A onetime lawyer for former President Donald Trump testified on Monday that he secretly recorded Trump before the 2016 election while he was working for him. Michael Cohen, who previously worked for Trump, said during his testimony at the former president’s criminal trial in New York that he used his iPhone to record a conversation between himself and Trump in September of 2016. Cohen claimed that the conversation was in regards to a supposed payment to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker over an alleged affair between Trump and model Karen McDougal.  Cohen, whose credibility has been challenged by Trump and other Republicans, claimed he recorded the conversation to show that Trump was going to pay Pecker.  “It was so I could show it to David Pecker and that way he would hear the conversation, that he would know that we’re going to be paid, Mr. Trump is going to be paying him back,” Cohen said. “I also wanted him to remain loyal to Mr. Trump.” When asked if Trump was aware that he was being recorded, Cohen said he was not. In the recording, Cohen says he will be setting up a company to transfer “all of that info regarding our friend David.”  The recording came out as part of his testimony on Cohen’s claims about Trump’s alleged relationships with McDougal and Stormy Daniels. The supposed relationships with the women are the focal point of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 counts of falsifying business records he faces and denied the relationships.  Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), who attended the trial on Monday, ripped into Cohen over the recording revelation. Also in attendance were Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Iowa AG Brenna Bird.  “Michael Cohen is the prosecution’s star witness. This guy is a convicted felon who admitted in his testimony that he secretly recorded his former employer, that he only did it once, allegedly, and that this was supposed to help Donald Trump. Does any reasonable, sensible person believe anything that Michael Cohen says?” Vance said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Cohen previously pleaded guilty in 2018 to multiple crimes, including lying to Congress, and ended up serving time in prison.  Senator J.D. Vance: "Michael Cohen is the prosecution's star witness. This guy is a convicted felon…every single person involved in this prosecution is practically a Democratic political operative…What's going on inside that courtroom is a threat to American democracy…" pic.twitter.com/h3R1xzb5JM — MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) May 13, 2024   “The thing that the president is prevented from saying, which is a disgrace, is that every single person involved in this prosecution is practically a Democratic political operative,” Vance added. “What’s going on inside that courtroom is a threat to American democracy.” House Republicans have pushed the Justice Department to investigate Cohen after they sent a criminal referral saying that he likely committed perjury during his testimony before Congress in 2019.

Punxsutawney Phil and his wife, Phyllis, are now the proud parents of a son and daughter, who recently earned their official names—and they’re absolutely perfect. The legendary rodent and his longtime partner became first-time parents when their twins were born in March, mere weeks after Phil predicted an early spring. The babies came as a complete shock to Phil and Phyllis’s keepers. No one knew that Phyllis was pregnant. And someone discovered the babies when they went to feed the happy couple one morning. The babies were joyful surprises nonetheless. Punxsutawney Phil’s friends announced the births on his Facebook page shortly after and asked his fans to help name them. The ballots were open from April 30 to May 9. To commemorate Phyllis’ first Mother’s Day,  The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle‘s President Tom Dunkel and Vice President Dan McGinley held a ceremony to announce their designation. Punxsutawney Phil’s Babies Have Fitting Names With reporters gathered ’round, Tom and Dan stood in Punxsutawney Phil’s Pennsylvania home, Gobbler’s Knob, wearing their finest formal attire and top hats. And they read the news from an old tyme scroll. “Here ye, here ye, here ye! Now on this 12th of May, in the town of Punxy Phil, the news is not about the weather, spring air, or winter’s chill. No, today, the first family of groundhogs has grown. Punxsutawney Phil and wife, Phyllis, had two kits of their own,” read Dan. “Born to royalty, a boy and a girl, names have been chosen to share with the world,” he continued. “Welcome with us as we say hello to little girl, Sunny, and a boy, Shadow. With pride and joy as the kids play, from Punxatawney, happy Mother’s Day!” We wish a lifetime of happiness to Punxsutawney Phil and Phyllis and their children Sunny and Shadow! This story’s featured image is by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images. The post Punxsutawney Phil & His Wife Phyllis Have An Important Announcement appeared first on InspireMore.

'Look at what the humans have done to the earth'

'I just find it hard to believe he’s the guy who would do that'

Those in violation of GWU’s updated policy will be asked for identification and to exit the event

Peaked at 9%

'Only interested in women's rights when it comes to access to abortion'

'If Trump wins, do Democrats seriously not expect him to respond in kind?'

News Grendel The Jim Henson Company’s Live-Action Grendel Cast Includes Jeff Bridges, Dave Bautista, & Bryan Cranston The project is based on John Gardner’s 1971 novel that tells the story of Beowulf through the monster’s eyes. By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on May 13, 2024 Credit: Byron Cohen/FX Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: Byron Cohen/FX The Jim Henson Company is working on a live-action feature film of John Gardner’s 1971 novel, Grendel, which is a reimagining of Beowulf, the Old English poem you likely read in school, told from the perspective of the monster in that story, Grendel. According to Variety, the cast of Grendel is shaping out nicely, with Tron and R.I.P.D. alum Jeff Bridges (pictured above in the 2022 FX series, The Old Man) playing the titular Grendel(!), Dave Bautista playing Beowulf, and Bryan Cranston taking on the role of King Hrothgar. Additional cast members include Thomasin McKenzie as Queen Wealhtheow, Aidan Turner as Unferth and T Bone Burnett as the Shaper. Burnett will also provide original songs for the film. Unsurprisingly, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will create the feature’s practical creatures. The movie will be directed by Robert D. Krzykowski (The Man Who Killed Hitler), who also penned the script adaptation. This project is completely separate from the Grendel series, which was in development at Netflix but has since been shut down. “Grendel represents everything I love about the movies,” Krzykowski in a statement to Variety. “John Gardner’s mad masterpiece cleverly tackles what it is to be human through the wild-eyed lens of a monster. It’s an honor to work with such a remarkable group of storytellers, all of whom seek to bring something wonderful and unexpected to audiences now.” Brian Henson, producer and Chair of the Board of The Jim Henson Company said in the same statement, “The Jim Henson Company is internationally known for our world creation and character creation. And we are most inspired when a character has a richly authentic personality, and can be sophisticated, thought-provoking, and believable. Grendel is the ultimate character, and will be brought to life using our Creature Shop’s cutting-edge practical techniques in combination with Dennis Berardi’s amazing digital effects.” Production on Grendel is set to begin in Europe later this year. [end-mark] The post The Jim Henson Company’s Live-Action <i>Grendel</i> Cast Includes Jeff Bridges, Dave Bautista, & Bryan Cranston appeared first on Reactor.