A jury found former President Donald Trump should pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages in a defamation trial that ended on Friday. The amount awarded to Carroll is well over three times more than her legal team asked for in its closing argument – $24 million – and more than eight times the amount Carroll requested in her initial lawsuit — $10 million‚ according to CNN. The jury found that Trump owed Carroll $11 million to cover the costs of a campaign to repair the harm done to her reputation and $7.3 million to address the emotional harm the 80-year-old writer sustained from remarks Trump made in 2019 about her and her accusations of rape. The jury ordered Trump to pay another $65 million in punitive damages. Trump promised to appeal the decision in a statement released after the jury’s findings. “Absolutely ridiculous!” the statement began. “I fully disagree with both verdicts‚ and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party. Our Legal System is out of control‚ and being used as a political weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!” “THIS IS NOT AMERICA!” pic.twitter.com/A0uQ9RMcoI — Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) January 26‚ 2024 The jury spent two hours 45 minutes in deliberations after closing arguments wrapped on Friday afternoon. Afterward‚ the verdict was read aloud to the courtroom. Trump‚ who attended the trial earlier in the day‚ was not present to hear the jury’s decision. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan thanked the jurors for their work and warned them against going public now that the trial is over. “My advice to you is that you never disclose that you were on this jury‚ and I won’t say anything more about it‚” he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The decision by the jury caps off an at times chaotic final day in court in which Kaplan threatened to put one of Trump’s attorneys behind bars and in which the former president at one point stormed out of the courtroom as Carroll’s legal team was making its closing argument. Kaplan threatened to throw Trump attorney Alina Habba in “lockup” after the two got into a heated exchange over allowable evidence in the courtroom. Ahead of opening arguments in the case‚ Trump’s legal team motioned that it wanted to show a slide to jurors of materials not admitted into evidence. Carroll’s legal team objected‚ and the dispute led to an argument between Habba and the judge. “You are on the verge of spending some time in the lockup‚” Kaplan told Habba. “Sit down.” Habba sat down immediately after. Later in the trial‚ Trump abruptly left the courtroom minutes into closing arguments by Carroll’s legal team. Kaplan made a note of the disturbance: “The record will reflect that Mr. Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom.”

