On Wednesday, jurors assigned to Donald Trump’s fraud case – the first-ever criminal trial of a president — began their deliberations over the former president’s 34 counts of allegedly falsifying business records. If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison.
The trial has been an absolute circus, which is unsurprising given that it features a president and alleged fraud and sex. Trump, for his part, not only maintains his innocence but claims the process is corrupt and rigged. And not to set the bar too high, he has compared himself to a saint, suggesting that “Mother Teresa could not beat these charges.”
With the prospect of prison in the mix — experts say jail time is unlikely, but not out of the question — the US is in uncharted territory as Trump prepares for the 2024 presidential election in November.
Jurors are currently deliberating. Last night, they asked to rehear testimony from Michael Cohen and David Pecker and for Judge Juan Merchan to reread his instructions to them.
Everyone is watching for a verdict and how Trump — and the Democrats — handle the jury’s decision. Win or lose, Trump still faces three more criminal trials, though they will likely begin after the election, at which point the already unprecedented ordeal may become even more extraordinary.
For more about the possible verdicts and next steps, check out our recent coverage here.
The Pentagon is going all-in on AI warfare. Ian Bremmer breaks down what that means, how it happened, and what's at stake when machines start making targeting decisions.
Think you know what's going on around the world? Here's your chance to prove it.
Israel’s right-wing government has overseen a record expansion of settlements in the West Bank in recent years. The settlements, which are illegal under international law, are driving the displacement of Palestinians. One proposal the government is now advancing is the controversial E1 settlement plan, which would effectively slice the West Bank in two and severely undermine Palestinian aspirations for a contiguous state.
More than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered in good old H2O, so it would seem there’s plenty to go around. But the vast majority, at least 97%, is contained in the oceans as saltwater. The growing scarcity of freshwater for drinking, cooking, industrial, and agricultural uses is quickly moving water up as a global risk. In fact, our parent company, Eurasia Group, added it to its Top Risks list for 2026 as “The water weapon.”