainly going to remain a topic of conversation throughout this trial there's obviously a camera in the hallway Trump's lawyers are sometimes hesitant to have him speak in front of the camera but for Fears that he will violate the gag order um he does talk however he does usually going in and out.

Of court so this will certainly be a narrative that will occur throughout the rest of the trial Trump is obviously believes that this gag order shouldn't be in place he's upset that he can't talk about Witnesses but the witnesses can talk about them so we will certainly hear more about that in the morning before peer takes the stand again and.

Ain we heard a little bit from the president today but we also heard from his attorney in another case alen Haba as that civil fraud suit played out just a few blocks away how careful do the attorneys here have to be primarily Donald Trump's attorneys in what they say in this criminal hush money case given the other cases that he is still.

Facing the Civil fraud case is is over and and Trump's attorneys acquiesced to a couple of demands by the New York attorney general's office to uh to to to better secure the $175 million bond that that he posted but Trump faces criminal exposure in three other cases uh whether anything said here could influence those I I would imagine that special counsel.

Jack Smith and Fulton County district attorney fonny Willis have have eyes and ears on on what goes on here um but but really what we're talking about here occurred almost a a decade ago before Trump was even president and a little bit into his first term and from pecker starting probably tomorrow when he returns to the witness stand we're going.

To hear about other unflattering episodes in Trump's life when a doorman accused him of fing a love child when a Playboy model accused him of a sexual trist the these are things Trump denies but they are both things that prosecutors say the national Inquirer acquired the rights to and then buried so that people wouldn't find out about.

Them Rick what does the timing here do for Trump politically the fact that this case centers on an affair in 2006 a payment made before the 2016 election now we're months away from the 2024 election does it help Trump to be able to make that argument that that this is all political well the timing is either his best friend or his worst enemy the.

Timing is actually key to the criminal case that's been brought because it was about an alleged effort to influence the election that's what allows this to become a felony right that's what allows the prosecutors to say this was not just a private transaction this was done with the intent to deceive and ultimately to try to to change the election results we.

Already heard the readout of the Access Hollywood uh uh tapes to to try to make that point about how vulnerable he was politically at that moment why there was such an incentive for him to uh to to engage in a in the hush money scheme and the alleged uh the alleged scheme that that there the prosecutors say was criminal the way that it's his best.

Friend though is that this is happening 6 months before an election he says it could have happened a decade to go and he's not wrong about that and there's former president Trump leaving the courtroom let's listen this is a case that nobody wanted to bring including Alvin brag it was just at the last minute they decided to do it it's a case.

That if you're looking back it goes back many many years 2015 maybe before that and it's a case as to bookkeeping which is a very minor thing in terms of the law in terms of all the violent R that's going on outside as we as we speak right outside as we speak but this is a case where you pay a lawyer he's a lawyer and they call it a legal expense.

That's the exact term they used legal expense in the books and another thing that wasn't even said was we never even deducted it as a tax deduction so that takes a whole V year most people want to deduct everything we never even took this a tax but they called the payment to a lawyer a legal expense in the books they didn't.

Call it construction they didn't say you're building a building it called a payment to a lawyer because as you know con uh is a lawyer represented a lot of people over the years now I'm not the only one and wasn't very good in a lot of ways in terms of his representation but he represented a lot of people but but he puts in an invoice or whatever a.

Bill and they pay and they call it a legal expense I got indicted for that what else would you call it actually nobody's been able to say what you're supposed to call it if a lawyer puts in a bill or an invoice and you pay the bill and in the book it's a little line that's a very small little line I don't.

Know if you can even write more than two words it's not like you can tell a life story they marked it down to a legal expense this is what I got Indi over think of it I get indicted I'm the leading candidate I'm beating Biden I'm beating the Republicans now I have the nomination and this is what they try and take me off the trail for that checks.

Being paid to a lawyer he is a lawyer or was a lawyer and also the things he got in trouble for were things that had nothing to do with me he got in trouble he went to jail this had nothing to do to do with me this had to do with the taxi cab company that he owned which is just something he owned and medallions and borrowing money and a lot of things.

But had nothing to do with me he represented a lot of people over the years but they take this payment and they go a legal expense and you heard it today for the first time this is what I got indicted over this is what took me off and takes me off the campaign Trail because I should be in Georgia now I should be in Florida now I should be in.

A lot of different places right now campaigning and I'm sitting here and this will go for a long time it's very unfair the judges conflicted as you know it's very unfair what's going on and I should be allowed to campaign and whoever heard of this you get indicted for that people in the court just said to me.

I can't believe it this is the case so we did nothing wrong the other thing is if this were such a great case why didn't the southern district bring who looked at it turned it down why didn't uh numerous other agencies and law enforcement groups look at it because it was shown to everybody and very importantly why didn't the federal.

Elections do anything about because this is federal it's not state they're trying to make it a state case whatever and it's not state has nothing to do it's never happened before I believe never happened before this has never happened before where the state tries to insert itself in F Federal elections never nobody's ever seen it but you know.

Federal elections took a total pass on it they said essentially nothing was done wrong or they would have done something about it they're tough they would have done something about it but they said nothing and they said we're going to take a pass because they couldn't even believe it actually if you read their their.

Letter they couldn't even believe it they were incredulous and yet brag picks it up now with he if you look when he first came in he didn't want to do it he didn't want to do it now when are they going to look at poman so what pance did because that's bad stuff and when are they going to look at.

All the lies that cooh did in the last Tri he got caught lying in the last trial so he got caught lying pure lying and what are they going to look at that now we'll go to another subject because just a few blocks away as you know they had a trial on the 17 $5 million that's Leticia James it's all coming out of the White House by the way.

And that's in front of Judge inoran and the judge really didn't know anything he didn't know about collateral security he said supposing it goes down well it doesn't go down because it's cash I put up $175 million in cash and we have a Bonding Company doing and he challenged the bonding company that maybe the bonding company was no good.

Well they good and and they also have $175 million of collateral my collateral but the judge didn't know anything about it he didn't know what the 175 million cash meant he had no idea what anything meant and he had no idea what he did in the trial and he charged me hundreds of millions of dollars on something where.

I'm totally innocent but if you look at what happened today judge andoran should not have done that Tri should have gone to the business division where they have complex business trials but actually it should have never been brought John because I didn't overestimate you know they say I overestimate if you look at.

Former president underestimated we're listening to former president Trump after day one of the uh post jury selection portion of his criminal trial for alleged hush money payments the prosecution called their first witness after opening statements today and now hearing from former president Trump about that case and another one playing.

Out uh just down the street I want to bring in our chief White House our chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Carl for a little bit more on on a few things the president said here John because we heard former president Trump saying that nobody wanted to bring this case against him talking about how this case dates back many many years that it all centers.

On this small bookkeeping thing and then he said something we've heard before this is all coming out of the White House yeah and and let me say again and we should re assert every time we hear hear this there is no evidence for that whatsoever Joe Biden the Biden White House the Biden justice department have absolutely nothing to do with this case.

And nothing to do with the uh criminal the the the Civil fraud case against his company the other one that he's talking about these are New York cases the Manhattan district attorney the New York attorney general have nothing to do with Joe Biden or the Biden Administration but I I think what's ownable here is we have expected and it's been signaled by.

Uh by the former president's political advisers that he would use the opportunity that he has uh every day because he's stuck in this courtroom to come out and to have the platform uh you know the cable news networks carry it we carried part of it um and and and to use that basically as his campaign platform I I don't know that this works for him I.

Mean he he sounds like he is um complaining grievance about you know the the the something times esoteric details of these cases against him and once again he looks like a guy who is a criminal defendant because actually he is a criminal defendant who is complaining that the system is working against him which is what criminal.

Defendants often do he doesn't look like a commanding presence a guy that is uh the uh Republican candidate for president of the United States uh Jeremy he also is facing a gag order and this supposed to be hearing about that tomorrow among other people he is not supposed to disparage Michael Cohen one of the key Witnesses in this case and we.

Heard him today talking about how Michael Cohen was a bad attorney for him and and sort of getting into that ground is he at risk here and what happens if he is found to have violated this gag order because he has posted on social media many times now about Michael Cohen Donald Trump's always at risk and it sort of not sort of it in fact shocks.

Me that despite there being an agenda in terms of politics and and his campaign that a criminal defense attorney or criminal defense attorneys he's got a team is sitting by and allowing him to rant and rant like a Charlie Brown cartoon and just go on and on running the risk of just as you said potentially violating that gag order and if there is.

Another violation the people will make that application to the court there would be a potential hearing because it's not in the presence of the judge it can be pursued as something as a civil or Criminal here would be criminal meaning that they would want to punish him up to $1,000 if true and then potentially up to 30 days in jail which.

Likely would never happen but more he does this the more he also runs a risk of saying something that the prosecution could potentially even use in their case and chief meaning their direct case against Donald Trump so it really bewilders me I get the agenda here the politics but you have a criminal defendant with a potential felony that.

Does not go away whether he sees a day in jail or not it is permanent no expungement and there he is going and going and going someone really needs to get control of them if they have the courage but evidently they don't and I want to go back to Ain kki who's outside that Courthouse because Aaron we heard Trump talking about you know this is a.

Bookkeeping issue a little line he said where he paid an attorney to deal with an issue and listed it as a legal expense he says end of story what do you make of that compared to what we heard in court today well certainly prosecutors have a different view they believe that this payment the reimbursement payment to.

Michael Cohen after he had wired hush money to Stormy Daniels was done in such a way that was meant to undermine the election so voters before the 2016 vote didn't find out about it but uh to to Jeremy and and Jonathan Carl's point one of the things that Trump has just done in the hallway is potentially undermine an argument that his defense attorney.

Was making an opening statements defense attorney Todd blanch said during his opening statement that President Trump had nothing to do with the invoice with the check being generated or an entry on The Ledger and in fact there was Donald Trump now speaking about the minutia of how this payment reimbursement payment to Michael Cohen was logged each and.

Every month how it appeared on the invoices how it appeared on the checks and The Ledger and and that is what prosecutors uh say constitute of the crime here and why they put Trump at the center of an alleged scheme John s g how important is that to hear Aaron saying that what Trump just said outside the courtroom contradicts his own attorney's.

Opening statement extremely because here we go again and the reason I make that point is look at what Donald Trump did during the New York attorney general's case he would go outside of Court make comments to cameras and there were multiple instances that in that case the judge and attorneys for the New York attorney general's case would say he.

Just said this he made this comment in in particular the judge in that case if you recall Donald Trump was also under a gag order was attacking the clerk in that case Donald Trump during those proceedings one of the days he showed up attacked the clerk Donald Trump was called To The Stand by the judge and said what did you just say what were you.

Doing out there so to think that prosecutors or the judge himself are not listening to Donald Trump's words right now I think he's going to have to learn that the hard way all right Eric aury John Carl kathern falers Jeremy sand thank you all and we will be following this trial all day long we'll bring you updates as we get them right here on ABC.

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Everywhere right news first on ABC News live unprecedented the first day of Court wrapping up just moments ago in the first ever criminal trial for a former president the witness we heard from today and how lawyers for Donald Trump are mounting a defense punishing the homeless the Supreme Court weighing whether cities can ticket the homeless.

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Kira Phillips our top story this hour history happening before our eyes Court wrapping up just a short time ago in the first ever criminal trial against a former president of the United States presidents have been impeached they've resigned they've been voted out of office but for the first time ever former president Donald Trump is facing.

A jury of his peers in criminal court it's all stemming from those charges related to a payment to a porn star hoping to hide an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election prosecutors and defense attorneys now starting to lay out their cases the state already calling the first witness to the stand former National inquir.

Publisher David pecker who they say was part of a scheme to buy and bury un flattering stories about Trump letting us off this afternoon our senior investigative correspondent Aon kerki who is been inside that courtroom along with our chief Washington correspondent John Carl and Jeremy sand criminal defense attorney and former Manhattan.

Prosecutor Aaron take us inside the courtroom and what we heard from both sides today opening statements laid out how each side is going to approach this historic case Kira the prosecution and assistant district attorney Matthew Colangelo saying this case is about a criminal conspiracy and a coverup he.

Said the defendant Donald Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 election and then he tried to take the jury through it talking about the history of the national Inquirer being Donald Trump's friend before the election in 2016 buying up unflattering stories and then burying them to make sure they were.

Never in print stories like his supposed lovech child that Ador man was talking about or a Playboy model's allegation of a of a sexual trist and then Stormy Daniels and her CLA claim of the sexual encounter with Donald Trump all things that he denies but that according to prosecutors he did not want voters to know about as he was running for.

President in 2016 the defense said that Donald Trump is innocent and committed no crimes and then talked about the way that this hush payment to stormmy Daniels was logged saying it was just a legal expense because Michael Cohen was after all his lawyer all right John we've been here before with all these characters their.

Allegations their books the checks the bank accounts all the salacious details but it may well be the only one of four prosecutions of trump to go to trial before the 2024 election and that could change everything here I mean and what a seedy and unseemly uh trial to be the historic first trial of a former president featuring all that you just.

Described uh the lead witness uh being none other than the head of the national inquire the former head of the national inquire which uh you you know uh look at look at let's remember what the national inquire is and what it did even just in the 2016 election apart from this the national inquire was the publication that broke the story uh that Ted Cruz's.

Father was linked to the Kennedy assassination of course you know absolutely bogus story but designed to help uh Donald Trump you know in some ways this is it's never good to be on trial for a uh an alleged felony uh but of all all of the legal trouble Donald Trump faces uh the the classified documents case uh the January 6th.

Federal investigation uh the election interference uh case in Georgia it's this one that goes first and might be the only one uh that's something should be something of a relief uh to Donald Trump because this is uh hardly as compelling a case as the other ones so Jeremy let me follow up on that I mean this is no longer just a mere hush money.

Case da Alvin brag has described this as an election interference case saying that Trump's alleged scheme here to pay off Daniels was geared toward depriving the voter of crucial information about a candidate before they even cast a vote is that a strong or weak argument in your eyes and and just follow up on what John said about of all cases start with.

This one well in no particular order let me just say that when Jack Smith presented his cases he had those speaking indictments that really laid out the foundation and The Narrative of what was happening in the allegations and what ultimately they intended to to prove that didn't happen here but this never.

Was a hush money case that just sounds for salacious it sounds sexy it involves a porn star so that's why it's sort of been labeled this that that hush money if you will is almost like the vehicle to perpetrate the alleged crime of of falsifying business records and the reason why the falsifying business records occurred and then to your point.

About you know is this really an effort to circumvent or imp the election well that's what raises us from that misdemeanor of just making the alterations and the changes with the intent to Def frud to the felony so Erin let's talk about the first witness David pecker once again longtime friend of trump you know as you.

Mentioned ex-public of the national inquire for years uh we we've covered or the stories we've covered the cover up and how Trump wanted to get rid of these damaging stories about his behavior before the 26 campaign but why have David pecker is the first witness he is the narrator who can take the jury inside this alleged scheme to.

Buy up damaging stories about Trump and then bury them and prosecutors are are are trying to frame this as depriving voters before the 2016 election of information about Donald Trump that they might wanted to have known and that's why they consider this case to be sort of the original election interference case when pecker took the witness stand.

He flashed a big smile and and it was OB kind of Belling the gravity of the moment of a former American president on trial he cackled loudly into a microphone when the prosecutor was asking him about some of his phone numbers and he couldn't quite remember them uh so he is going to be a a man that that the jury's going to get to.

Know well he'll return to the witness stand for more substantive testimony tomorrow and John what do we see as more substant substantive you know what can the prosecution hope to learn it more in addition to just this attempt to pull off dirty tricks you know before the campaign well I think that what I'm kind of listening for from.

David pecker is is a description of something we already know about but to hear it in Pecker's words his testimony it's it's the meeting that took place in Trump Tower in August of 2015 so in terms of the timeline remember this is uh not long after Donald Trump has announced that he is running for president you had the first debate uh.

Was in August of 2015 and Trump found himself suddenly leading in all of the polls and there is a meeting that takes place between three people uh Donald Trump Michael Coen and David pecker uh that outlines the ways in which pecker could use the national Inquirer to help Donald Trump part of that was this so-called catch and kill scheme which.

Ultimately leads you uh to stormy d all right gentlemen Aaron uh John Jeremy thank you so much we'll continue the conversation for days to come let's head over to the Middle East crisis now and the man who was the.

Symbol of the failure to prevent the deadliest attack in Israel's history netanyahu's head of military intelligence has now resigned that Major General the highest ranking Israeli official to step down since the Hamas Le attack back on on October 7th his recog resignation rather happening as a special State Department panel here in.

Our nation's capital is also recommending to sanction Israeli military units linked to Human Rights abuses for more let's bring in our senior National policy reporter and flirty so an the US is set to make a decision soon on whether to withhold the military aid to these Israeli units that are accused of of torture where's this.

Intel coming from and what more do we know yeah Cara so secretary blink addressed this at a press conference last Friday when he was asked about uh reports that these IDF units these Israeli Defense Forces have been accused of Human Rights abuses and of course in the US there is a law it's called the Ley act that says we can't use federal.

Money that would actually provide weapons or training to military units overseas that have been accused of gross human rights violations so uh blinkin said simply this has been on our radar we're looking at this and I expect to make a determination in coming days so you know Israel has already responded to this Netanyahu says absolutely not and.

Called it a low uh for the country said this is not the time to do it so what happens now overall to intelligence GA intelligence gathering is netanyahu's key guy is now out yeah you know it was really a stunner a 13 38-year veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces um having all of that experience but of course being blamed for the October 7th attack from.

Hamas not seeing it that huge breach in intelligence um I I think it's showing that you know that that investigation might be coming to an end they know uh who to blame he's he says simply you know I will live with this for the rest of my life uh but all of this puts pressure on Netanyahu who has not accepted blame for the October 7th.

Attack so all eyes on him all right and flare thanks so much so after putting his job on the line to push through a $95 billion foreign aid package house Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be gaining new by partisan support the Senate is now set to vote on that massive foreign aid package later this week that also includes that bill that.

Could potentially ban Tik Tock here in the US our senior White House correspondent Selena Wang is on Capitol Hill with the latest for us so Selena let's talk about this moment for speaker Johnson why did he completely change his stance on Ukraine Aid yeah car this is a total transformation for Mike Johnson remember he had gone from being.

Staunchly opposed to any more Aid to Ukraine to then putting his own job on the line to try and get that Mass a foreign aid package pass so as you say the big question here is why the dramatic turnaround well there's a few reasons number one is the pressure campaign that was from President Biden as well as other Congressional leaders.

And world leaders for that matter secondly he also had received classified intelligence briefings including from the CIA director painting the dire picture in Ukraine the stakes that we're talking about here and that also played a role in shifting his position then thirdly he's a devout Christian and Congressman McCall said that he prayed.

He prayed for guidance on what to do here so as you say the Senate is now going to take this up they're expected to take it up tomorrow and given the bipartisan support here this could really speed its way through Congress and President Biden says he's ready to sign this as soon as possible all right well the Senate is.

Expected uh to vote on this forign a package tomorrow as you mentioned let's talk about what happens to tick tock as well if indeed it passes yeah so this is interesting this has been gaining a lot of bipartisan uh momentum here and this would essentially give bite dance which is Tik tok's Chinese parent about a year to sell the.

App find a buyer or it would face a ban in the US but it's not really that simple Kira because it will definitely face legal challenges Tik Tok said they're going to fight this hard in court they are going to say that this violates the first amendment that this devastates millions of small businesses that rely on the platform then on top of.

That you also have the fact that the Chinese government could block the sale as well so there's still a long road ahead for this and interesting political Dynamics here as well President Biden says he's in support of this legislation but his campaign is actively using Tik Tok to try and reach young voters all right Selena Wang at the.

Capital Forest Selena thank you and for the first time in decades the Supreme Court is hearing a major case involving homelessness the justices are weighing whether cities can find unhoused people for sleeping outside Advocates say this amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and it comes as homeless numbers are skyrocketing Nationwide right now.

California has the largest homeless population in the country and Governor Gavin Newsome says he means business and is calling for accountability it's about people's lives people are dying on our watch people are dying on the streets and we all have a responsibility to do better all of us not just the state it's not about.

Blaming folks pointing fingers anymore all of us accountability Drive accountability get out there let's get this stuff fixed let clean up our streets save people's lives let's bring in our senior Washington correspondent Devon DWI out in front of the Supreme Court there Devin let's talk about how we got here.

And the arguments that the justices are actually hearing today a historic case today Kira the biggest case on homelessness in more than 40 years it came from the city of Grants Pass Oregon one of many in this country that have passed ordinances trying to crack down on homelessness and homeless encampment Grants Pass as you said passed a law few.

Years ago saying it would be a crime to sleep in public if you didn't have a home to use a blanket that police could ticket you sight you and eventually if you kept violating it put you in jail a group of homeless people in that Community I was out there uh brought this legal challenge they said it violates the eth amendment cruel and.

Unusual punishment because the city of Grants Pass has no homeless shelters public shelters for these people uh and places to go a federal appeals court agreed with them Kira and today here at the Supreme Court arguments just concluded a short time ago more than two hours uh of debate over this very complicated issue of homelessness in.

America it's on the rise at record levels especially on the west coast what can cities do about it can they pass laws that penalize people who are sleeping on the streets a very tricky case today kakira and the justices really were grappling with that well you always humanize these stories for us Devin tell us about this woman that you.

Met in Oregon who's struggling with homelessness and what she thinks about this case one of the interesting things about Grant's pure is that so many of the 600 or so homeless people in that Community are natives of Grants Pass they grew up there they lived there uh one of those people was Helen Cruz she had lived for 5 years she told me in a.

Local city park next to the Little League field until a church took her in and during that time she said she was uh faced with $5,000 in fines and here's what she had to say about that experience I was holding down two jobs when I was out here and uh still not enough to be able to rent a place their.

Their uh terms of low-income housing here is $1,000 a month and that's that's not workable either you know now Helen Cruz had two jobs at the time Kira she said she was doing her best simply could not afford the rent there in Grant Grants Pass much less the fines that she was getting from from the city she was one of the uh supporters of.

This case she hopes that the city will back down from this enforcement opportunity and simply invest more uh in affordable housing up and down the west coast and in Grants Pass but the city today uh Kira telling the justices that laws like these are so important for Public Safety uh and cranking down on encampments the justices seems really.

Torn we'll have to see how they come out in the next couple of months Kira right and if there's bigger implications for other states as well we'll follow it closely Devon thank you so much and we we may be will into spring but it sure doesn't feel like it for much of the country millions of Americans are feeling some pretty frigid temperatures.

And a new threat of severe weather is on the way our meteorologist Samar theor is tracking the forecast Samara are we ever good to see a true start to Spring I know I'm trying to see what I could do uh here but you know I always say that spring is really the battle between summer and winter and right now it looks like winter is winning a little bit so.

Here's a look another shot of Frosty air this is the uh temperature trend for the next couple of mornings okay so that means you're waking up you're headed outside around 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning Chicago 50s but by Wednesday dropping down in the 30s look how the chill is spreading Eastward Boston 32 degrees Thursday morning Burlington below.

Freezing Thursday morning down into the 20s as a result we've seen the shift for Frost and freeze alerts shift a little bit farther Eastward I know earlier this morning we had it in a lot of places like uh the Midwest into the Great Lake well tomorrow morning we anticipate the freeze and frost alerts to be happening towards uh Eastern Kentucky right on.

Into parts of Virginia Maryland and up into Pennsylvania meanwhile out west they have been dealing with their own chill right so this morning pretty chilly but look what's happening we're getting a pretty big warm-up out west and just a think that in Denver we just came off of all that snowfall and now they will be waking up or going home.

Should I say to temperatures in the upper 70s this afternoon near about 80° in in Trinidad Colorado there and a lot of that heat helping to fuel some storms later this week it's a quiet start to our week now but that's going to change severe weather is riding through the Heartland by the end of the week here we're going to show you uh where you can.

Anticipate that on Thursday from great Ben down to Western Oklahoma and then on Friday that shifts farther east there we could see large Hill damaging winds and a few tornadoes Kira all right appreciate it Samara thank you and coming up safety security and suspensions at colia University what's being done to protect students following.

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Live now to the security safety even suspensions that happened at Columbia University classes are taking place remotely today as part of increased safety measures after those anti-israel protests on campus police say at least a 100 people have been arrested so far the unity president calling for a reset there on school grounds ahead of the.

First night of passover which begins tonight our Stephanie Ramos is on the story for us so Steph these were not peaceful protests I mean students were arrested and even suspended that's right Kira and and I'm outside Columbia University right now you can see there are demonstrators here Pro Palestinian demonstrators pro-israel.

Demonstrators the friction is worsening here at the school there are a lot of shouting matches there is some conflict the NYPD is standing ready to ready to interact if they need to we we know that they're across the street right now uh it seems like though it seems as though they are wearing Riot Gear helmets they've got the Baton uh but they are.

Not involved just yet right now it's just the two groups kind of going at each other uh but we know what we saw last week Pro Palestinian demonstrators pitching tents on the campus refusing to leave the university uh unless the university met their demands which included uh divesting from companies with time to Israel the school called.

The police as you mentioned at least 100 people were arrested uh but that did not deter other groups we know that Pro Palestinian demonstrators not affiliated with the university also uh joined some protests over the weekend Kira all right so let's talk about additional security measures uh that the school the NYPD is now taking and since classes are.

Happening remotely um have you seen any staff teachers getting involved not that I know of and if they are it's hard to tell if they are staff if they are teachers professors we know that there are a lot of different groups kind of kind of joining in and in in in in in these demonstrations well we do know that and as you mentioned this is.

The first night of passover we know that NYPD officials have said because it is a a Jewish holiday it may be a catalyst for acts of violence or streamis group to take advantage uh so they are keeping a close eye on that but this university has said that they they don't want to so much involve the police they want to step up and double up on the campus.

Public Safety officers that they have before uh calling the police again which is what they did last week and has not deterred groups from coming back to the campus to protest kir all right Stephanie R Ramos for us there we'll continue to stay in close touch with you especially as these protests are ongoing coming up country Superstar Luke Brian.

Had a pretty memorable performance in man Vancouver this weekend uh you'll see why next what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters This our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five.

Different directions operation nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great.

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live some of the top headlines we're following this on ABC News live three California police officers are charged with manslaughter 2 years after a man died from being restrained police first said that Mario Gonzalez died from meth use but a second autopsy indicated a death from asphixiation body cam video.

