Trump slams Arizona court’s abortion ruling, contradicting recent stance favoring state control: Live

Pictures showed Mr Trump behind the counter of the restaurant on Wednesday, handing out various items to customers, smiling and taking pictures. The visit came ahead of a scheduled fundraising luncheon.

He ordered 30 milkshakes and “some chicken,” telling staff at the outlet that he wanted to “take care of the customers”.

A campaign aide for independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has been revealed as an attendee of the infamous “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6 2021 in support of Donald Trump.

Rita Palma, who is an aide for RFK Jr’s campaign in New York, called Mr Trump her “favorite president,” and attended several “Stop the Steal” rallies following the 2020 election, according to now-deleted tweets sent from Ms Palma’s account seen by CNN, as well as comments she posted on the conservative social media site Parler that have since been made private.

In both scenarios, “peace” means secession of eastern Ukraine plus Crimea to Putin, and de facto recognition of the present sham so-called “people’s republics” as within Russia’s sphere of influence, if not inside the Russian Federation itself. With such a plan for peace, it makes no sense to arm Ukraine. So, The Donald isn’t going to. It is appeasement, with a beaming Trump grin on its face: the greatest betrayal of Europe since Stalin at Yalta managed to persuade the Allies to allow him to occupy most of Eastern Europe.

Read the full editorial from The Independent:

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson watched his party revolt on another key rule vote on Wednesday as the House voted on reforms to the US’s domestic surveillance system.

A rebellion led by members of the House Freedom Caucus tanked a vote to advance the legislation, angry that the proposed reforms would not require FBI agents to acquire a warrant from a judge to spy on American citizens.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC:

Things didn’t go so well at the appellate court today either… and as Lisa Rubin notes, each time he has been in front of a different judge.

Here’s Alex Woodward with the details:

Former president Donald Trump said he would not sign a national abortion ban into law if it were passed by Congress, his firmest remark yet on a national prohibition of the procedure.

When asked on Wednesday in Atlanta whether he would sign a federal abortion ban if it crossed his desk as president, Mr Trump replied, “No,” CNN reported.

Kelly Rissman unpacks the former president’s comments:

“She’s been a dozen times since she’s been vice president to North Carolina,” Mr Cooper told The Independent. The two have known each other for more than a decade since Ms Harris was attorney general for California and he served in the same job for North Carolina.

Ms Harris has traversed the state, travelling to Raleigh, but also to NC A&T, one of the state’s historically Black colleges and universities, to talk about voting rights. While many worry about Ms Harris given polls her low approval rating, Mr Cooper said she is a major asset as she and President Joe Biden seek to flip North Carolina.

Donald Trump’s lawyers have returned to the appellate court in New York to try once again to delay his hush money trial — still scheduled to start on Monday 15 April.

Attorney Emil Bove (who has been up before the appellate court judges every day this week) wants a stay because of Judge Juan Merchan’s “appearance of impropriety” (which was already argued and dismissed last year), the restrictions on defence motions, and Mr Trump’s failed attempt to use his presidential “immunity” to block evidence that is considered “official acts”.

There are no restrictions on motions.

Worth noting that Mr Trump’s messages via fundraising emails etc, have been saying that the trial is happening on Monday anyway…