Name: What worries NC health chief during pandemic?
Uploaded: 2020-06-09T19:00:00-0400
Duration: 851361
Description: Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, discusses efforts by bars to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, her order that an Alamance County racetrack close, the World Health Organization's backtracking on asymptomatic spread of the virus and her biggest concern about the pandemic.

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Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, discusses efforts by bars to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, her order that an Alamance County racetrack close, the World Health Organization's backtracking on asymptomatic spread of the virus and her biggest concern about the pandemic.

Dr Cohen. Thanks for joining us. It's been a busy weekend. A busy already. Beginning of the week for you and your colleagues. Thanks for your time. Great. Great to be here. Thanks, David. I want to begin with your office issuing an abatement order requiring the A speedway to shut down. This appears to be the most drastic action yet. Tell us what this order means and why issue it now? Well, we've known for a very long time that we need to work together to slow the spread of the virus in North Carolina and all of our individual actions and those actions of businesses help us keep that virus level low. And so we do have ongoing restrictions, particularly around mass gathering, um, mass gatherings or something that we know, um has the potential to spread the virus far and wide, unfortunately. And so we have continued restrictions on a speedway has continued to have folks gather in the thousands more between, like, two and 4000 over the last number of weekend. And I'm concerned, um, were continued to be concerned about Ah, hazard that can come with bringing folks together like that with with no face coverings, no social distancing and none of the other protocols there. Many, many businesses who are working incredibly hard to keep their customer safe, their patron save. Um, and you know, flagrant violations of those, uh, those rules and restrictions puts all of us in jeopardy. Not just the people who go to that event, right, cause then they go back to their communities, could be spreading virus without knowing it, and it goes from there. But we have to work together on this. And if folks need to really abide by the by the restrict put in place and we're trying to keep those to an absolute minimum on gua chart trends as we go but like, books really need to be abiding by that, otherwise we will use other tools. You know, Ari, that that's an imminent hazard to the people of you know. And as I read through this, I found it interesting that your office and the governor did not come down on this organization with a hammer. You said present a plan to us. We're not looking to cause you a problem. We're looking to avoid a problem. Exactly. Look, we've worked in close coordination with organization that NASCAR, for example, to run a very important race for them. The Coca Cola 600. I think they did a terrific job putting together a detailed plan executing on that plan. They and they did it without Spectators. And then they kept their drivers and the workers there safe by using face covering, even saw in interviews. They were they were doing that and having social distance. So this is possible. And so I said, she'll work with us, work with us. We know that there is a solution we can find, you know, just 24 hours or so ago. You and the governor both said you were concerned very concerned about what you're seeing in the metrics that trending at this time, and you're encouraging more people to get tested, including those who attended protests such as the governor. Now he was scheduled to be tested today. Was he tested? So I haven't checked in if that's happened today, but we are encouraging everyone to get tested. If you've had an exposure now that may be a protest or another mass gathering because those are happening around our state, and so any mass gathering or protest back should be considered exposure. Also, if you were in settings that we know are higher risk things like even a first restore or a restaurant, Um, we want to make sure folks are getting tested, not just when they have symptoms. You have symptoms, Absolutely. Get a test. But even when you don't have symptoms, we want to make sure folks are getting tested. And I do know the governor is going to be getting a test as well. Because what we all need to take ownership here and make sure we're doing things that we can do to laugh. Protect. You know, thousands of people were protesting there, thousands of people that they're raceway. If there were to be a surgeon. People wanting testing, can the state handle that now? Yes. We've worked very hard in ramping up our capacity to be able to test, and we continue to do them. So we're not done. We know we have additional capacity we need to build. The state is buying some in that capacity on our own. We're working with partners, are health systems are refugees. Are local health departments to continue to build that, but right now, we don't be any Wait, uh, for forgetting testing or to process samples at the lab. So we feel like we have good capacity. Right now, there's over 400 sites on our website that folks can go and check out where they might be able to go get Dr Cohen a couple of weeks ago, used to phrase by saying We are flying the plane and building it at the same time. So I mean, they're things that change daily, and I understand that with that in mind, I'm sure you have seen the back and forth messaging with the World Health Organization regarding asymptomatic spread. After saying this type of spread was rare contracting the CDC this morning, they clarified, saying, It's really unknown. How can you clear up that confusion? Yeah, that was an unfortunate I think, parsing of words that that God, I gotta got out of control and I realized that W h o is trying t o make sure that they're clarifying it. You know what that scientists at W. H. O is trying to explain is that some people will be spreading the virus before they have symptoms, and some people will be spreading the virus and they'll never get. But the issue is we don't know who is spreading virus and non, and will they develop symptoms or not? Issue is, as you can be, spreading virus without knowing. And that's really what is so hard about Cove in 19 and why I think we're seeing so much spread as we move around that people conf feel completely fine and they are spreading it to other people. Now they may ultimately develop symptoms, and I think that's what the W. H. O is saying is this. Folks may go on to develop symptoms, but for the few days, even before they developed symptoms, they feel fine. And then and they're spreading cove in 19 that that's a big problem, that it goes exactly back to why we need to do the three W's. The wearing of face masks protect you if you have 19 from giving it for the world. So face coverings really important. You heard the Governor Riel hammer home that we want to see our leaders across the