Actually shows officers cuffing him face down following that struggle the case comes as a new DA is revisiting previously cleared cases of police shootings and in custody deaths longtime Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson has passed away at the age of 76 Anderson is most famously known as one of America's longest held hostages.

After he was held captive by militant in Lebanon for almost 7 years while on assignment back in the 80s his daughter says that he died following complications from heart surgery country Superstar Luke Bryan had a pretty memorable performance in Vancouver over the weekend the American Idol judge yep took a little tumble.

There after slipping mid song after a cell phone was tossed up on stage Brian says hey I'm all right he even joked about it as he got back up and replayed the moment on the fan cell phone thanks for streaming with us I'm Kira Phillips the news never stops neither do we more live news right after the.

break why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it.

A news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is.

Impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early.

Morning news on ABC News live can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to.

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Television what's good to watch read where can I get a great deal on what I'm just dying to buy oh it's all right here GMA life get the latest celebrity Buzz Deals and Steals and the coolest lifestyle tips from GMA I love that so much streaming weekends on ABC News live ABC News America's number one news source.

hello everyone I'm Kira Phillips our top story this hour history happening right before our eyes Court wrapping just a short time ago in the first ever criminal trial against a former president of the United States presidents have been impeached they've resigned they've been voted out of.

Office but for the first time ever former president Donald Trump is facing a jury of his peers in criminal court it's all stemming from those charges related to a payment to a porn star hoping to hide an alleged affair with stormmy Daniels before the 2016 election prosecutors and defense attorneys now starting to lay out their cases the.

State already calling the first witness to the stand former National inquire publisher David pecker who they say was part of a scheme to buy and bury unflattering stories about Trump we have Team coverage our senior reporter cther falers and Attorney Jerry goldfeder senior councel at Coen o Conor and director of forom law school's voting.

Rights and democracy project kathen let's start with you how did court go today well it was short Kira there was a juror who had an emergency dental appointment so uh they wrapped about an hour ago but look I I think the one of the most significant things at least so far we've heard opening statements and as you mentioned a brief bit of pecker.

Taking the witness stand uh it's the focus on Michael Cohen here and that's what prosecutors focused on in their opening statements uh the defense team Trump's defense is going to paint Michael Cohen Trump's former lawyer and fixer as a not credible witness here he can't be trusted the defense team will say and has said during the opening and.

That's because he has a criminal record he has been accused of lying uh the prosecutors tried to get ahead of that and said that you'll hear a lot about Cohen that they believe he can still be credible as it relates to this payment to stormmy Daniels that Trump allegedly was involved in and directed so I think that's at least the takeaway so far from.

Today we didn't get very far opening statements the first witness on the witness stand only for a number of minutes really uh but I think going down the road in this trial Michael Cohen which we assume by the way that he will be called to testify he will be called to testify he will be Central to the storyline here all right so Jerry.

Trump's defense attorney said uh there is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election it's called democracy so what are your thoughts on the approach so far here well there's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election as long as it's lawful the allegations here the charges here is that there were crimes.

Committed in order to influence the election crimes committed in order to prevent the American people from knowing the truth about his affair and his falsifying business records that's what this is about the prosecutor laid it out very nicely in opening statements and uh Trump's lawyers tries to um uh uh suggest that that's not the case that.

There's nothing to be seen by the jury um we'll see exactly how the prosecutor makes the case and we'll see what the defense uh tries to uh suggest otherwise and I think that as the witnesses come to testify the jurors are going to get a pretty clear idea and by the way that's the reason why they I think that they're starting off with pcker because um it's.

True that con has a history of lying and what they want to show is that these events that con is going to testify about these events can be corroborated by all sorts of other Witnesses including pecker so we're going to see the prosecution lay out its case showing that there were all sorts of false invoices false checks falsifying of.

Business records to the intent of committing or concealing another crime and those other crimes including tax fraud um relate to um uh election fraud federal election laws and state election laws having been violating having been violated and and we'll see if they can prove that case well that's let me follow with you on that Jerry because.

Although yes you know Michael Cohen uh has has told a few tales in his life as has the former president by the way but when it comes to just going back to the very beginning of the the Stormy Daniels Saga um we we saw the checks signed by Trump I mean Michael Cohen went into detail about the bank accounts and the the LLC and all these things that were.

Set up so it's I mean doesn't Michael Cohen have something here on his side I mean yes popped for lying but also the documents don't necessarily lie he appears to have truth on his side there's documentary evidence just as you say there are checks there are false invoices but he also has other Witnesses on his side just in case the the the.

Jury feels that well con is Li in the past and we're not sure if we should believe him there's all sorts of other people and documents that corroborate uh what he is going to testify to which of course demonstrates that the prosecution's case is valid so Katherine why do you think David Becker was on the stand only for a.

Short bit of time well I think Jerry's right in the sense also in terms of why he testified is that they want to paint this picture of Trump's character they want to give more credibility to these instances that occurred that they're going to be talking about in terms of the short period of time look I thought they might punt it until tomorrow they.

Might given that they had to get out of court pretty early um but they wanted to call him the judge has made clear that he doesn't want any delays in this trial at all they're moving at a pretty fast pace so you will see David pcker on the stand tomorrow now he won't be on the stand until 11: a.m. that's cuz the judge is going to have a hearing to.

Begin on the gap gag order and alleged violations that of the gag order by a former president Trump which might include something that he actually just said moments ago outside of court I'm sure that will come up where he talked about Cohen uh we will kick off the day with that hearing and move into pecker a couple hours later.

Kira overall Jerry what do you think about this case I mean clearly it's not just about hush money it it it's about election interference but strong case weak case um because ' known all the characters and the details and the allegations and all the salacious stuff for years when this first broke what six years ago um when Michael Cohen's office.

Got raided and then from there it's just kind of been a domino effect um of what we've been able to learn the reason this case wasn't brought uh originally uh when it occurred is because the Trump justice department made sure that it wasn't made sure that the prosecutors the Federal prosecutors didn't uh bring this case so now we have it and it.

Appears to be um well old news uh election interference 2016 but it's very important and by the way it's not so different than the election interference uh that he attempted to uh uh pull off in 2020 it takes a different form but it's the same uh uh modar operand by Trump uh uh he appears to.

Have not learned anything from uh all the accusations that have been made by federal prosecutors and state prosecutors he continues to go outside the courtroom and make statements about the witnesses that are not true to make statements about the process that are not true this is a straight uh prosecution by a straight.

Shooting district attorney in Manhattan if he didn't think that there were serious charges he wouldn't have brought the case and the really the case comes down to no matter what uh Trump's lawyers say it comes down to election interference falsifying business records covering up this hush money uh operation in order to uh impact uh the the.

Election and I think we're going to uh have the district attorney show that bit by bit Witness by witness document by document but it'll be up to the jurors to make uh the decision as to whether or not the district attorney has proved the case you know and that that brings up an interesting point um Katherine dis listening to Jerry it it will bring up.

His past and and all these Witnesses whether it's Stormy Daniels or Karen McDougall or the Access Hollywood tape which I guess there will only be a transcript the tape will not be heard in court is that right and if if that's the case it's still all very embarrassing um situations here for the former president and I'm sure every.

Member of that jury is going to be looking at him to see if he's squirming or getting angry or starting to sweat or rolling his eyes because if he doesn't get that jury to fall in love with him um he's hosed yeah k no I I think you're exactly right the body language from him will be fascinating to watch.

Probably critical as the jurors are are looking at him and you mentioned that Access Hollywood tape that Infamous Access Hollywood tape that we've heard so many times you're right it can't be played in court um it's interesting because it was one of the first things that during the opening statements today that prosecutors read they actually read.

A portion of that transcript which the judge allowed them to do so certainly Trump was sitting there and and heard that even though he has heard the tape multiple times his words will be introduced in the case as they were this morning so yes I I can imagine that as you say it's embarrassing to hear these details they've been reported on but.

They haven't uh been said during a trial the first criminal trial certainly he will be hearing a lot more of this in the coming weeks all right Katherine thanks Jerry gold fitter thank you too it's great to have you on.

Board let's head over to the Middle East crisis now and the man who was the symbol of the failure to prevent the deadliest attack in Israel's history netanyahu's head of military intelligence has now resigned that Major General the highest ranking Israeli official to step down since the Hamas Le attack back on October 7th his recogn.

Resignation rather happening as a special State Department panel here in our nation's capital is also recommending to sanction Israeli military units linked to Human Rights abuses for more let's bring in our senior National policy reporter an flurty so an the US is set to make a decision soon on whether to withhold the.

Military aid to these Israeli units that are accused of of torture where's this Intel coming from and what more do we know yeah Caro secretary blinkin addressed this at a press conference last Friday when he was asked about uh reports that these IDF units these Israeli Defense Forces H uh have been accused of Human Rights abuses and of.

Course in the US there is a law it's called the Ley act that says we can't use federal money that would actually provide weapons or training to military units overseas that have been accused of gross human rights violations so uh blinkin said simply this has been on our radar we're looking at this and I expect to make a determination in coming days.

So you know Israel has already responded to this Netanyahu says absolutely not and called it a low uh for the country said this is not the time to do it so what happens now overall to intelligence GA intelligence gathering is netanyahu's key guy is now out yeah you know it was really a stunner at 13 38-year veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces um having.

All of that experience but of course being blamed for the October 7th attack from Hamas not seeing it that huge breach in intelligence um I I think it's showing that you know that that investigation might be coming to an end they know uh who to blame he's he says simply you know I will live with this for the rest of my life uh but all of.

This puts pressure on Netanyahu who has not accepted blame for the October 7th attack so all eyes on him all right and flarity thanks so much so after putting his job on the line to push through a $95 billion foreign aid package house Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be gaining new bipartisan support the Senate is now set to vote on that.

Massive forign a package later this week that also includes that bill that could potentially ban Tik Tock here in the US our senior White House correspondent Selena Wang is on Capitol Hill with the latest for us so Selena let's talk about this moment for speaker Johnson why did he completely change his stand on Ukraine Aid yeah car this is a total.

Transformation for Mike Johnson remember he had gone from being staunchly opposed to any more Aid to Ukraine to then putting his own job on the line to try and get that massive foreign aid package passed so as you say the big question here is why the dramatic turnaround well there's a few reasons number one is the pressure campaign that was from.

President Biden as well as other Congressional leaders and world leaders for that matter secondly he also had received classified intelligence briefings including from the CIA director painting the dire picture in Ukraine the stakes that we're talking about here and that also played a role in shifting his position then thirdly.

He's a devout Christian and Congressman McCall said that he prayed he prayed for guidance on what to do here so as you say the Senate is now going to take this up they're expected to take it up tomorrow and given the bipartisan support here this could really speed its way through Congress and President Biden says he's ready to sign this as soon as.

Possible all right well the Senate is expected uh to vote on this foreign a package tomorrow as you mentioned let's talk about what happens to Tik Tock as well if indeed it passes yeah so this is interesting this has been gaining a lot of bipartisan uh momentum here and this would essentially give bite dance which is Tik tok's.

Chinese parent about a year to sell the app find a buyer or it would face a ban in the US but it's not really that simple Kira because it will definitely face legal challenges Tik Tok said they're going to fight this hard and Court they are going to say that this violates the first amendment that this devastates millions of small businesses.

That rely on the platform then on top of that you also have the fact that the Chinese government could block the sale as well so there's still a long road ahead for this an interesting political Dynamics here as well President Biden says he's in support of this legislation but his campaign is actively using Tik Tok to try and reach young.

Voters all right Selena Wang at the capital Forest Selena thank you and for the first time in decades the Supreme Court is is hearing a major case involving homelessness the justices are weighing whether cities can find unhoused people for sleeping outside Advocates say this amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and it comes as.

Homeless numbers are skyrocketing Nationwide right now California has the largest homeless population in the country and Governor Gavin Newsome says he means business and is calling for accountability it's about people's lives people are dying on our watch people are dying on the streets and we all have respons responsibility to do better all.

Of us not just the state it's not about blaming folks pointing fingers anymore all of us accountability Drive accountability get out there let's get this stuff fixed let's clean up our streets save people's lives let's bring in our senior Washington correspondent Deon DWI out in front of the Supreme Court there Devin.

Let's talk about how we got here and the arguments that the justices are actually hearing today a historic case today Kira the biggest case on homelessness in more than 40 years it came from the city of Grants Pass Oregon one of many in this country that have passed ordinances trying to crack down on homelessness and homeless encampments Grants Pass as you.

Said passed a law few years ago saying it would be a crime to sleep in public if you didn't have a home to use a blanket that police could ticket you sight you and eventually if you kept violating it put you in jail a group of homeless people in that Community I was out there uh brought this Le legal challenge they said it violates the eth.

Amendment cruel and unusual punishment because the city of Grants Pass has no homeless shelters public shelters for these people uh and places to go a federal appeals court agreed with them Kira and today here at the Supreme Court arguments just concluded a short time ago more than two hours uh of debate over this very complicated issue of.

Homelessness in America it's on the rise at record levels especially on the west coast what can cities do about it can they pass laws that penalize people who are sleeping on the streets a very tricky case today kakira and the justices really were grappling with that well you always humanize these stories for us Devon tell us about this woman.

That you met in Oregon who's struggling with homelessness and what she thinks about this case one of the interesting things about Grant's Pass C is that so many of the 600 or so homeless people in that Community are natives of Grant's past they grew up there they lived there uh one of those people was Helen Cruz she had lived for five year she told me.

In a local city park next to the Little League field until a church took her in and during that time she said she was uh faced with $5,000 in fines and here's what she had to say about that experience I was holding down two jobs when I was out here and uh still not enough to be able to rent a place their.

Their uh terms of low-income housing here is $1,000 a month and that's that's not workable either you know now Helen Cruz had two jobs at the time Kira she said she was doing her best simply could not afford the rent there and Grant Grants Pass much less the fines that she was getting from the city she was one of the uh supporters of this.

Case she hopes that the city will back down from this enforcement opportunity and simply invest more uh in affordable housing up and down the West Coast in in Grant's Pass but the city today uh Kira telling the justices that laws like these are so so important for Public Safety uh and cranking down on encampments the justices seem really.

Torn we'll have to see how they come out in the next couple of months Kira right and if there's bigger implications for other states as well we'll follow it closely Devon thank you so much and we we may be willing to Spring but it sure doesn't feel like it for much of the country millions of Americans are feeling some pretty frigid temperatures.

And a new threat of severe weather is on the way our meteorologist Samar theor is tracking the forecast Samara are we ever good to see a true start to Spring I know I'm trying to see what I could do uh here but you know I always say that spring is really the battle between summer and winter and right now it looks like winter is winning a little bit so.

Here's a look another shot of Frosty air this is the uh temperature trend for the next couple of mornings okay so that means you're waking up you're headed outside around 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning Chicago 50s buai Wednesday dropping down in the 30s look how the chill is spreading Eastward Boston 32 degrees Thursday morning Burlington below.

Freezing THS Thursday morning down into the 20s as a result we've seen the shift for Frost and freeze alerts shift a little bit farther Eastward I know earlier this morning we had it in a lot of places like uh the Midwest into the Great Lakes while tomorrow morning we anticipate the freeze and frost alerts to be happening towards uh Eastern.

Kentucky right on into parts of Virginia Maryland and up into Pennsylvania meanwhile out west they have been dealing with their own chill right so this morning pretty chilly but look what's happening we're getting a pretty big warmup out west and just a think that in Denver we just came off of all that snowfall and now.

They will be waking up or going home should I say to temperatures in the upper 70s this afternoon near about 80 degrees in in Trinidad Colorado there and a lot of that heat helping to fuel some storms later this week it's a quiet start to our week now but that's going to change severe weather is riding through the Heartland by the end of the.

Week here we're going to show you uh where you can anticipate that on Thursday from great Ben down to Western Oklahoma and then on Friday that shifts farther east there we could see large Hill damaging winds and a few tornadoes Kira all right appreciate it Samara thank you and coming up safety security and suspensions at Columbia University.

What's being done to protect students following those anti-israel protest next this is ABC News live the crush families here in Poland at Refugee centers in Putin Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destructive Cat 4 stor you're along I Boston is in the bull let's go ABC News live America's number one.

Streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming news with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David M America's number one most watched newscast across all of.

Television why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast.

Honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche warning that's up.

To catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting in the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straight forward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first.

Thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live now to the security safety even suspension that happened at Columbia University classes are taking place remotely today as part of increased safety measures after those anti-israel.

Protests on campus police say at least a 100 people have been arrested so far the University's president calling for a reset there on school grounds ahead of the first night of passover which begins tonight our Stephanie Ramos is on the story for us so Steph these were not peaceful protests I mean students were arrested and even.

Suspended that's right Kira and and I'm outside Columbia University right now you can see there are demonstrators here Pro Palestinian demonstrators pro-israel demonstrators the friction is worsening here at the school there are a lot of shouting matches there is some conflict the NYPD is standing ready to ready to interact if they need to we we know that.

They're across the street right now uh it seems like though it seems as though they are wearing R Gear helmets they've got the Baton uh but they are not involved just yet right now it's just two groups kind of going at each other other uh but we know what we saw last week Pro Palestinian demonstrators pitching tents on the campus refusing to.

Leave the university uh unless the university met their demands which included uh divesting from companies with ties to Israel the school called the police as you mentioned at least 100 people were uh arrested uh but that did not deter other groups we know that Pro Palestinian demonstrators not affiliated with the.

University also uh joined some protests over the weekend Kira all right so let's talk about additional security measures uh that the school the NYPD is now taking and since classes are happening remotely um have you seen any staff teachers getting involved uh not that I know of and if they are it's hard to tell if they are.

Staff if they are teachers professors we know that there are a lot of different groups kind of kind of joining in and in in in in in these demonst ations well we do know that and as you mentioned this is the first night of passover we know that NYPD officials have said because it is a a Jewish holiday it may be a catalyst for acts of violence or.

Extremist group to take advantage uh so they are keeping a close eye on that but this university has said that they they don't want to so much involve the police they want to step up and double up on the campus Public Safety officers that they have before uh calling the police again which is what they did last week and has not deterred groups from coming.

Back to the campus to protest K all right Stephanie R Ramos Forest there we'll continue to stay in close touch with you especially as these protests are ongoing coming up country Superstar Luke Bryan had a pretty memorable performance in man Vancouver this weekend uh you'll see why next what does it take to be the most.

Watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters This our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag.

There's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made in the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David good to meet you is David David yes yes I'm David I know who you.

Are you every night EC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast some of the top headlines we're following this hour on ABC News live three California police officers are charged with manslaughter 2 years after a man died from being restrained police.

First said that Mario Gonzalez died from methew but a second autopsy indicated a death from asphixiation body cam video actually shows officers cuffing him face down following that struggle the case comes as a new DA is revisiting previously cleared cases of police shootings and in custody deaths longtime Associated Press correspondent Terry.

Anderson has passed away at the age of 76 Anderson is most famously known as one of America's longest held hostages after he was held captive by militants in Lebanon for almost 7 years while on assignment back in the 80s his daughter says that he died following complications from heart surgery country Superstar Luke Bryan had.

A pretty memorable performance in Vancouver over the weekend the American Idol judge yep took a little tumble there after slipping mid song after a cell phone was tossed up on stage Brian says hey I'm all right he even joked about it as he got back up and replayed the moment on the fan cell phone thanks for streaming with us I'm.

Kira Phillips the news never stops neither do we more live news right after the break it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know that sounds pretty good give it to me your health your money breaking news pop.

Culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and of course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us after news for everything you need to know I love that this is ABC News live the crush on the ground in Ukraine ABC News live America's number one streaming news.

Anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming news reporting in St Petersburg Florida in the aftermath of hurricane Adalia I'm M win wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live right now there's just so much happening in our world so much at stake at the.

Start of every morning making sense of it all that's not always so easy and that's where we come in Good Morning America we want you to know every morning we're right here and we got you right now on ABC News live unprecedented the first day of Court wrapping up today in the first ever.

Criminal trial for a former president the witness we heard from and how lawyers for Donald Trump are mounting a defense safety security and suspensions at Columbia University what's being done to protect students students and what demonstrators are demanding following those anti-israel protests and Tick Tock for Tik Tok the historic move by.

The house that could see the app band in the US what's next and the impact that this could have on the app's 170 million users good afternoon everyone I'm Kira Phillips our top story this hour it's history happening right before our eyes Court wrapping just a short time ago in the first ever criminal trial against a former president of the United States.

States presidents have been impeached they've resigned they've been voted out of office but for the first time ever former president Donald Trump is facing a jury of his peers in criminal court it's all stemming from those charges related to a payment to a porn star hoping to hide an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys now starting to lay out their cases and the state already calling the first witness to the stand former National inquire publisher David pecker who they say was part of that scheme to buy and Barry unflattering stories about Trump leading us off our investigative reporter Olivia Rubin Attorney Jerry goldfeder senior.

Council at Kosen o Conor and director of the forom law school's voting rights for democracy project Olivia let's start with you a lot of salacious details brought up in court how did Trump handle it some really brutal moments Kira I think zoning in on the moment when prosecutors in their opening statements brought up the infamous Access Hollywood.

Tape they read portions of of the transcript to the jury they said that Donald Trump was uh bragging about committing sexual assault and Donald Trump just had to sit there and listen and I will say just watching that camera that's directly on his face you could tell it was difficult it was one of the few moments when prosecutors brought up.

This tape that you could see Donald Trump shaking his head he pursed his lips he was fidgeting in his seat a little bit shuffling with papers at one point he grabbed a pen clearly sort of you know trying to figure out what to do in that moment where remember he can't really do much he can't talk he can't chime in he can't say anything and so.

For that time it's really just about sitting there and listening and I do think that his attorneys when they uh got up for their turn his attorney Todd blanch tried to humanize him a bit uh to counter against these ideas of him as the president of him in power of him you know in the Access Hollywood tape and Todd blanch is attorney said to the jury.

You know he's not just the former president he's not just the man that you've seen on TV with The Apprentice and what Todd said was he's a man he is a husband and he is a father and it was a really striking line that I think was going to be tried to use to counter some of these really salacious these really runchy details that are going to be laid.

Out in front of the jury for the next 6 to 8 weeks so Jerry what do you make of former National inquir publisher David pecker as the first witness called by the prosecution why set the tone here with Trump's longtime friend and protector of damaging stories well I think pecker is important because uh the defense is going to try.

To devalue the testimony of Michael con and other Witnesses like David pecker will corroborate what the district attorney has to say in its charges uh about this uh cover up and there are documents that will show that as well you know it's interesting uh he may be a husband and a father uh but I'm not sure that that's a great defense cuz after.

All if if I were a juror sitting there and I would and I was told well he's just an ordinary guy he's a husband and his a and a father look what he did and there's no getting away from what he did and the Access Hollywood tape even though they're not going to hear the tape they're going to hear the transcript they've heard part of it.

Already and when they hear that they're going to say well what kind of husband was this what kind of father was this and and and the Access Hollywood tape uh shows what kind of person he was and why they were so crazed about covering up uh the Stormy Daniels because it was right before the election and right after the Access.

Hollywood tape uh came out so that's what really motivated them to uh have this hush money scheme and cover it up and falsify business records that the jury's going to hear all the those details about so I'm not so sure that the defense was so smart by trying to portray him as just an ordinary guy the jurors may say not such a good.

Husband so Olivia what else is the prosecution hoping to learn uh from David peger besides uh Trump's attempt here to just pull off these dirty tricks before 2016 campaign and then all the way to the election day really he was scrambling well David pecker is sort of a keyy uh aspect and if you think of the link of what uh occurred here in terms.

Of the payments because remember Donald Trump didn't pay stormmy Daniels directly it was Michael Cohen and David pecker who worked together to buy the story Michael Cohen made the payments Donald Trump paid Michael Cohen so what prosecutors need to do is they need to lay out this link for the jury so they can understand the flow of the money.

Because what this case is actually about on the charges is the flow of the money it is not about the affair it is not about you know Access Hollywood it is the falsification of business records and the payments so the jurors need to understand exactly where money changed hands and they also sort of framed it as this bigger story that David pecker is.

At the center of because the charges are related to the payments of Stormy Daniels but what prosecutors say is it was just one piece of a broader scheme where uh Karen McDougall was paid off where a doorman for Trump Tower was also paid off and that it all started with this one meeting with Michael Cohen Donald Trump and David pcker and that's.

How they open their case today so they opened their case as David pecker the central man at the center of what happened here all right Livia Rubin Jerry goldfeder thank you both so much and you can pretty much assume that Trump's trial is a reality show that he never really wanted and at this point he can't.

Delay it any further either even though he'd love to it's the only one of four prosecutions of trump to go to trial before the election this year and a lot is on the line former special counsel to the Trump White House Ty Cobb joins me now uh Ty great to see you again I guess overall question here what do you think about this particular case being the one.

To hang history on I think it's unfortunate it's nice to be with you again care um I think it's unfortunate that this is the first case because uh the two most serious cases obviously are the two Federal cases where he uh ran rampant over the Constitution and uh uh attempted uh to obstruct.

The you know transfer of power um so I think those I think those are the most serious cases I think this is probably the least serious case on the other hand it presents him in a personally very abhorent way um sort of affair with Stormy Daniels um you know payments to Karen McDougall for a long um um standing Affair uh David pecker and the.

You know catch and kill stories and of course Michael Cohen and you know the the the difficulty with some of the uh attacks on Cohen all of which are valid by the way but the difficulty with those attacks is you got to remember that Cohen was Trump's you know asset TR Cohen was Trump's friend Cohen was Trump's consor so um yes Cohen is a bad.

Guy but Trump knew that and hired him for that purpose Point well made it's sort of like Trump's misogyny is on trial here in New York when you you start to hear about everything so far that's been presented like with David pecker I mean what did you make of that his longtime friend helped you know protect him uh from from.

Damaging stories he was head of the national Inquirer why start with David pecker you think well I think you want to start with you know somebody who can put um you know some meat on the bones um and you want to probably take the person that is most credible from that group certainly in the you know David Cohen.

Stormy Daniels David pecker troa uh David pecker is the most credible person uh just because he had a longstanding business career he's more Nimble uh on the stand than uh the other two will be and he's more sophisticated in terms of you know uh going back and forth with Advocates and um aggressors on the other side so I think um you know he's going.

To be he's going to be as good as it gets frankly for the prosecution and uh starting with him makes makes perfect sense particularly where they can get the broad outlines of the alleged scheme now I think you know the um most interesting issue with pecker is the extent to which he's going to be able to tie any of this conduct to actual.

