Robert Hur's pro-Trump hit job is a trap

Plus, Jack Smith calls out Judge Cannon’s ‘clear error’ [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Sunday, February 11, 2024 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT [Alternate text] This week, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump received good and bad news ahead of his four looming criminal trials. The bad: On Tuesday, the D.C. Circuit [decisively rejected]( the former president’s absolute [immunity claim](, dealing what is likely to be a [fatal blow]( to his best defense in the federal (and state) cases over his alleged election interference. The case is likely [headed to the Supreme Court,]( which is expected to also reject his argument. However, the Supreme Court seemed to soften the blow by appearing [highly skeptical]( of Colorado’s decision to remove Trump from the 2024 primary ballot during [oral arguments](on Thursday. The justices [expressed concerns]( about the consequences of upholding the disqualification and appeared generally [wary of the issue](. In line with [recent polling]( showing him dominating the GOP primary, Trump won 26 delegates in Thursday’s Nevada Republican caucus. Trump’s main rival Nikki Haley was not on the caucus ballot, however, a [strange set-up]( that resulted from a conflict between state Republican officials and the Democratic-controlled legislature in 2021. Also, after a yearlong probe, [special counsel Robert Hur]( released his report on President Joe Biden’s handling of [classified documents](. Hur found that Biden "willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen" but concluded charges were not warranted. Meanwhile in Congress, a historic bipartisan compromise on border policy and security aid [swiftly collapsed]( after Republicans defied both their own [substantive concerns]( about the border and their [past claims]( about executive overreach to condemn the bill at Trump’s behest. On Wednesday, the GOP’s week of chaos worsened when House Republicans suffered a spectacularly embarrassing defeat in their [monthslong campaign]( to oust Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, [failing to pass the resolution]( by a vote of 214-216 when a Democratic House member’s [unexpected return from the hospital](threw off their vote count. Missed something? Don't worry. Here are our select columns and videos from the week. And don't forget to check out [MSNBC.com]( for more.   UNDERSTAND MORE [Alternate text] NORMAN EISEN, MATTHEW SELIGMAN [The most important part of the oral arguments at the Supreme Court was hiding in plain sight]( The Supreme Court seems poised to keep Trump on the ballot. But there’s a silver lining for Jack Smith. [Read more.]( [MOLLY JONG-FAST]( [Robert Hur took a page from the James Comey playbook — and made it worse]( Democrats haven’t learned their lesson from 2016. The Hur report proved it. [Read more.]( [FRANK FIGLIUZZI]( [I worked in FBI counterintelligence. I know why Putin gave Tucker Carlson an interview.]( Putin is a former KGB officer. That means he’s a master at manipulating and exploiting events for desired outcomes.[Read more.]( [LISA RUBIN]( [Why Alina Habba’s connection to Allen Weisselberg matters]( More so than her antics on Trump’s behalf, the prospect that another client — the former CFO of the Trump Organization — committed perjury could pose the greater risk to her standing as a lawyer. [Read more.]( [Nikki Haley]( HELAINE OLEN [America has a GoFundMe problem]( Patients begging for chemotherapy money on GoFundMe is a sign our society is sick. [Read more.]( MUST WATCH [Alternate text] [ALEX WAGNER TONIGHT]( ['On notice': Jack Smith losing patience with Judge Cannon in Trump docs case]( Special Counsel Jack Smith is showing increasing frustration with Judge Aileen Cannon in the Trump classified documents case as the judge has declined to protect the identity of a witness Smith says is being threatened. [ALEX WAGNER TONIGHT]( ['He is a useful idiot': Hillary Clinton scorns Tucker Carlson over Putin interview]( Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with Alex Wagner about the strange attraction some Americans feel toward authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin, describing it as "absolutely gobsmacking terrifying." JONATHAN CAPEHART '[If you broke it, you own it': NY Governor Kathy Hochul slams Republicans for killing border deal]( New York Governor Kathy Hochul joins Jonathan Capehart to discuss the border deal and shares her message to Republicans who sunk the deal: "You refused to take action. You've been complaining about it. Now, it's your problem." [THE WEEKEND]( [The double standard: Why missteps by Trump and Biden are treated differently]( The Weekend co-hosts unpack why Trump does not receive the same backlash as President Biden for his gaffes.     DON'T MISS [Alternate text] Chris Hayes has spent a lot of time recently thinking about the arc of progress in America. In thinking about all of this, a paradox has been heavy on his mind: while the U.S. has gotten incredibly more progressive over the past few decades, we're also in the midst of a marked authoritarian movement that's showing no signs of slowing down. What does this moment mean for the progressive movement and its future? Our guest this week points out, “what an incredible gift [it is] to be alive at a time when we have such a chance to make a difference.” Deepak Bhargava is a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, a distinguished Lecturer at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies and is co-author of “Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World.” He joins WITHpod to discuss the trajectory of coalition movements, the state of the progressive movement in 2024, immigration reform and more. [Listen here.]( With the 2024 election season in full force, get expert analysis on key races sent straight to your inbox. [Click here]( to sign up for the “How to Win 2024” newsletter. 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! 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