state really role modeling. Why, wearing the face covering really important waiting six feet are washing hands of the VW You're gonna get new to be core. And we know we want to get back to all the things that that we love. We want to get our kids back to school, doing those individual actions, those wearing of face coverings and waiting six feet apart. Washington That's gonna be the key here. And I want to make sure folks know that a couple more things. Dr Cohen, I thought you gave a very demonstrative answer regarding keeping gym's closed for now because of how, when you're breathing hard, you're working out. Droplets can be spread even at a longer distance. They're putting more people potentially at risk. Yet our in boxes and probably yours too, are filled every day with bar owners or people wanting to go to bars saying, Hold on, This is an area if you have a bar in a restaurant, restaurants are open bar owners telling us they can take the responsibility that they need to as laid out by the state to keep people safe to those bar owners. Explain to them why you believe at this time they should remain closed. Sure, well, we know that any activity that you're doing, where you sit or congregate indoors, in particular for a long period of time, close by two people. That's when the virus friends right? Is exactly why we issued the abatement order to a speedway. Right? They had thousands of people, Children shoulder. That's a So when we move to phase two, we knew we were entering into these higher risk activities. So when we opened restaurants you that that was higher risk, we went to the LAN higher risk. And the question was, how many high risk activities did we want to start doing again as a collective? Before we understood exactly what our trends were right, So we wanted to take a more modest step forward. It already started to see, even just from phase one, our numbers had a little bit up in the trends head in the wrong direction. So now we wanted to make sure that as we move into Phase two, we're taking on these higher risk activities. We wanted the opportunity to see where our numbers, though, as we did that and unfortunately what we're seeing, we're two weeks out, maybe a couple days more from the start of phase, and we're seeing our trend and go in the wrong direction. I was pretty strong yesterday and saying, I am confirmed about that. And so when you think about Faras in particular, right, the the nature of open bars is to be social and be around people on close together. It tend tohave, less structured table service, like a restaurant would have. We've seen a number of published studies about transmission within bars. And look, we all know that when you go to bars and you have some alcohol in your system, following the rules isn't always as, um, Assad possible when, when when there's alcohol involved. You know, look, I don't think it's impossible to get to a place where, where we have the restrictions in place and we can move over to that. I think we just want to see our numbers and make sure art friends you to stay in a place where we we can, for example, focus on getting our schools over the right. It's a matter of prioritization because you can do all things because we have covert 19 with us. It's gonna be with us until we get a vaccine. And so the question is, how do we We live with this virus and I'll say, I know the governor's focused. I am focused on particularly getting our kids back to school. We know when we go back to school there's gonna be more virus right around. So that is really, you know, one of the places we want to focus as we think about our trends in our numbers. Um, And like I said, I'm already seeing the start of trends us that I don't like and make me concerned. And so again, it goes back to what those individual actions we can take to help keep that virus level low and it goes back to the CW's goes back to getting it test. If you've been exposed on and picking up the phone, if someone holds you from local health department to say, Hey, you may have been exposed, Dr. On one last question, you talk about your concern being concerned. Give me some perspective. On a scale of 1 to 10 10 being the worst. Where do you place your concern now of seeing the numbers rise, particularly of the percentage positive of testing? So look, I I definitely I am concerned, Um, and It's an instant. I want us to take early action, right? I don't want to get to attend when I'm really worried. Because what? I worry. If I get to that 10 it might be too late, Right? Because this virus works so quickly. And by too late I mean, if we I was at a 10 of worry, I'd worry we were gonna be overwhelming our health care system so that it wasn't there for folks. Not only who have Kogan 19 but maybe it by a car or have a have a heart it back. So I don't want to ever get to a 10. The issue is we need to raise raise the level of concern early. So we get our arms around it so we never get to those levels on. And so I'm trying to raise sort of an early warning single. Not only do I see our percent positive test go up, our number of hospitalizations go up. That's telling me more people are becoming seriously ill in North Carolina with Cove in 19. And we have to take that into account. Now you have hospital capacity. We have I see capacity, so I'm not. I'm not attempt, uh, it in terms of concern, but I think we need to step up our efforts. We can't get complacent. And we need to think about the important activities we want to get back to, like opening schools in person. And those are the things that I you know, we're trying to put all of those things in the mix as we as we move over here. So I'm just appreciative that everyone hangs with us and help really keep this right of the virus low. Are you losing sleep? Um, I would be lying if I said I wasn't losing sleep. Yes, I I I am not. I have not done a lot of sleeping through this entire episode. Um, right, because I don't want to see how the folks get seriously ill or die from this. If there are things we can do right on the next, the bottom line there are things we can do to slow the spread of the virus. I don't want to see people get, get ill or die, and it can be very serious for folks on. And it's not just our folks who are over 65 What? What we know about North Carolina. Not only are we older, right, we have a lot of folks who come to North Carolina to retire, which is wonderful. We have an older population, but we are sicker. North Carolina is a sicker population. Mean we have more chronic disease than than other states, and we know that that puts our population at a different level risk. So I do lose sleep about what we can be doing to make sure that we are are keeping books as healthy as possible. I mean, that's it's in the job title for making. So I want to make sure we're doing everything we can. And it relies on all of us collectively work. Dr. Mandy Cohen, North Carolina secretary of health and Human Services. We do. I sincerely appreciate your time and insight today. Thank you, Dr Cohen. Thank you. Great to be with you. Stay well,

David Crabtree

Matthew Burns

What worries NC health chief during pandemic?

