NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight’s 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.  

Michael Cohen IMPLOSION

Former Donald Trump lawyer, fixer and the star witness for the prosecution, Michael Cohen, admitted under oath to stealing from the Trump organization. 

• Wait, what? The only victim so far is former President Trump. The prosecution has yet to establish if there is a victim or a crime in the alleged falsification of records in his business records case. 

Bringing back the dead: Admitting to stealing from the person you then said you wanted in jail makes the prosecution’s rehabilitation efforts extend far beyond just healing the sick. 

Courtroom reality: Given he’s an admitted perjurer and convicted felon, expectations for Michael Cohen’s testimony were low (or high for a cross-examination). His many meltdowns on the stand exceeded all expectations.  

• Thought bubble: It’s difficult to understand from the transcripts what illegal acts the prosecution proved occurred, much less proved he committed beyond a reasonable doubt.

Look forward: Will Trump take the stand?

• Any defense lawyer should handcuff Trump to the chair before letting him get on the stand.
• Gag order: Trump tried to get around his promises to testify by saying he’s under a gag order.
• Yes, it’s a laughable excuse, but his supporters will repeat it. 
• Look back: By not testifying, he’s invoking his Fifth Amendment right, which Trump has said you see “on the mob.”  

Focus on the jury: Looking forward, all that matters are 12 people. Check out the two lawyers: Juror 3 and Juror 7. Read about all the jurors here. 

Political reality: Closing arguments for the trial will occur, and an eventual verdict will set the stage for the summer campaign season. Anything but conviction, an acquittal or hung jury could change the race significantly. 

• The New York Times writes, “Will Trump Run as a Felon? A Big 2024 Question Will Soon Be Answered.”

Look FAR forward: Hunter Biden’s trial is next. 

Apologize or Jail

An Alabama man might end up in jail for refusing to apologize to a police officer. 

Watch tonight: Reginald Burks joins us tonight with his attorney about the unusual case where an officer used cruise control to try and approximate his speed for a speeding charge as Burks drove his kids to school. 

Then, a judge ordered him to apologize to the officer or face jail time. 

If you haven’t figured it out yet, the defendant is Black, and the officer is white. 

Different justice: Scottie Scheffler, the country’s most famous traffic offender (and world No. 1 golfer), won’t be in court tomorrow — his arraignment is delayed.

Can Biden out-Trump Trump? 

Memorial Day is this weekend, and both presidential candidates are acting like it’s late October.

• Trump wants Joe Biden drug tested.
• Biden called Trump “unhinged” among other attacks, including saying Trump wants to erase Black history. 

Thought bubble: You can’t out-Trump Trump, but Biden is giving up on the argument that won him 2020: no mean tweets. 

• “‘Uncivil war’…still rages,” writes NBC News.

Intellectual take: The former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes, “What Biden and Trump believe that isn’t true.”

Battleground view: Neither candidate talks about the issues that matter to voters other than to blame the other guy. 

• To that end, senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates delivered a memo this morning on Biden’s economic plans.
  • He writes, “Major corporations—many seeing record profits—continue to overcharge the American people, in some cases keeping prices elevated despite inflation falling. President Biden and his Administration are working to lower costs for the American people by fighting against price gouging, corporate rip-offs and hidden junk fees, while Congressional Republicans are siding with rich special interests and large corporations, who are focused on squeezing every single penny they can out of the American consumer.”

Thought bubble: The memo shows a fundamental misunderstanding of economics. Inflation is the rise in prices; inflation coming down doesn’t mean lower prices. 

• Big picture: Combating corporate greed doesn’t inspire or excite. 

Republicans get aggressive. 

• Meet the Press’ moderator asked Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., whether he would accept the results of the 2024 election.
  • Fair question: Why doesn’t anybody ask Democrats these questions?
    • Rubio has a point. Stacey Abrams still hasn’t conceded.
• Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., came to blows with Fox’s Shannon Bream over a question about her flip-flop on supporting Trump. 

Bad Things Happen to Bad People

The “Butcher of Tehran,” aka Iran’s president, died in a helicopter crash over the weekend. 

• Intrigue: The helicopter was taking the president and foreign minister from meetings in Azerbaijan, a country on its northern border and close ally of Israel. 

40-year-old helicopter: The president was on an old Bell helicopter when it crashed in bad weather. 

• Follow the money: Iran spends all of its money funding Hamas and building nukes, much like how Hamas tears up water pipes to build rockets and uses all the foreign aid to make tunnels. 

Hottest take: “Sincerest condolences to @brhodes and the entire Obama/Biden foreign policy team on their loss” from @sunnyright on X. 

• To be fair: The Biden foreign policy representative at the United Nations stood for a moment of silence honoring “the Butcher of Tehran.”
  • And the State Department released a statement expressing its condolences for his death.

Consequences: Eli Lake will join us tonight to discuss his article, “The Rise of the Never Bidens,” who are scared off by the current president’s foreign policy failures. 

Bonus points: The New York Post reports that Amal Clooney, George Clooney’s wife, may have helped the International Criminal Court issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Proud To Be a Mom

Our guest last week, Noelle Fitchett, became an internet sensation with her X post in response to Harrison Butker’s speech saying she has three degrees and agrees with him that mothers are important to society. 

Hundreds of women responded, and thousands more posted, with their graduation pictures and testimonials like this Johns Hopkins-educated physician.

Look back: The outrage came over Harrison Butker’s commencement speech extolling the virtues of motherhood at a Catholic college.

• In the speech, he said, “How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

Fun fact: If you actually read the entire speech, it’s far less controversial than the outrage machine would like us all to believe.

Thought bubble: The same people angry with Butker for praising mothers are celebrating Hamas and hung out with Diddy. Take your pick. 

Bonus reading: Kansas City Star columnist Peter Hamm writes, “The KC Chiefs should fire Harrison Butker and hire someone who kicks like a girl.”

Watch tonight: Our political panel of Ashley Davis and Richard Goodstein will discuss the mom vote in 2024. 

Tune into “On Balance with Leland Vittert” weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here. 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.