After another week of headlines‚ it can be hard to parse through and find the most important political stories of the week. Many stories slip through the cracks as the media pulls Americans’ attention elsewhere. The following list of the week’s top stories is far from expansive‚ but just in case you missed them‚ here are some of the biggest stories The Daily Wire covered from Sunday‚ January 21‚ to Friday‚ January 26‚ 2024. Texas Stands Strong On Border Defense After SCOTUS Rules Feds Can Cut Through Razor Wire John Moore/Getty Images Following a ruling from the Supreme Court earlier this week that authorized Border Patrol agents to cut through razor wire set up by Texas‚ the state has doubled down on defending the southern border amid a record surge of illegal immigrant crossings.  Earlier this month‚ the Texas National Guard took control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass‚ Texas‚ after Customs and Border Patrol agents were filmed cutting through razor wire to make it easier for illegal immigrants to enter the United States. On Monday‚ the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that federal officials may cut through razor wire that Texas authorities installed to repel migrants from crossing the border illegally. Shortly after the ruling‚ Texas leaders‚ including Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton hit back‚ saying the fight was not over. Abbott issued a statement on Wednesday‚ slamming President Joe Biden for “violat[ing] his oath to execute immigration laws enacted by Congress faithfully.” Abbott also swore to secure the southern border and uphold “Texas’s constitutional authority to defend and protect itself.” Twenty-five Republican governors backed Abbott and Texas on Thursday as the state seeks to secure the southern border.  “We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor‚ Greg Abbott‚ and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy‚ including razor wire fences‚ to secure the border‚” said the statement signed by the 25 governors. “We do it in part because the Biden Administration is refusing to enforce immigration laws already on the books and is illegally allowing mass parole across America of migrants who entered our country illegally.” DeSantis Suspends Campaign Following 2nd-Place Finish In Iowa Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images Florida Governor Ron DeSantis‚ who jumped into the Republican primary last May‚ suspended his campaign on Sunday and endorsed GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. The announcement came less than a week after DeSantis finished second in the Iowa caucuses with 21% of the vote behind Trump‚ who took 51%.  The DeSantis campaign spent millions on Iowa and moved much of its staff to the state in hopes of pulling off an early upset and proving that the Florida governor could compete with Trump. DeSantis’ strategy‚ however‚ didn’t pay off as Trump steamed ahead to a dominating win.  “If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome‚ more campaign stops‚ more interviews‚ I would do it‚” DeSantis said. “But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources if we don’t have a clear path to victory. Accordingly‚ I am today suspending my campaign. I’m proud to have delivered on 100% of my promises‚ and I will not stop now.” “Success is not final‚ failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill pic.twitter.com/ECoR8YeiMm — Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 21‚ 2024 Trump Wins First-In-The-Nation Primary‚ Solidifies Lead In GOP Primary Two days after DeSantis suspended his campaign‚ Trump cruised to another victory‚ this one in New Hampshire‚ where he took 54% of the vote beating former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley who received 43%. Trump’s early victories in Iowa and New Hampshire put him at 32 delegates‚ 15 ahead of Haley who has 17 delegates. Candidates must reach 1‚215 delegates to become the Republican nominee.  Mel Musto/Bloomberg via Getty Images Haley has remained undeterred following her third-place finish in Iowa and second-place finish in New Hampshire‚ saying she’s in the race for the long haul. Haley’s vow to stay in the race seemingly annoyed Trump‚ who sent a message to her donors‚ saying they will never be welcome back in the “MAGA camp” if they contribute to her campaign from this point forward.  RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel also weighed in on the race‚ saying Haley has no “path going forward.”  “I think there’s some history that was made tonight‚ we have never had a nominee in our party that has won without winning either Iowa or New Hampshire. Donald Trump is the first ever to win both‚” McDaniel said. “I’m looking at the math and the path going forward. And I don’t see it for Nikki Haley. I think she’s run a great campaign. But I do think there is a message that’s coming out from the voters‚ which is very clear‚ we need to unite around our eventual nominee‚ which is going to be Donald Trump and we need to make sure we beat Joe Biden.” Ohio Legislature Overrides Republican Governor’s Veto‚ Ban Gender Surgeries On Minors‚ Boys In Girls’ Sports Credit: Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. On Wednesday Republicans in the Ohio state Senate voted to override Republican Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of a bill banning transgender hormone treatments and surgeries from being performed on children‚ and barring boys and men from competing against girls and women in athletic competitions. DeWine’s veto was officially overridden after the state Senate voted 24-8‚ following state House Republicans’ January 10 vote to do the same‚ with that vote ending up 65-28.  The bill vetoed by DeWine‚ House Bill 68‚ is made up of two acts: the “Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act” and the “Save Women’s Sports Act.” It bans transgender procedures on minors‚ such as double mastectomies on girls who identify as boys‚ and other genital procedures for children with gender dysphoria. It also prohibits males from competing in female sports across the state‚ grades K-12‚ and the collegiate level. When DeWine initially vetoed the bill‚ he argued that signing it would hinder parental rights. “Ohio would be saying that the state‚ that the government‚ knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most‚ the parents‚” he said. He also made the claim that he was acting to preserve “life.” “Ultimately‚ I believe this is about protecting human life‚” DeWine said. “Many parents have told me that their child would not have survived‚ would be dead today‚ if they had not received the treatment they received from one of Ohio’s children’s hospitals. I’ve also been told by those who are now grown adults that but for this care‚ they would have taken their life when they were teenagers.” The new law banning gender surgeries on children in Ohio is expected to go into effect in around three months.  ADL Targets Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh‚ Other Alleged ‘Amplifiers Of LGBTQ+ Hate’ Emails obtained by the Daily Signal and published earlier this week showed that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) urged a counterterrorism agency to open investigations into Daily Wire host Matt Walsh and other conservative commentators‚ alleging that the commentators are “escalating harassment of LGBTQ+ individuals.” The Daily Wire The ADL stated in an email to a Washington State unified counterterrorism unit that “growing online anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry puts LGBTQ+ individuals at greater risk of physical violence and harassment.” The ADL goes on to list not only Walsh‚ but also the Manhattan Institute’s Christopher Rufo and Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik‚ among others‚ as “perpetrators of online hate‚” and urges law enforcement to take action. The counterterrorism unit‚ the Washington State Fusion Center‚ told The Daily Signal that no action was taken against Walsh or any of the other individuals. Walsh said he views the attempt to mobilize law enforcement against him as “a very serious threat‚” and called it “an explicit attempt to use state force to shut down opposing speech at gunpoint.” “I’m not surprised that the enemies of free speech and common sense are using this tactic but I do find it deeply concerning‚” he told The Daily Signal. * * * Some more of this week’s biggest political stories include: Two U.S. Navy SEALs Killed While Boarding Boat Illegally Carrying Iranian Weapons Judge’s Ruling In Divorce Case Could Spell Bad News For Anti-Trump DA Fani Willis The FBI Said There Were ‘Pipe Bombs’ On January 6. Evidence Points To A Coverup‚ Congressman Says