Dr. Mandy Cohen, DHHS secretary

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I'm meteorologist K Campbell in the wr a severe weather center. So close to 90 degrees today, we had 89 for the high at RDU and in Fayetteville, Wilmington as well. And it's going to stay warm throughout the week. We're talking temperatures in the eighties all week long, 70 threes on high this time of year, but normal highs during spring are really the average of some of those extreme ups and downs that we see. So keep that in mind we're still well above normal. 86 tomorrow, 82 with more clouds Wednesday. Back up to 87 on Thursday. We'll stay in the eighties through Saturday. Some good news for you. If you're ready to enjoy this warm weather, sit outside on your porch, the worst of the pine pollen, which is the yellow pollen that just coats everything is over. So you're good to go ahead and clean up your porch some so you can enjoy some of the warm summer like temperatures. You're probably going to have to do it again in a few weeks. But I think the yellow pollen at least is wrapping up here. Tree pollen is still very high though mulberry ash maple and oak are the issues we saw out there today and grass pollen is starting to climb early. I should say as well. Already in the medium category, if you need to get some yard work done tomorrow, don't let the 40% chance of rain. Hold o hold you off. I think that arrives late in the day. So you should be good to get it done for most of the week. The rain chances may increase toward the weekend, future cash showing some of those scattered storms to the Virginia Line later tonight, those dissipate before they really make it too far south. But the cold front does get here and it stalls out. It just kind of gets stuck over Carolina during the day, Tuesday. And that's going to direct another wave of some scattered showers and storms our way late Tuesday evening and into Tuesday night, there is a level one threat for severe storms tomorrow, damaging wind gusts and hail mainly from the Triangle North. But as I mentioned, you know, during the day, you should have plenty of dry time to get outside and enjoy some of the warmer temperatures if you want to head to the playground with your family, 8 a.m. and 65 degrees. 10 a.m. 72 2 o'clock, 84 degrees. And then as we get later into the evening, that's when we've got the chance for storms. But most of the daytime hours will end up dry tomorrow as we look ahead Wednesday, we're mostly cloudy that holds our temperatures down a bit in the lower eighties. More sunshine, more warmth on Thursday. Just some small rain chances mixed in at night here and there. But the best chance for rain does look like it comes with a cold front on Sunday that will pass and knock our temperatures down next week back in the forties for lows.

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Good evening. I'm Gay. Her, welcome to tonight's joining with this tax day Monday, April 15th, 2024. Well, let's get started today tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first week numbers is six. Our second number is nine and the third number is seven and our pick three. Fireball number is nine. Joining me for tonight's show is our auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone who's that first one and pick four number. It's a six. Our second number is nine. Third number is five and our fourth number tonight here it comes, it is a four and our pick for fireball number is eight. We turn now to the Carolina Cash Drive. If no one wins the top prize tonight, tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $130,000. Good luck. Everyone who's that first win in cash five number. It's 40. Our second number is seven. Third number. Tonight is 15. Our fourth number is 22 and the final number in our cash drive this evening is a nine. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Get your winning numbers right here every night in your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Good night.

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Good evening, America. I'm Michelle Isles. Tonight. We've got another life changing jackpot for you in an estimated amount of $66.5 million. Get your tickets out. We'll start things off tonight with the number seven right after that America. We have 56. Let's congratulate the lucky 30 of Nashua New Hampshire who won $1 million. Your next number up tonight is 61 that's followed by 16 and we'll round it out tonight with 41 now for your winning powerball number. Good luck everyone. It is 23 and your power play multiplier is three. Let's take another look at those winning numbers. Remember there are multiple ways to win. We'll see you back here Wednesday night. Good night, everyone. It's time to play America's favorite jackpot game this.

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Good afternoon. I'm Luis Fernandez. Welcome to this afternoon's drawings for Monday, April 15th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three number is two, second is nine and the third is five and our pick three fireball number is seven. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. The first pick four number is zero. The second is six. The third is zero and the fourth is eight and our pick four. Fireball number is zero. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thank you so much for your support.

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Watch former President Trump arrive at court for his hush money trial.