Concerns about the election uh because keep in mind this this is a misdemeanor bookkeeping trial uh that has got a hook into um trying to avoid other crimes those crimes being campaign Finance laws and it's the tie to the campaign Finance laws that is essential for the government in order to get a felony conviction definitely I mean a simple.

Recordkeeping case made much more complicated by the felony um charge so let me ask you you know you were the defense attorney who represented the Trump White House during the special counsil uh Robert Muller's Russia investigation I I'm just curious if you were still having to represent Trump do you think you could defend him in a case.

Like this I me I'm throwing spaghetti at the wall here and just seeing what you're going to say would you be able to defend him how would you take this case on so I think there is a good defense and I think that um Tod blanch is and you know his co-counsel are you know well suited to present that defense I think though that Trump has really.

Hampered this case by insisting on continue to lie about uh not having had the sexual trist with u stormmy Daniels and not having had the affair with M mcdou I think those lies um make it very very difficult uh to cross-examine those Witnesses because it's not going to it's not going to be it's not going to be the issue of you.

Know uh did it did you know why did you do this it's going to be did it happen at all and it's it's clear that it happened taob great to have you and of course um you were right there uh through through many of the the allegations uh truths and uh and uh Twisted situations that we all had to cover and I just appreciate you um.

Bringing more light onto this for us great to see you great to be with you thank you now to the Middle East crisis and the man who was the symbol of the failure to prevent the deadliest attack in Israel's history netanyahu's head of military intelligence has resigned the major general is the highest ranking Israeli official to step down since the.

Hamas Le attack back on October 7th this resignation happening as a special State Department panel here in our nation's capital is also recommending to sanction Israeli military units linked to Human Rights abuses let's bring in our foreign correspondent Tom Sufi bur in Tel Aviv along with our senior National policy reporter and FL so Tom let's just talk.

About about the resignation first of all of this Major General um do you think he is the sole person responsible for for the lack of intelligence uh that led to that Hamas attack back on October 7th or do you think he's just taking the fall for the Prime Minister well he's certainly not the sole person responsible for that.

Intelligence failure Kira I mean he's definitely one of the top people in charge at the time and as you said he headed up Military Intelligence he's still in charge at the moment but he is going to resign and he's the first senior military officer to to resign in connection with those intelligence failings of the Dead for the deadliest.

Terror attack in Israeli history I mean in his resignation letter he effectively says that the intelligence directorate of the IDF simply didn't live up to the task and he says he'll carry that black day with him forever but just to remind people you look Israeli intelligence had a document which they code named the Jericho wall and effectively they had.

That about year before the attack actually happened and it was in effect a blueprint of hamas's plan it really was a sort of premonition of the actual tactics that Hamas ended up uh using deploying to get over the Border fence to storm into Southern Israel and to Massacre 1200 people and take hundreds of hostages there were other intell.

Intelligence failures too unusual uh SIM card cell phone activity in the hours running up to it warnings from surveillance officers mainly female surveillance officers down on the Gaza border to their superiors which were ultimately ignored there's a massive massive intelligence failure and although he's the first person to resign.

The first mil senior military officer I don't think he'll be the last so and the US is set now to make this decision on whether to withhold military aid to Israeli units that have been accused of Human Rights abuse what more do we know about exactly what they're being accused uh of doing yeah K this would be a big deal if this happens.

We heard from secretary blinkin saying that he was considering it and we've seen reporting that there is one unit in particular an IDF Battalion accused of torture operating in the West Bank this is prior to October 7th which I think is an important thing to note uh but there have been questions about how this Battalion has handled itself now under.

Us law we're not allowed to give Federal money to military units that are accused of gross human rights violations so the question is whether or not uh this has triggered this this law which is called the Ley act uh blankin says he's looking at it he's going to make a determination in coming days we know he's speaking right now but uh we're not expecting to.

Hear any news on that today we do expect it later this week Cara all right and thank you Tom appreciate you so for the first time in decades back at here at home the Supreme Court is hearing a major case involving homelessness the justices are weighing whether cities can actually F unhoused people for sleeping outside Advocates say this amounts to.

Cruel and unusual pun punishment it comes as homeless numbers are skyrocketing Nationwide and our senior Washington correspondent Deon DWI has been following this story from the very beginning um Devon just kind of lay out what the arguments are that the justices are hearing today a fascinating case Kira about a problem a lot of cities are.

Confronting especially on the west coast as you mentioned what can cities do to try to incentivize homeless people to take advantage of resources possibly shelters that are in their community and get off the streets clear out public parks and public sidewalks the city of Grants Pass Oregon in this case passed a law a few years ago saying it was a.

Crime for anyone to sleep outside with a blanket in an effort to try to get homeless people out of their city parks off Little League fields uh but the the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Cura said that that would be cruel and unusual punishment because Grants Pass does not have any public uh homeless shelters and today just a short time ago the justices.

Here at the Supreme Court concluded more than 2 and a half hours of arguments over this very question is it cruel and unusual and I got to say k the conservative majority here was very sympathetic to the city they no doubt we're acknowledging the difficulties of homelessness and those that people have living in the streets but they seem to.

Suggest that cities have to retain some ability even if it means giving out a ticket or citation to try to get some of these encampments cleared out Kira so you actually spoke with a number of people there in Grant p in Grant Pass including the executive director of the only private home homeless shelter in town and I want to point out only.

Private homeless shelter in town what did he tell you and why isn't there more support for those that are struggling there is one shelter in Grant Pas Kira it's a Christian shelter they require you if you stay there to go to church to give up drinking smoking drugs and your pets if you have them and a lot of homeless people in that Community I talk.

To struggled with those addictions or had pets or simply didn't want to worship and so they didn't go to the shelter but that's one of the questions in this case how involuntary is homelessness well here's what the director of that shelter had to say take a listen the ninth circuit said that it's.

Cruel and unusual punishment on the part of Grant's Pass to sight and find some homeless folks for living in the park when there's nowhere else to go well that's the part that's the big question is there nowhere else to go or is there just nowhere else that they want to go and so we heard that argument again today repeatedly here at the court Kira.

It was picked up by the conservatives uh they didn't really buy this idea that homelessness is entirely involuntary and so perhaps cities like Grants Pass and we heard it today can in fact lawfully enforce laws like these to nudge people along Kira we'll see what the court says at the end of June when they issue their decision we'll follow it Devon thank you.

And coming up 's up for Tik Tok how a new bill that's headed for the Senate could lead to a complete ban of the social media media platform whenever news breaks we are here in Israel a nation at war after that brutal surprise attack by Hamas on the ground in Ukraine reporting from Leon Maine the scene of a horrific mass.

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You're streaming ABC News live ABC News live you're streaming ABC News live ABC news live streaming free everywhere America's number one streaming news first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's.

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Enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed now to the security safety even suspensions that happened at Columbia University classes are taking place remotely today as part of increased safety measures after those anti-israel protests on campus police say at least.

100 people have been arrested so far the University's president calling for a reset there on school GR rounds ahead of the first night of passover which begins tonight our Stephanie Ramos is on the story for us so Steph these were not peaceful protests I mean students were arrested and even suspended that's right Kira and and I'm.

Outside Columbia University right now you can see there are demonstrators here Pro Palestinian demonstrators pro-israel demonstrators the friction is worsening here at the school there are a lot of shouting matches there is some conflict the NYPD is standing ready to ready to interact if they need to we we know that they're across the street right now uh.

It seems like though it seems as though they are wearing Riot Gear helmets theyve got the Baton uh but they are not involved just yet right now it's just two groups kind of going at each other uh but we know what we saw last week Pro Palestinian demonstrators pitching tents on the campus refusing to leave the university uh unless the university met.

Their demands which included uh divesting from companies with ties to Israel the school called thece police as you mentioned at least 100 people were arrested uh but that did not deter other groups we know that Pro Palestinian demonstrators not affiliated with the university also uh join some protests over the weekend Kira all right so let's.

Talk about additional security measures uh that the school the NYPD is now taking and since classes are happing remotely um have you seen any staff teachers getting involved uh not that I know of and if they are it's hard to tell if they are staff if they are teachers professors we know that there are a lot of different.

Groups kind of kind of joining in and in in in in in these demonstrations well we do know that and as you mentioned this is the first night of passover we know that NYPD officials have said because it is a a Jewish holiday it may be a catalyst for acts of violence or extremist group to take advantage uh so they are keep even it a close eye on.

That but this university has said that they they don't want to so much involve the police they want to step up and double up on the campus Public Safety officers that they have before uh calling the police again which is what they did last week and has not deterred groups from coming back to the campus to protest K all right Stephanie R Ramos.

For us there we'll continue to stay in close touch with you especially as these protests are ongoing so the massive foreign aid package before the Senate includes a bill that could potentially Bann Tik Tok in the US that bill giving Chinese owned bite dance one year to divest Tik Tok or face a nationwide ban Jana Norman has.

More on what it could mean for Content creators and more than 170 million Tik Tok users today I'm saying my final goodbye to Tik Tok the clock could be ticking for popular app Tik Tock breaking news right now the House of Representatives has officially passed another Tik Tock band over the weekend the house of.

Represent atives passing legislation that could see the app banned in the US if Chinese owner bite dance doesn't sell within a year the two options are sell to a US owner or cease operating in the US an unprecedented move that sparked serious concerns for some content creators I'm happier than I have ever been and it is because this app has open.

The door for me to figure out how I can make a difference in the world there are over 170 million users on Tik Tok in the US many like content creator Jennifer gay have found Financial Security from the platform suddenly my voice mattered and I had a purpose and I started Living boldly 100% of my livelihood is connected to Tik Tok the Tik Tok ban is.

A response to top intelligence and lawmakers concerns that user data could become compromised a Tik Tock spokesperson calling the move unfortunate telling ABC News the bill would trample the Free Speech rights of 170 million Americans devastate 7 million businesses and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to.

The US economy annually I don't think it's going to pass First Amendment scrutiny because I think they're less restrictive Alternatives we could have uh made it a a crime to transfer Americans data to an adversarial foreign or foreign State interference bill has now passed the house and it is on the fast track back to becoming actual law.

The Senate is expected to take up the legislation tomorrow and if passed President Biden has already indicated he will quickly sign it into law but not so fast experts say don't expect the app to go away any time soon it's not like the app is going to delete off your phone right away it could be months it could be years of of waiting through.

Regulatory and legal hurdles to actually get this done all right J thank you and coming up it sparked '90s Nostalgia for fans around the world a surprise Spice Girls reunion we take you inside the party next this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee Cent In Putin Russia on the ground in Ukraine.

Close to the front line from the capital destructive Cat 4 store along I Boston is in the bullseye let's go ABC News live America's number one One streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming news with so much at stake so much on.

The line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of television why do so many people start their day.

Here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a.

Part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East.

What people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live I'm Rob marcian at Tampa Florida.

Reporting in Hurricane Adalia wherever the weather may take you we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live some other top headlines we're fing for you this hour on ABC News live toxic smoke blanketing India's capital after a massive Landfill fire that blaze in the outskirts of deli and it's carrying.

Fumes across the city residents saying that they're having difficulty breathing and the size of the trash Mount is actually being compared to 40 football fields wide 200 ft High firefighters are working to contain the fire as authorities investigate the cause police say they've arrested a man who broke into LA mayor Karen bass's home bass was.

Reported reportedly there at the time of the incident it's unknown if she had an interaction with the suspect but no injuries were reported mayor bass says she's grateful for the response of the LAPD and stop right now and enjoy this impromptu Spice Girls reunion that took place at Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday bash over the.

weekend oh yeah the f some treated guests at the star studed event to a recreation of the dance from the music video for their 1997 hit stop and Beckham AKA Posh Spice called it the best night ever thanks for streaming with us I'm.

Kira Phillips a lot more news on the other side we'll be right back what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different.

Directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love it great work hi.

Where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David to meet you is David David yes yes I'm David M I know who you are watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a.

Different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R mural Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you.

Get your podcasts start here hello everyone I'm Kira Phillips our top story this hour history happening before our eyes Court wrapping just a short time ago in the first ever criminal trial against a former president of the United States presidents have been impeached they've resigned they've been.

Voted out of office but for the first time ever former president Donald Trump is facing a jury of his peers in criminal court it's all stemming from charges related to that payment to a porn star hoping to hide an alleged affair with stormmy Daniels before the 2016 election prosecutors and defense attorneys now starting to lay out their.

Cases the state already calling the first witness to the stand former National inquire publisher David pecker who they say was part of that scheme to buy and bury and flattering stories about Trump let's bring in our investigative reporter Olivia rman just outside Court there senior reporter kathern falers and Tim Jansen criminal.

Defense attorney and former Federal prosecutor Olia big day for both sides actually uh and the first chance to present uh the cases or each side to the jury what's stood out to you well I think a lot of Donald Trump's attorney Todd blanche's arguments were really fascinating that's always what's so interesting about opening statements.

On the day of a trial because it's really the first time you hear the defense's case in Earnest and something we saw from Donald Trump's team today was a really interesting strategy which was essentially Kira blame Michael Cohen and Todd blanch spent a lot of time of his opening statement in front of that jury setting up the scene of who Michael.

Cohen was he called him a criminal someone who is obsessed with Donald Trump someone who wanted to stop at nothing to make sure that he ended up in jail and essentially what he said was that Michael Cohen was a criminal long before he even worked for Donald Trump and that he just wanted to work with him and get close to him but Donald Trump.

Did not know that he was hiring a criminal and why that's so important is because it was Michael Cohen's invoices every single month in 2017 for the repayments that are really at heart uh in this case here so what the team is trying to do is essentially say hey it's Michael Cohen who made the invoices he put it as legal fees he's the one that.

You know has essentially started a lot of this and they it was a lot of blame shifting onto him which I think we could have expected to see but it was fascinating to see how much time Todd blanch actually spent setting up uh attacking The credibility of Michael Cohen so Katherine why choose David pcker as the first witness here well you.

Heard Olivia just talk about The credibility of Michael Cohen of course something that the defense will attack and something the prosecutors acknowledge so I think in calling pecker he's another witness here to what's alleged to be his role in brokering this payment for example they're going to also discuss a meeting that occurred in.

2015 between pecker Trump and Cohen where pecker allegedly agreed to use his media Empire to help defend Trump's presidential campaign so he's a witness who prosecutors hope can add more credibility to what you will potentially hear from Michael Cohen as former lawyer and fixer Trump's former lawyer and fixer later on in the.

Trial all right Tim prosecutors alleging that Trump committed election fraud that the hush money payments were not spin or communication strategies but a coordinated conspiracy to influence the 2016 election what's your thought do they have a case to back this up well they're trying to butress Michael Cohen because they have to he's.

Got zero credibility the problem they have with this is ndas are legal catch and kill is is legal the only thing they're claiming is illegal was he tried to influence the election by mischaracterizing the invoices as legal fees well who did that Michael Cohen did that and you know if you really get down to they have to prove intent by.

President Trump well so what happens these records if the records were done properly right and they put in their paying hush money those records would not have been released till after the election so what would his intent have been to uh steal the election by hiding this um and you look at Michael Cohen's payments he got.

$420,000 in legal fees after that um Trump wouldn't have been paying he doesn't like to pay um I think the state's going to have a hard time because they have to rely on Cohen they don't want to and they're going to introduce all this other stuff like pecker um and he all he does he's just you know a vegetable when you got the.

Meat of the case is going to be Michael Cohen what he did his vindictive and Vendetta against Trump he's a horrible witness everyone knows it and we'll see what the jury believes anything he says so bottom line you're saying you would never let Trump take the stand if you were representing him that well the problem you have the.

Judge has already ruled for impeachment purposes a lot of bad things are going to come in some that are questionable some are probably proper but a jury can decide to convict them just on those events and not what's charged in this indictment well Katherine then we've got the Access Hollywood tapes being bra brought back into the fold once again in.

Which talk talks about how easily it is to sexually assault women I mean he still became president even after those tapes were exposed so could it be any different this time around Kira it's a good question so many people have heard that tape for years and years now now I say heard uh it won't be heard in court Trump's words are allowed to be read.

Aloud from that tape that's what the judge ruled they've already been read aloud in that courtroom earlier today and before the jury I think it's too early to tell whether this specifically has any effect down the road if it's specifically the Access Hollywood tape with voters if it's if for example Trump is convicted if that has more of an we.

We'll just have to see what the polls ultimately show but surely it's part of the conversation again and as you've noted it's something that he doesn't particularly like out there he knew that this was quite a problem during his campaign when it first came out so we'll see how he reacts to that after court it did seem that um Trump wasn't.

Particularly happy potentially violated that gag order again so I'm not sure that he loves sitting there hearing all of this evidence come out and be uh at least discussed before the jury so just to follow up on in light of all that that how salacious this case is Tim um would it be smart for Trump to take the stand there's talk about it there's.

There's lawyers in a panic that have been talking about it would it be a good strategy or could it be just a complete nightmare I think it would be really bad Optics I think it's fraught with problems and the image of a former president sitting on the stand defending himself is going to lower his standard that they don't want to do you heard in.

The open they're trying to build him as a regular person they're calling this President Trump because he was elected putting him on the stand and fighting these allegations when it doesn't seem that the evidence is going to require it if they and the state carries a burden and if they can't prove intent or he had anything to do with those invoices or.

Had knowledge how they were invoiced they were not going to be able to meet the standard and Court Olivia is set to resume with David pecker once again back on the stand tomorrow what can we expect well prosecutors when they first got up in front of the jury this morning laid David pecker at the center of their.

Story they opened to the jury with essentially this meeting between pecker Michael Cohen and Trump where they said they made this agreement that they were going to buy stories and kill them and Trump was going to pay Michael Cohen back so we didn't hear anything about that from him today he was only on the stand for about 30 minutes so it's going.

To be up to them to get into sort of the meat of that testimony when he resumes tomorrow but I would say Kira David pecker is back on the stand at 11: a.m. but Donald Trump is back in court at 9:30 a.m. because the judge is holding that hearing on the potential gag order violations remember prosecutors say he violated the gag order at least 10 times.

Some of those posts by attacking witness Michael Cohen what his lawyers did in front of the jury today so we will see what uh you know the judge ends up doing about that but it's fascinating how they're you know attacking Michael credibility in front of the jury today and tomorrow Donald Trump will be uh heard as the reasons why he shouldn't be.

Held in contempt for doing the same thing which he cannot do per the gag order all right Katherine Olivia Tim thank you all so much now to the Middle East crisis and the man who was the symbol of the failure to prevent the deadliest attack in Israel's history netanyahu's head of military intelligence has resigned the.

Major general is the highest ranking Israeli official to step down since the Hamas Le attack back on October 7th this resignation happening as a special State Department panel here in our nation's capital is also recommending to sanction Israeli military units linked to Human Rights abuses let's bring in our foreign correspondent Tom Sufi Burj in Tel Aviv.

Along with our senior National policy reporter and flarity so Tom let's just talk about about the resignation first of all of this Major General um do you think he is the sole person responsible for for the lack of intelligence uh that led to that Hamas attack back on October 7th or do you think he's just taking the fall for the Prime.

Minister well he's certainly not the sole person responsible for that intelligence failure Kira I mean he's definitely one of the top people in charge at the time and as you said he headed up Military Intelligence he's still in charge of the moment but he is going to resign and he's the first senior military offic to to resign in.

Connection with those intelligence failings of the Dead for the deadliest terror attack in his history I mean in his resignation letter he effectively says that the intelligence directorate of the IDF simply didn't live up to the task and he says he'll carry that black day with him forever but just to remind people you look Israeli intelligence had.

A document which they codenamed the Jericho wall and effectively they had that about a year before the attack actually happened and it was in effect a blueprint of hamas's plan it really was a sort of premonition of the actual tactics that Hamas ended up using deploying to get over the Border fence to storm into Southern Israel and to.

Massacre 1200 people and take hundreds of hostages there were other int intelligence failures too unusual uh SIM card cell phone activity in the hours running up to it warnings from surveillance officers mainly female surveillance officers down on the Gaza border to their superiors which were ultimately ignored so it's a massive.

Massive intelligence failure and although he's the first person to resign the first mil senior military officer I don't think he'll be the last so an the US is set now to make this decision on whether to withhold military aid to Israeli units that have been accused of Human Rights abuse what more do we know about exactly what.

They're being accused uh of doing yeah K this would be a big deal if this happens we heard from secretary blinkin saying that he was considering it and we've seen reporting that there was one unit in particular an IDF Battalion accused of torture operating in the West Bank this is prior to October 7th which I think is an important thing to note uh.

But there have been questions about how this Battalion has handled itself now under us law we're not allowed to give Federal money to military units that are accused of gross human rights violations so the question is whether or not uh this has triggered this this law which is called the Ley act uh blankin says he's looking at it he's going to make a.

Determination in coming days we know he's speaking right now but uh we're not expecting to hear any news on that today we do expect it later this week K all right and thank you Tom appreciate you so for the first time in decades back at here at home the Supreme Court is hearing a major case involving homelessness the justices are weighing.

WEA cities can actually find unhoused people for sleeping outside Advocates say this amounts to cruel and unusual pun punishment it comes as homeless numbers are skyrocketing Nationwide and our senior Washington correspondent Deon DWI has been following this story from the very beginning um Deon just kind of lay out what the arguments are that the.

Justices are hearing to today a fascinating case Kira about a problem a lot of cities are confronting especially on the west coast as you mentioned what can cities do to try to incentivize homeless people to take advantage of resources possibly shelters that are in their community and get off the streets clear out public parks and public.

Sidewalks the city of Grants Pass Oregon in this case passed a law a few years ago saying it was a crime for anyone to sleep outside with a blanket in an effort to try to get homeless people out of their city parks off Little League fields uh but the the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Cura said that that would be cruel and unusual punishment.

Because Grants Pass does not have any public uh homeless shelters and today uh just a short time ago the justices here at the Supreme Court concluded more than two and a half hours of arguments over this very question is it cruel and unusual and I got to say k the conservative majority here was very sympathetic to the city they no doubt.

Were acknowledging the difficulties of homelessness and those that people have living in the streets but they seem to suggest that cities have to retain some ability even if it means giving out a ticket or citation to try to get some of these encampments cleared out Kira so you actually spoke with a number of people there in Grant p in Grant Pass.

Including the executive director of the only private homeless shelter in town and I want to point out only private homeless shelter in town what did he tell you and why isn't there more support for those that are struggling there is one shelter in Grant Pas Kira it's a Christian shelter they require you if you stay there to go to church to.

Give up drinking smoking drugs and your pets if you have them and a lot of homeless people in that Community I talk to struggled with those addictions or had pets or simply didn't want to worship and so they didn't go to the shelter but that's one of the questions in this case how involuntary is homelessness well here's what the.

Director of that shelter had to say take a listen the circuit said that it's cruel and unusual punishment on the part of Grant's Pass to sight and find some homeless folks for living in the park when there's nowhere else to go well that's the part that's the big question is there nowhere else to go is there.

Just nowhere else that they want to go and so we heard that argument again today repeatedly here at the court Kira it was picked up by the conservatives uh they didn't really buy this idea that homelessness is entirely involuntary and so perhaps cities like Grants Pass and we heard it today can in fact lawfully enforce laws like these to nudge people.

Along Kira we'll see what the court says at the end of June when they issued their decision we'll follow it Devon thank you and coming up time's up for Tik Tok how a new bill that's headed for the Senate could lead to a complete ban of the social media platform what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America.

An operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in.

It how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love it great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David good to meet you is David David yes yes I'm David M I know who you are you every.

Night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms across America oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen.

Before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it.

Listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R mural Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here now to the security safety even.

Suspensions that happened at Columbia University classes are taking place remotely today as part of increased safety measures after those anti-israel protests on campus police say at least a 100 people have been arrested so far the University's president calling for a reset there on school grounds ahead of the first night of passover which begins.

Tonight our Stephanie Ramos is on the story for us so Steph these were not peaceful protests I mean students were arrested and even suspended that's right Kira and and I'm outside Columbia University right now you can see there are demonstrators here Pro Palestinian demonstrators pro-israel demonstrators the friction is worsening.

Here at the school there are a lot of shouting matches there is some conflict the NYPD is standing ready to ready to interact if they need to we we know that they're across the street right now uh it seems like though it seems as though they are wearing Riot Gear helmets they've got the Baton uh but they are not involved just yet right now it's.

Just the two groups kind of going at each other uh but we know what we saw last week Pro Palestinian demonstrators pitching tents on the campus refusing to leave the university uh unless the university met their demands which included uh divesting from companies with ties to Israel the school called the police as you mentioned at least a.

100 people were arrested uh but that did not deter other groups we know that Pro Palestinian demonstrators not affiliated with the university also uh joined some protests over the weekend K all right so let's talk about additional security measures uh that the school the NYPD is now taking and since classes are happening remotely um have.

You seen any staff teachers getting involved uh not that I know of and if they are it's hard to tell if they are staff if they are teachers professors we know that there are a lot of different groups kind of kind of joining in and in in in in in these demonstrations well we do know that and as you mentioned this is the first night of passover we know.

That NYPD officials have said because it is a a Jewish holiday it may be a catalyst for acts of violence or extremist group to take advantage uh so they are keeping a close eye on that but this university has said that they they don't want to so much involve the police they want to step up and double up on the campus Public Safety officers that.

They have before uh calling the police again which is what they did last week and has not deterred groups from coming back to the campus to protest K all right Stephanie R Ramos for us there we'll continue to stay in close touch with you especially as these protests are ongoing so the massive foreign aid package before the Senate includes a.

Bill that could potentially ban Tik Tok in the US that bill giving Chinese owned bite dance one year to divest Tik Tock or face a nationwide ban J Norman has more on what it could mean for Content creators and more than 170 million t TI Tok users today I'm saying my final goodbye to Tik Tok the clock could be ticking.

For popular app Tik Tock breaking news right now the House of Representatives has officially passed another Tik Tock band over the weekend the House of Representatives passing legislation that could see the app banned in the US if Chinese owner bite dance doesn't sell within a year the two options are sell to a US owner or cease operating in the.

US and unprecedented move that sparked serious concerns for some content creators I'm happier than I have ever been and it is because this app has opened the door for me to figure out how I can make a difference in the world there are over 10070 million users on Tik Tok in the US many like content creator Jennifer gay have found.

Financial Security from the platform suddenly my voice mattered and I had a purpose and I started Living boldly one 100% of my livelihood is connected to Tik Tok the Tik Tok ban is a response to top intelligence and lawmakers concerns that user data could become compromised a Tik Tock spokesperson calling the move unfortunate telling ABC News the bill.

