Wednesday briefing: Trump’s immunity claim in court | ET REALITY

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At a hearing yesterday in Washington, the justices expressed deep skepticism about Donald Trump’s claim that he was immune from charges of conspiring to subvert the 2020 election. Trump’s lawyers argued that he should not face prosecution because Charges stem from actions he took as president.

The three-judge panel of the federal appeals court peppered one of Trump’s lawyers with tough questions about immunity claims. Trump, who is on track to win the Republican presidential nomination, was there but did not speak.

One judge seemed unconvinced that Trump was fulfilling his constitutional duty to preserve the integrity of the election when he sought to overturn his loss.

“I think it is paradoxical to say that your constitutional duty to see that the laws are faithfully executed allows you to violate the criminal law,” said Judge Karen Henderson, the only Republican appointee.

Here are five takeaways.

The immunity issue is likely to reach the Supreme Court, which is already hearing another crucial question about whether Trump can be removed from state ballots. The pace and outcome of the immunity issue will be critical in deciding when, or if, Trump goes to trial in the election interference case, which is scheduled for March. It could also help determine the timing of his three other criminal trials.

That moment could have a major impact on the 2024 presidential race. A recent poll found that nearly a quarter of his supporters think he should not be the Republican nominee if convicted of a crime. “In a close race, it could be decisive even if only a small portion of voters refused to vote for a felon,” our top political analyst has suggested.

A ‘terrifying’ future: One of the judges asked whether a president could be criminally charged for ordering American soldiers to assassinate a rival. Trump’s lawyer said an indictment would only be possible if the president had first been found guilty in an impeachment process.

In his response, the lawyer representing the government warned of “an extraordinarily terrifying future” if a president could order the military to assassinate a rival and then escape criminal liability.

Background: Here’s a timeline of Trump’s pattern of pressure to overturn the 2020 election.

Last year was by far the warmest on Earth in a century and a half. Month after month, global temperatures broke records.

Scientists also said 2023 appeared to be among the warmest in at least 100,000 years. And this year it could be even warmer.

“There were simply no cities, no books, no agriculture and no domesticated animals on this planet the last time the temperature was this high,” said an EU scientist. Researchers are trying to understand whether 2023 predicts many more years in which heat records will not only be broken, but destroyed.

Greenhouse gas emissions are the main driver of global warming. But El Niño, the recurring weather pattern, did not begin until mid-year, meaning it may not have been the main driver of the abnormal heat, scientists said. This year it could be.

False narratives and conspiracy theories have become a global threat, and around half of the world’s population is preparing to vote in this year’s major elections. It is a crucial time for rampant misinformation.

Foreign influence campaigns target polarizing domestic challenges. AI has boosted propaganda efforts and distorted perceptions of reality. And major social media companies have reduced their safeguards and reduced the size of their election teams ahead of races that will affect the way the world is run for decades.

For months, someone (or something) had been tidying up a retiree’s workbench in Wales behind him, placing miscellaneous items into a small box. He then installed a night vision camera to capture the deputy.

“Lo and behold,” he said, “I have a video of the mouse.”

Every year the travel desk offers a list of travel locations. This year’s list includes an elephant rehabilitation program in Kenya, sea-sculpted monoliths in Quebec and a lesser-known masterpiece house in Italy.

Here are a few more picks:

Mustang, Nepal: This ancient Himalayan kingdom is a bastion of traditional Tibetan culture, preserved for centuries due to its remoteness. Visitors can take nature walks through mountain ranges and visit the well-preserved medieval fortress of Lo Manthang.

Yamaguchi, Japan: It is called the Kyoto of the West, but this compact city has considerably less “tourist pollution.” Rurikoji Temple is a national treasure, and Yamaguchi’s winding alleys offer pottery kilns, elegant cafes, and counter restaurants.

New Zealand, by train: Traveling by road in a motorhome is every free-spirited traveler’s dream. But an easier and more sustainable way to travel is by train, which can take you past volcanic peaks, world-class vineyards and pods of dolphins.

Find more inspiration here.

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