<p>ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, IF IT'S IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, WILL GIVE YOU A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF HOW THIS PARTICULAR JUROR VOTES. THE MERE FACT THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP, OR LIKE DONALD TRUMP, WILL NOT DISQUALIFY PEOPLE FROM THE JURY. THE TEST IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN, GIVEN WHAT YOU KNOW OR THINK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEFENDANT, CAN YOU SET THOSE IDEAS ASIDE AND JUDGE THIS CASE FAIRLY ON THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE. THE CHALLENGE HERE IS JUST REALISM. THIS IS SOMEONE THAT IS SO DIVISIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE'RE IN A COUNTY THAT VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN, HOW DO YOU SUSS THROUGH THAT. I ACTUALLY THINK NORMALLY PEOPLE TRY TO GET OFF JURY DUTY. I THINK SOMETHING THEY NEED TO GUARD FOR HERE IS THE STEALTH JUROR, SOMEONE WHO WILL APPEAR PLAIN, NEUTRAL, BUT WANTS TO GET ON THE JURY, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN AGENDA OR SIMPLY THEY KNOW THIS IS A PART OF HISTORY AND THEY WANT TO BE PART OF HISTORY. &gt;&gt; AND THAT CAN CUT BOTH WAYS, STEALTH JUROR. IT ONLY TAKES ONE JUROR TO SIDE WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND YOU HAVE A HUNG JURY. YOU NEED A UNANIMOUS JURY TO GET A CONVICTION IN THIS CASE. &gt;&gt; EXACTLY RIGHT. IT'S OFTEN SAID IT ONLY TAKES ONE TO HANG A JURY, BUT REALITY IS, IF JURORS DELIBERATE, AND YOU ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO IN THE ROOM, THEY USUALLY GET HARANGUED INTO CHANGING THEIR VOTE. JUST ONE JUROR CAN HANG THE ENTIRE CASE. AND BY THE WAY, SOME F THE TRADITIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT JURY SELECTION ARE FLIPPED ON THEIR HEAD. A DEFENSE ATTORNEY LIKE ME, IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND HAS A CONNECTION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR AN AFFINITY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU WANT THEM OFF THAT JURY. MAYBE IN A CASE LIKE THIS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHO DONALD TRUMP WANTS ON THE JURY, GIVEN VOTING PATTERNS AND OTHER THINGS BEHIND OUR AREA, THIS IS A UNIQUE JURY SELECTION, AND LAWYERS ARE INVOLVED IN JURY SELECTION IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS UNUSUAL. IN FEDERAL COURT, FOR EXAMPLE, I DON'T SAY A WORD UNTIL I'M SPOKEN TO BY THE JUDGE. THEY HAVE ONE ON ONE ACCESS TO QUESTION THE JURORS. &gt;&gt; WHICH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH SIDES TO SEE THE FACTS AND SEE THE JURY POOL. &gt;&gt; LET ME TURN BACK TO LAURA JARRETT. WE ARE AWAITING THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO WALK INTO THE COURTROOM. JUST THE SPECTER, HE'S REQUIRED TO BE THERE EVERY DAY. HE HAS INDICATED THAT HE WANTS TO TESTIFY. IF HE DOES, HIS LAWYERS CAN'T STOP HIM FROM DOING SO. HOW DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO PLAY OUT DAY BY DAY? &gt;&gt; Reporter: THE TRICK OF IT IS, SAVANNAH, HE'S BEEN IN THIS COURTROOM BEFORE. HE'S BEEN HERE OBVIOUSLY FOR HIS ARRAIGNMENT AND PRETRIAL HEARINGS. THIS IS DIFFERENT. HIS APPEARANCE IS NOT VOLUNTARY, HE'S REQUIRED TO BE HERE UNLESS HE GETS SPECIAL DISPENSATION FROM THE JUDGE, AND THE JUDGE HAS MADE IT CLEAR, HE EXPECTS HIM TO BE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH IN THE MIDDLE OF A REELECTION CAMPAIGN IS ALSO JUST EXTRAORDINARY AND UNPRECEDENTED IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. IT WILLBE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO'S DRIVING THIS. YOU TALK ABOUT HIM SAYING HE WANTS TO TESTIFY. THAT OBVIOUSLY POSES EXTREME RISK FOR HIM ACROSS EXAMINATION. OBVIOUSLY HE WOULD BE IN THE WITNESS CHAIR THERE UNDER OATH AND WOULD HAVE TO TESTIFY TRUTHFULLY IN FRONT OF THIS JURY AS THEY ASSESS HIS CREDIBILITY, AND WE HAVE SEEN HIM TESTIFY BEFORE, JUST RECENTLY IN HIS CIVIL FRAUD TRIAL, HE INSISTED UPON TESTIFYING IN THAT CASE. AND WE KNOW HOW THAT ONE TURNED OUT. IT MAY BE THE CASE HE DOESN'T TESTIFY, IN WHICH CASE THE PROSECUTION CAN'T COMMENT IN FRONT OF THE JURY. HE HAS A RIGHT NOT TO TESTIFY LIKE ANY