Would trample the Free Speech rights of 170 million Americans devastate 7 million businesses and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the US economy and ually I don't think it's going to pass First Amendment scrutiny because I think they're less restrictive Alternatives we could have uh made it a crime to transfer Americans.

Data to an adversarial foreign Nation or foreign State interference bill has now passed the house and it is on the fast track to becoming actual law the Senate is expected to take up the legislation tomorrow and if passed President Biden has already indicated he will quickly sign it into law but not so fast experts say don't expect the app to go away.

Anytime soon it's not like the app is going to delete off your phone right away it could be months it could be years of of waiting through Regulatory and legal hurdles to actually get this done all right J thank you and coming up it sparked '90s Nostalgia for fans around the world a surprise Spice Girls reunion would take you inside the party.

next here's to good mornings in America Can You Feel The Love oh yeah mornings that Inspire filled with hope kindness joyous surprises and so much fun this is crazy this is absolutely crazy start your day with Good Morning America's ray of sunshine highlighting the best of America and helping make dreams come.

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Anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise G yeah a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed from the team that brought you the DuPont awardwinning report a.

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Live some other top headlines we're falling for you this hour on ABC News live toxic smoke blanketing India's capital after a massive Landfill fire that blaze in the outskirts of Delhi and it's carrying fumes across the city residents saying that they're having difficulty breathing and the size of the trash Mount is.

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Injuries were reported mayor bass says she's grateful for the response of the LAPD and stop right now and enjoy this impromptu Spice Girls reunion that took place at Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday bash over the weekend oh yeah the F some treated.

Guests at the star studed event to a recreation of the dance from the music video for their 1997 hit stop and Beckham AKA Posh Spice called it the best night ever thanks for streaming with us I'm Kira Phillips a lot more news on the other side we'll be right.

Back this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee centers in Putin's Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destructive Cat 4 storm along I Boston is in the bullseye let's gobc News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free.

Thank you for making ABC newsline America's number one streaming news what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters This our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear.

Reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love it great work.

Hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David good to meet you is David yes yes I'm I know you are watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast it's lunch time in America so what are we serving up well how about.

Everything you need to know that sounds pretty good your health your money breaking news music and of course good food a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love that reporting from Monteray Park California I'm Robin Roberts wherever wherever the story is we're going to take you there.

You're streaming ABC News live good afternoon everyone I'm Kira Phillips our top story this hour history happening before our eyes Court wrapping just a short time ago in the first ever criminal trial against a former president of the United States presidents have been imp Peach they've.

Resigned they've been voted out of office but for the first time ever former president Donald Trump is facing a jury of his peers in criminal court and it's all stemming from charges related to that payment to porn star Stormy Daniels hoping to hide an alleged affair with her before the 2016 election prosecutors and defense attorneys now.

Starting to lay out their cases the state already calling in the first witness former National inquire publisher David pecker who they say was part of that scheme to buy and bury unflattering stories about Trump we do have team coverage starting off with our senior investigative course on Eric canki he's outside Court there we also.

Have Tim Jansen criminal defense attorney and former Federal prosecutor Aaron paint us a picture of inside court today what stood out to you there was former president Trump seated at the defense table slouched in his seat the jury walked in he had to stand but did not appear to look at the jury and he sat there rather passively.

Occasionally maybe subtly shaking his head as if to say no as prosecutors with the Manhattan District Attorney's office accused him of election fraud pure and simple by paying hush money to porn actress Stormy Daniels and then logging it as a legal expense illegally prosecutors say because they believe it was meant to conceal information that.

Voters in 2016 should have been able to know to make a better informed Choice Trump perked up a little bit more when his defense attorney Todd blanch said he committed no crime and tried to distance him from the hush payment but there was Trump leaning forward with his arms crossed on the defense table something of a glower on his face when his friend.

David pecker the longtime publisher of the national Inquirer became the first witness nothing terribly substantive from pecker but but you could tell Trump was not happy to see someone he considered a friend there testifying against him Tim if convicted I mean his freedom is it stay care could we actually see the former president being.

Taken away in handcuffs well that would be really bad Optics I don't even think this judge who's not a friend of trump for a firsttime offender on offense on a technical offense that probably would not call for incarceration I think the purpose of the trial is is not for.

Incarceration um so I would find that very difficult I think the Judge would be misplaced to do that so Erin where do you see this going tomorrow with David pcker what more could we hear him say I think that we're going to get to the substance of why he's the first witness he is going to take the jury.

Inside a meeting at Trump Tower in 2015 Donald Trump had announced his candidacy and pcker according to prosecutors promised to be his eyes and ears he would buy and then bury any unflattering stories about Trump whether it be a doorman's claim that Trump fathered a kid out of wedlock uh a Playboy model's claim of a sexual Affair and then Stormy.

Daniels the adult film actress and her claim of a sexual trist with Trump he denies all of that but David pecker was part of what prosecutors called a a Triumph conspiracy with Michael Cohen and Trump himself to make sure voters did not know everything that they might have been entitled to before they made their choice in.

2016 and Tim Aaron describes uh all the stories allegations against the president as very unflattering uh I think there would be a lot of other people that would use different terms when you think of a former president and someone also uh who's leading in the polls uh to possibly uh win this this white house I mean how would you defend.

This case if you were a part of Trump's defense team well I think that uh Todd is doing the same thing that I would do I would lay out that he's innocent that the state carries the burden that the government's Witnesses are not to be believed and even if you believe part of what they're saying they still cannot.

Prove intent that he didn't fill out the invoice he didn't produce those records the lawyers did the accountant did that sure he's going to probably have the John Edwards defense right he was trying to save his family reputation and his brand had worked for John Edwards and while they they they bring all this Sal ious material in Stormy Daniels remember.

She was done 10 years ago only when Trump started to come up in the polls and get the nomination did she want to get a Payday Cohen wanted to get a Payday the Playboy said she wanted a Payday everybody wanted a Payday and Trump's going to say I it's not illegal to pay hush money it's not illegal to pay for non-disclosure agreements what.

Happened here is what Cohen did and the accountant you know I was trying to look it up real quickly yes it was John Edwards extramarital fair was exposed in the National inquire so this is the same the same publisher the same publication that we're talking about here um yet uh clearly his story wasn't uh bought and.

Buried um Ain tomorrow the judge is also going to hear arguments over whether Trump disobeyed The Limited gag order by posting those disparaging things about Michael Cohen and and stormmy Daniels is that significant to the case at this point well could be for Trump because prosecutors are asking for a fine of $1,000 for each offending post now that.

Amount of money isn't going to mean much to Trump but it could well be an indication that the judge is trying to set a particular tone and perhaps would curtail Trump from from attacking Witnesses which is what prosecutors want they say it's had a chilling effect on the ability of witnesses to come forward and they don't want Trump doing it now.

Is he going to stop he didn't today in the hallway after court as he was leaving he said more uh disparaging things about about Cohen on his way out uh but for prosecutors uh there's a gag order in place Trump should follow it all right Aaron Tim thank you Gentlemen let's continue the conversation once again with Tai Cobb.

Former assistant us attorney for the District of Maryland also served as the special counsel to then president Donald Trump during the investigation into Russian interference uh in the 2016 presidential election so Tai in January you said that Trump poses the gravest threat to democracy that we have ever seen specifically when asked about.

Presidential immunity and what it covers as we're watching all of this infold uh this particular case what's going through your mind so I this case doesn't have that much to do with democracy unlike the two Federal cases on the other hand it's a sad day for America I mean now our country's been exposed as country stupid.

Enough you know to elect pres as a president somebody who's been indicted four times and is now standing trial in a case involving ass sorted uh affair with a porn star and a monthong affair with a Playboy model and you know hush money payments and ndas etc etc unfortunately none of that's a legal and that's the difficulty that the uh.

Prosecution has in this case is tying uh these um uh recordkeeping pay uh misdemeanors to an actual crime and I think that's going to be difficult for them to do not at trial I think there's really no doubt that uh this jury is likely to convict uh Donald Trump but I think on appeal there are some significant issues and I'm sure the.

Defense will be trying to seed those throughout the cross-examinations of the various Witnesses you know do you agree with Tim Jansen what he just said uh prior in the prior segment that he doesn't see the president uh being taken off in handcuffs and serving any prison time here absolutely and this is not a case um that uh typically would result.

In prison time first offender the amount of money is not consequential $130,000 or even even the inflated amount paid to Cohen uh plus uh you've got uh the fact that you know the conduct you know the affair with Stormy Daniels is 18 years old uh the payments here were you know um eight years old so it's it's not it's it's not uh um that.

The president poses an imminent threat uh of lawlessness in the sense of uh danger to anybody so I don't see I don't see jail time as as likely and keep in mind that even if he did get jail time he almost certainly would get Bond pending appeal and he wouldn't be in in jail uh during the campaign uh based on this case that that was my next question.

It's a lot of embarrassing information he can't control the narrative which I'm sure is driving him nuts he has to watch uh everything he he does in that courtroom because the jury's looking at him and wants to see if he rolls his eyes or starts to sweat or uh blurts out a comment I mean they're paying very close attention to that but the bottom.

Line is you brought it up I mean this is not new information um and and it's just it's it's historic in the sense that it's a criminal trial and it's a former president and it's the first time that we've seen this but is it going to impact his Run for the White House could we still see President Trump president of the United States once.

Again I fear that's uh possible if not likely uh at the same time I think this case will have an impact U particularly on people who you know have even the slightest open-mindedness because um anybody who is trying to make a decision about who to vote for who hasn't already uh uh taken aside is going to be interested in uh uh these facts and you.

Know most people don't have an encyclopedic uh recollection of the Stormy Daniels Affair the mcle affair uh the hush money the relationship with Cohen uh and then all the all the other consequential things that Trump has done that would come up if he made the serious mistake of testifying so I do think that people uh will see a drip.

Drip drip um impact here that will affect their view of his character whether that is actually going to be enough to change his status as U the current leader in the polls hard to say um I I I would hope so as a as a citizen and a um somebody who believes that the presidency is reserved for uh only people of impeccable character but I'm.

Not sure it will Point well made Tai Cobb great to see you thank you great to be with you K thank you so much you bet now to the Middle East the crisis there and the who is the symbol of the failure to prevent the deadliest attack in Israel's history netanyahu's head of military intelligence has resigned the major.

General is the highest ranking Israeli official to step down since the Hamas leet attack back on October 7th this resignation happening as a special State Department panel here in our nation's capital recommending to sanction Israeli military units linked to Human Rights abuses for more let's bring in our foreign correspondent Tom Sufi bur in.

Tel Aviv along with our senior National policy reporter and flarity so Tom let's talk about the resignation here of the major general and what it tells you about Israel's intelligence failure well given the scale of the intelligence failings in the runup to and really on the night of October the 7th Kira I think it was almost an.

Inevitability that the head of military intelligence would step down perhaps the more interesting thing is why it's taken him so long to do so and that's really probably down to the fact that the IDF has been so busy with the war in Gaza up on the northern border against Hezbollah against Iranian proxies and Iran itself has as we've seen in the last uh few.

Days look you know the intelligence failings it's kind of hard to overstate them I mean the IDF and the intelligence Community here had a dossier a year before uh the actual terror attack itself they called it Jericho wall and effectively it was a blueprint it really detailed the plan that ultimately Hamas ended up executing so I I think the head.

Of military intelligence stepping down was inevitable uh it has happened now and I don't think he'll be the last senior military official here in Israel to step down because of those intelligence failings so and in this annual report the state department is considering Gaza in the midst of a severe humanitarian.

Crisis and this comes as the US is about to impose sanctions on this IDF unit and human rights abuses um put this in context for us yeah Carisa we heard from secretary blinkin just minutes ago who said yeah the US is looking into whether or not Israel has committed human rights violations war crimes essentially uh he said we're not going to give anybody a.

Cut here because they're simply an ally we're we're going to look at this process do it fairly and make a determination so he said you know watch more of this space but we'll follow the facts on that you know I think there are are obviously a lot of questions um you know worth pointing out the October 7th attack by Hamas a clear violation of any.

International standard of uh you know war crimes and so forth so uh but really for the us to hold Israel accountable um it would be historic we have not seen this law being applied to an IDF unit before Kira we follow it Tom an thank you so for the first time in decades the Supreme Court is hearing a major case involving homelessness the justices are.

Hearing Arguments for more than two and a half hours and appear to favor whether cities can find unhoused people for sleeping outside Advocates say that this amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and it comes as homeless numbers are skyrocketing Nationwide sping in our senior Washington correspondent Deon dwire who's been following it since the.

Start so let's just talk about how we got here and the implications of these arguments fascinating case Cura the biggest case on homelessness here at the Supreme Court in 40 years and it comes from the city of Grant Pass Oregon I was out there a few weeks ago and it looked like many other cities Nationwide that we've seen dealing with encampments and.

Public Park sidewalks and the city in Grant's past decided to pass an ordinance that would make it a crime to sleep outside if you didn't have a home and used a blanket a group of homeless people in the city uh sued uh alleging a constitutional violation of federal appeals court agreed with them said it was cruel and unusual punishment and the.

City was here today at the Supreme Court appealing Kira and as he said at the top they found a very sympathetic AR uh audience a majority of the conservative Justices today while certainly empathetic to the unhoused uh situation uh seem to say that it should be up to local officials to pass ordinances to regulate these encampments that of.

Course have come with issues of crime public sanitation issues um and so we'll have to see what the justices say but as of now uh the city of Grants Pass fighting to get that law back on the books cira all right and you spoke with people in Grants Pass what are they telling you one of the things that we heard repeatedly Kira is that this is uh.

Pits residents of a community who want their leafy line streets and kids to feel safe in public parks with advocates for the unhoused and soaring housing prices in so many different parts of the country those things colliding in public places uh and here's a little bit of uh some of the folks on both sides of this told us when we were out there we're.

Fighting between what the law is telling us and what the people want us to do and trying to make everybody happy that's a big huge struggle for us a city government criminalizing the the victims of our failed housing policy is morally wrong and it's unconstitutional and that's essentially what the city's the city of Grants Pass.

Has done by making it illegal for someone to exist while being homeless now while the conservative justices Kira seemed sympathetic to the city the three liberal justices on the court today did not mince words they were aggressive passionate attacking the city for passing an ordinance like this Justice Elena Kagan saying perhaps the.

City should just as well criminalize breathing on the sidewalk if they're going to go after sleeping uh of course an intense debate around a very complicated issue that cities are really struggling red cities blue cities red States blue States as they try to get their arms around this record numbers of Americans right now Kira as you know are.

Homeless so this case will have very big impact yep state by state Devin thank you you bet coming up a deadly shooting at Delaware State University the breaking news details next whenever news breaks we are here in Israel a nation at war after that brutal surprise attack by Hamas on the ground.

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Morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with for Edward R meral Awards and see why the.

New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcast start here breaking news right now police in Delaware searching for a suspect after an 18-year-old woman was shot and killed.

On the campus of Delaware State University that victim has been identified as K Mitchell DVA of Wilmington according to investigators D Silva was not not a registered student at the University but was visiting the campus with another student our iachi is following the late breaking details for us Ike what do you know well car we're.

Being told right now again that that 18-year-old who was found shot and killed on the campus of Delaware State University went by the name of K Mitchell D Silva obviously of Wilmington Delaware now officers say that this entire investigation started just before 2 amm when campus police were called to the area of the Warren Franklin.

Residential hall for reports of shots fir now once on scene police officers say they found dilva suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper body she was transported to an area hospital where she was later pronounced dead now according to investigators dilva was not a registered student at the universities officials say that dilva and another non.

Student were visiting a student on campus at the time of the shooting now we're being told no other injuries were reported however University lead leaders did say that the suspect was seen fleeing the campus uh on the direction of College Road Again away from the campus now we're being told that there will be a forum for students faculty.

Staff and parents on Tuesday tomorrow to share any updates of this case and obviously they're asking anybody with information to contact the Delaware police uh we're being told that classes have been canceled for the rest of the day today we have no word on whether those C uh classes rather will resume tomorrow but again the Delaware State.

Police is still conducting this active investigation and again they're asking anybody with any kind of information on the whereabouts of the possible suspect or any kind of information surrounding this incident should contact them as immedi immediately and as fast they can care up all right well follow it ik thank you some other top headlines we're.

Tracking this hour for you California will soon allow Arizona doctors to practice reproductive care in the Golden State a retaliatory response to Arizona's 160-year abortion law going back into effect Governor Gavin Newsome says he's pursuing emergency legislation hoping to provide access for the those fleeing Arizona and seeking reproductive.

Care choo choo here comes that speed rail construction kicking off for the 12 billion high speed rail today that'll take commuters from Southern California to Vegas that trip usually takes about 3 hours by car but will only take 2 hours each way by rail construction is expected to finish in 2028 just in time for the Summer Olympics there in LA and.

In just the first few days Taylor Swift's newest work the tortured poets Department breaking record after record it has become the most streamed album in a single day raking in 300 million streams the historic success also making Swift the most streamed artist in a single day Straight Ahead working throughout.

South America to plant 10 million trees hoping to restore thousands and thousands of Acres of forest we are kicking off our Earth Day series here on ABC News live the power of us what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis.

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It how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love it great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David good to meet you is David David yes yes I'm David M I know you are you every now.

ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died 911 the C so on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception that to us to complete you yes I did 100% no you didn't I can I looking.

It you're not a good Li just SS in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast.

Honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here reporting from taipe Taiwan I'm Brit clenet wherever the story is we'll.

Take you there you're streaming ABC News live Global Environmental activist florant Kaiser brings a whole new meaning to tree hugger matter of fact he's so passionate about our world's Forest that he spends every day looking for ways to scale up restoration and protection of our world's forest ecosystems but it's not just all of us.

Here at ABC that are honoring his work today on Earth day but Prince William has also celebrated his community-led work as an earthshot Prize winner by co-leading Axion Anda florant has worked throughout South America planning 10 million trees and restoring thousands and thousands of Acres of high andian forests regions critical for.

Biodiversity because it's home to not only plant species but thousands of species of birds reptiles and amphibians OT recipient Florent Kaiser joins me now floron so good to see you talk about what inspired you to start Axion Anda and how did you know protecting these forest ecosystems were so important hi K thanks so thank you so.

Much actually our co-founder Constantino Oka who is an un Earth's Champion 2022 inspired us to start this work he wanted to reforest the Andes with the communities he's from indigenous communities of the high Andes in South America and when we met Tino in in 2018 he shared his dream he wanted to go what he had built in Cusco and Peru across.

The entire Andes and we knew he couldn't do it alone we knew we wouldn't be able to do it alone so we teamed up in 2018 to start Axion Anda it started as a project that is now becoming a movement led by the communities They're bringing back forests for water security so what's happening in the Andes is glacious Mountain climate change is.

Hitting really really hard water security is becoming a huge issue the communities are not teaming out with the support of Ain andena to actually bring back the forest bring back the ecosystem nature that is the only substitute to those Glacier that will guarantee the water long term whether it be for livelihoods whether it be for um.

Agriculture and the water security basically of the entire economies and societies across South America you know it's interesting you talk about water security I mean let's just go back in history let's think of the Incas let's go up to Machu Picchu and how they created these incredible ducks to bring water flowing throughout.

The region I mean it only makes sense you would want to you know continue to protect such a spiritual and historical part of the globe yes um indeed and I I think looking ahead at this at this Century that is coming at us a Anda has to be a 100 year long effort this is the scale of of time we need to look at we need we.

We've planted 10 million native trees I can't hear I can't hear oh florant we lost our connection to you we appreciate of course the the work that you're doing and the 22 projects across five countries and how you've been able to manage such terrific work we will stay in close touch and ABC News live we'll have special reporting on the.

Climate challenges that we face and empowering stories about Solutions so be sure to watch our brand new special trash The Secret Life of plastic exports airing tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. Eastern and then on Thursday be sure to catch our other brand new special the power of us where we delve into individual and systematic Solutions and the impact that.

We can have together to protect our Earth that's 8:30 p.m. Eastern both specials will be streaming on Hulu we sure hope that you will check them out thanks so much for streaming with us I'm Kira Phillips the news never stops a lot more ahead right back whenever wherever news breaks it's.

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Forever what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America we are part of an operation is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate militants came in from different directions reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag not a in it how important it made the USA great.

Work hi appreciate it's David David I'm David I know who you are you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast and good afternoon everyone I'm Kira Phillips our top story of this hour history happening right before our eyes Court wrapping up just a short time ago.

In the first ever criminal trial against former president of the United States presidents have been impeached they resigned they've been voted out of office but for the first time ever former president Donald Trump is facing a jury of his peers in criminal court and it's all stemming from those charges related to a payment to a porn star.

Hoping to hide an alleged fair with Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election prosecutors and defense attorneys now starting to lay out their cases the state already calling the first witness to the stand former National inquir publisher and longtime friend of trump David pecker who they say was part of the scheme to buy and bury all those.

Unflattering stories about Trump let's bring in our investigative reporter Olivia Rubin outside Court there executive editorial producer John sanui and legal contributor and law professor at the University of Baltimore Kim Wy so Olivia highlights from today well I think what we saw today was not only the jury getting their first.

Look at this case and if they listen to prosecutors it was a fraud plain and simple if they listened to Donald Trump's team there was no crime here at all but what is also so fascinating is we got a first look at Donald Trump also getting his first taste of what it is like to be a criminal defendant in front of a jury and I think it's sort of a a.

Lot of the same uh observations that we saw during jury selection which is sort of the painstaking process for someone like Donald Trump who is used to uh being the leader of the Free World going out in front of a microphone whenever he feels like it the plane takes off when he gets on he runs uh essentially his whole life and now he just has to sit.

There while prosecutors talk about him in front of a jury and today his old friend David pecker got up on the witness stand to testify against him so it sort of set the stage for what is to come and they didn't get into much of the nitty-gritty with David pecker because Court ended early today uh but they are expected to resume with him.

Tomorrow morning where he's going to get to the heart of prosecutors case which is this overall catch and kill scheme that David pecker allegedly worked on with Donald Trump and Michael Cohen to bury negative stories one of which of course was stormmy Daniels which is what the entire case here centers around so John Trump always takes.

Advantage of the cameras after proceedings like this let's take a look at some of what he said today sure this is done election interference everybody knows it I'm here instead of being able to be in Pennsylvania and Georgia and lots of other places campaigning and it's very unfair fortunately the poll numbers are very.

Good so John pole numbers and primaries are one thing but when it comes to voters that cast ballots in the general election could this be time in court that could actually cost him it's not going to help him that's for sure Kira I mean the reality is that Donald Trump is really stuck in this courtroom for the next several weeks I mean look at you.

Know just last week as a great example right they had no court um on Wednesday so they took advantage of that with a campaign stop at a bodega in the Upper West Side of Manhattan I mean that doesn't really do a lot if you're trying to win votes in Battleground States so they certainly are struggling with this you saw this weekend he tried to get on.

The campaign trail out in North Carolina but there was some bad weather so that made it tricky it just shows that really there is less and less time to do this the other thing that we have to remember and a lot of exit polling data in the early states that voted this year showed this there are some voters that have set a conviction in any of the four criminal.

Cases Donald Trump faces could potentially sway their vote now is that a big enough uh percentage of the voter turnout that could impact the election remains to be seen but it is nevertheless something the campaign is fully aware of and knows that while they are in court they are not connecting with voters they are not connecting with.

Fundraising they're simply stuck so cam Trump's defense attorney said there is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election it's called democracy what do you make of that argument it's a pretty bold and aggressive argument frankly it suggests that when it comes to the elements of the crime that is uh the alleged crime.

Whether there was an intent to cover up the hush money payment that they might be concerned that Michael Cohen's testimony uh presumably directly uh incriminating Donald Trump in that um and will be corroborated so they're essentially saying they're trying to persuade the jury that this is this is all normal businesses usual that it's.

Okay to to essentially Keep information from voters to to fraudulently uh change documents around to to help Sway and dupe the voters in the election this is kind of out of Donald Trump's political Playbook where people get confused where the lines are begin and end when it comes to the rule of law and just sort of normal corrup coruption as usual um.

It's going to be a challenge I think for the prosecution to keep the the jury on task and lay out the elements and make it clear that this is a these are statutory crimes and that if the if there's sufficient evidence that Beyond A Reasonable Doubt their obligation is to convict so Olivia why do you think David pecker was the first witness to be.

Called well it's seems that prosecutors find David pecker to be really Central to their story when uh the prosecutor Michael Colangelo got up to do the openings for the jurors one of the very first things he spoke about was this meeting that Donald Trump David pcker and Michael Cohen had all together and they that was sort of the origin of what.

They say was this catch and kill scheme and remember when prosecutors go in front of a jury they need to tell a story with this case and I think it was very telling that that is what they began with that meeting between the three of them so it seems maybe that pecker is going to sort of start to thread that need for them before they.

Get into the nitty-gritty of the payments to Michael Cohen and then stormmy Daniels but David pecker who uh appeared today via a subpoena and is testifying against his old friend Donald Trump uh is going to lay that groundwork for him and it was a for them and it was a really interesting demeanor from pecker inside of the courtroom who.

Seemed at times uh I would say almost joal he actually took the stand this morning with a huge smirk on his face so it was interesting to see that from him and John the Access Hollywood tapes the infamous tapes brought back into the spotlight tapes where Trump talked about how easy it was to sexually assault women how is how do we see this.

Impacting Trump's current campaign for president because this was all exposed the last time around and it didn't hurt him you know I don't think it's going to really matter too much Cara to your point I I think when everyone hears the Access Hollywood tape words they kind of know we're talking about at this rate cuz to your point it's Infamous it was.

Everywhere I mean I was talking with um a colleague of ours a competitor of ours at another Outlet uh when this first came up a few days ago this would become part of evidence and we both reminisced about that weekend because everybody remember that weekend of Donald Trump held up in Trump Tower debating what to do with his 2016 campaign well he won.

And look where we are now you know almost a decade later um I don't think it has any impact but nevertheless it's not a good image for Donald Trump right and I think you even saw this morning as part of a ruling by the judge of if Donald Trump took the stand there would be other past transgressions other legal issues that prosecutors could bring up.

Including egene Carol um so anything that paints Donald Trump and the way he speaks about women in a negative way is obviously just not a good thing in general for him K let me ask you about um you know this uh gag order that was put uh on Trump we have seen him put things out on social about people that are tied to.