Maine’s legislature has killed a bill that would have allowed the state to take custody of children who are unable to get transgender medical services. On Thursday‚ Maine’s joint Judiciary Committee voted 12-0 against advancing the “Act to Safeguard Gender-affirming Health Care” or LD 1735‚ meaning the bill is dead and will not get a vote on the House or Senate floor. The bill would have allowed the state to take emergency temporary custody of children who want but are unable to obtain transgender medical services‚ including genital surgery‚ puberty blockers‚ and cross-sex hormone therapy. Law enforcement would also be prohibited under the bill from arresting or extraditing a person based on a warrant from another state that has laws against transgender medical interventions for children. Courts would also be barred from considering the abduction of a child from a parent “if the taking or retention was for obtaining gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming or gender-affirming mental health care.” Republicans expressed serious concerns with the bill before the committee vote‚ some arguing that the bill would allow out-of-state children to come to Maine to receive transgender medical interventions without parental consent. “The angst that the parents from around the country have reached out to talk to us about this bill‚ that should’ve never come to be‚” said state Senator Lisa Keim‚ a Republican. “Parents shouldn’t have their rights threatened in this way‚ and this is a dangerous bill for children.” “This gives the state jurisdiction to effectively come into your home and take your kids based on a medical decision you made for the wellbeing and mental wellbeing of your child‚” said state Representative Rachel Henderson‚ also a Republican. The bill’s main sponsor is state Representative Laurie Osher‚ a Democrat and the leader of the legislature’s LGBT Equality Caucus‚ and it garnered support from at least six other lawmakers. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Osher said Thursday that she will continue to fight for people who want transgender medical interventions. “We will make sure that people are protected‚ that our care providers are protected‚” Osher said. “Today was a moment where we’re not getting that done‚ but we will get that done.” Earlier this month‚ the bill prompted backlash online‚ including from several prominent conservative figures. “This is SICK! Bombard them with emails. This cannot pass‚” journalist Megyn Kelly posted on X. “Demonic‚” wrote Tom Fitton‚ president of Judicial Watch. This is SICK! Bombard them with emails. This cannot pass https://t.co/Is2fmPhC86 — Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) January 17‚ 2024 State Senator Eric Brakey‚ a Republican‚ told the committee before the vote that he believes that “there are certain lines that I think need to be respected as far as the authority of the family vs. the authority of the state.” “I feel like this legislation takes a great leap over that line‚ potentially empowering the state to even take custody of minors in a way that does not feel appropriate to me‚” Brakey said. State Representative Matthew Moonen‚ a Democrat‚ initially sponsored the bill and said during the hearing that it has “certainly gotten a lot of attention.” Ultimately‚ however‚ Moonen said the bill’s language is “not needed” and voted against advancing it. Other Democrats who previously supported the bill backed down and voted no as well. After the vote to kill the bill‚ the several people attending the hearing erupted into applause‚ prompting a scolding from the committee’s chairwoman. The Minnesota bill is somewhat similar to a 2022 California law that made the state a “sanctuary” for child transgender medical interventions. Among other things‚ the California law restricts officials and health providers from cooperating with out-of-state attempts to stop a child from getting transgender medical interventions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) outlined the Republican Conference’s agenda in fighting President Joe Biden’s illegal immigration crisis on the U.S. southern border in a letter sent to Members this week‚ including impeaching DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Johnson said in the letter that the House would reject a watered down border bill from the Senate that fails to address the crisis on the border. Johnson highlighted the “transformative corrections” contained in the House’s Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2)‚ which was sent to the Senate nine months ago. The bill’s provisions include “the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy‚ the end of ‘Catch and Release‚’ meaningful reforms to the existing broken asylum and parole systems‚ and continued construction of a wall at our southern border‚” Johnson said. “Since the day I became Speaker‚ I have assured our Senate colleagues the House would not accept any counterproposal if it would not actually solve the problems that have been created by the administration’s subversive policies.” “The facts show that President Biden and his Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas have willfully ignored and actively undermined our nation’s immigration laws‚” Johnson continued. “My office has documented at least 64 specific actions taken by his administration that effectively opened our border and instituted the current chaos. Rather than accept accountability‚ President Biden is now trying to blame Congress for what HE himself intentionally created.” Johnson said that when Members return next week‚ the House Homeland Security Committee will move forward with Articles of Impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas. A vote on the House floor will likely be held soon after. “If President Biden wants us to believe he is serious about protecting our national sovereignty‚ he needs to demonstrate his good faith by taking immediate actions to secure it‚” he said. “He should sign an order right now to end the mass release of illegals and dangerous persons into our country. If he wants our conference to view him as a good faith negotiator‚ he can start with the stroke of a pen.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Johnson said that he has repeatedly shared information with Biden about the crisis at the border. “I insisted to the President that the American people can no longer tolerate the record encounters with illegals (302‚000+ in December alone)‚ the overwhelming number of deaths from fentanyl poisoning‚ human trafficking‚ the admission of terrorists into our country‚ and the crushing burdens his policies are inflicting upon all our states and communities‚” he said. “I made clear that we stand with Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his heroic efforts to protect the citizens of his state and all Americans‚ and I am emphasizing again today that House Republicans will vigorously oppose any policy proposal from the White House or Senate that would further incentivize illegal aliens to break our laws‚” he concluded. “Thank you all for uniting in this fateful battle for our border and our national sovereignty.”

'A bad idea'

The Columbian drugged U.S. soldiers as they partied‚ court documents said

‘Let Them Work‚’ wrote Eric Adams

'I fully disagree with both verdicts'

'I will not issue a retraction despite the threats'

'Overwhelmed'