• Fri, January 3, 2025

by: Slate

One Possible Explanation for Justice Merchan's Last-Second Decision to Sentence Trump

Merchan's concern for the rule of law and his condemnation of Trump's attack on the judiciary are well stated. But his timing puts higher courts in an impossible bind and his ruling is not likely to be well received by a Supreme Court especially protective of presidential power.

by: ITV

Why is Elon Musk obsessed with British politics?

Why has Musk become so obsessed with Britain - and why does he hate? ITV News' Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana explains. | ITV National News

by: Newsday

Musk is 'misjudged and certainly misinformed' over UK grooming attacks, says senior minister

A senior British minister has pushed back on Elon Musk's criticism of the government's handling of a historic child grooming scandal.

by: MSN

Letters to the Editor, Jan. 4, 2025

PRAYER FOR PEACE I was born in 1938 and since that time there have been millions killed and maimed due to wars like the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Then we have terrorism that kills thousands for religious reasons or deep-rooted hatreds with mass shootings taking the lives of the innocent.

by: MSN

DK Shivakumar in Turkey, CM Siddaramaiah has cosy dinner with cabinet

BENGALURU/BELAGAVI: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues, mostly Dalit ministers, had dinner at PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi's residence on Thursday. Nothing remarkable, except that the get-together happened at a time when Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is on a personal trip to Turkey.

by: MSN

Elon Musk's political manoeuvring sparks concerns over far-right rise in Europe, influence over young men

Elon Musk is influencing European politics by demanding new elections in Britain, supporting far-right parties, and criticizing the European Commission. His growing power and popularity among young men raise concerns about his impact on democracy and governance in Europe.

by: MSN

WaPo staffer resigns after paper spikes cartoon that jabbed billionaires cozying to Trump

A political cartoonist for The Washington Post is quitting her job — and posted an explanation on Substack accusing the paper of censoring her mockery of billionaires, including the paper's owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

by: MSN

Meet new and familiar faces from throughout Pennsylvania region being sworn in to Congress

Meet the new faces and familiar faces changing titles from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware being sworn in to the 119th Congress.

by: MSN

Sheriff Jerry Sheridan discusses how he'll support Trump's border initiatives

Join Chris Robinson in Palo Alto as he builds the Tsunami Ball, a unique survival capsule for tsunamis. The new republican sheriff says he is ready to get on board with Trump's administration. The art of surviving intense fencing battles with these techniques.

by: MSN

Democrat Al Green Booed, Heckled on House Floor for Attempting to Give Speech During Speaker Vote

Rep. Al Green (D-TX) faced a wave of booing from his House colleagues on Friday during a House Speaker vote. The post Democrat Al Green Booed, Heckled on House Floor for Attempting to Give Speech During Speaker Vote first appeared on Mediaite.

by: MSN

Rudy Giuliani testifies at contempt hearing as lawyers for election workers pursue $148M judgment

A federal judge indicated he would not rule immediately on whether Giuliani will face civil sanctions for failing to turn over some assets.

by: MSN

Guatemalan and Salvadorian forces arrive in Haiti to join fight against violent gangs

A group of security forces from Guatemala and El Salvador arrived in Haiti on Friday to reinforce a multinational police force tasked with tackling the country's rampant gang violence, the Haitian National police announced.

by: MSN

Why Biden blocked the U.S. Steel deal with Japan's Nippon Steel

President Biden has blocked a deal between U.S. Steel and Japan's Nippon Steel that could impact the relationship with the American ally and have global economic repercussions. CBS News' Nicole Sganga has more.
  • Sat, January 4, 2025

by: LBC

Trump says Starmer is making a 'very big mistake' as president-elect blasts UK's energy plans

Donald Trump has blasted Sir Keir Starmer's decision to transition away from North Sea oil and gas production as the incoming US administration clashes with the British government.

by: cnbctv18

Delhi Election 2025 Highlights: Arvind Kejriwal accuses BJP of prioritising personal attacks over development

Highlights: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal criticised the BJP-led central government on Friday, claiming that it has not undertaken any significant development work in Delhi. Speaking at a press conference,

by: MSN

Gaetz's resignation read into congressional record

by: MSN

Giuliani Talks To Reporters After Testifying In Contempt Of Court Hearing

Rudy Giuliani speaks to the media outside of Manhattan federal court in New York on Friday after a contempt hearing to decide whether he has dodged and deceived lawyers trying to recover a $148 million judgment for two Georgia election workers,

by: MSN

How Congress will certify Trump's Electoral College victory on Jan. 6

The congressional joint session to count electoral votes on Monday is expected to be much less eventful than the certification four years ago that was interrupted by a violent mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump who tried to stop the count and overturn the results of an election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

by: MSN

A Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist said she quit The Washington Post after her Jeff Bezos cartoon was killed