This case Ry Daniels Michael Cohen and now Trump has attacked uh Mara for not allowing him to attend uh the supreme court hearing comparing himself to um a rogue cop in immunity claims um what do you think did he violate the gag order here and what what what could happen well I think technically the question is whether the judge himself.

Constitutes uh Court Personnel uh which is this you know covered in the scope of the gag order the the judge has to be really careful to not create an appealable issue for Donald Trump and Donald Trump is very Savvy at walking this this fine line uh between violating the terms of the order and sort of violating it asking someone else to.

Tweet or retweeting something for example how this is enforced uh the judge would start with a a financial penalty I think it's $1,000 that's going to be a drop in the bucket for Donald Trump but if he continues he can actually remit him to custody and that I think his lawyers are going to have to make clear to him is a line he does not.

Uh need to cross or should not cross I would suspect something like this a judge will let it go um but it certainly builds the case for the prosecution which is now racking up multiple alleged violations of the gag order that with six weeks to go if he's not sort of brought into line there might have to be some major action taken to to bring him.

There because people safety is really on the line these jurors the witnesses Court Personnel Court staff this is is not just rhetoric and First Amendment rights this is serious Public Safety for these people that are really voluntarily uh participating in this for the good of the country and then Trump putting Trump putting out on on his social uh.

Referring to judge Maran as the highly conflicted judge in the Manhattan da quote unquote case uh prohibiting him from attending all right it's just getting started too Olivia John Kimberly thank you now to the Middle East the crisis there and the man who is the symbol of the failure to prevent the deadliest.

Attack in Israel's history netanyahu's head of military intelligence has resigned the major general is the highest ranking Israeli official to step down since the Hamas leet attack back on October 7th this resignation happening as a special State Department panel here in our nation's capital recommending to sanction Israeli military units linked.

To Human Rights abuses for more let's bring in our foreign correspondent Tom Sufi bur in Tel Aviv along with our senior National policy reporter and FL so Tom let's talk about the resignation here of the major general and what it tells you about Israel's intelligence failure well given the scale of the intelligence failings in the runup to.

And really on the night of October the 7th Kira I think it was almost an inevitability that the head of military intelligence would step down perhaps the more interesting thing is why it's taken him so long to do so and that's really probably down to the fact that the IDF has been so busy with the war in Gaza up on the northern border against Hezbollah.

Against Iranian proxies and Iran itself as we've seen in the last few days look you know the intelligence failings it's kind of hard to overstate them I mean the IDF and the intelligence Community here had a dossier a year before uh the actual terror attack itself they called it Jericho wall and effectively it was a blueprint it really detailed the plan.

That ultimately Hamas ended up executing so I I think the head of military intelligence stepping down was inevitable uh it has happened now and I don't think he'll be the last senior military official here in Israel to step down because of those intelligence failings so an in this annual report the state department is considering Gaza in.

The midst of a severe humanitarian crisis and this comes as the US is about to impose sanctions on this IDF unit and human rights abuses um put this in context for us yeah Carisa we heard from secretary blinkin just minutes ago who said yeah the US is looking into whether or not Israel has committed human rights violations war crimes essentially uh he.

Said we're not going to give anybody a cut here because they're simply an ally we're we're going to look at this process do it fairly and make a determination so he said you know watch more of this space but we'll follow the facts on that you know I think there are are obviously a lot of questions um you know worth pointing out the October 7th.

Attack by Hamas a clear violation of any International standard of you know war crimes and so forth so uh but really for the us to hold Israel accountable um it would be historic we have not seen this law being applied to an IDF unit before Kira we'll follow it Tom an thank you so for the first time in decades the Supreme Court is hearing a major case.

Involving homelessness the justices are hearing Arguments for more than two and a half hours and appear to favor whether cities can find unhoused people for sleeping outside Advocates say that this amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and it comes as homeless numbers are skyrocketing Nationwide springing our senior Washington correspondent Deon DWI.

Who's been following it since the start so let's just talk about how we got here and the implications of these arguments fascinating case cira the biggest case on homelessness here at the Supreme Court in 40 years and it comes from the city of Grant Pass Oregon I was out there a few weeks ago and it looked like many other cities Nationwide that.

We've seen dealing with encampments in public places Park sidewalks and the city in uh Grant's past decided to pass an ordinance that would make it a crime to sleep outside if you didn't have a home and used a blanket a group of homeless people in the city uh sued uh alleging a constitutional violation of federal appeals court agreed with them.

Said it was cruel and unusual punishment and the city was here today at the Supreme Court appealing Kira and as he said at the top they found a very sympathetic AR uh audience a majority of the conservative Justices today while certainly empathetic to the unhoused uh situation uh seem to say that it should be up to local officials to pass.

Ordinances to regulate these encampments that of course have come with issues of crime public sanitation issues um and so we'll have to see what the justices say but as of now uh the city of Grants passed fighting to get that law back on the books cira all right and you spoke with people in Grants Pass what are they telling you one of the things that we.

Heard repeatedly Kira is that this is uh uh pits residents of a community who want their leafy line streets and kids to feel safe in public parks with advocates for the unhoused and soaring housing prices in so many different parts of the country those things colliding in public places uh and here's a little bit of uh some of the folks on.

Both sides of this told us when we were out there we're fighting between what the law is telling us and what the people want us to do and try to make everybody happy that's a big huge struggle for us a city government Criminal in the the victims of our failed housing policy is morally wrong and it's.

Unconstitutional and that's essentially what the city's the city of Grants Pass has done by making it illegal for someone to exist while being homeless now while the conservative justices Kira seemed sympathetic to the city the three liberal justices on the court today did not mince words they were aggressive passionate attacking the.

City for passing an ordinance like this Justice Elena Kagan saying perhaps the city should just as well criminalize breathing on the sidewalk if they're going to go after sleeping uh of course an intense debate around a very complicated issue that cities are really struggling red cities blue cities red States blue States as they try to get.

Their arms around this record numbers of Americans right now Kira as you know are homeless so this case will have very big impact yep state by state Devin thank you you coming up a deadly shooting at Delaware State University the breaking news details next you're watching America's number.

One streaming news ABC News live breaking news exclusives live reporting across the globe keep streaming with ABC News live this is not about parents who just let their kid watch violent movies or play violent video games this is about parents who neglected their son ignored his cries for help and then bought him a.

Gun the first parents in America to be charged in a school shooting involuntary manslaughter charges against parents of the shooter at Oxford High School who killed four students and wounded others there's a myth that a shooter just snaps it's just not true there are always signs he was crying for help and being ignored he had pictures of a Target on.

His bedroom wall shell casings on his nightstand a very toxic turbulent relationship those people are yikes the life they lived was just crazy the sexting and the really terrible things they video of their sexual acts they purchased that gun for him with his money and bragged about it.

They're being told by a school counselor that he thinks their son's going to kill himself and they do nothing as soon as I heard they were called to the school that day the messages about lol don't get caught those were very very concerning to me that's the moment that no juror is going to think well haven't we all been there here's what it is I.

Got it they do not seem shocked about him having the gun there was no shock zero zero School stre leers aren't created they're made and it's made over time you don't get to walk away from that you just don't that's a criminal act sins of the p parents the crumbly trials the opposite of love is not hate.

It's just being ignored only on Hulu breaking news right now police in Delaware searching for a suspect after an 18-year-old woman was shot and killed on the campus of Delaware State University that victim has been identified as K Mitchell DVA of Wilmington according to investigators D Silva was not registered student at the.

University but was visiting the campus with another student our ik aachi is following the late breaking details for us Ike what do you know well car we're being told right now again that that 18-year-old who was found shot and killed on the campus of Delaware State University went by the name of C Mitchell D Silva obviously of Wilmington.

Delaware now officers say that this entire investigation started just before 2 a.m. when campus police were called to the area of the Warren Franklin residential hall for reports of shots fired now one on scene police officers say they found dilva suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper body she was transported to an area hospital where.

She was later pronounced dead now according to investigators dilva was not a registered student at the universities officials say that dilva and another non student were visiting a student on campus at the time of the shooting now we're being told no other injuries were reported however University lead leaders did say that the suspect was seen.

Fleeing the campus uh on the direction of College Road Again away from the campus now we're being told that there will be a forum for students faculty staff and parents on Tuesday tomorrow to share any updates of this case and obviously they're asking anybody with information to contact the Delaware police uh we're being told that classes.

Have been canceled for the rest of the day today we have no word on whether those C uh classes rather will resume tomorrow but again the Delaware State Police is still conducting this active investigation and again they're asking anybody with any kind of of information on the whereabouts of the possible suspect or any kind of information.

Surrounding this incident should contact them as immedi immediately and as fast as they can care up all right we follow it Ike thank you some other top headlines we're tracking this hour for you California will soon allow Arizona doctors to practice reproductive care in the Golden State a retaliatory response to.

Arizona's 160-year abortion law going back into effect Governor Gavin Nome says he's pursuing emergency legislation hoping to provide access for those Fleet Arizona and seeking reproductive care choo choo here comes that speed rail construction kicking off for the 12 billion dollar high speed rail today that'll take commuters from Southern.

California to Vegas that trip usually takes about 3 hours by car but will only take 2 hours each way by rail construction is expected to finish in 2028 just in time for the Summer Olympics there in LA and in just the first few days Taylor Swift's newest work the tortured poets Department breaking record after record it has.

Become the most streamed album in a single day raking in 300 million streams the historic success also making Swift the most streamed artist in a single day Straight Ahead working throughout South America to plant 10 million trees hoping to restore thousands and thousands of Acres of forest we are kicking off our Earth Day series here on.

ABC News live the power of us what's good to watch read where can I get a great deal on what I'm just dying to buy oh it's all right here GMA life all the exclusive and buzziest celebrity good stuff Deals and Steals with amazing savings and the coolest lifestyle tips from Good Morning America I love that so.

Much GMA light streaming weekends on ABC News live your weekend just get a little better with GMA life when it matters most America turns to David mure and ABC's World News Tonight hi I'm Andy and I'm Sabrina and we're moms juggling tons of stuff every day like all you moms out there and you know what we love really love Pop Culture so listen now to our.

New podcast pop culture moms wherever you get your podcasts 911 the to so on my stepson you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my sunnd he that good Li do you think just ends in a good way the interrogation tapes tonight on ABC you're watching America's number one streaming news live reporting.

Breaking new exclusives keep streaming with ABC News live I'm zorine sha reporting from the New Hampshire primary wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live Global Environmental activist florant Kaiser brings a whole new meaning to tree hugger matter of fact he's so.

Passionate about our world's Forest that he spends every day looking for ways to scale up restoration and protection of our world's forest ecosystems but it's not just all of us here at ABC that are honoring his work today on Earth day but Prince William has also celebrated his community-led work as an earthshot PR winner by co-leading Axion andena.

Florant has worked throughout South America planting 10 million trees and restoring thousands and thousands of Acres of high andian forests Region's critical for biodiversity because it's home to not only plant species but thousands of species of birds reptiles and amphibians Earth shot recipient Florent Kaiser joins me now Fon so good.

To see you talk about what inspired you to start Axion and Dina and how did you know protecting these forest ecosystems were so important hi K thanks thank you so much actually our co-founder Constantino Oka who is an un Earth's Champion 2022 inspired us to start this work he wanted to reforest the Andes with the.

Communities he's from indigenous communities of the high Andes in South America and when we met you know in in 2018 he shared his dream he wanted go what he had built in Cusco in Peru across the entire Andes and we knew he couldn't do it alone we knew we wouldn't be able to do it alone so we teamed up in 2018 to start Axion andena it started.

As a project that is now becoming a movement led by the communities They're bringing back forests for water security so what's happening in the Andes is glacious melting climate change is hitting really really hard water security is becoming a huge issue the communities are not teaming out with the support of Ain andena to actually bring.

Back the forest bring back the ecosystem nature that is the only substitute to those Glacier that will guarantee the water long term whether it be for livelihoods whether it be for um Agriculture and the water security basically of the entire economies and societies across South America you know it's interesting you.

Talk about water security I mean let's just go back in history let's think of the Incas let's go up to Machu Picchu and how they created these incredible ducks to bring water flowing throughout the region I mean it only makes sense you would want to you know continue to protect such a spiritual and historical part of the.

Globe yes um indeed and I I think looking ahead at this at this Century that is coming at us ax Anda has to be a 100 year long effort this is the scale of of time we need to look at we appreciate of course the the work that you're doing and the 22 projects across five countries and how you've been able to to manage such terrific work we will.

Stay in close touch and ABC News live we'll have special reporting on the climate challenges that we face and empowering stories about Solutions so be sure to watch our brand new special trash The Secret Life of plastic exports airing tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. Eastern and then on Thursday be sure to catch our other brand new special the power of us.

Where we delve into individual and systematic Solutions and the impact that we can have together to protect our Earth that's 8:30 p.m. Eastern both specials will be streaming on Hulu we sure hope that you will check them out thanks so much for streaming with us I'm Kira Phillips the news never stops a lot more ahead right.

back what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and.

Ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great work hi where are you where are you.

Appreciate thank David than to me you is David David yes yes I'm David M I know you are watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know you know.

That sounds pretty good your help your money breaking news pop culture with the biggest Stars music Trends and and of course good food GMA 3 what you need to know a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love that Babe Ruth Hank Arrow showy Otani.

Legends of the game but now the list of greats redefined from ABC News reclaim the Forgotten League a side of the story of baseball you have never heard before like this the award-winning podcast is back listen wherever you get your podcast or scan the QR codes you see here I'm met at this March in Israel these are the families of the hostages.

Being held in gazam wherever the news is we'll take you there from streaming ABC News live good afternoon everyone I'm Kiera Phillips some of the top headlines we're watching for you right now on ABC News live court wrapping just a time ago in the first ever criminal trial against a.

Former president of the United States prosecutors saying this case is about criminal conspiracy using Trump accusing Trump of arranging a $130,000 payment to adult film star stormmy Daniels to keep her from revealing their alleged affair right before the 2016 presidential election the defense arguing Trump relied on.

Lawyer Michael Cohen to arrange that payment former National inquir publisher David peckler was called as the first witness who prosecutors say was part of that scheme to buy and bury unflattering stories about the former president president Trump denies any wrongdoing Court will be back in session tomorrow morning with David Becker back on the.

Stand but first the judge plans to hold a contempt hearing on Trump's alleged violation of The Limited gag order in this case the head of the Israeli military intelligence is resigning after almost 40 years of service over the failures that led to the surprise October 7th attack by Hamas Major General Aaron halba becoming the first.

Senior figure in the IDF to step down for his role in what became the deadliest attack in Israel's history and Robert Craft the owner of the New England Patriots and graduate of Columbia University releasing a statement today that he's no longer supporting the University Craft is also the founder of the foundation to combat.

Anti-Semitism and in his statement he said he's no longer confident that Colombia can protect its students and staff and it's his hope during this difficult time that the Craft Center at Colombia will serve as a source of security and safety for all Jewish people craft Foundation has been at the Forefront of the fight against.

Anti-Semitism since the October 7th Hamas ter attack against his country thanks for streaming with us I'm Kira Phillips ABC News live is here for you anytime with the latest news context and Analysis you can always find us on your favorite streaming service the ABC News app and of course on abcnews.com gma3 starts right.

Now what you need to know right now on GMA 3 the head of Israel's Military Intelligence steps down over fil your surrounding the unprecedented October 7th Hamas attack the first senior official to resign over it and is time running out for Tik Tok the move by the house that could affect the app loved by 170 million Americans and small.

Businesses and opening statements begin today in the hush money trial of Donald Trump the first criminal case against a former president in American history plus did you have a bad date this weekend what women say men aren't doing that leaves many scratching their heads Monday Morning Quarterback Mike Muse with the conversation you won't want to.

Miss who's going to save the world tonight also the power of us people climate and our future on this Earth Day will meet teens fighting to save the planet's most prolific pollinators the bees and the mom on a mission to help others break bad habits when it comes to.

Keeping household waste down also star Wilson Cruz joins us in our Time Square Studio bringing us a special sneak peak at his new Netflix film mother of the bride and the Spice Girl reunion we didn't want to say stop in honor of Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday their biggest fan David Beckham bringing us into the party now from Time Square Eva.

Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan with Dr Jen Ashton and what you need to know good afternoon everyone and welcome to a new week of what you need to know on this Earth Day and Welcome to our friend and colleague will ree so good to have you in for DeMarco hi everyone I'm so sad I'm not wearing green I'm sorry I do love the earth I promise you do but.

This was a complete coincidence that's how cosmically connected we are yeah you thought it through accidentally and this was not wrinkled right that sometimes that's the winning formula right there um we are talking about Earth Day Dr Jen and you're breaking down some ways that not only we can help the Earth but also help our health yeah and you know we've.

Been talking a lot about how the Earth and climate change has a direct not an indirect impact on our health and the World Health Organization bringing that uh into the Forefront again not just on Earth day but every day um in particular talking about air pollution and respiratory disease obviously we know this can impact um the development of.

Other pulmonary conditions most notably COPD it can increase or exacerbate asthma symptoms and lead to more hospitalizations due to such particulate matter and nitrogen oxide then of course can worsen pre-existing or any chronic or underlying lung condition and globally nine out of 10 people are breathing polluted air on a regular.

Basis so this isn't just someone else's problem we can control the things that we can control because obviously there's a lot of this that people cannot uh control but first of all you can always check your daily local Air Pollution forecast and the air quality you can go to airnow.gov for uh latest accurate reports you can avoid exercising in high.

Traffic or high polluted areas some people can avoid being outdoors and they have to earn their living um in poor air quality walking around biking using car pooling we can all do that to help this situation and then don't burn wood or trash that is really big Fender in creating this particular matter you've reported on a will when you talk about.

Wildfire so we don't want to make little wildfires in our own environment well there's always something we can do Dr Jen thank you for that let's get to some headlines right now with our friend Brad milky he is the host and managing editor of the ABC News award-winning podcast start here and he starts with us right now Brad hello and also not wearing.

Green so I feel but I wor some I wore blue I guess but yeah okay sure and we begin with the new developments overseas the head of Israeli Military Intelligence resigning over his role in the failures to prevent the October 7th terror attack by Hamas he is the first senior official to step down following that worst attack in history on Israeli.

Soil here at home the massive foreign aid package that includes billions in funding for Israel Ukraine and Taiwan was pushed through this weekend by GOP house Speaker Mike Johnson in a dramatic vote on the hill Johnson needed help from Democrats to overcome opposition from his own party in fact more Republicans voted against this than for.

The Senate Now set to vote on it tomorrow however this measure includes a closely watched provision that could potentially ban Tik Tock here in the US if changes aren't made regarding its Chinese ownership by next year now let's check in with our Ginger Z on the Big Spring freeze what you got Ginger Colorado had some late season.

Snow Denver's airport 6.3 Ines of snow which is the most this late in the season they've had since the airport has been the Observation Center so probably most this late even longer than that uh but do see that cold air and we even had frost and freeze alerts this morning but that's going to have a reinforcing shot later this week we could even see a.

Couple of Records be broken from Flint Michigan to tying one maybe at LaGuardia uh Boston itself dip into about freezing Thursday morning and a quick look at that next storm that plows through some severe weather toward the end of the week possible too and if you're going to have a birthday you got to get with your friends the Spice Girls stopping to say.

Happy 50th to Victoria Beckham hub David Beckham was capturing at all very high priced cameraman you guys and there's much Moree of course on GMA 3 on this Monday thank you guys all right thanks Brad we love I always like the videos where you see David actually dancing to the Spice Girl songs he enjo he supports he does support support Big Time wife.

Guy he's fired up as he should be thanks frad and coming up here on gma3 on this Monday history unfolding in lower Manhattan as opening statements get underway in the first criminal trial of a former president our team with a deep dive plus the new trend in dating some women are noticing what they say men are not doing that has them frustrated.

That's a conversation you are going to want to weigh in on and you can do that when we are back in a moment I glad you're not a single guy whenever news breaks we are here in Israel a nation at war after that brutal surprise attack by Hamas on the ground in Ukraine reporting from Leon main the scene of a horrific shooting ABC News.

Live is right there everywhere from the scene of that deadly missile strike in Dena Ukraine reporting from the earthquake in Turkey in Rolling Fort This Tornado tore through this little town from the most devastating disaster in Hawaii from Charleston South Carolina on the 2024 campaign Trail in Iceland let's go.

Traveling with the president in Mexico City wherever the story from the front lines from Southern Israel outside the Gaza Strip in Beirut from the FBI reporting from that nurses is on the picket line here at 10 Downing Street in London streaming live to you wherever the story is wherever the story is wherever the story is we're going to.

Take you there you're streaming ABC News live ABC News live you're streaming ABC News live ABC news live streaming free everywhere America's number one streaming news first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is.

Impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sounds sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early.

Morning news on ABC News live can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or.

Scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast in bed get ready America every Friday the hottest Trends Styles and must have what's the right stuff to buy right now I really love that it's time to buy the right stuff yes and Save big time too the right Stu Fridays on GMA you're.

Going to love it first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another avalan warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commutant what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast.

Straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sounds sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America America's number one early morning news on ABC News live with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News.

Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of Television welcome back to gma3 opening statements begin today in a Manhattan courtroom as former president Donald Trump stands trial on criminal charges a first in our nation's history the former president is accused of falsifying.

Business records over an alleged 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels he's pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing and joining us now attorney and ABC News contributor Brian buckmire and from outside the courthouse ABC News senior investigative correspondent Aaron kki Aaron we'll start with you outside the courthouse.

There the trial is getting underway what are you hearing about the expected timeline and what Witnesses should we expect early on here this case is going to last perhaps 6 weeks will and the first witness is going to be David pecker the former publisher of the national Inquirer according to prosecutors he was at the.

Center of this alleged scheme to buy and bury unflattering stories about Donald Trump before the 2016 election and one of those stories was Stephanie Clifford better known as the porn actress stormmy Daniels she had a tale to tell about a sexual encounter with Trump that he denies and in order to keep her quiet about it the campaign decided it would.

Be best to pay her $130,000 the defense says there's nothing unusual about wealthy people paying hush money as part of non-disclosure agreements but prosecutors say the way that payment was logged constituted the crime of falsifying business records because was done with the intent to keep information.

Away from voters before the 2016 election Brian what's the biggest challenge that prosecutors are going to face here I actually see probably two large challenges here one the prosecution has to make sense of taking what is often a misdemeanor case and connecting it to what might be uh federal election interference and that's.

Why we're at a felony and not a misdemeanor but also another large issue that they have to do is prove that a person specifically Michael Cohen who is known to be a liar to the courts to Congress to investigators is now telling the truth here in this case when he being the star witness testifies against Donald Trump and basically lays out.

Their case for them Aaron what kind of sentence is former president Trump facing if he is indeed convicted if he's convicted it's possible will that he could face up to 4 years in prison but prosecutors would have to ask for it and having a former president didn't serve prison time just seems highly unlikely and and perhaps.

You know would really test the the system in a way that it's never been tested before as have all of these criminal cases that the former president is facing but in theory up to four years in prison if he is convicted as charged of falsifying uh 34 business records Brian former president Trump says he wants to testify in this case so what.

Can we expect to hear if he testifies we've already kind of seen a bit of a glimpse of this because he comes out after every day and gives us his take on the case he's already said that this was a legal expense and so if he testified which I would probably highly recommend that he shouldn't I would expect him to say hey.

I asked Michael conohan to do a job for me he did a job for me I wrote it down as a legal expense what's the problem but that admits to a large portion of what the prosecutor's alleging in this case and so I think we're still not quite sure whether or not he's going a testify he's told us that he that he was and he wants to I think that's more.

Testing the waters but time will tell us to whether or not his attorneys convinced him to testify or not but ultimately like any criminal defendant it's his right to choose that and no one else can tell him otherwise Brian buckmire and Aon kki hitting every angle for us as former president Trump's hush money trial gets underway in Manhattan.

And just ahead here on GMA 3 the new dating Trend that is Raising questions oh questions we'll explain when we come back stay with us going to love myself no I don't need anybody else can't love myself no I don't need anybody else any what does it take to be the most watched newscast in.

America an operation to capture Isis figher is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag.

There's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you D thanks meet you Isel David David yes yes I'm David M I know you are.

You every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast what's good to watch read where can I get a great deal on what I'm just dying to buy oh it's all right here GMA life get the latest celebrity Buzz Deals and Steals and the coolest lifestyle tips from GMA I love that so much.

Streaming weekends on ABC News live Whenever Wherever news breaks it's so important to always remember that lives are changed here in London in Buffalo yaldi Texas Ed in bruss Scotland reporting from Rolling Fork Mississippi Ukrainian refugees here in Warson we're heading to a small community outside of Mexico City getting you behind the.

Stories as they happen ABC News live Prime we'll take you there stream ABC News live week nights wherever you stream your news only on ABC News live why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories start here now that's a part of the story I bet you.

Didn't see coming make it your daily first listen wherever you get your podcasts first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East.

What people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live reporting from the nuclear armed.

Ballistic missile submarine the USS Kentucky in South Korea I'm Martha RIS you're streaming ABC News live welcome back to gma3 it is Monday which means it is time for another round of Monday Morning Quarterback today we are talking love oh yeah or maybe the absence of Love here to catch us up on what we need to know when it comes to.

Who's responsible for a bad date is our favorite Monday Morning Quarterback Mike Muse okay you got everybody you got to tell us about this what are women saying yo Eva and will I went down a rabbit hole this weekend I found this article called inside hook and this article suggested that men are just not engaging on dates and are not conversational uh.

The author goes on to say that in a podcast as well would say that they will actually sip their coffee or their drink and wait awkwardly for the man to say something to which the man never says anything they also go on this article to say that sometimes the Trader Joe's cashiers would talk more to them than actual men do and I just wholeheartedly.

Disagreed um with this assessment but I'm curious to know what are your thoughts I that's a good way of engag people yeah I haven't like had to do that in a while but I think you you got to if you're actually interested in someone you need to show interest I I guess our executive producer cat was saying she wants someone to play tennis.

With her you've got to at least be able to keep the conversation going yeah do ping pong so I was doing some my market research so I was talking to a lot of my single friends and they were actually agreeing partially with this article and saying that some PL it's the second date uh where the guy clams up and not so much the first date I think when you.

Aren't connected to someone it can be hard to have like a truly engaging right there's nothing worse than the boring like oh man I'm not having a good time I'm on the hook for this whole meal and like can't wait for it to be over that's why you pay cash you bring cash you can pay for it and go this was lovely you are lovely this is not a thing you can't.

