How New Yorkers finally broke Trump’s spell

Plus, Michael Cohen predicts the outcome of Trump’s criminal cases [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Sunday, February 18, 2024 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT [Alternate text] It was another busy week for Donald Trump’s lawyers. On Monday, they [asked the Supreme Court]( to delay Trump’s federal election interference case while Trump presses his far-fetched immunity claim, a legal gambit which could [prove consequential]( if the high court agrees to hear the case. On Thursday, Trump attended a hearing in the hush money case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Judge Juan Merchan set a trial date for March 25; this will be the [first-ever criminal trial]( of a former president in U.S. history. Meanwhile in Georgia, things took a surprise turn when [Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis]( took the stand to forcefully deny that she improperly benefited from her relationship with a special prosecutor. The hearing could have [major implications for Trump]( in his Georgia election interference case. Finally, on Friday, Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay over [$350 million]( in the New York civil fraud case and barred him from doing business in New York for three years. The ruling is a devastating blow for Trump, and could be a [powerful predictor]( of what’s to come in his criminal cases. It was also a consequential week for House Republicans. On Tuesday, Democrat Tom Suozzi [won a New York special election]( to replace George Santos, shrinking the House GOP’s already razor-thin majority. Just hours before Suozzi’s victory, House Republicans [impeached]( Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a 214-213 vote, marking the first time in nearly 150 years that a Cabinet secretary has been impeached. But House Republicans seeking to build an impeachment case against the president suffered a [major setback]( on Thursday when a key confidential FBI informant was federally indicted for lying to investigators about Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. On the campaign trail, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley [called out Trump]( for attempting to [“take” the election]( by endorsing his daughter-in-law for RNC co-chair. Haley also called out[Trump’s defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin]( while weighing in on the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. And in yet another example of America’s seemingly inescapable cycle of mass shootings, [one person was killed]( and 22 others injured on Wednesday after a shooting at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. 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] [BILL DE BLASIO]( [As New York’s mayor, I watched Trump evade consequences for years – until now]( Judge Engoron just handed Trump 355 million reminders that he is not, in fact, above our great city's laws. [Read more.]( [ANTHONY COLEY]( [I've been disappointed in Fani Willis for weeks. Here's why her testimony won me over.]( Her testimony conveyed strength, a clear command of the law and the facts, and a much-needed level of public candor. [Read more.]( [HAYES BROWN]( [There's a reason House Republicans keep retiring]( House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green isn't running this fall because Congress is 'broken.' But let's be real about who broke it.[Read more.]( [MICHAEL A. COHEN]( [Think Biden should drop out? Get serious.]( Democratic voters haven’t shown any interest in forcing Biden out. That hasn’t stopped the pie-in-the-sky wishcasting in the media. [Read more.]( [FRANK FIGLIUZZI]( [Lots of guns and few gun restrictions make securing open-air events near impossible]( In August, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson chastised the mayors of Kansas City and St. Louis for proposing two new gun safety laws. [Read more.]( [JA'HAN JONES]( [How Black faith leaders use the Bible to attack white Christian racism]( Radically progressive Black church leaders have always used history and scripture to fight anti-Black racism. And the legacy lives on today. [Read more.]( MUST WATCH [Alternate text] [ALI VELSHI]( [Michael Cohen on Trump’s legal avalanche: ‘He will have to liquidate his assets’]( Michael Cohen joins Ali Velshi to discuss the financial impact of Judge Engoron’s ruling for Trump, and the significance of the IRS audit, which he says could be “substantially greater even than the $500 million everyone is talking about.” [THE WEEKEND]( [‘A smear campaign’: Legal expert on hearing to disqualify Fani Willis from Trump’s GA case]( Former federal prosecutor Kristy Greenberg and MSNBC Justice and Legal Affairs analyst Anthony Coley join The Weekend co-hosts to discuss Fani Willis taking the witness stand this week in the misconduct hearing. [AYMAN MOHYELDIN]( 'It's time to fold up the circus'](: Rep. Raskin on GOP 'star witness' in Biden probe being indicted FBI informant Alexander Smirnov was indicted on two counts for allegedly feeding the bureau false information about Joe Biden and Hunter Biden during the 2020 campaign. Rep. Jamie Raskin joins Ayman Mohyeldin to discuss. [THE REIDOUT]( [‘A Russian patriot and an American Idiot’: Joy honors Navalny and calls out Trump]( Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died in a Russian prison. Joy Reid honors him and condemns Donald Trump and the Republicans who apparently support Russian President Vladimir Putin.     DON'T MISS [Alternate text] Tomorrow, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joins Jen Psaki to discuss Donald Trump’s candidacy in the upcoming presidential election following Judge Engoron’s ruling for the former president to pay over $350 million in penalties in the New York civil fraud case. Watch Inside With Jen Psaki tomorrow at 8pm Eastern on MSNBC. Saturday, Rachel Maddow leads analysis of the South Carolina Primary with Steve Kornacki breaking down results at the Big Board. Special coverage begins Saturday at 6:30pm Eastern on MSNBC. 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