U.S. and world news for Nov. 7

Trump’s testimony: Donald Trump showed his contempt for the American judicial system when he was on the stand yesterday testifying in the fraud case brought against him, sons Donald Jr. and Eric and The Trump Organization by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump repeatedly assailed Judge Arthur Engoron as well as James, her prosecutors and the law, saying that the law shouldn’t apply to him. The judge repeatedly told Trump to stop his tirades, and told Trump’s lawyers to control their client, but Trump wouldn’t listen. Trump’s testimony showed his confusion about some issues, such as when he claimed that in 2021 he didn’t review a fraudulent financial document because he was too busy carrying out the duties of president, when in fact Trump was not the president in 2021.

Heritage Foundation’s denial: The right-wing Heritage Foundation denies a Washington Post report that former Trump Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark was working under its auspices to create a plan that would stifle free speech in the U.S. if Donald Trump is returned to the White House. The Post said the group at the Heritage Foundation working on the plan is named “Project 2025.” According to the Post, the plan Clark was preparing would have Trump invoke the Insurrection Act as soon as he takes office and be able to use the U.S. military to prevent his critics from speaking out. In addition, the Post reported that plans were being drawn up to prosecute people who Trump feels have been disloyal to him including former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley and President Biden.

Israel-Hamas: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview on ABC last night that there will be no cease-fire between Israel and Hamas unless Hamas first releases the hostages it is holding. Netanyahu did hold out the promise of what he described as brief tactical pauses in the fighting that would allow humanitarian aid to be sent into Gaza. Israeli troops today were reported to be on the verge of entering the center of Gaza City.

WeWork filing: The office sharing company WeWork has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At one time WeWork was valued by Wall Street at $47 billion. The filing in federal court in New Jersey indicated that the company now has $15.1 million in assets and $18.7 million in debts. The Japanese investment company SoftBank had agreed to invest up to $5 billion to keep the company afloat.

Republican demands: Senate Republicans are demanding that additional portions of the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico be built and that humanitarian aid offered to immigrants be cut as part of the price for their supporting more aid to Ukraine. Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jim Lankford of Oklahoma floated the demands yesterday. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell did not immediately say whether he supports the demands but did say he supports the idea of additional spending on controlling activity at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Captain convicted: The captain of a dive boat that caught fire and sank off Santa Barbara, California, on Labor Day in 2019 has been convicted of what’s known as seaman’s manslaughter. Thirty-four people were killed in the fire and sinking. Jerry Boylan was found guilty of a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. He was charged with neglecting his duties as a ship’s captain.

Cover photograph by Focal Foto / Flickr Creative Commons