Well no you can't as a guy you better be doing well enough that you don't get a runner but this is what they're saying also too in terms of how social media has changed the construct of the conversation because because everyone's on their phone not used to how to say words to each other you mean not on a date if someone.

Breaks out their phone on a date I'm like all right I'm I'm out I don't I don't need that but also too though it talks about this idea of social media has created these conversations about commodity so guys are now viewed as like a commodity as well as women when it comes to high quality value of a man high quality value of a woman um is this.

Guy able to fund a lifestyle wish you could see Kesha's face right now I like really want you to see an eyebrow the fact that you just referred to men as a commodity no that not me K social media but that's what they're saying in some of these articles is that men are being looked at as Commodities and so.

Therefore they may be more reserved in the conversation not knowing and trusting the intentions of this date I mean women have been treated like commodities for a long time so I'm just going to say that I wanted to say New York City and it is it is not nice out there to be a female dating in New York I'm just going to put that out I wanted.

To say that but didn't feel that it was my place but I appreciate that you've introduced that the making that face at you like watch yourself you got to walk out of here kha in America this is not me I'm just reporting the weekend in terms of when I've going down to Rabbit Hole on what are guys doing wrong and how can we do better there are a few.

School of thoughts here one school of thought that from the mall article that I read down the weekend I mean literally I was down this Rabbit Hole article in the m is suggesting that Society now has become more selfish um and then that part of it it's a me Society it's what I want let me figure out if this is for me versus doing the dance or as our.

Executive producer cat is saying playing tennis um also too I was reading another article where Millionaire Matchmaker Patty Stanger was suggesting that now we're in this position in space I think Eva I would curious your thoughts on this comment is that women are making so much more money now and are having such successful careers that they're an.

Ownership of owning their own agency able to pay for their own meals pay for their own you know lifestyle nontraditional Norms are being shattered and so therefore women are owning the agency so the dance is becoming disrupted due to the social conversation that's happening online that sounds like a good thing though right like I that.

Doesn't sound like a negative uh chemistry is chemistry it always is you either have it you either have it or you don't and what we don't have is more time but thank you so much for being here and waiting into these Waters with us up next careful walking out of here we've got Dr Jen's tips on what to look for when buying a protein powder how's.

That for a turn and the student is studying bees what she's learning may surprise you our ABC News power of us report on this Earth Day when we come back first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice.

Storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number.

One early morning news on ABC News live this is ABC News live it's the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee centers in Putin's Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destructive Cat 4 stor I Boston is in the bull let's go ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight.

To you for free thank you for making ABC newsl America's number one streaming news why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's time top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R ml.

Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my goodness.

Oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a fullon breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and.

Bed DK it's good for us yeah micro also known as microbial diversity so inspired by a recent article in New York Times you know we've heard before this sterile hypothesis where we're trying to make our environment too clean too completely devoid of any kind of other organisms which a lot of times are good organisms.

To this playing in dirt which my daughter was making mud pies this weekend see such a good mommy um but you know there's a lot of Truth to that and so there are actually certain daycares that have a forest floor have you ever heard that I think that sounds amazing um but but we can get into a little of those benefits literally just by going.

For a walk outside planting a tomato tree you know on on your backyard on your porch on your front step literally it doesn't have to be playing in dirt to get some of those benefits and a lot of uh scientists are really saying that the mass lay public has overemphasized you know how much dirt has to be in our kind of environment to.

Get that benefit it doesn't take that much quite literally even taking a walk in a park gives us and our body the good exposure that we need for for diversity which I think is interesting right this is of a piece of like the more you can get out in nature the better exactly I saw the wheels spinning well yeah for sure I was we started off you just go.

Dirt I'm like you didn't want to go to the bill you know planting a tomato plant but I'm I'm not kidding like that can actually do it and there's benefits to gardening that go beyond the the micro prob biob cuz you can eat that tomato correct and it's relaxing you certainly can but if you're like me and you have a brown thumb it's not going to.

Go but try it anyway all right Dr Jen we will return no dirt here was like there's a flower take a walk yeah nature sure what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different.

Directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great work.

Hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David good to meet you is David David yes yes I'm David M I know who you are you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast in bed surprising.

Moms Across America oh my God oh my my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast in bed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and.

Bed this is ABC News live the crush families here in Poland at Refugee Cent In Putin Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from Capital destructive Cat 4 stor I Boston is in the bullseye let's go ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC.

Newsline America's number one streaming news why do so many people start their day here this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards start here ABC News make it your daily first listen wherever you get your podcasts start here ABC.

News America's number one news source good afternoon everyone I'm Kiera Phillips some of the top headlines that we are watching for you right now on ABC News live this hour breaking at this moment police in Delaware Ware searching for a suspect after an 18-year-old woman was shot and killed on the campus of.

Delaware State University that victim has been identified as K Mitchell dilva of Wilmington according to investigators D Silva was not enrolled at the school but was visiting another student when she was gunned down she later died at the hospital Delaware State Police and the FBI are now working with campus investigators on the case that gunman is.

Still at large California proposing a law to allow Arizona doctors to practice reproductive care in the gold State a retaliatory response to Arizona's 160-year-old abortion law going back into effect Governor Gavin Newsome says he's pursuing emergency legislation hoping to provide access for those fleeing Arizona and seeking reproductive.

Care and the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are here finally share is a rock and Ro Hall of Fame inductee alongside music legends aie Osborne cool in the gang Mary J blig and Dave Matthews just to name a few according to the organization this year's induct have created Music whose.

Originality impact and influence has changed the course of rock and roll that induction ceremony will happen October 19th in Cleveland Ohio thanks for streaming with us I'm Kira Phillips ABC News live is here for you anytime with the latest news context and Analysis you can always find us on your favorite streaming service the ABC News app and.

Of course on abcnews.com the news never stops more gma3 right now welcome back to gma3 what you need to know that of course the Just Fine Mary J BL and she and a number of outstanding names in music will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year among them share.

Foreigner Peter Frampton and the one and only Dave Matthews you know cat our EP major fan of Dave and you can catch it all streaming live on Disney Plus on October 19th and later right here on ABC and Hulu can't wait for that and Dr Jen is here she's looking closely at a health and wellness question on viewers mind and on mine which is what should I.

Look for Dr Jen when I'm choosing a protein powder okay protein is as many of us know incredibly important uh as a macronutrient and there's a calculation that's generally weight based for how much protein we should shoot for getting on a daily basis my number is 80 I can take you guys uh through the calculation for that I'll put it on my Instagram.

Because there's some math involved but it's hard to get that from natural food sources so a lot of people I think us included turn to a protein powder to get you know kind of a high amount of protein in a in a relatively easy and consistent way what should you look for first of all all uh there's no way to verify Purity and accuracy with these.

Kind of products so it's kind of you know buy or beware uh you should look for taste you should look for the source of the protein whether it's whey protein or plant-based protein you should definitely look for cost um and you should look for the number of grams per scoop or per serving I try to get 20 gram of protein anytime I'm using a.

Protein powder protein collagen powder so that you know I know that in that shake I'm getting about 20 to 30 grams a day makes sense your prescription for wellness all right has to do with hair Health you know I'm a big hair person um so some natural ways that we can uh boost our hair in terms of oil for hair Health coconut oil is in my bathroom uh.

I think in DeMarcos as well it it boosts the um strand health and appearance almond oil also good for softening and moisturizing you can put a little of that on the ends and then castor oil believe it or not is good for the scalp and can nourish the hair follicle you do want to be careful when you're using hair on your scalp not to actually clog.

And suffocate your scalp because that good blood flow is important for hair this is my FAO everybody in case anyone doesn't know in case there's one person in America who doesn't know I clip her on to rest my hair yeah you protect your hair very aggressively and you can send us your medical questions on Instagram at ABC.

Gma3 and coming up next on gma3 power of us the team beekeepers setting up a a science experiment in their backyards and what they are learning on this Earth Day and the mom on a mission determined to change the way we throw things away more on that in a moment stay with us why do so many people start their day.

Here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R ml Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a.

Part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen.

Before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed get ready America every Friday the hottest Trends Styles and must have what's the right stuff to buy right now I really love that it's time to buy the right stuff yes and save big time too.

The right stuff right days on GMA you're going to love it wherever news breaks it's so important to always remember that lives are changed getting you behind the stories as they happen ABC News live Prime we'll take you there streaming free on ABC News live what does it take to be the most watched newscast in.

America an operation to capture Isis find this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a te in it.

How important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you D than you Isel David David yes yes I'm David M I know you are watch you every.

Night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East.

What people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live you're watching America's number one streaming news ABC News live.

Breaking news exclusives live reporting keep streaming with ABC News live who's going to say welcome back to gma3 there is a buzz of excitement in the air for these two young high schoolers who are fighting to save our world's greatest pollinators the bees yes and as part of our ABC News power of us campaign our M win is.

Sharing how two girls separated by thousands of miles are linked by the same mission in the suburbs of San raone California a young beekeeper tending to her beehives in her backyard 17-year-old shice zo instantly fell in love with Nature's tiny workers when she learned how factors like.

Climate change and pesticides were killing them off at an alarming rate she jumped into action it's disappointing for me but it's also a very real world issue that we do need to take on Sharice transformed her backyard into a science project constructing a maze to train honeybees how to fly through these patterns and colors representing those.

Of wild flowers she set out to prove how certain pesticides May reduce bees cognitive ability ities Sharice convinced her parents to help her acquire 150,000 honeybees this is so heavy because it's full of Honey full of honey yes wow when observing small groups of bees she found the ones exposed to.

Pesticides appeared not to remember how to get through the maze I wanted to see if my research could decrease the usage of pesticides in the real world her work now submitted to a scientific journal they're our world's most crucial pollinators bees alone pollinate 80% of all flowering plants including more than 130 types of fruits at vegetables but.

Bee populations are rapidly declining like the American bumblebee where nearly 90% of them have been wiped out in the last 20 years many of them are in danger Jim Beach an avid beekeeper who specializes in genetics says population declines can be due to several factors though mainly habitat loss if bees poof disappear.

Then there's a huge economic hit to agriculture the agricultural research service found radical shifts in temperature droughts wildfires and floods resulted in habitat destruction and forging disruptions while honeybee populations have been relatively steady in recent years they still face major threats like barrero might in Spring.

2022 more than 40% of all honeybee colonies were Afflicted with the parasite that's where another young Beek comes in 18-year-old Katie Colbert of Tom's River New Jersey you said they're pretty gentle yes after weeks of field studies her now published work found that thyo based essential oils extracted from time leaves through a Mis diffuser.

Could stun barrero mites this continuous release system had an efficacy of over 97% which is really promising and exciting Katie was crowned the honey Queen acting as a spokesperson for the New Jersey Beekeepers Association with few young people people having hi Mind Over beekeeping Katie says knowing Sharice is out on the west coast it.

Makes me super excited that there's someone else out there who's like me so what can you do to help experts say you can avoid using pesticides and check with your local Garden Center about what plants are native to your area to put down around the house and despite a sting or two it's pretty solling I can't even barely walk oh wow both of the.

Girls parents say it's worth it what doesn't hurt having homegrown honey all year round wow and M joins us here in studio oh my God first of all you were around all those bees I cannot imagine what was that like okay so it actually was pretty intimidating at first you know the buzzing of the bees it's a lot louder.

When you're actually next to them but the two girls they were such great teachers so it was a really fun experience and what what are the things that we should be thinking about if the be population does decline right great question so the US Department of Agriculture actually says that billions of dollar dollar worth of crops would be.

Affected if the population of pollinators really took a hit so that means the prices of the fruits and vegetables that we love like apples bananas watermelons even almonds all of that would Skyrocket if pollinators were to take a hit wow now these two women young women are 17 18 years old they're about to graduate high school what's.

Next for them okay this is great so they are so intelligent I loved being around them Sharice tells me she's not sure which college she's going to go to but she's going to go into Neuroscience which is spurred by her cognitive research of the honeybees and then Katie she's going to go into biology and political science and I hope I'm not.

Spoiling this for her F friends and family but she has accepted an offer from Harvard University congrats to and happy birthday to you I so your fiance remembers to book the reservation for dinner tonight she's getting back at 7 700 p.m. going to be a great dinner happy birthday thank you for bringing that story to us thank you.

For being here with on this Earth Day birthday and we are going to keep it moving yeah just ahead here on GMA 3 more on our Earth Day coverage and ABC's the power of us one mom determined to change the way we throw things away all to help save the planet so come on back this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee.

Centers in Putin's Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destructive Cat 4 stor you're I Boston is in the bull let's go ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 24/7 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC News live America's number one streaming.

News what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters is this our combat Operation Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to.

Go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile you're proud of this I love this great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David good to me you is David.

David yes yes I'm David M I know you are watch you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched newscast hi I'm Andy and I'm Sabrina and we're moms juggling tons of stuff every day like all you moms out there and you know what we love really love Pop culture so listen now to our new podcast.

Pop culture moms wherever you get your podcasts why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it.

A news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th.

Anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed from the team that brought you the DuPont award-winning report a.

Groundbreaking new investigation spanning 9,000 miles trashed the secret life of plastic exports streaming Tuesday night on ABC News live I'm Tom C with this group of Ukrainian attack helicopters in eastern Ukraine wherever the story is we'll take you there you're watching ABC News live welcome back to gma3 as we continue.

Our Earth Day special series The Power of us we're going to take a closer look at how we can all minimize waste in our daily lives one mom took the idea to a surprising extreme going zero waste after the birth of her first child then launching an eco-friendly cleaning brand I sat down with the CEO of bland to talk about her mission to change people's.

Daily habits for a better Earth this is plastic entrepreneur Sarah pyu broke new ground in sustainability creating the refillable eco-friendly cleaning brand blue land the company says it's diverted more than 1 billion plastic bottles from landfills and oceans so far and it all started when you became a mom you went zero waste.

After you had a baby my mind is blown because babies make a lot of waste yeah and I think that that was part of it I was doing all this Research into the water that I would use to mix with my um Sun's baby sons formula I was horrified to learn that regardless of if you're drinking tap water or bottled water here in the.

United States you know a lader contains hundreds of pieces of microplastics the US produces 42 million metric tons of plastic per year and adults consume over 100,000 microplastic particles a year through air food and beverages that inspired you to create products with the goal of changing people's daily habits I would say we spend as much from more.

Time really thinking about how do we Empower educate inspire people to make more sustainable choices across their lifestyle and joining us now is the CEO of blueland Sarah pyu thanks so much for being with us thank you so much for having me and to be clear you're not zero waste every day now but you learned a lot about living sustainably and.

You're actually going to show us some of those changes that we can make ourselves in our gma3 grocery store let's start in the produce section yes so one of my favorite tips is for produce is just to ditch the plastic produce bag um so what I like to do is I have my fruits and veggies just roll naked in my cart they have roll naked in my fridge I promise.

You it's okay it's unfortunately already dirty and you know you're already going to wash your fruits and veggies before you use them so it's a good way to you know cut out 8 to 10 produced plastic bags per grocery trip oh that's amazing I do the same thing that's uh that's good to know um so let's move over here right to the snacks and drinks section A.

Lot of this stuff does look delicious admittedly but how do you avoid all the packaging that can be problematic yeah so unlike produce snacks and and drinks are a category that everything seems to come packaged in plastic um the good news is that there are so many grocery stores now that offer a bulk section um which offers things like snacks like.

Pretzels nuts granola even chocolate and candy and so what my family likes to do is we bring our own containers to the grocery store we can get exactly how much we need and we we save money as well because we're not paying for the excess packaging I saw this in your pantry yes and then how about here on the these.

Crinkly bottles of water but can't be good yeah so one of my biggest tips is for everyone to just carry around a reasonable water bottle as well as a reason able coffee mug if you drink coffee um Americans use over 50 billion plastic single-use plastic water bottles each year and even though they're intended to be recycled only about one.

In five is actually recycled yeah recycling is Never As Good As that's crazy okay we got to talk about the cleaning products of all so many of them say oh Earth friendly eco-friendly but that isn't actually a claim that's provable yeah unfortunately that claim is not regulated here in the US um I mean things like pods for example there.

Are a lot of pods and laundry sheets that are marketed as eco-friendly um but this thin film that you see wrapping each pod it's actually plastic um and so what I recommend is you know our company blue land we make these naked uh laundry tablets without the plastic but you get the single dose okay um but I also recommend you.

Know good old laundry powder that comes in a big cardboard box or even a jug of liquid detergent cuz at least this jug is recyclable versus this plastic um polyvinyl alcohol it breaks down into tiny pieces of plastic it goes down our drains and ultimately into our environment and on our plates yeah and our you can't have that on the.

Dishwashing pods and finally storage paper goods plastic wraps sandwich bags all that what do what do we need to change about yeah so the great thing is there are a lot of great Alternatives um to sort of the plastic wrap and the zip top sort of plastic baggies my family lives by these silicone reusable bags for snacks and for leftovers oh that's.

Great can wash them and yeah you just wash them and you can reuse them and there's also great like bees wrap wax as well that you can that's moldable that you can use the C of the Saran ra awesome Sarah thanks so much for being with us of course thanks so much for having me and when we come back actor Wilson Cruz bringing the laughs what.

Drew him to his new role in the film mother of the bride we are going to find that out on GMA 3 in just a moment first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's.

Happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live.

So these boxs are identical but one is real and one is fake this feels like real so I got a bunch of super face some of these are chef's kiss this is a counterfeit really the Louis Vuitton the Prada the Gucci we get everything to make a a super fake is easier now than ever before anybody can.

Be fool anybody super fakes now streaming on Hulu sign the to fell on my stepson you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son di you're not good Li do you think just sounds in a good way the interrogation tapes tonight on ABC why do so many people start their day here from ABC.

News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories start here now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming make it your daily first listen wherever you get your podcast can you believe it it's 255 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my.

Goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full on breakfast and bed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed you're watching America's number one.

Streaming news live reporting breaking new exclusives keep streaming with ABC News live welcome back to gma3 he is known for making his impact on stages and Beyond starring in cult classics like my so-called life and Star Trek Discovery and now he's bringing the laughs in the new film mother of the bride please.

Welcome Wilson Cruz thank you what about this character Drew you to this role well I have to say you know after five seasons of saving the universe and high stakes in on Star Trek Discovery it was really nice to go to puket and like sit by the pool and make people laugh like you know I didn't have to save the universe all all day so.

That and the fact that you know I'm a huge fan of Benjamin Bratz who is like the Latino Carrie Grant I like to say and I wanted to you know pick up some tips on that and Brook Shields has been an icon M since I was a teenager obviously so uh it was just a it was a paid vacation let's be honest let's be real it was so much fun but it was also.

Hard work obviously oh no it wasn't hard work at all I'm and I would love to sign up for that uh location you you were at a luxury resort in Thailand yes oh I know how to say hello in in Thai Saad yes right uhhuh is that pretty good okay what else did you learn what was it like you know being in Thailand I'll tell you the food was amazing the people were.

Amazing we had an an all tie crew um it's just a gorgeous place in the world you know I took a week after we finished filming and my brother and I explored the entire Island Thailand is at the top of my bucket list so I'll have to get some recommendations from you and live vicariously through you by watching mother of the bride but I want to go.

Back now 30 years can't believe it to that One Singular amazing season of my so-called life critics dubet is one of the best team drama series ever and when you reflect upon the success of that show and your career 30 years on what where does your mind go I mean the first thing that comes up is gratitude you know I am so grateful for that.

Opportunity it just set up the rest of my career but also the Gratitude I have for being allowed to be that person for a generation of young people and more Generations that followed that really got to see a young queer person of color come into their own and go on this journey of self-acceptance and you know I know how much that character meant to.

Lgbtq people because it would have meant that much to me I'm I'm the chair of the board at glisten which is an organization that works to um support students in in schools um and so I know how difficult schools are um to be to to go through that process we actually have our big New York City gala April 29th if anybody wants to come uh you can go to.

.org and buy tickets um but you know it's it was it was a huge moment in terms of visibility and I'm just really proud to have been able to be that person that's crazy you think that was 30 years ago yes and we only I only look 15 now thank you Wilson Cruz for being here for sharing yourself with us here it is.

A pleasure to see you and be with you and you can check Wilson out on the mother of the bride on Netflix on May 9th and that is what you need to know for this Monday I'm and I'm will re and I'm Dr Jen Ashton and for all of us here at ABC News have a great.

Day it I change why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R ml Awards and.

See why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any other newscast ABC News World News Tonight.

With David mure America's number one most watched newscast across all of television first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East.

What people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live right now there's just so much happening in our world so much at stake.

At the start of every morning making sense of it all that's not always so easy and that's where we come in Good Morning America we want you to know every morning we're right here and we got you it's lunchtime in America so what are we serving up well how about everything you need to know that sounds pretty good your health your money.

Breaking news music and of course good good food a third hour of GMA in the afternoon so join us afternoon for everything you need to know I love that traveling with the president in Vietnam I'm Selena Wayne wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live I'm Ken WTH here in Los Angeles and.

Right now on ABC News live witness testimony such to resume tomorrow in the first criminal trial of a former US president Donald Trump back in court in New York for his hush money trial what a former tabloid publisher accused of catching and killing negative stories about Trump told the court today also growing concerns over security and.

Anti-Semitism at Columbia University the major safety step from the school ahead of the first night of passover also Congress moving closer to passing a potential ban on Tik Tok how the Senate may decide the future of the app used by 170 million people across the United States but we begin here on this Monday with testimony set to resume tomorrow in.

The first criminal trial of a former US president Donald Trump defiant again today while leaving his hush money trial in New York doubling down on his defense that payments to his former attorney Michael Cohen were appropriately labeled as legal expenses actually nobody's been able to say what you're supposed to call it if a.

Lawyer puts in a bill or an invoice and you pay the bill and in the book it's a little line that's a very small little line I don't know if you could even write more than two words it's not like you could tell a life story they marked it down to a legal expense this is what I got indicted.

Over well prosecutors say those payments were actually part of an effort to funnel hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and that Trump falsified business records to hide it the former president in court today as the first witness in the case took the stand his longtime friend and former publisher of the national Inquirer David pecker.

Testifying about what he called the tabloid's brand of checkbook journalism essentially paying for stories so prosecutors say that he acted as a co-conspirator in helping buy and bury damaging stories about Trump so joining me for more on this is our investigative reporter Olivia Rubin along with our executive editorial producer John santui.

And criminal defense attorney and former Federal prosecutor Tim Jansen so thank you all for being here and Olivia let's start here with you please tell us I mean what was it like for Trump in court today what was his move and how did he respond Olivia to Pecker's testimony I think we saw a few different moods from Donald Trump in the courtroom.

Today Kano we saw the board Donald Trump letting out a yawn during sort of the lengthy jury instructions that were delivered by Wan Mara at the beginning of the day we saw sort of a maybe more angered Donald Trump when the prosecutors were going through their opening statement talking about how he committed a fraud talking about how he.

Tried to influence the election how they read through the Access Hollywood tape said that he bragged about abusing women and then we saw Donald Trump uh when David pecker first got on the stand and it was so interesting to watch him watch David pecker make his way up to the stand and it was a really fascinating moment the demeanor of David pecker sort.

Of flashing this big smile right when he got on the witness stand right before he began his testimony but Kaa I do think that it was the prosecutor's opening statement that appeared to get under Donald Trump's skin the most today specifically with what I just said the Access Hollywood tape you could see him shaking his head he you know was kind of.

Pursing his lips at times passing notes with his attorney and that that's when we kind of saw the most reaction out of him but you have to remember a lot of what court is is very slow at times it's very laborious it's very just litigious and it's not as exciting as some of the more uh high-profile moments and those are the times when you see Donald Trump.

Just sort of slumped in his chair with absolutely nothing to do right and even uh to that point elv I know the judge told everyone including the jurors you know don't think about how this plays out in TV this is a real courtroom it's going to be different so John yeah so John to you look uh Trump and David pecker I mean they've been.

Close for years right at one point Trump calling him brilliant David pcker referring to him as a close personal friend at one point uh so how crucial is he right now to the prosecutor's case and why call him to the stand first well he's critical I mean because at the end of the day dis Arrangement was between allegedly three people Donald Trump.

David pcker and Michael Cohen so getting two of the you know Partners in this up on the stand really is what prosecutors need to do to show not only that this was the team that did this but this was a Repeat Performance right though Stormy Daniels and that situation is the only one part of the 34 criminal count indictment brought by prosecutors here.

In New York the idea is that pcker Trump and Cohen had done this multiple times before Kaa so really what David pecker does is give voice to the scheme and and look prosecutors acknowledged it today during their opening statements that look you know there's certainly some issues with Michael Cohen but the reality is this was a deal that he.

Carried out at Donald Trump's behest as his lawyer he worked with David pecker and this is how the deal got done I do just think though and Olivia hit on this point very smartly a couple seconds ago with you you know calling David pecker first in part sort of sets the table up obviously into what catch and kill is and this relationship they had but it.

Does also give a different voice to all of this and what I mean by that is look we've heard Michael Cohen talk before we've heard Stormy Daniels talk before you have never heard David pcker speak before so even for the jurors some of who might be familiar with this to see somebody new in this performance already sets the stage oh peing that interest.

That's a really good point and we know uh that defense attorneys to quot Aaron kki tried their best to ESS eviscerate The credibility of Michael Cohen and David pecker will be back on the stand tomorrow so Tim to you also tomorrow uh the judge is going to hear some arguments about whether Trump violated the gag order in this case in part by.

Posting about expected Witnesses including Michael Cohen do and Stormy Daniels doing this on social media uh do you think you might see any firm enforcement of this gag order I know they've talked about you know potentially throwing $1,000 at him each time he does it well clearly he violated the gag.

Order uh the judge set the gag order and Trump apparently violated it multiple times I'm surprised they haven't done anything beforehand um I think the judge is going to get some control he he might give him some fines and and give him the riot act and let him know next time I'm going to start double def fines triple def fines.

But I I think he's got to take control he can't allow Trump to be out there every day after court criticizing Witnesses I mean that's the whole purpose of the gag order right and he's violating it so he's violating a court order uh against this judge on a daily basis and he also even uh again today according to reports attacked the judge.

On social media for not allowing him to attend the supreme court hearing on Thursday that's happening so I know that all of you will be watching this closely we'll continue to discuss this as it all plays out Olivia John and Tim thank you so much also President Biden today weighing in on those protests that have raised major concerns about safety and.