OTHER DEFENDANT. THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL, WE SEE THE POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN WHAT DONALD TRUMP THE CANDIDATE NEEDS TO DO AND WHAT HIS LAWYERS THINK IS IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR HIM. &gt;&gt; WE ALSO HAVE "MEET THE PRESS" MODERATOR, KRISTEN WELK WITH US. THERE'S PROBABLY NO QUESTION HE'LL TESTIFY ON THE COURTHOUSE STEPS, THOUGH THERE IS A PARTIAL GAG ORDER IN THE CASE. WHAT IS THE TRUMP STRATEGY AS THIS CASE UNFOLDS? HE'S OFF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND IN A COURTROOM. HOW DOES HE INTEND TO BALANCE THOSE THINGS? &gt;&gt; IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WE HAVE SEEN IT PLAY OUT THROUGHOUT HIS PREVIOUS COURT CASES IN WHICH HE HAS MADE USE OF THE CAMERAS OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM. TOLD BY VISER CLOSE TO DONALD TRUMP, HE AND HIS TEAM WILL MAKE USE OF EVERY AVENUE TO THE MEDIA POSSIBLE. NO SURPRISE THERE. HE'S A FORMER REALITY TV STAR, AFTER ALL. HE KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS. SAVANNAH, HE HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR HE PLANS TO BE OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS MUCH AS HE CAN AFTER COURT. COURT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN SESSION ON WEDNESDAY. EXPECT HIM TO BE OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS WELL. HE'S CLOSE TO NEARBY PENNSYLVANIA. BIG BATTLEGROUND STATES. EXPECT TO SEE PRESIDENT BIDEN IN PENNSYLVANIA, BY THE WAY, THIS WEEK. HE HAS THREE SEPARATE STOPS IN PENNSYLVANIA. OING TO TRY TO COUNTER PROGRAM THIS. DON'T EXPECT HIM TO TALK ABOUT THE COURT CASE. HE'S GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY, ABORTION, OTHER ISSUES THAT HE THINKS WILL RESONATE. WE JUST GOT NEW POLLING NATIONALLY SHOWING THAT THIS RACE IS AS TIGHT AS A TICK. ALL OF THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESONATE WITH MODERATES, INDEPENDENTS IN THE CRITICAL BATTLEGROUND STATES. SAVANNAH. &gt;&gt; WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THOSE DOORS. WE EXPECT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TO WALK IN AS HIS CRIMINAL TRIAL, AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY, A CRIMINAL TRIAL FOR A FORMER PRESIDENT BEGINS ANY MINUTE NOW WITH JURY SELECTION. I WANT TO TURN TO DANNY CEVALLOS, ONE OF THE LAWYERS ON OUR PANEL THIS MORNING. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CASE. THERE ARE FOUR CASES, CRIMINAL CASES PENDING AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT. THIS IS THE NEW YORK CASE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ANALYSIS OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE VARIOUS CASES. THIS IS THE WEAKEST LEGALLY. WHY IS THAT? &gt;&gt; IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DEFENSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. NUMBER ONE, THE ORIGINAL THEORY OF THE CASE IS THAT TRUMP FALSIFIED BUSINESS RECORDS AND ADDITIONALLY BECAUSE HE WAS DOING THAT TO CONCEAL ANOTHER CRIME, IT'S ELEVATED TO A FELONY IN NEW YORK. THE OTHER CRIME IT IS A FEDERAL CAMPAIGN VIOLATION, WHICH REALLY IS AN UNUSUAL PLACE. IT'S A NOVEL THEORY. NST NEVER REALLY BEEN TESTED IN NEW YORK COURTS. FALSIFICATION OF BUSINESS RECORDS HAS BEEN TESTED. A CRIME THAT IS PROSECUTED. THE PROSECUTION MUST PROVE NOT ONLY THAT THE BUSINESS RECORDS WERE FALSIFIED BUT ADDITIONALLY THAT IT WAS IN CONCEALMENT OF A CRIME. THE DEFENSE THERE COULD SIMPLY BE IT WASN'T FOR CAMPAIGN PURPOSES. IT WAS TO REDUCE THE EMBARRASSMENT THAT I WOULD HAVE WITH MELANIA. OR YOU MIGHT SEE A DEFENSE OF I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. THOSE ARE OTHER PEOPLE, MICHAEL COHEN ACTED ON HIS OWN. THAT'S WHY I SUSPECT YOU SEE WITNESSES, HOPE HICKS, PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND MAYBE HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT THINGS. MICHAEL COHEN HAS CREDIBILITY ISSUES. BUT I HAVE TO SAY, THAT'S A CLASSIC THING THAT ALL COOPERATING WITNESSES HAVE. IF HE'S INTRODUCING DOCUMENTS, THE PROSECUTION WILL SAY THE DOCUMENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. &gt;&gt; MICHAEL COHEN IS THE FORMER LAWYER, THE PERSON WHO EXECUTED THESE PAYMENTS AND LATER WAS REIMBURSED. HE HAS PLEADED GUILTY. AND WHEN YOUCOOPERATING WITNESS LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE CREDIBILITY PROBLEMS. THE PROSECUTORS WILL HAVE TO SHORE HIM UP WITH CORROBORATING EVIDENCE. &gt;&gt; THEY ARE. