A historic day in court. But can Trump stay awake?

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     April 15, 2024 The first-ever criminal trial of a former US president officially kicked off this morning, with Donald Trump showing up in a New York courtroom to face charges that he falsified business records related to the [hush-money scandal]( involving Stormy Daniels. Our very own David Corn was in New York for the historic day—and the [accompanying video explainer is a delight to watch](. I watched with genuine interest as David described the [elements of today's trial that would have surprised]( a younger David in the 1980s. Another detail that will stay with me today? [Trump fell asleep](. That's what Maggie Haberman witnessed from inside the Manhattan courtroom. His mouth went "slack," the New York Times [reporter described](. This is immediately hilarious, maybe even concerning. But it's also somewhat understanding considering the 77-year-old man has been in and out of court over multiple investigations and lawsuits. All while he contemporaneously runs for president, all while [launching a Bible business in the background](. That's indeed exhausting stuff. But blatantly falling asleep at my first criminal trial? I'd like to believe that even I, a growing nihilist with little physical energy, would be alert for this. He'll need to straighten himself out soon [because attendance is mandatory for the rest of the trial](. —Inae Oh P.S. Every day in Gaza, nearly 200 women are [forced to give birth]( amid a collapsed medical system. Our colleagues at Reveal have a [must-listen episode]( that follows one woman in the final weeks of her pregnancy, as she attempts to find refuge and a safe place to give birth. [It's an utterly harrowing story](. Advertisement [Green Century Funds]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Donald Trump’s Historic Hush-Money Trial Finally Begins]( "He keeps setting new Guinness Records in terms of unprecedented history." BY ARIANNA COGHILL AND DAVID CORN FROM MOTHER JONES   Mother Jones and Grist team up for an Earth Week event! Join Mother Jones, Grist, and the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School on April 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET as leaders in the environmental justice space discuss equity, infrastructure, jobs, and the urban energy transition. Featuring the “father of environmental justice,” Dr. Robert Bullard (Texas Southern University, Bullard Center for Environmental & Climate Justice), Jade Begay (Indigenous rights advocate and climate researcher), and Leah Thomas (intersectional environmentalist), we’ll dig into the issues, opportunities, and solutions driving an equitable transformation for America. For tickets, click this [link](. [Trending] [Biden official: The US is "not looking for a wider war with Iran"]( BY JULIANNE MCSHANE   [Kamala Harris isn’t letting Trump dodge on abortion]( BY ALI BRELAND   [Why a porn star payoff is exactly the right first criminal trial for Donald Trump]( BY DAVID CORN   [Sinking cities spell slow-motion disaster for critical infrastructure]( BY MATT SIMON Advertisement [Green Century Funds]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [How famine and starvation can affect Gazans for generations to come]( Research on WWII's Dutch “Hunger Winter” has terrifying implications for the region's children—and for their children. INTERVIEW BY NEROLI PRICE, SALMAN AHAD KHAN, AND GABRIELLE BERBEY; EDITED BY NINA MARTIN MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   An important update on our finances We’re falling behind our online fundraising goals—and we can’t sustain coming up short on [donations]( month after month. It is [impossibly hard]( in the news business right now, and the [crisis]( facing journalism and democracy isn’t going away anytime soon. Neither is Mother Jones. Which is exactly why, despite the challenges we face, we just took a big gulp and [joined forces]( with the Center for Investigative Reporting, which creates the amazing podcast and public radio show [Reveal]( and other investigative projects. It’s going to be hard making it all work, and we simply can’t afford to fall behind our fundraising targets month after month. If you can part with even just a few bucks, [please support Mother Jones and investigative journalism with an urgently needed donation today](. And thank you so much to everyone who recently has. We’re grateful. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Share it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755