Anti-Semitism on college campuses he answered questions that were shouted to him from reporters while leaving an earthday event take a listen do you condemn the anti-semitic protests on college campuses I condemn the anti-semitic protest that's why I've set up a program to deal with that I also condemn those who don't understand.

What's going on with the Palestinians so protesters rallying again at Columbia University in New York City calling for it to cut Financial ties with businesses connected to Israel administrators stepping up security they're shifting to Virtual learning today ahead of the start of Passover tonight the NYPD also helping form safe.

Corridors as they call it for students and saying that there are no credible threats right now to any particular groups or individuals Pro Palestinian rallies taking place at other schools including Yale University in Connecticut police there saying that they took dozens of protesters in into custody and charge them with trespassing that.

Happened earlier today uh turning our attention now to Capital Hill where the $95 billion foreign aid package heads to the Senate and is expected to pass this week Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer bringing the package to the senate floor that would provide Aid to Ukraine Israel and Taiwan now the legislation also includes a ban against.

Tik Tock unless its chinese-based parent company bite dance sells it the package is a combination of four bills that the house passed on Saturday after months of delay with Democrats helping push the funding measure through over the no votes of a group of Hardline GOP lawmakers who strongly oppose it arguing that the US should instead focus on the.

Crisis at our own Southern border some even threatening house Speaker Mike Johnson's gavel but Johnson defending the legislation despite the push back I want to bring in our ABC News senior White House correspondent Selena Wang from Capitol Hill for us so uh Selena a lot a lot going on here with this Aid package again expected to pass in the.

Senate but what does that mean if it does for the future of Tik Tok yeah Kaa there's a lot of bipartisan support for this so this whole Aid package including this part that includes Tik Tok it is expected to speed through the Senate but what does this actually mean so it would result in a ban here in the US for Tik Tok unless it's Chinese company bite.

Dance parent company bite dance sells it within a year now this is not going to be an easy process first of all Tik Tok is going to fight this in the court saying that it violates the First Amendment and saying it devastates those millions of small businesses that rely on the platform in addition to that the Chinese government could block a sale of.

The app and it's not going to be easy to find a buyer Kana we're talking about tens of billions of dollars here this is an extremely expensive app and then of course wondering if all the information and data Bites come with it of course Selena also talked to us about how speaker Johnson pushing his way with this bill he had to have help.

From Democrats to do it which essentially you know put his job on the line I mean is his speakership right now under threat yeah a total 180 for Johnson going from being staunchly against Ukraine Aid to putting his job on the line to get this $95 billion Aid package passed now for now his job is safe but there is a still threat this.

Threat is still out there that he could lose his speakership with Marjorie Taylor green and two other House Republicans signaling that they would back her motion to vacate but so far Marjorie Taylor green she's been all bark and no bite she's lording this over their head his head but she still hasn't done it she could do it when the house.

Is back in session next week but even if this motion to vacate goes through Ka it's not clear that it would be successful you've got Democrats and moderate Republicans saying he should keep his job all right well that'll be interesting to see how all of that plays out especially as we watch that vote.

Come down tomorrow Selena thank you so much and now to the Middle East where Iran is speaking out about the Israeli air strikes that hit near a major air base and nuclear site in the country Iran's foreign Ministry calling last week strikes harassment and saying that they caused no damage whatsoever but warning about a more powerful response.

If there is another attack and the head of the Israeli military intelligence is now resigning over the failures that led to that surprise attack on October 7th by Hamas Major General Aaron haliva becoming the first senior figure in the IDF to step down for his role in what became the deadliest attack in Israel's history uh that news coming as the US.

State department considers sanctioning a specific IDF unit that is accused of Human Rights violations in the West Bank and that was before the war in Gaza began ABC News foreign correspondent Tom Sufi bur is joining us now from Tel Aviv with more on this so Tom thanks for being here look how significant right now is this resignation of this Major.

General in the IDF what does it tell us about the scale of that intelligence failure oh it underlines the enormity of those intelligence failings Kaa I mean the IDF had an Intel dossier a year before the attack and it read like a blueprint for hamas's plans but Israeli intelligence didn't think Hamas was capable of executing that plan and there.

Were multiple other warnings in the months and even hours before the attack so I think it was almost an inevitability that the head of military intelligence would resign he is the first senior officer to do so but I probably don't think he'll be the last and the US is now said to make a decision on whether to sanction the.

Specific IDF unit that's accused of these human rights violations uh in the West Bank so what right now are you hearing about that and how is Israel resp fonding yeah that's netar Yehuda it's an IDF unit for Ultra Orthodox Jews and prior to October the 7th it was accused of multiple human rights violations.

Against Palestinians in the West Bank now the IDF says it did take disciplinary action against soldiers involved with some cases of alleged human rights abuses the Biden Administration has signaled it might take action against that unit we don't have details of what type of action are confirmed at this stage but that hasn't.

Stopped an angry response from Top is Israeli officials including the Prime Minister Netanyahu saying if anyone is thinking about putting sanctions on a unit of the IDF he'll fight it with all his strength the defense minister here also saying the US would be wrong to single out one unit and doing so would cast a shadow over the entire.

IDF all right Tom sui verage in Tel Aviv for us Tom thank you so much coming up next here the supreme court hearing a high stakes case on homeless encampments and whether cities can punish people who don't have a place to sleep we have more on that straight ahead this is not about parents who just let.

Their kid watch violent movies or play violent video games this is about parents who neglected their son ignored his cries for help and then bought him a gun the first parents in America to be charged in a school shooting involuntary manslaughter charges against parents of the shooter at Oxford High School who killed four students and wounded others.

There's a myth that a shooter just snaps it's just not true there are always signs he was crying for help and being ignored he had pictures of a Target on his bedroom wall shell casings on his nightstand a very toxic turbulent relationship those people are yikes the life they lived was just crazy the sexting and the really terrible things.

They video of their sexual acts they purchased that gun for him with his money and bragged about it they're being told by a school counselor that he thinks their son's going to kill himself and they do nothing as soon as I heard they were called to the school that day the messages about lol don't get caught those were very very.

Concerning to me that's the moment that no juror is going to think well haven't we all been there here's what it is I got it they do not seem shocked about him having the gun there was no shock zero schoolers aren't created they're made and it's made over time you don't get to walk away from that you just don't that's a criminal.

Act sins of the parents the crumbly trials the opposite of love is not hate it's just being ignored only on Hulu you're watching America's number one streaming news ABC News live breaking news exclusives live reporting across the globe keep streaming with ABC News.

Live all right the Supreme Court is hearing a major homelessness case for the first time in decades the justice is weighing in on a case that could affect how cities treat people who are homeless this comes after a ninth circuit ruling found that finding people for sleeping on the streets amounts to quote cruel and unusual punishment officials in.

California and Oregon argue that homelessness numbers are skyrocketing amid housing uh housing costs that are rising and income equality as well so for joining us for more on this is our ABC News senior Washington reporter Devon dwire he's live outside the Supreme Court and Devon I know you've been following this closely uh this case.

Really one of the most significant legal disputes over homelessness in more than 40 years uh so what stood out to you the most today in court a fascinating debate today K lasted more than 2 and a half hours and the Court's concer conservative majority was clearly sympathetic to cities like Grants Pass Oregon the one that bought this case.

Today uh while certainly empathetic with people who are unhoused the the conservative justices said cities need to be able to crack down on those homeless encampments we've seen an explosion of those up and down the West Coast in particular they frame this as a matter of public health and safety uh Justice Clarence Thomas suggesting that.

The eth amendment that cruel unusual punishment ban doesn't apply to civil fines Amy con Barrett worried that if they wouldn't allow a camping ban maybe cities then could be at risk for punishing people for public defecation and urination she said that clearly needs to be prohibited even though it's a human need but the liberal justices.

Kano were on fire today they were adamant that sleeping is a basic human right that doing so in public when there are no other places for these people to go um it needs to be protected it cannot be punished by the state and the justices will have to issue dep an opinion here uh in the next few weeks Kanan well and Deon I know that you even.

Went to Oregon and you spoke with officials there how do they feel about this case you know the community uh the community level so divided you know and we talked to uh State Attorneys local Council people out in Grants Pass and they said look this is something that residents feel strongly about they have a right to be in their Parks too and.

Here's what the police chief had to say along with the city attorney we have community members in Grant's Palace that that are afraid to come to their Parks we've had shootings in our Parks we've had fights in our Parks chronic drug abuse in our Parks so so much of our citizenry are not walking through our Parks it's not acceptable.

For anyone to call the streets or Park their home and cities need to have these ordinances so that they can help to incentivize people to accept offers of help that's what these laws do so the city saying these sorts of laws are incentivizing people to seek shelter but a number of homeless residents in Grants Pass I talked to Kaa I said this is.

Simply about human rights there was nowhere else for them to go the city doesn't have a public shelter uh and therefore the answer to this problem a very complicated and emotional problem Nationwide is more affordable housing and more shelters that the city needs to do that rather than punish people with tickets again the justice has appeared.

Sympathetic to the city uh but we'll have to see what they saying their final opinion in June Ka well and so Deon as you mentioned there we aren't expecting this final opinion until June but it's coming quickly uh so how could this ruling then impact other states and cities uh with large homeless populations I know uh the Genesis of.

This argument even started in boyy Idaho right it it sure did and States like Idaho Washington State California up and down the coast are watching this very closely because cities uh want to move in they want to clear out these encampments they want to more aggressively pursue them and they don't want to face constitutional challenges.

So whatever the court says here will have a sweeping impact it won't solve the Homeless Problem uh more than 600,000 Americans homeless On Any Given night in this country that's a record number uh both sides acknowledge whatever the court says won't fix that here um but cities states red States and blue States Republicans and Democrats in.

Many cases hoping that the Supreme Court will give them back this charge to be able to clean it up on the other hand Kaa Advocates are hoping that the Supreme Court won't green light more punishment for people already in a tough spot Kaa all right Devon DWI thanks to you also the Supreme Court today agreeing to take up a legal battle over.

Ghost guns as well these are weapons with no serial numbers they're assembled from Individual parts that are often created with a 3D printer uh the Biden Administration appealing to keep a regulation in place targeting ghost guns after Lower Court Struck it down the justices had previously voted 5 to four to keep that regulation in effect as the.

Legal battle played out all right coming up next here on ABC News live on this Earth Day we will show you a group of kids who think that they can change the world or at least their school's cafeteria that's coming up next first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another avalanch.

Warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commutant what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sounds sounds good to me the Moose started.

Chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live I love it give it come it all it to this week opening arguments in Donald.

Trump's criminal trial plus the massive foreign aid bill and the bipartisan Coalition behind it with so much at stake more Americans turn to World News Tonight with David mure the most watched newscast on television you guys don't know what happened that day the day my son died 911 the to fell on my.

Stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of deception did that told us to complete yes I did 100% no you didn't I can I looking it you're not a good Li do you think just sounds in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC Babe Ruth Hank Aron showy Otani.

Legends of the game but now the list of greats redefined from ABC News reclaimed the Forgotten League a side of the story of baseball you have never heard before like this the award-winning podcast is back listen wherever you get your podcast or scan the QR codes you see here reporting from the front lines of the war in Israel I'm I panel wherever.

The story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live and welcome back today is Earth Day which began in 1970 and marks the anniversary of what its organizers called the birth of the modern environmental movement to raise awareness for protecting our planet so all week long ABC News will feature.

Reports on climate challenges that we face and possible solutions as well in an initiative we're calling the power of us so this year's theme is Plant versus plastic a call to reduce plastic production by 60% by the year 2040 and like so many movements children across the country are helping move towards that goal ABC's Chief climate.

Correspondent Ginger Z explains how Elementary School students are demonstrating the power of us the school cafeteria might seem like just a place to eat but for these students the learning hasn't stopped when we use plastic they send it over to like factories and they burn it and it it.

Fixs like the ecosystem it's plastic free lunch day at this school in Brooklyn New York the plastic free lunch movement all started in 2018 after fifth graders advocated for the change and they started to ask a question wow this is a zero school but how can it be a zero school when we have so much plastic in our lunches so much plastic packaging.

Ronda Kaiser is the program director at cafeteria culture an organization that facilitates plasticfree lunch day she says the initiative has grown exponentially now one day a month schools across New York City go plastic free during lunch that means they don't use any single-use plastic like utensils or packaging reusable trays are ideal.

But since this school doesn't have a dishwasher they're using compostable plates and composting them the right way the menu modified handheld foods like sandwiches and veggies that they can dip bananas cauliflower cucumbers and broccoli 19 school districts across the country have joined the reach of plastic fruit lunch.

Day has been enormous just the data from New York City Schools from the 16 plastic free lunch days we've reduced more than 13 million single-use plastic items from the waist stream a review published by the National Institutes of Health revealed that public schools in the US generate about 14,500 tons of Municipal Solid Waste.

Every day and approximately 42% of that is packaging generated by schools food service if your kids pack a lunch for school there are ways to reduce plastic there too so we invested in in this bento box that is aluminum cleans up really nicely it's even dishwasher safe uh but we mostly hand wash it no microplastic shedding into my kids food.

And I don't have to have that ugly habit of buying plastic baggies the kids know they're making a difference I think it's important that's why I think more schools should do it we're definitely not going to stop until it's plasticfree lunch day every day all right now thanks to Ginger Z uh for more of her reporting on Earth Day.

Be sure to catch ABC News live Prime with lindsy Davis coming up at 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on ABC News live and streaming on Hulu ABC News live will also have special reporting on the climate challenges that we face and more empowering stories about Solutions so tune in to our new special trash The Secret Life of plastic exports airing.

Tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. Eastern and then on Thursday be sure to catch another brand new special the power of us which focuses on individual and systemic Solutions and the impact that we can have together to protect our Earth that's at 8:30 p.m. Eastern both specials will also be streaming on Hulu so we certainly hope that you check them.

Out of course so we have a lot more news here on ABC News live and in today's big story the first witness testimony in the first criminal trial of a former US president what the former publisher of the national inquire a longtime friend of Donald Trump's told the court about the tabloid's brand of checkbook journalism also in our Spotlight.

Congress moving closer to passing a potential ban on Tik Tok our panel lays in on whether it could trigger a Revolt from Young voters what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America an operation to capture Isis Fighters This our combat Operation.

Center we're approaching the gate now militants came in from four or five different directions operational nuclear reactor so you have a couple loaded and ready to go the house is destroyed but the flag there's not a tear in it not a tear in it how important is this label right here made the USA look at your smile.

You're proud of this I love it great work hi where are you where are you appreciate you thank you David good to meet you is David David yes yes I'm David M I know you are you every night ABC's World News Tonight with David mure is America's most watched.

Newscast this is ABC News live the crush of families here in Poland at Refugee centers in Putin's Russia on the ground in Ukraine close to the front line from the capital destru Cat 4 storm I Boston is in the Bulls let's go ABC News live America's number one streaming news anytime anywhere streaming 247 straight to you for free thank you for making ABC.

News live America's number one streaming news first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commun what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis.

Fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take.

On the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts.

Start here can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America oh my good oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and bed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so go to good morning am.com or scan this QR code to find out how to.

Enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed well the first witness taking the stand in the first criminal trial of a former US president I'm K WTH here in Los Angeles and that is our big story today Donald Trump back before a judge in his criminal hush money trial in New.

York what he said while leaving court and the testimony from a longtime friend of his accused of being part of this alleged catch and kill sche to bury negative stories about Trump and our Spotlight Congress moving closer to passing a potential ban on Tik Tok our panel weighs in on whether it could trigger a political Revolt from younger.

voters okay of course we begin here with our big story testimony set to resume tomorrow in the first criminal trial of a former US president Donald Trump defiant again today while leaving his hush money trial in New York doubling down on his defense that his payments to his former attorney Michael Cohen were.

Appropriately labeled as legal expenses actually nobody's been able to say what you're supposed to call it if a lawyer puts in a bill or an invoice and you pay the bill and in the book it's a little line that's a very small little line I don't know if you could even write more than two words it's not like you could tell a.

Life story they marked it down to a legal expense this is what I got indicted over well prosecutors say that those payments were actually part of an effort to funnel hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and that Trump falsified business records to hide it the former president in court today as the first.

Witness in the case took the stand his longtime friend and former publisher of the national inquir David pecker testifying about what he called the tabloid's brand of checkbook journalism essentially paying for stories prosecutors say that he acted as a co-conspirator in helping buy and bury damaging sto stories about Donald Trump.

Uh joining me for more and this is our ABC News Chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Carl so John thank you so much for being here with me today and look this is something that you have covered for so long and actually I was just watching you watch the former president address the media there as he left the courthouse today talking about this.

Little line that you can't write a life story in uh what's your take on that well well look uh first of all overall what a day uh for history this is not the first day of the trial but it's the first day opening statements the substantive First beginning of this trial and it features David pecker uh a guy who is uh the the the former head of.

The national Inquirer a lead witness so fascinating because they LED with him clearly because they think that he is going to be Central to their case the testimony barely got underway we don't know where exactly it's going to go but put this in context here you have the three Central Witnesses now that we know for this case the basically a.

Scandalmonger head of a tabloid uh a convicted liar in Michael Cohen and a pornstar uh that seems to raise questions about how the prosecution is going to make their case it also raises questions about Donald Trump all three of them are Central to this case because of their direct ties to the former and potentially future president certainly.

And we know that the defense jumped to their chance in opening statements to as Aaron kki wrote to essentially eviscerate Michael 's credibility uh but also John I'm curious to get your thoughts on after the sand ofal hearing uh judge the judge said that if Trump does take the stand that prosecutors can in fact ask him about a number of past.

Legal issues it's limited in scope a bit uh so knowing that now John do you think that he'll still testify so I I I have to tell you Ken I've been skeptical that he would testify primarily because I've seen Donald Trump over the course of so many other cases where he said I'll testify I'll talk I've got nothing hide and then he doesn't testify this goes.

All the way back to the Muller report but I actually you know my understanding and his lawyers are not counseling him against testifying I don't think he's going to testify in any of the other criminal cases if they come to trial but on this one it basically comes down to Michael Cohen's word against Donald Trump's word so there is a reason for.

Him to get on the stand and to directly dispute what Michael Cohen has said about these statements I still think there is a very good chance that Donald Trump will testify in this case oh well that'll be something and also John as you know tomorrow will again it will start with this contempt hearing prosecutor saying that Trump has.

Violated the gag order multiple times some even questioning you know if what he said about Michael Cohen today after court is yet another violation we also know he mentioned the judge on social media today as well uh so he's also though taking those moments at the microphone John to highlight what he's missing in his opinion he's missing at.

His time on the campaign yeah and by the way it's looks like he violated the gag order today he is not allowed to criticize the witnesses to go after the witnesses and he went after Michael Coen over and over again at this uh at the microphones but overall you know he is his advisers have urged him to use those moments before the camera when really he.

Has the attention of much of the country everybody following this case to use those moments to do what he can't do which is the campaign cuz he's stuck in the courtroom so come out and emphasize uh his themes to go after Joe Biden on a substantive way and instead he is out there making smallish complaints about being mistreated by the by by the court.

System by the prosecutors uh I I I don't think it's been particularly effective and he is he's deprived of being on the campaign trail that is true and he's not using the attention that he has all right uh thank you so much for your analysis as always John Carl it's a pleasure to have you with us I want to bring our big story now to our panel so.

Joining us today is our ABC News political contributor and former Democratic US senator from North Dakota Heidi height Camp our ABC News contributor and former Virginia Republican congresswoman Barbara comto our ABC News contributor and serus X XM radio host Mike Muse and our legal news contributor and trial attorney Brian.

Buckmire okay so there's a lot to talk about even though we just had a short day in court today uh so Brian let's talk about what the judge made very clear that the burden lies with the prosecution they have to prove here be Beyond A Reasonable Doubt right the jury just can't think that Donald Trump is probably guilty uh but Brian the defense.

Arguing that these payments the practice of catch and kill and influence influencing election isn't illegal they said it's democracy yeah I'm not sure of that argument it seems more rhetoric than a legal argument it's again where the campaign is kind of bumping up with the criminal court itself uh but other than that argument from the defense they.

Did make some points where they were trying to highlight The credibility issue that some of the prosecutors Witnesses may have and another point that I think that wasn't really highlighted but might be a larger issue down the road if not for this trial and for the appeal is in order to make these falsification of business records a.

Felony there needs to be an underlying crime and it seems like the prosecution kind of glanced over that in many ways the defense May harp on that a little bit uh louder come the end of this trial and that might not win the day for the trial but maybe a strong argument for an appeal if Donald Trump is found guilty of these crimes all right looking far.

Down the line there as you always do in anticipation Brian buckmire thank you uh Heidi to you uh first of all what is your reaction to to Brian's statement there well I think that is going to be tough for this prosecutor to try and Link the the the uh falsification of business records which Trump is going directly at when he said I didn't faly.

Anything I paid a legal bill that was handed to me along with election fraud and and so this isn't a slam dunk but the the most important part politically is it is highly unflattering to Donald Trump going forward and if Donald Trump gets on the SC stand it's going to be very very difficult for him to recover any kind of reputational uh recover from.

The injury that's going to happen so you got to look at this from a legal standpoint that's tough political standpoint I don't think this is good for Donald Trump yeah and Barbara what's your take on what Heidi just said there about politically you know he's he's not filling his campaign Cofer he's not.

Going to the states that he needs to be campaigning in instead he's sitting in this courtroom he can't go to the Supreme Court as he'd liked to on Thursday as well uh so what's your take well I think it's smart to start with this David pecker The National Enquirer because having worked on a lot of campaigns the idea that a candidate.

Himself was sitting down and starting with this conspiracy with his lawyer and the national Inquirer to catch and kill these negative stories about him and talking about about how you know either the national Inquirer would pay off a Playboy model or these or Stormy Daniels or whoever that he had affairs with and and that his lawyer would be paying them.

Off and then you have all these receipts and all these things and that the candidate himself not somebody on his campaign but the candidate himself Donald Trump was going to be involved in it and then you have all these receipts of him paying his lawyer who he was very complimentary of Michael Cohen until the time when Michael Cohen turned on him.

And then he trashed him so I think the timeline's going to be what's going to be interesting of when he was nice to him and when he started trashing them the timeline and what they can actually submit into evidence uh to prove the point that they're trying to make uh so Mike I'm also really curious Inquirer imagine Ronald Reagan doing.

That and uh yeah Mike Mike I want to get your take too on there was a lot of characterization that happened today in these opening statements right uh I keep saying it Aon kki said that they tried to essentially eviscerate the character of Michael Coen but also the defense trying to paint Donald Trump as Donald Trump the man the husband the father but.

They also Mike continued to refer to him as president and they said that that was purposeful yeah Aaron always does great reporting Kan and I think he was on to something I think what the defense is going to have to do is really try and undermine the character of one of the prosecution star witness which is Michael Cohen which is kind of what.

Barbara is alluding to and would you look at it on paper the data is there the paper trail is there you are able to connect the dots in terms of receipts and evidence it all goes down to a tent to which Brian was talking about and so with these key Witnesses if they can prove the intent of former president Trump's doings um that is strong for the.

Prosecution which is why the defense needs to make the jury discredit the characters of these leads Witnesses but politically Kan I'm really interested to see what's coming out particular over the weekend uh we saw the campaign filings of the strength of his campaign and we saw his super pack and what we saw is it's almost equal part money is.

Coming in equal parts to how much is being spend it on his legal bills so I think as time goes on politically no matter the outcome of the case I think that's going to be a bigger story to watch uh in the near future and I know that also John family is not there no one from his family is sitting there with him and that's highly unusual to.

Not have anybody is possible right it is possible that they end up getting called to testify right they were on that initial list and also as John sanui has pointed out here uh time and time again that we really have to see how this does play out with his campaign because there are some voters out there that say if he is convicted they will not vote for him.

All right Heidi Barbara Mike and Brian thank you so much for your time with us all right coming up next in our spotlight uh the Senate teeing up a vote this week on a foreign aid package that also takes the next step to Banning Tik Tock in America our panel weighs in on the jobs that could be lost from the Tic Tac economy that's after the.

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First thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating iions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between.

How does billionaire sounds sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live this is not about parents who just let their kid watch violent movies play violent video games this is about parents who neglected their son ignored his cries.

For help then bought him a gun the first parents in America to be charged in a school shooting they purchased that gun for him and bragged about it you don't get to walk away from that that's a criminal act sins of the parents the crumbly trials the opposite of love is not hate it's just being ignored only on Hulu why do so many people start their.

Day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R ml Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first.

Listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here all right in our Spotlight the 95 billion foreign aid package passed by the house this weekend now heads to the Senate where it's expected to see a vote this week it would provide Aid to.

Ukraine Israel and Taiwan the legislation also includes a ban against Tik Tok unless its chinese-based parent company bite dance sells it uh the package is a combination here of four bills the house passed them on Saturday of course you remember this is after months of delay with Democrats though helping to push the funding measure.

Through over the no vote over a group of Hardline GOP lawmakers they strongly oppos it arguing that the US should focus on the crisis at the southern border some threatening house Speaker Mike Johnson's gavel but Johnson defending the legislation despite all that push back I want to bring back my panel here so Heidi Barbara Mike and.

Joining us is ABC News contributor and oped columnist for the Los Angeles Times LZ Granderson so Heidi let's start here with you I mean it as we have seen it play out it takes a lot to get Republicans and Democrats to agree and work together but senators from both parties here in the Senate intelligence committee claim that Tik tock be used as.

A propaganda tool by China so what is your take here on the urgency they're using to address this issue yeah I'm sure Barbara will agree um those members have more information than we do there's been a lot of work done by the Intel committees to expose the the risk that Tick Tock presents and I know Mike disagrees with us but um I think this is.

A smart move and I I know on the Queue up there was a question about politically whether this would affect the election but you got to remember that they've been given nine months to uh alienate and sell Tik Tock um by that time the election will be over so we'll see how this plays out with young people going.

Forward yes certainly it could be a critical voting block there uh for the Biden Administration in terms of tic tac users Barbara what is your take here on Johnson standing firm with that well listen I think it is so exciting that the speaker went forward on this with all the threats that he had from the right on the Ukraine piece and.

I just want to give kudos to my friend Mike McCall who was fighting for this for so long to get the Ukraine peace in Israel and this was such a great Kumbaya moment on Saturday for everyone to be celebrating on that you know International win so I think there was less Focus probably on the Tic Tac part because the other pieces were such you.