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO USE SOME DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE. THERE'S ONE RECORDING WE KNOW ABOUT. NOT ABOUT STORMY DANIELS, THE PORN STAR INVOLVED IN THESE HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS ON TAPE DISCUSSING HOW THE REIMBURSEMENT SCHEMES WILL WORK. PROSECUTORS WANT TO BRING IN ALL OF THAT TO FLESH OUT THE STORY. THEY WANT TO SHOW A PATTERN OF SUPPRESSING A BUNCH OF STORIES LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, ALL IN SERVICE OF TRYING TO KEEP WHAT THEY SAY, PROSECUTORS SAY WAS DAMAGING INFORMATION FROM THE VOTERS. AS DANNY LAID OUT, THE DEFENSE IS GOING TO CONTINUALLY SAY THIS WASN'T ABOUT KEEPING INFORMATION FROM THE VOTERS BECAUSE THE VOTERS WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN HOW I WAS DOCUMENTING ON MY BOOKS AND RECORDS. THIS WAS ABOUT A PERSONAL ISSUE, EMBARRASSMENT, KEEPING THE ISSUE FROM HIS WIFE, SAVANNAH. &gt;&gt; AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE PUBLIC WILL REACT, HOW THIS WILL PLAY POLITICALLY. OF ALL THE FACTS THAT ARE PENDING, THIS IS CERTAINLY THE STEAMIEST. THIS IS THE MIEST SETTLE OF FACTS. &gt;&gt; IT'S A SET OF FACTS THAT WAS KNOWN BEFORE THE PRESIDEWAS ELECTED IN 2016. IT WAS IN THE PUBLIC EYE PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY. &gt;&gt; A PORN STAR WHO HE ACKNOWLEDGES HAVING AN CONSENSUAL AFFAIR WITH. &gt;&gt; DENIES WRONG DOING. THE POLITICS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE TIMING PIECE, SAVANNAH. YOU BROUGHT UP THE IDEA THAT THIS IS PERCEIVED TO BE POTENTIALLY THE WEAKNESS CASE FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE. THOSE CLOSE TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT SEE A POLITICAL ADVANTAGE IN THIS CASE COMING UP FIRST AND NOT THE FEDERAL ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE AND NOT THE CASE INVOLVING THE MISHANDLING, ALLEGEDLY OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS HERE. THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE ONE WE'RE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT, IN THE PUBLIC EYE, THEY SEE THIS AS POTENTIALLY USEFUL BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS KNOWN INFORMATION, IT IS HAPPENING IN NEW YORK CITY, WHERE THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS AND CAN SAY, LOOK, IT'S MANHATTAN, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF DEMOCRATS LOOKING TO BE OUT TO GET ME. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NAMES COMING UP. YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR FLASHING BACK TO 2016. THAT IS THE VIBE. HOPE HICKS, WHO WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR OR HEARD FROM IN YEARS. &gt;&gt; STORMY DANIELS WILL TESTIFY, KAREN McDOUGAL, ANOTHER WOMAN CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN PAID OFF. SHE MAY BE A POTENTIAL WITNESS. &gt;&gt; THE "NATIONAL ENQUIRER" FOLKS INVOLVED IN THE CATCH AND KILL SCHEME, YOU SEE THE LIST OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES. WE ARE EXPECTING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS TODAY, THESE WERE ALL NAMES WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, WHO ARE COMING BACK AND RELIVING, AS YOU PUT IT, SOME OF THE STEAMY DETAILS OF WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED HERE. &gt;&gt; DANNY, ONE OF THE ISSUES, AND WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS LEFT, IS TIMING. THE FORMER PRESIDENT CAN SAY, LOOK, THIS WAS A PERSONAL MATTER, I USED PERSONAL FUNDS, THESE ARE MY BUSINESS RECORDS, NO ONE IS RELYING ON THEM. THEN WHY DID YOU DO IT IN THE WANING DAYS OF THE 2016 ELECTION. THIS STORY HAD BEEN OUT THERE FOR MUCH LONGER THAN THAT. &gt;&gt; EXACTLY RIGHT. THE TIMING IS PROBABLY THE PROSECUTION'S BEST PIECE OF EVIDENCE. HAD IT HAPPENED A YEAR OR TWO MORE, THERE'S NO CASE. THE PROSECUTION NEEDS TO TIME IN THE TIMING, TO GO AGAINST THE DEFENSE