No images? Click here 27 March 2024Trump winded by financial blowsBy Victoria Cooper, Research Editor Concerns about Trump’s ability to bear the costs of a long presidential campaign cannot be overstated. The financial blows are plentiful: the former president paid the US$91.6 million bond owed in the E. Jean Carroll defamation verdict earlier this month, will soon front the penalties of a New York civil fraud suit, has tried and failed to receive a bond from over 30 companies through March, and is continuing to finance an additional three criminal trials which cost his political action committee US$50 million last year. In news from a New York appellate court on Monday, the former president has less than 10 days to produce a US$175 million bond — a nearly US$300 million reduction from the initial amount — owed in a New York state lawsuit finding him liable for business fraud. Trump appeared confident he would pay the amount in cash and on time, but intends to appeal the ruling. The reduced bond amount and opportunity to appeal had offered Trump some breathing room. But it did not last long. Also on Monday, Manhattan Justice Juan Merchan delivered the news of a date for the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president. On 15 April Trump will be tried on 34 felony counts of alleged falsification of business records where a conviction could result in further fines. In these trying times, it is not Trump’s political viability, at least with Republicans, on the line. His support among Republican primary voters, elected lawmakers and the Republican National Convention has never been in doubt. It is more personal than that. By failing to pay his legal dues, Trump risks losing control over his “babies” (as he referred to them on Truth Social) — his bank accounts and several of his real estate assets, including his Wall Street office building, golf course and Trump Tower penthouse. But with over 200 days to go until election day, the more immediate question is really whether Trump can outlast the financial – not the political – blows of his legal woes. NEWS WRAPCollision tragedy in Baltimore
"This is going to take some time. And the people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt." Remarks by President Biden on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge | 26 March 2024. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Did you USSC?
BY THE NUMBERS While Trump sells Bibles online, only 4 per cent say he is “very” religiousBy Victoria Cooper, Research Editor Following the launch of his limited-edition gold ‘Never Surrender High-Top Sneaker’ in February, former president Donald Trump is now selling Bibles for US$59.99 on GodBlessTheUSABible.com. Launching the new merchandise via a video on Truth Social, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate said “religion and Christianity are the biggest things missing from this country.” It appears a majority of American adults agree. According to recent survey data from the Pew Research Center, 57 per cent of American adults have a positive view of religion in American life; and almost half of those who say religion is losing influence think that its lost influence is a bad thing. In fact, nearly half (49 per cent) of American adults say the Bible should have a great deal or some influence on US laws. For Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, launching a line of God Bless the USA Bibles could be a signal to critical voter bases, including white evangelical Protestants. Seventy per cent of this group also say it is important that the president has religious beliefs that are the same as their own, yet only 48 per cent of this group say Donald Trump is very or somewhat religious. It is doubtful whether this will make a difference to their loyalty though, with 86 per cent having unfavourable views of Biden, according to the same survey. The survey shows over two-thirds of Americans think Donald Trump is not too or not at all religious, will these Bibles be enough to change that? God knows. Manage your email preferences | Forward this email to a friend United States Studies Centre |