Know an international crisis that that's what was so important that we get done and was was such a great win to kick that freedom caucus to the curb and Marjorie Taylor green who's now having her moment of you know uh you know his hysteria is just a beautiful thing to see as for Tik Tac I do think there's going to be you know a lot of legal.

Challenges there so I don't know that it's really going to happen the way it's in the bill I do think there's going to be some legal issues there as that goes forward yeah it's certainly certainly sounds like there might be it'll be interesting to see how this does in the Senate tomorrow so LZ what is your take here especially considering the fact.

That some people say it was a bit of a trojan horse right to put Tik Tok in there the way that they did I don't know if it's a trojan horse given the fact that we've been talking about CH China using Tik Tok as a method to infiltrate you know various Departments of government for years so I wouldn't necessarily say it's a trojan.

Horse but I would say was it made it more enticing perhaps Republicans who have been concerned about this for a number of years and I would just you know agree with Barbara I think this was a really powerful moment uh in our country's history given how divided we have been and how nonsensical we have been even about the most sensible of.

Things um speaker Johnson does deserve credit for his courage to go forward with this despite the possibility of losing his job I've been very critical of him in a lot of different things and so I want to compliment him on the strength of this because this was about more than just the party this was about the country and he came through.

Wow this I have to be honest the fact that we're having this conversation right now is kind of amazing to me I wasn't sure what everyone was going to say and how this would play out today so Mike I would just love your just sort of overall take here do you share that sentiment this Kumbaya is sentiment well one I love that Heidi.

Knows me way too well uh in terms of my sentiments around um Tik Tok Heidi my sentiment Still Remains True to this day I I I do believe that as we've heard our reports uh there are other adversaries are out to do cyber attacks and cyber warfare against us in particular around infrastructure and so I'm just wondering if this is just a way of getting.

Distracted from a lot of key issues around big Tech um in ways that they can easily just pinpoint China relationship to to tick tock the Kumbaya moment I'm happy for it but Kana I still go to the Baseline principle of this is the job of Congress Congress is supposed to Act Congress is supposed to move forward with legislation on behalf of not just.

The American people but for our allies and so it's hard for me to give an award or a trophy uh to a speaker for doing the job of the speaker but we are in unique unprecedented time so here we are today in a Kum Bayan moment here we are awesome on it too so you know he he made it happen too all right LZ Heidi Barbara and Mike thank you so much this is.

Fascinating conversation I appreciate you all coming up here in our last call the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announcing its newest members why one of the new dues may be turning down the honor our panel ways in after the break so these boxs are identical but one is real and one is fake this feels like real so I got a bunch of super.

Fakes some of these are chef's kiss this is a counterfeit really the Louis Vuitton the Prada the Gucci we get everything to make us a super fake is easier now than ever before anybody can be fooled anybody super fakes now streaming on Hulu from the team that brought you the DuPont award winning.

Report a groundbreaking new investigation spanning 9,000 miles trashed the secret life of plastic exports streaming Tuesday night on ABC News live with so much at stake so much on the line more Americans turn here than any another newscast ABC News World News Tonight with David mure America's number one most watched newscast across.

All of Television why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the now and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R mural Awards and see why the New York Times calls it.

A news podcast worth listening to start here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcast start here first thing in the morning there's a lot going on got another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is.

Impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sound sounds good to me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early.

Morning news on ABC News live can you believe it it's 25 years of breakfast and bed surprising moms Across America my goodness oh my goodness and for our 25th anniversary we're making it the biggest surprise yet a full-on breakfast and fed Extravaganza like you have never seen before so got a good morning am.com or.

Scan this QR code to find out how to enter a deserving mom you love for breakfast and bed Babe Ruth Hank Aron showy Otani Legends of the game but now the list of greates redefined from ABC News reclaimed the Forgotten League a side of the story of baseball you have never.

Heard before like this the award-winning podcast is back listen wherever you get your podcast or scan the QR code to see here I'm MOA langi in Beirut and wherever The Story Goes we'll take you there you're watching ABC News Live come on let's Cate there's a going I love it it's time.

For our last call there's definitely a celebration of our cool and the Gang make it into the rock and roll hall of fames class of 2024 uh this year's class stretching the boundaries of rock and roll so take a quick listen as to who else made it everybody get on you know we got to get it Mary J is in the SP tonight.

and that song just takes me back oh I love it so much oh we have to ask Mike Muse I asked them to bring your mic up so you could help me through this they want me to sing do you you feel the way we do Mike that perhaps Kay I never miss an opportunity to do karaoke with you.

Ever oh it's so embarrassing um future journalist Hall of Fame and Rock Roll Hall of Fame for you Kaa oh thank you Mike but it was really creative writing by Carrie because did you know in the end that Peter Frampton wasn't already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame uh we have so can we play his quick song real quick.

time how do you feel oh there we go all right so now it's time for our panel Elie Heidi Barbara and Mike thank you all I mean Elie Peter Frampton has been making records for more than 50 years I'm surprised he's not in there already you know this is the reason why I hate these.

Voting systems because sometimes it just make no sense like seriously there isn't a such thing as classic rock without Frampton Comes Alive it's one of the greatest live rock albums of all times how in the heck is it just not getting in I do not know I it's like it slip between the seats uh Barbara what about share Shar is.

In I know but but the politics of this seems uh even more complicated than what Congress is sometimes so I'm going to defer to these guys who know more than I do oh no Barber's like kumaya on in Congress and now Rock and Roll Hall of fame's a mess uh Mike Mike just give me your take what I love our producer Carrie for.

Being so es knowing everything she's my new phoner friend um but I'm really happy for Susan depas to receive the business award she is a legendary icon in the music and media space and she deserved the flowers and Kaa I'm so glad when people behind the scenes get the chance because she's responsible for discing one of our goats which is.

Michael Jackson so really really right is the Jackson 5 I mean like MO town for her right uh Heidi Heidi what about you Hey listen I'm giving a shout out to cool in the gang I had to listen to a lot of funk because my 10-year-old son got very in to cool in the gang and you can't go anywhere where you don't hear celebrate so come on let's that's good.

Yeah the Next Generation loving that music all right thank you so much everybody that's it for our last call LZ Heidi Barbara and Mike thank you thank you for streaming with us I'm Kaa Whitworth follow ABC News live on Instagram Tik to Facebook and more and coming up here at 7:00 p.m. Eastern be sure to catch ABC News live Prime with.

Lindsy Davis for the day's biggest Stories the impact that they have on you the news never stops neither do we keep it right here on ABC News live this week opening arguments in Donald Trump's criminal trial plus the massive foreign aid bill and the bipartisan Coalition behind us with so much at stake more Americans turn to.

World News Tonight with David mure the most watched new newscast on television from the team that brought you the DuPont awardwinning report a groundbreaking new investigation spanning 9,000 miles trashed the secret life of plastic exports streaming Tuesday night on ABC News live first thing in the morning there's a lot going.

On get another Avalanche warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight a dangerous ice storm is impacting the morning commute what's happening today escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about the migrant crisis fast straightforward with some fun in between how does billionaire sound sounds good.

To me the Moose started chasing a dog first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live you guys don't know what happened that day the day that my son died the C fell on my stepson right from the start you've got some clear indicators of.

Deception that to us to complete you yes I did 100% no you didn't I can all my look at it you're not a good life do you think just ends in a good way the interrogation tapes the new 2020 True Crime limited series tonight on ABC this is not about parents who just let their kid watch violent movies play violent video games this is about parents who.

Neglected their son ignored his cries for help then bought him a gun the first parents in America to be charged in a school shooting they purchased that gun for him and bragged about it you don't get to walk away from that that's a criminal act sins of the parents the crumbly trials the opposite of love is not hate it's just being ignored only on.

Hulu why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four Edward R murl Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start.

Here ABC News make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here here's to good mornings in America mornings that Inspire filled with hope kindness joyous surprises and so much fun start your day with Good Morning America's ray of sunshine highlighting the best of.

America get ready to smile and put the good into your Morning America you know what would make the morning better a little r of sunshine I'm Matt Gutman reporting from rala wherever the news is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live I'm K wwth here in Los Angeles and.

Right now on ABC News live witness testimony set to resume tomorrow the first criminal trial of a former US president Donald Trump back in court in New York for his hush money trial that a former tabloid publisher accused of catching and killing negative stories about Trump told the court today also Israel's top intelligence Chief resigns.

Over the failures that led to that surprised Hamas attack on October 7th what this means for the IDF as the war rages on in Gaza and on this Earth Day we're shining a light on those trying to make our planet a better place we speak with of the world's largest youth-led nonprofit working to make climate education accessible to everyone but of.

Course we begin here with the testimony set to resume tomorrow in the first criminal trial of a former US president Donald Trump defiant again today while leaving his hush money trial in New York doubling down on his defense that his payments to his former attorney Michael Cohen were appropriately labeled as legal.

Expenses actually nobody's been able to say what you're supposed to call it if a lawyer puts in a bill bill or an invoice and you pay the bill and in the book it's a little line that's a very small little line I don't know if you could even write more than two words it's not like you could tell a life story they marked it down to a legal.

Expense this is what I got indicted over well prosecutors say those payments were actually part of an effort to funnel hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and that Trump falsified business records to hide it former president in court today as the first witness in the case took the stand his long time friend and former publisher of.

The national Inquirer David pecker testifying about what he called the tabloid's brand of quote checkbook journalism essentially paying for stories so prosecutors say he acted as a co-conspirator in helping buy and bury damaging stories about Donald Trump ABC News investigative reporter Olivia Rubin has.

More the first preview of the case today playing out in that Manhattan courtroom prosecutors telling the jury that this was a fraud plan and simple that Donald Trump and Michael Cohen and David pecker all worked together a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election and even more so what was likely more painful for Donald Trump in that courtroom was to.

Hear prosecutors tell the jury about that Access Hollywood tape that Infamous tape that they say Sparks the need to pay out Stormy Daniels for her claims for Fears that he could lose the 2016 election and it was the the first time that the jury this body of 12 individuals that are going to decide Donald Trump's case got to hear.

Prosecutor side of the story but they also heard for the first time Donald Trump's side of the story and his attorney Todd blanch tried to humanize Donald Trump he said that he is you know the former president he is the man you see on TV but he is also a father he is also a husband and he is also just a man and what they said is that there was no.

Crime here that there is no uh crime against paying hush money there's no crime in having someone sign an NDA and what this was were payments to someone who was Donald Trump's attorney and what Todd blanch did in front of that jury was just eviscerate The credibility of the prosecution's lead witness Michael Cohen they said he is obsessed with.

Donald Trump they said that he wants to see him behind bars and that that is exactly what he is trying to do here so at times a difficult day for Donald Trump when he heard about the Access Hollywood tape at times a slow apparently boring day for Donald Trump at one time yawning through some of the more procedural purposes but regardless.

That is going to be Donald Trump's reality for the next six to8 weeks and David pcker his longtime friend now leading it off a little bit of testimony today that will really get underway tomorrow in Earnest as he tells the story likely of how the three of them work together to catch and kill stories including stormy Dan.

All right Olivia ruin our thanks to you as always I now want to bring in our ABC News legal contributor and trial attorney for more on this Brian buckmire so Brian thank you so much for being here with us and as Olivia pointed out here look the defense is trying to say that you know it's not a crime to essentially pay someone for an NDA it's.

Not a crime to try and influence AE an election they said that's democracy and and they can make these arguments during opening statements Brian but really what it boils down here right is can the prosecution prove intent right yeah and to your point yeah they can make these arguments or these statements because they're opening statements not.

Necessarily arguments and not evidence at all but yes the state has to prove this intent to defraud and also to cover up a crime in Aid in a bed that's something that seemed to be lacking a little bit in the uh prosecution opening statement but to the defense's point I didn't see really much push back other than don't believe uh Michael Cohen uh.

Donald Trump didn't really know the ins and outs of these agreements you'll see his names on a few of those papers as references the 34 accounts and those invoices but not so much everything else but then Donald Trump comes outside and starts talking about what seems to be like a lot of knowledge as to the ins and outs of how these payments were made.

That seem to be a little bit contradicting the opening statements from what the client is saying right we've heard time and time again Brian right that Donald Trump knew where every penny of his money was going that it was something that he looked at very very carefully but also in terms of credibility uh the defense did their.

Best as Aon k says to eviscerate The credibility of Michael Cohen uh they talked about how he as a goal he was like obsessed with Donald Trump and with getting to know him and they said absolutely he cannot be trusted so what does that mean here for the prosecution when their star witness at this point is a known liar for the prosecution they've.

Got to show that two things can be true at the same time that as the defense puts and Michael Cohen is obsessed quote unquote with Donald Trump has all these social media platforms and and books and whatnot and even to some extent stormmy Daniels but through the art of corroboration I think the prosecution has to make their case out that says yes.

He's a liar he's lied to Congress he's lied to court he's lied to other people but look at when he's telling the truth here because the evidence backs it up in the opening statements the prosecutors say that Michael Cohen actually kept recordings of Donald Trump almost as if he didn't believe that Donald Trump would pay him back so if Cohen takes a.

Stand and he has evidence to corroborate his statements he seems to be less of a liar in this instance and might actually in fact help the prosecution rather than hurt them when the defense tries to poke holes in his credibility all right and as we know in the end here the state carries that burden Brian buckmire our thanks so much.

To you as always for your analysis also today President Biden weighing in on protests that have raised concerns about safety and anti-Semitism on college campuses he answered questions that were shouted to him from reporters while he was leaving an Earth Day event take a listen do you condemn the anti-semitic protests on college campuses I condemn.

The anti-semitic protest that's why I've set up a program to deal with that I also condemn those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians well protesters rallying again at Columbia University in New York City calling for it to cut Financial ties with businesses connected to Israel administrators stepping up security and.

Shifting to Virtual learning today ahead of the start of Passover tonight the NYPD also helping form what they call Safe corridors for students saying that there's no credible threat to any particular groups or individuals right now also Pro Palestinian rallies taking over places at other schools including Yale University in Connecticut a police.

There say they had to take dozens of protesters into custody and charge them with trespassing ABC News Stephanie Ramos is live for us now at Columbia University who's been tracking the very latest and Stephanie look I know you've been out there all day so can you sort of uh give us a look inside of what you've been seeing there throughout the.

Day and also are we hearing any reaction right now from Jewish leaders at this moment absolutely Kana there is tension on both sides here from Pro Palestinian demonstrators who are students who are non students here at Columbia University and pro-israel demonstrators it was a much larger group earlier today outside the gates here at Columbia University.

The group is a it's a bit smaller right now but I can tell you I mean we just spoke with a student uh she is studying here and she was arrested last week she says that she did not expect one to get arrested and also to get suspended she says that she is here to fight for the people of Gaza she says that she and the other demonstrators want the genocide in.

Gaza to stop she says that is her message that is their message and that's why they are here of course there there have been incidents uh harassment and other intimidation tactics uh that have been taken that have taken place toward Jewish students by other individuals that have been here she tells me together with other Pro Palestinian.

Demonstrators that we met throughout the day they say that these are isolated incidents we also just spoke with a rabbi who says he is urging students to stay safe travel in groups not go by the school right now and just urging caution there was one Rabbi specifically that urg students to stay home saying the school and the NYPD cannot guarantee.

Jewish students' safety but again there are still Pro Palestinian demonstrators who insist those incidents are isolated Kaa and Stephanie look we know we're already seeing a ripple effect from this a big announcement today from New England Patriots owner Robert Craft uh saying that he's going to stop donating to Columbia what more do we know about.

That that's right the New England's uh Patriot owner Robert Craft indicated that he will no longer donate to Colombia he says uh that through a statement that he hopes his Center which he has a center here at the school will serve as a source of security and safety for all Jewish students and faculty but he is concerned about the future of his.

Alma moer k Stephanie Ramos thank you so much for your reporting we appreciate you being with us tonight uh now to the Middle East where Iran is speaking out about the Israeli air strikes that hit near a major air base and nuclear site in the country Iran's foreign Ministry calling last week's air strikes quote harassment.

Saying that it caused no damage whatsoever but warning about a more powerful response if there's another attack we also learned that the head of Israeli military intelligence is resigning over failures that led to that surprise October 7th attack by Hamas um Major General Aaron haliva becoming the first senior figure in the IDF to step.

Down for his role in what became the deadliest attack in Israel's history that news coming as the US state department considers sanctioning another specific IDF unit accused of human rights violations in the West Bank before the war in Gaza began ABC News Ford correspondent Tom Sufi Burge has the latest for us from Tel Aviv yeah.

Kana his resignation underlines the enormity of those in elligence failings the IDF had an internal dossier a year before the October 7th attack and it read like a blueprint for hamas's plans but Israeli intelligence didn't think Hamas was capable of executing that plan there were multiple other warnings in that months and even hours before the.

Attack so I think it was almost an inevitability that the head of military intelligence here in Israel would resign he's the first senior officer to do so but I don't think he'll be the last now it comes as the house uh signs off an additional $17 billion of military aid for Israel but that doesn't mean that the overall relationship between the.

Biden Administration and the Israeli government is all now smooth sailing and we're now picking up on another area of potential tensions and that is surrounding one particular Israeli military unit called NSA Yehuda it's a unit for Ultra Orthodox Jews prior to October the 7th it was accused of multiple human rights violations against.

Palestinians in the West Bank now the IDF says it did take disciplinary action against soldiers involved with specific cases fairly minor disciplinary action I think it's fair to say the Biden Administration has signaled it might take action against that unit no details of what type of action confirmed at this stage but that hasn't stopped an angry.

Response from top Israeli officials including the Prime Minister Netanyahu saying if anyone is thinking about putting sanctions on a unit of the IDF he says he'll fight it with all his strength the defense minister here also saying that if the US does do this it would be wrong to single out one unit and doing so would cast a shadow over.

The entire IDF Kaa all right Tom Sufi verage in Tel Aviv for us thank you also now to dramatic V video showing the moments that a Russian missile attacked Ukraine it broke a huge TV tow essentially splitting in half so we have the video again this happened today in K you see see it falling right there uh this is Ukraine's second largest city.

It's just 18 miles from Russia's border Ukraine's President says that the attack took place just minutes before before he spoke on the phone with President Biden he also called this strike part of a deliberate effort from Russia to make kive uninhabitable all right coming up next here tens of thousands of people taking to the street in major cities uh.

In Colombia to protest their president's reform plan why potential policy changes are causing an uproar there thus next you're watching America's number one streaming news ABC News live live breaking news exclusives live reporting across the globe keep streaming with ABC News.

Live this is not about parents who just let their kid watch violent movies or play violent video games this is about parents who neglected their son ignored his cries for help and then bought him a gun the first parents in America to be charged in a school shooting inv voluntary manslaughter charges against parents of the shooter at Oxford High.

School who killed four students and wounded others there's a myth that a shooter just snaps it's just not true there are always signs he was crying for help and being ignored he had pictures of a Target on his bedroom wall shell casings on his nightstand a very toxic turbulent relationship those people are yikes the.

Life they lived was just crazy the sexting and the really terrible things they'd video of their sexual acts they purchased that gun for him with his money and bragged about it they're being told by a school counselor that he thinks their son's going to kill himself and they do nothing as soon as I heard they were called to the school that day.

The messages about lol don't get caught those were very very concerning to me that's the moment that no juror is going to think well haven't we all been there here's what it is I got it they do not seem shocked about him having the gun there was no shot zero zero School stre leers aren't created they're made and it's made over.

Time you don't get to walk away from that you just don't that's a criminal act sins of the parents the crumbly trials the opposite of love is not hate it's just being ignored only on Hulu all right welcome back let's look at some other stories that we're following.

At this hour starting with North Korea test firing short- range ballistic missiles again South Korean officials today saying weapons launched from the North's Capital flew about 185 miles before crashing in the waters between the Korean peninsula in Japan and the range suggests the weapons could likely Target sites in South Korea the South.

Also saying that there's evidence that North Korea is planning a launch to launch a spy satellite but there are no signs finds that it's imminent also protests against the Colombian president picking up steam over the weekend tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country to speak against President Gustavo Pro P's reform.

Agenda protests have been a constant there since the former leftist gorilla took office in 2022 but they've gained some momentum lately after he floated the possibility of rewriting the country's Constitution to Spur social policies that some call dire and and construction officially underway on a high-speed passenger rail line between.

Los Angeles and Las Vegas almost the entire project will be built uh in the median of Interstate 15 uh it would take you about 4 hours to drive that route I do it a lot this train though is expected to cut that time in half the 12 billion project is expected to be finished by 2028 and Caitlyn Clark is reportedly.

Cashing in the Wall Street Journal says that Clark will sign a $28 million contract with Nike as she begins her pro career next month the basketball Superstar who was the top pick in this month's WNBA draft is only being paid about $76,000 by the Indiana Fever for her first season which is about 100 times.

Less than her NBA counterparts all right coming up next here we celebrate Earth Day and we shine a light on people that are working to preserve our planet stay with us what's good to watch read where can I get a great deal on what I'm just dying to buy oh it's all right here GMA life.

All the exclusive and buzziest celebrity good stuff Deals and Steals with amazing savings and the coolest lifestyle tips from Good Morning America I love that so much GMA light streaming weekends on ABC News live your weekend just got a little better with GMA life when it matters most America turns to David mure and ABC's World News Tonight hi I'm Andy and.

I'm Sabrina and we're moms juggling tons of stuff every day like all you moms out there and you know what we love really love Pop Culture so listen now to our new podcast pop culture moms wherever you get your podcasts from the team that brought you the DuPont awardwinning report a groundbreaking new investigation.

Spanning 9,000 miles trashed the secret life of plastic exports streaming Tuesday night on ABC News live why do so many people start their day here from ABC News this is start here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories a lot of news today so let's get into it listen now to the Daily News podcast honored with four.

Edward R Murrow Awards and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to start here ABC news make it your daily first listen now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming wherever you get your podcasts start here first thing in the morning there's a lot going on get another Avalanche.

Warning that's up to catch you up with what happened overnight escalating tensions in the Middle East what people are talking about fast straightforward with some fun in between first thing in the morning America this morning America's number one early morning news on ABC News live in from Portland International Airport.

I'm Jaclyn Lee wherever the story is we'll take you there you're streaming ABC News live and welcome back turning your attention now to Capitol Hill where the 95 billion foreign aid package heads to the Senate and is expected to pass over the weekend Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer bringing the package to the.

Senate floor that would provide Aid to Ukraine Israel and Taiwan the legislation also includes a ban against Tik Tok unless its chinese-based parent company bite dance sells it ABC News senior White House correspondent Selena Wang has the latest for us hey Kana that massive 95 billion foreign aid package is finally making its way through.

Congress and house Speaker Mike Johnson he put his job on the line to push this through the house defying the far right wing of his party so this is a major transformation for Johnson who had for months been stalling on the president's request for more foreign aid and he had staunchly been oos opposed to any more Aid to Ukraine so why the change well.

Number one the pressure from the president as well as other Congressional leaders number two he had these classified intelligence briefings including with the CIA director that helped shift his stance and in addition to that he's a devout Christian his Co his colleague Congressman Michael McCall said he got on his knees and prayed.

About what would be the right thing to do so in order to get this through the house he split this forign a bill into separate parts in order to get a majority Coalition for each one of them and now this entire package it goes to the Senate where it it is expected to speed through the Senate with major bipartisan support now this bill it does.

Also include that possible ban on Tik Tok so the legislation would force a sale of Tik Tok if the Chinese owner of Tik Tok bite dance doesn't sell the app within a year so how would that work well first of all it's going to be a complicated process because Tik Tok is going to fight this law in the courts in addition to that the Chinese government.

Could block a sale of the app and even if this ban actually went through it's not just going to disappear for the millions of people that have Tik Tok on their phones it would likely mean that App Stores wouldn't be able to offer the app anymore so that means new users would have issues downloading it as well as those who want to update the app.

Kaa all right Selena from Capitol Hill our thanks as always to you well today is Earth Day which which began in 1970 and marks the anniversary of what its organizers called the birth of the modern environmental movement to raise awareness for protecting our planet so all week long ABC News will feature reports on climate challenges.

That we face and possible solutions in an initiative that we're calling the power of us this year's theme is Plant versus plastic a call to reduce plastic production by 60% by the year 2040 and like so many movements children across the country are helping move towards that goal ABC's Chief climate correspondent Ginger Z explains how.

Elementary School students are demonstrating the power of us the school cafeteria might seem like just a place to eat but for these students the learning hasn't stopped when we use plastic they send it over to like factories and they burn it and it affects like the ecosystem it's plastic.

Free lunch day at this school in Brooklyn New York the plastic free lunch movement all started in 2018 after fifth graders advocated for the change and they started to ask a question wow this is a zero way school but how can it be a zero school when we have so much plastic in our lunches so much plastic packaging Ronda Kaiser is the program director at.

Cafeteria culture an organization that facilitates plastic free lunch day she says the initiative has grown exponentially now one day a month schools across New York City go plastic free during lunch that means they don't use any single-use plastic like utensils or packaging reusable trays are ideal but since this school doesn't have a.

Dishwasher they're using compostable plates and composting them the right way the menu modified handheld foods like sandwiches and veggies that they can dip bananas cauliflower cucumbers and broccoli 19 school districts across the country have joined the reach of plastic free lunch day has been enormous just the data from.

New York City Schools from the 16 plasticfree lunch days we've reduced more than 13 million single-use plastic items from the waist stream a review published by the National Institutes of Health revealed that public schools in the US generate about 14,500 tons of Municipal Solid Waste every day and approximately 42% of that.

Is packaging generated by school's food service if your kids pack a lunch for school there are ways to reduce plastic there too so we invested in this vento box that is aluminum cleans up really nicely it's even dishwasher safe uh but we mostly hand wash it no microplastic shedding into my kids food and I don't have to have that ugly habit of buying.

Plastic baggies the kids know they're making a difference I think it's important that's why I think more schools should do it we're definitely not going to stop until it's plastic free lunch day every day all right now thanks to Ginger Z for that reporting ABC News live will have special reporting on the climate.

Challenges that we face and empowering stories about Solutions so be sure to catch our brand new special trash The Secret Life of plastic exports aing tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. Eastern and then on Thursday you can catch our other news special the power of us where we delve into individual and systemic Solutions and the impact that we can have together.

To protect our Earth that's at 8:30 p.m. Eastern with both specials of course also streaming on Hulu as well and there's a lot more news ahead here on ABC News live in today's big story the first witness testimony in the first criminal trial of a former US president what the former publisher of the national Inquirer a longtime friend of.

Donald Trump told the core about the tabloid's brand of

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