Ann Telnaes said her cartoon aimed to criticize billionaire chief executives she said "have been doing their best to curry favor" with Donald Trump.

by: MSN

'Evilly and illegally treated': Trump unloads furious attack on judges and prosecutors

Following a day when Donald Trump angrily responded to a ruling from Judge Juan Merchan that there will be a sentencing hearing next week related to the president-elect's hush money conviction, he doubled down on Saturday morning fuming about his other legal issues with two rants,

by: MSN

Lee Anderson savages 'angry mob of deranged socialists' after anti-Reform protest

The Ashfield MP claimed "one of our female pensioner supporters was jostled as she attempted to pass on her zimmer frame".

by: MSN

Trump picks Fox's Tammy Bruce as State spokesperson

President-elect Donald Trump chose Tammy Bruce, a longtime Fox News contributor, for State Department spokesperson. The pick continues Trump's trend of turning to the conservative cable network for positions in his next administration,

by: MSN

New law could finally address thousands of abandoned mines leaking pollution into Colorado water

A new law decades in the making could finally lead to the cleanup of some of the thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado that leak toxic metals and acid into the headwaters of the rivers that sustain life across the West.

by: MSN

Karen Pence launches a new project in Indiana. Here's what she's doing

The Hummingbird Charitable Foundation is modeled after another foundation Karen Pence formed when her husband Mike Pence was governor of Indiana.

by: MSN

SIEMENS SAYS: Farmers call for action: Fix infrastructure, rebuild trade ties, and refocus priorities

With things in Ottawa in limbo, depending on who's talking, some farm organizations, in my opinion, finally looked over the fence and realized Ottawa wasn't listening to them. Several have quietly pulled away,

by: MSN

BJP-Congress should formally declare alliance for Delhi polls: Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal, AAP supremo, accused Congress and BJP of covertly collaborating ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, urging them to formally declare their alliance. He also criticized Congress, claiming the party was no longer taken seriously,

by: MSN

DGFT mandates consultations before policy changes, stakeholders to have say in foreign trade policies

This initiative underscores the government's commitment to improving the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in India by encouraging active participation in policy decisions.

by: MSN

Elon Musk's political maneuvering sparks transatlantic tension

Elon Musk helped Donald Trump win the elections in the US and is now allegedly interfering in European politics, as reported by American and British media. The Republicans have started referring to him as "our prime minister.

by: MSN

Warri, Port Harcourt refineries: 'Absolute insult, disrespect' - Obasanjo slams NNPCL

by: MSN

Scholz, Habeck concerned about Musk's support for far-right AfD

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck expressed concern over US tech billionnaire Elon Musk's support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the country's February elections.

by: MSN

India News Live Today January 4, 2025: Delhi polls: Parvesh Verma vs Kejriwal, Ramesh Bidhuri against Atishi | Full BJP candidate list

Stay informed with our live blog covering India's latest in politics, economy, crime, and general news. Get real-time updates on political developments, financial trends, crime reports, and important events across the country.

by: MSN

Fake Draft Notices Sent to Ukrainians in Poland

Fraudulent Draft Letters Target Ukrainians. Recently, Ukrainians living in Poland reported receiving fraudulent letters summoning them for military service in the Ukrainian Armed

by: MSN

Trump claims 'corrupt' Judge Merchan 'broke the law' in hush-money case

Former President Donald Trump lashed out at Judge Juan Merchan on Friday after the New York judge denied his request to dismiss the criminal case involving alleged hush-money payments and scheduled sentencing for January 10,

by: MSN

Delhi polls: BJP attacks Delhi's AAP government over financial mismanagement, rising debt

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbed AAP an "aapda (disaster)" for Delhi, the BJP on Saturday said it would highlight daily the crisis the city government had inflicted on different sectors,

by: MSN

Myanmar releases thousands of prisoners to mark Independence Day

Myanmar's military government has released more than 6,000 prisoners and reduced other inmates' sentences as part of a mass amnesty marking the 77th anniversary of independence from Britain. The freed inmates included just a small proportion of hundreds of political detainees locked up for opposing army rule since the military seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

by: MSN

Misjudged genius? Giorgia Meloni criticises labeling Elon Musk a 'monster' over his support for Trump

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defends Elon Musk, criticising the shift in perception from genius to monster based on his political affiliations.

by: MSN

Syria FM to visit UAE, Qatar and Jordan this week

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said on Friday he will make official visits to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan this week, days after travelling to Saudi Arabia on his first trip in office.

by: MSN

PM Modi inaugurates Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 in New Delhi, focusing on enhancing rural infrastructure and promoting economic stability in villages. The event aims to empower rural women,

by: MSN

Some people trying to disturb peace in name of caste politics: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said some people are trying to disturb peace in the name of caste politics and called for thwarting such designs to preserve the social harmony in rural parts of the country.

by: MSN

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen diagnosed with 'severe pneumonia' in worrying blow for bloc

