Trump’s unlikely ally in the NYC case

Former president Donald Trump is getting support from an unlikely ally: former Florida governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush. Bush co-wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday arguing that the judgment in the New York civil fraud case is an example of “dangerous judicial rulings” against the left’s political opponents.“The unusual New York law Ms. James used to investigate and sue Mr. Trump didn’t require her to prove that he had intended to defraud anyone, or even that anyone lost money. The Associated Press found that of the twelve cases brought under that…

Former president Donald Trump is getting support from an unlikely ally: former Florida governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush. Bush co-wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday arguing that the judgment in the New York civil fraud case is an example of “dangerous judicial rulings” against the left’s political opponents.

“The unusual New York law Ms. James used to investigate and sue Mr. Trump didn’t require her to prove that he had intended to defraud anyone, or even that anyone lost money. The Associated Press found that of the twelve cases brought under that law since its adoption in 1956 in which significant penalties were imposed, the case against Mr. Trump was the only instance without an alleged victim or financial loss,” Bush wrote.

Bush’s words surprised many as the two had an acrimonious relationship during the 2016 GOP primary, in which Bush was considered a favorite. Trump at the time called Bush an “embarrassment to his family” and “low energy.” But this is not the first time Bush has leapt to Trump’s defense. In April, Bush described the case regarding hush money payments Trump allegedly made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels through his lawyer as “very political.”

“In this case, let the jury be the voters,” Bush said.

Trump is planning to appeal Judge Engoron’s decision in the New York fraud case, however, Engoron rejected an attempt by Trump’s legal team to stay collection of the $355 million judgment. That means if he wants to appeal, he will have to post $355 million plus interest — totaling about $455 million — in bond.

-Amber Duke

On our radar

IVF ON TRIAL The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that families can sue fertility clinics under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act if their embryos are improperly discarded, conferring personhood on embryos. Some clinics have paused IVF treatments in response to the ruling. Donald Trump took to his Truth Social to declare, “We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder! Like the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of Americans… I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby.”

ANOTHER DOCUMENT SCANDAL CBS News recently laid off investigative reporter Catherine Herridge, who was working the Hunter Biden laptop story. New reports say the outlet has seized her files, including information about sources.

‘GET YOUR MAGA HAT’ Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman is accusing Democrats who criticize President Joe Biden’s age of only helping to elect former president Donald Trump in November.

Enter… Dean Phillips

Maryland’s gain is No Labels’s loss. With popular former governor Larry Hogan mounting a last-second bid for Senate, one of the group’s best possible presidential candidates bowed out.

With Joe Manchin also ruling out a bid of his own, the group’s highly-touted and well-funded plan for a third-party candidate is running into a wall.

Enter… Dean Phillips, who has struggled to gain any semblance of traction and is throwing a Hail Mary pass of sorts in offering to team up with Nikki Haley as her running mate.

There’s one major problem — the duo are an unlikely match at best. Phillips’s most recent foray into policy included a promise to recognize “Palestine,” which would put him at odds with the fiercely pro-Israel former UN ambassador.

Haley is set to face former president Donald Trump down in her home state tomorrow; while she’s pledging to remain in the race through at least Super Tuesday, she may not be in a position to pick a running mate for much longer…

–Matthew Foldi

CPAC 2024: America first, foreigners everywhere

Hello from the press pen at CPAC — the only part of the convention center that’s as full as previous years. There have been ten empty rows in front of Cockburn in the auditorium for most of the conference. President Trump’s address tomorrow lunch time should change that — but which other speakers will? South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, apparently: she’s speaking now and people have been filing in to see her. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris… they suck,” she just said, to applause. The media row outside is half as populated as previous years. The attendees are noticeably older: you’d be hard-pressed to find a college student here (Cockburn’s nieces skipped it). The only thing that’s unchanged is the stage: so far today, Cockburn has taken in panels on child trafficking and guns. Not a great hangover cure.

The Matt Schlapp-era CPAC is meant to be an America First affair — yet the biggest names besides President Trump are all from overseas. Argentinian president Javier Milei speaks after Trump tomorrow afternoon, while El Salvador president Nayib Bukele was the final speaker yesterday. “They say that globalism comes to die at CPAC — I am here to tell you that in El Salvador, it is already dead,” he told a boisterous crowd, which interrupted him with vuvuzelas and chants of “Bu-ke-le!” at numerous points.

Immediately before him, Tulsi Gabbard delivered some very Trump VP-coded remarks about “democracy” being “at stake” due to the efforts to keep Trump off the ballot, critiquing the “Democrat elite, Washington establishment.” “President Trump has endured years of attacks,” said the woman who four years ago ran in the Democratic primary on a universal healthcare, free community college, pro-choice platform. What happened? (The CPAC straw poll this year will ask attendees who they want as vice president on the Republican ticket.)

Earlier that day, Liz Truss, Britain’s shortest reigning prime minister, went down well: “Truss has managed to pick up the vocabulary of the American right,” reported Matt McDonald. “Her remarks were full of buzzwords: ‘woke-onomics,’ ‘DEI, ESG,’ broadsides aimed at the West’s adversaries.” “There’s an awful lot of Brits here,” Truss mentioned Cockburn when he caught her in the corridor Friday lunchtime.

Cockburn had a drink at every bar in the Gaylord last night, in pursuit of a scoop. He will continue to work doggedly, against the odds, at this sadly depleted affair…

–Cockburn