SAYING THIS IS A PERSONAL PAYMENT. &gt;&gt; DANNY CEVALLOS, HALLIE, AND KRISTEN WELKER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR COVERAGE ON THE STREAMING NETWORK, NBC NEWS NOW, NBC.COM. WE'LL WRAP UP ON "NIGHTLY NEWS", AND WE'LL BE THE EYES AND EARS INSIDE THAT COURTHOUSE. MOST OF YOU WILL NOW RETURN TO MORE OF THE "TODAY" SHOW. I'M SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, THANKS FOR WATCHING. SELECTION SET TO BEGIN AT THE FIRST EVER CRIMINAL TRIAL OF A FORMERING AS WE SPEAK? &gt;&gt; I THINK THAT'S UP TO THE WAR CABINET AND PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU TO DECIDE, WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T GET AHEAD OF ANY DECISIONS THEY MIGHT MAKE. THE PRESIDENT IN HIS CONVERSATION WITH PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU LAUDED THE AMAZING SUCCESS THEY HAD IN SHOOTING DOWN THE DRONES FIRED AT THEM. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. AND HE URGED NETANYAHU TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THAT GREAT SUCCESS, WHAT THAT MEANT, THE MESSAGE IT SENT, ABOUT ISRAEL'S MILITARY SUPERIORITY AND THAT IRAN FAILED IN THAT WHEY TRIED TO DO. &gt;&gt; BEING BLUNT AS POSSIBLE, ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING TO ISRAEL IS, AS BEEN REPORTED, TAKE THE WIN, IN THE TO RETALIATE? IS THAT THE U.S.'S POSITION, ISRAEL, DON'T RETALIATE? &gt;&gt; AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT MADE IT CLEAR TO PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU THAT THERE WAS MUCH TO -- MUCH TO BE PROUD OF THE OTHER NIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MILITARY SUCCESS. THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO BEEN VERY CLEAR, IN MULTIPLE VENUES, THAT WE DO NOT SEEK A WAR WITH IRAN, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE A WIDER WAR IN THE REGION. &gt;&gt; WELL, AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS STRIKE FROM IRAN WAS IN RETALIATION FOR A STRIKE THAT ISRAEL TOOK AGAINST IRANIAN FORCES IN SYRIA THAT KILLED SEVEN IRGC OFFICERS. THE ISRAELIS GAVE NO HEADS UP TO ITS ALLY, THE U.S., WAS THAT NEEDLESSLY PROVOCATIVE? DO YOU THINK THAT ISRAEL BEARS SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESCALATING THIS, AND GETTING US TO THIS POINT? &gt;&gt; WELL, LOOK, LET'S BE CLEAR HERE, IRAN HAS BEEN FUNDING, RESOURCING IRAN HAS BEEN FUNDING GROUPS GROUPS LIKE HAMAS, LIKE HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, THE HEZBOLLAH, THE HOUTHIS DOWN IN YEMEN, ALSO OF HOUTHIS IN YEMEN. WHICH, ALSO, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALL OF WHICH ALSO, WITH THE HAMAS, AT LEAST PROXY GROUPS, INCLUDING THOSE IN EXCEPTION OF HAMAS, THESE PROXY IRAQ AND SYRIA, ALSO GROUPS, INCLUDING THOSE IN IRAQ PARTICIPATED IN TH AND SYRIA, ALSO PARTICIPATED IN E STRIKE THESE STRIKES AGAINST ISRAEL ON AGAINST ISRAEL ON ISRAEL ISRAELI SOIL.I SOIL, IRAN IS THE ONE WHO WAS PROVIDING THE MEANS AND TH IRAN IS THE ONE WHO'S PROVIDING E RESOURCES THROUGH WH THE MEANS AND THE RESOURCES ICH THESE GROUPS THROUGH WHICH THESE GROUPS AND AND THEIR OWN MILITARY WAS ABLE THEIR OWN MILITARY WAS ABLE TO TO CONDUCT THIS UNPREC CONDUCT THIS UNPRECEDENTED EDENTED ATTACK ON ISRAEL. &gt;&gt; ATTACK ON ISRAEL. GIVEN THAT, &gt;&gt; SO GIVEN THAT, AND GIVEN WHAT AND GIVEN W THE WHITE HOUSE IS SIGNALING THE WHITE HOUSE IS SIGNALING ABOUT IT ABOUT ITS MESSAGING TO THE S MESSAGING TO THE ISRAELIS, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK ISRAELIS, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO THE POINT HERE, IS THE WHITE HOUSE SAYI TO THE POINT HERE.NG, IN, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN TH IS THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING, YOU E LINES, ESSENTIALLY TO ISRAEL, KNOW, BETWEEN THE LINES, DON'T RETALIATE NOW? I MEAN, THE IRANIANS H ESSENTIALLY, TO ISRAEL, DON'T AVE RETALIATE NOW? CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE THE IRANIANS HAVE CLAIMED THAT CONCLUDED THEIR RE THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THEIR SPONSE TO THE SYRIA ATTACK RESPONSE TO THE SYRIA ATTACK., SO IS IT THE U.S. SO IS IT THE U.S. POSITION THAT POSITION IF ISRAEL SITS TIGHT, THIS COULD THAT IF ISRAEL SITS TIGHT, THIS CAN END RIGHT NOW? END RIGHT NOW?