Ursula von der Leyen is the de facto leader of the European Union and a familiar figure for anyone who followed the protracted negotiations which followed the 2016 referendum.

by: MSN

Children of sworn in senators show support for Kamala Harris

Children of sworn in senators, Ruben Gallego and Dave McCormick, show support for Kamala Harris. China struggles with new virus outbreak five years after COVID pandemic

by: MSN

Trump claims Dems are 'giddy' flags will be half-staff for his inauguration

Trump claims Dems are 'giddy' flags will be half-staff for his inauguration - 'They think it's so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don't love our Country, they only think about themselves,

by: MSN

Biden blocks US Steel sale to Japan's Nippon Steel

US Steel and Nippon Steel threatened legal action Friday after President Joe Biden blocked a controversial $14.9 billion deal for the Japanese company to buy its American rival. "That is why I am taking action to block this deal.

by: MSN

No Evidence Bashar al-Assad Was 'Poisoned' in 'Assassination Bid'

The Telegram account General SVR is popular with British tabloids but has a less-than-perfect track record for truth.

by: MSN

Houthis Promise More Attacks On Israel; Tel Aviv Residents In Panic After Yemeni Missile Strikes

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Sanaa on Friday as part of a weekly demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Those gathered waved flags, banners and rifles aloft as they chanted anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans.

by: MSN

Officials warn UNRWA may close permanently

It may be too dangerous for UNRWA to operate in Gaza and parts of the West Bank without communications with Israel, officials claimed.

by: MSN

Blinken heads to South Korea, Japan, France one last time

Antony Blinken will travel to South Korea, Japan and France in what will likely be his last overseas mission as the top US diplomat.

by: MSN

Rigathi Gachagua slams ruto and allies, questions how he was the problem in govt: "Mlidanganywa"

Rigathi Gachagua expressed frustration at being blamed for Kenya's problems, adding that MPs who betrayed him should seek forgiveness from the people, not him.

One Possible Explanation for Justice Merchan's Last-Second Decision to Sentence Trump

Merchan's concern for the rule of law and his condemnation of Trump's attack on the judiciary are well stated. But his timing puts higher courts in an impossible bind and his ruling is not likely to be well received by a Supreme Court especially protective of presidential power.
The article from Slate discusses the potential legal consequences for former President Donald Trump following his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, is expected to sentence Trump on January 20, 2025, which coincides with the presidential inauguration day. Despite the severity of the charges, the article suggests that Trump is unlikely to face prison time due to several factors: he is a first-time offender, the charges are non-violent, and there's a tradition of leniency towards white-collar crimes. Instead, alternatives like fines, probation, or community service are considered more probable. The timing of the sentencing on inauguration day adds a layer of political intrigue, potentially influencing public perception and the political landscape, especially if Trump were to be a candidate or the president-elect at that time.

Read the Full Slate Article at:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/01/judge-merchan-sentence-trump-no-prison-time-inauguration.html


Similar Politics and Government Publications
Trump is too guilty, and his history of flouting the law too serious, for his only conviction to be tossed, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is arguing.
President-elect Donald Trump was left fuming after Judge Juan Merchan's decision not to overturn his hush money trial conviction. On Tuesday, December 17, the 78-year-old took to his Truth Social platform to dub the judge "deeply conflicted,
Plus: Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is Trump's pick for ambassador to Israel - a big win for Christian Zionists. More top stories on The Excerpt.
(The Center Square) - The New York judge overseeing President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case said Monday he won't toss Trump's conviction. Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump's motion to dismiss the indictment on grounds of presidential immunity ...
Yes, the brief's everything-but-the-kitchen sink, grievance-laden brief is predictable. But it's also a potential harbinger of policies — and penalties — to come.
Donald Trump's criminal hush money case should be dismissed because it "threatens the functioning" of the U.S. government, Trump's attorneys argue in a new filing.
It marked the first criminal conviction of a former president and the first criminal conviction of a sitting president's child. Lawmakers in both chambers faced criminal charges. And lawyers, aides and allies to those political figures were ensnared in legal troubles of their own.
Former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey tells "CUOMO" that a pardon for President-elect Donald Trump from President Joe Biden isn't going to happen for three reasons: Alvin Bragg, Letitia James and Fani Willis,
The president-elect's inaugural fund donors range from CEOs like Sam Altman and Ken Griffin, to Meta, Amazon, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs.
The president-elect's inaugural fund donors range from CEOs like Sam Altman and Ken Griffin, to Meta, Amazon, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs.
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman said he's worried President-elect Donald Trump will have the Internal Revenue Service subject him to an audit or have the government deny him contracts as retribution for his support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Amazon and Meta, seeking to get in Donald Trump's good graces, are each giving $1 million to the president-elect's inauguration fund. Trump has previously lashed out at both Meta and Amazon, among other Big Tech companies,