Trump’s trial is an RNC test run

And Fani Willis joins Rachel Maddow for an exclusive interview [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Tuesday, May. 21, 2024 THE LATEST [Alternate text] [The sad truth behind the GOP supporters giving Trump astroturf affection]( By Hayes Brown For the first two weeks of [former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York City](, he arrived at the courtroom with little entourage. Not anymore. What began as a trickle soon [became a flood as Republicans realized that Manhattan]( was the place to be. The official guest list of supporters there to back Trump had grown to [more than a dozen people]( on Monday alone. Enough members of Congress made the trip up from Washington last week that their absences [delayed until later in the evening a hearing]( on whether to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. In effect, Trump’s trial has become a miniature version of the Republican National Convention, providing a [venue for GOP elites and wannabes alike]( to share Trump’s spotlight in hope of currying his favor. In the process, the attendees are answering a [very clear cry for help]( from Trump, giving him the [“circus” he reportedly wanted]( and couldn’t gin up organically. This is a preview of Hayes Brown's latest article. [Read the full column here.](//link.msnbc.com/click/35447136.69279/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL29waW5pb24vbXNuYmMtb3Bpbmlvbi90cnVtcC10cmlhbC1qdWRnZS1tZXJjaGFuLXRlc3RpbW9ueS1nYWctb3JkZXItcmNuYTE1MDg1NT9jaWQ9ZW1sX21kYV8yMDI0MDUyMSZ1c2VyX2VtYWlsPWQ3ZGM3NDUxNzI5N2IzOTcxYWExNGQ2ZjMzMTEzNWEwODc4ZjhmNjQwZmExYTEwMTlmMTU3YjY1YzFiNWRkMWQ/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914Cb3d7031a//link.msnbc.com/click/33703841.493917/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL29waW5pb24vbXNuYmMtb3Bpbmlvbi9zdGF0ZS1vZi10aGUtdW5pb24tYmlkZW4tY2hpbmEtcmNuYTY5NTc1P2NpZD1lbWxfbWRhXzIwMjMxMjE1JnVzZXJfZW1haWw9OWE1Mzg4ZGUxZjY3YmViZTM5N2E2YWNkZTBjZDM2Nzc4ZWE5NzIyYzE2ZDZhODJkYTY0MzRmZTA0YjQ5M2MwMw/63b7505fe39cd6134201d6b8Ba8b69b00     TRUMP TRIAL RECAP [Alternate text] [KATIE PHANG]( [Day 19 of Trump's hush money trial in 60 seconds]( [WATCH NOW]( TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [STEVE BENEN]( [Why Team Trump is playing a clumsy game on presidential debates]( It might seem as if Donald Trump is trying to get out of participating in an upcoming debate, but it's more likely that he's playing a foolish game. [Read more.]( [JA'HAN JONES]( [New documents expose Jim Jordan's phony crusade against Nina Jankowicz]( Nina Jankowicz was portrayed in conservative media as the face of government censorship. New transcripts tell a different story. [Read more.]( [NAYYERA HAQ]( [There's a reason the U.S. would never accept ICC war crime charges against Hamas and Israel]( The charges are more about the court of public opinion than they are about the court of international law. [Read more.]( [ZEESHAN ALEEM]( [This baffling Marco Rubio interview puts a new spin on whataboutism]( It's true some Dems have questioned recent elections. Only Republicans have tried to subvert them. [Read more.](     TOP VIDEOS [Alternate text] [RACHEL MADDOW]( [Fani Willis talks with Rachel Maddow about GOP efforts to sabotage Trump case]( [WATCH NOW]( [DEADLINE WHITE HOUSE]( [Judge Merchan scolds attorney Robert Costello mid-testimony in Trump hush money trial]( [WATCH NOW]( [CHRIS JANSING REPORTS]( [The 'shocking thing' Lawrence O'Donnell says was missing from Trump's defense]( [WATCH NOW]( [MORNING JOE]( [What the death of Ebrahim Raisi means for the future of Iran]( [WATCH NOW]( MORE FROM MSNBC [Alternate text]     The latest episode of “Prosecuting Donald Trump” is now available. Michael Cohen’s credibility is at the heart of former President Trump’s criminal trial. MSNBC legal analysts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord discuss how the state will need to address Cohen’s inconsistencies in re-direct and closing arguments, and what to expect this week. [Listen now.](     We're back with another episode of our WITHpod 2024: The Stakes series, in which we choose specific areas of policy and talk to an expert about Trump and Biden’s records on the topic. This week, we're discussing what's at stake for an area of top salience: climate and energy. There’s a lot to unpack. David Roberts is the founder of the Volts podcast, newsletter and community. He joins WITHpod to discuss the Biden administration's record action on climate, rollbacks that would be likely during a second Trump term, why this moment is such an inflection point and more.. [Listen now.](     MSNBC INSIGHTS [Alternate text] Have you ever wanted to provide MSNBC with your opinion about their TV programs, documentaries, and digital products, such as MSNBC.com, newsletters, and podcasts? Now is your chance! [Join the MSNBC Insights Community.](   Download the MSNBC App: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_daily)