&gt;&gt; WE WANT TO SEE DEESCALATION, CLEARLY, IN THE REGION, AND EVERYTHING &gt;&gt; WE WANT TO SEE DEESCALATION CLEARLY IN THE REGION, AND EVERYTHING THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE SINCE OCTOBER 7th HAS BEEN th HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO KEEP THIS FROM BECOMING A DESIGNED TO KEEP THIS FROM WIDER WAR, SAVANNAH, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP LATCHED UP WITH ISRAELI COUNTERPARTS AND MAKE IT CLEAR AGAIN TO THE ISR BECOMING A WIDER WAR, SF SAVANNAH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOINGAELIS WE'LL DO WH TO KEEP LATCHED UP WITH THE AT WE HAVE TO DO TO DEFEND THEM AND HEL ISRAELI COUNTERPARTS.P THEM IN THEI THAT'S WHY WE WILL KEEP UP WITH R SELF-DEFENSE BUT WE OUR ISRAELI COUNTER PARTS AND MAKE IT CLEAR WE WILL DO WHAT WEDON'T WANT HAVE TO DO TO DEFEND THEM, HELP THEM IN THEIR SELF-DEFENSE, BUT TO SEE A WIDER WAR, WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A WAR WITH IRAN. &gt;&gt; ON THE OTHER HAND, IF ISRAEL DOES NOT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE A WIDER WAR. WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A WAR WITH IRAN. &gt;&gt; ON THE OTHER HAND, IF ISRAEL DOES NOT RETALIATE, SOME SAY IF THE U.S. DOESN'T RESPOND DIRECTLY, THEN IRAN WILL SIMPLY POND DIRECTLY, THEN IRAN WILL SIMPLY BE EMBOLDENED, YOU'RE GETTING I BE EMBOLDEN.T FROM BOT HERE YOU'RE GETTING IT FROM BOTH SIDES.H SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN SAYS HE SIDES. SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN DISAGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT, SEEMING TO RULE OUT DISAGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT TO ANY U.S RULE OUT ANY U.S. RESPONSE . RESPONSE AGAINST AGAINST IRAN.IRAN, AND DA AND CONGRESSMAN DARENSHAW N CRENSHAW, WHEN YOU DIMINISH THE RETURNS, THE ENEMY FEELS EMBOLDENED TO SAID WHEN YOU DIMINISH STRIKE. &gt;&gt; WHAT WE SAID THE OTHER NIGHT, DETERRENCE, THE ENEMY FEELS IS THAT IRAN IS NO EMBOLDENED TO STRIKE.T MILITARILY SUPERI &gt;&gt; I THINK WHAT WE SHOWED THE OTHER NIGHT IN CONCERT WITH OR, THAT I PARTNERS AND OF COURSE THE RAN IS NOT TEN FEET TALL, AND THAT WE WIL ISRAELIS IS THAT IRAN IS NOT MILITARILY SUPERIOR, THAT IRAN L AC IS NOT 10 FEET TALL AND THAT WE WILL ACT -- THAT ISRAEL IS NOT ALONE. IS NOT ALONE, WE WE WILL ACT WITH THEM ON THEIR WILL ACT WITH THEM IN T SELF-DEFENSE. SELF-DEFENSE. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THE INCREDIBLE MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS THE OTHER NIGHT, AND COME I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN LOOK AT AWAY WITH THE INCREDIBLE MILITARY ANY OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS THE OTHER NIGHT ANDIDEA THAT THE UNITED STATES, THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT COME AWAY WITH ANY OTHER IDEA GOING TO S THAT THE UNITED STATES, THAT TAND BY OUR GO PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT GOING TO OD FRIEND AND ALLY ISRAEL AS THEY STAND BY OUR GOOD FRIEND AND DEFEND THE ALLY ISRAEL AS THEY DEFEND THEMSELVES.MSELVES. &gt;&gt; WE WILL BE HA &gt;&gt; WE WILL BE HAVING A MUCH VING A MUCH DIFFER DIFFERENT CONVERSATION HAD WE CONVERSATION HAD WE NOT HAD THAT INCREDIBLE, AS YOU MENTIONED, ABILI NOT HAD THAT INCREDIBLE, AS YOU TY TO REPE MENTIONED, ABILITY TO REPEL 99% L 99% OF THESE OF THESE MISSILES AND DRONES MISSILES AND DRONES THAT WERE COMING TOWARD ISRAEL, THAT WERE COMING TOWARD ISRAEL. DOES NETANYAHU'S ACTIONS IN THE REGION MAK DOES NETANYAHU'S ACTIONS IN THE E THE U.S. REGION MAKE THE U.S. NERVOUS? NERVOUS? &gt;&gt; I THINK WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TENSIONS &gt;&gt; I THINK WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TENSIONS RISING ALL RISING ALL THROUGHOUT THE REGION, SAVANNAH, THROUGHOUT THE REGION, SAVANNAH. AND, AGAIN AND, AGAIN, EVERYTHING THAT THE , EVERYTHING THAT TH PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DOING AND E PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DOING, AND ADDING RESOURCES</p>

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