Mediaboss Marketing

An ex-aide to former President Barack Obama expressed astonishment that former President Donald Trump was found guilty in his hush money trial.

David Litt, now a bestselling author, political commentator and self-described "democracy enthusiast" took to X (formerly Twitter) following the news that Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels in the run up to the 2016 presidential election.

"I'm honestly surprised," he wrote. "Any one of these jurors could have hung the jury, gone public, and been set for life as a right-wing media darling. Book deals, speaking circuit, position in a future Trump admin, whatever they wanted. But all 12 put public service over personal gain."

Newsweek has reached out to Litt via email for comment.

The case marks the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime, setting a significant legal and political precedent.

The jury came to their verdict after prosecutors successfully argued that Trump falsified internal business records to hide payments to Daniels, listing them as legal expenses.

Reactions to Trump's conviction ranged from surprise to anger across the political spectrum.

Republican Senator Tim Scott, a potential candidate for vice president, denounced the verdict on X, calling it an "absolute injustice" and accusing the justice system of being eroded. "Hear me clearly: You cannot silence the American people. You cannot stop us from voting for change. Joe Biden you're fired. We the People stand with Donald J. Trump," Scott wrote.

Alex Jones, a far-right commentator, issued a "False Flag Alert" in reaction to the conviction, suggesting the charges were part of a larger conspiracy against Trump. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also expressed her outrage, claiming the conviction was a result of a deep state conspiracy. "The fix is in. They would love to replace him or demand he take Nikki Haley as VP or they will tell him he has to rot in jail," Greene tweeted.

On the other side, Democratic leaders framed the conviction as a triumph of the rule of law. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the moment as somber but necessary. "Trial by a jury of peers is a fundamental principle of democracy, which must be respected," Pelosi posted.

Representative Adam Schiff highlighted the significance of the conviction. "Guilty. Today, twelve ordinary American citizens found a former president guilty of dozens of felonies. Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same. And the rule of law prevailed," Schiff tweeted.

In high-profile cases, jury members sometimes capitalize on their experiences by making public appearances, often earning substantial amounts through book deals and media engagements. Following the O.J. Simpson trial, several jurors shared their stories. Marcia Clark, the lead prosecutor, reportedly received $4.2 million for her memoir, "Without a Doubt."

Trump's legal team has announced plans to appeal the conviction, arguing that the trial was unfair and the judge was biased. Trump himself has maintained his innocence, calling the trial a "disgrace" and vowing to continue fighting.

Judge Juan M. Merchan has scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate for 2024. Despite the conviction, Trump's supporters remain steadfast, and his campaign has reportedly seen a surge in donations following the verdict.

The conviction's impact on Trump's political future remains uncertain. While his legal troubles may galvanize his base, they also present significant hurdles as he seeks to reclaim the presidency. Political analysts suggest that the verdict could sway independent voters.

Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about Donald Trump's conviction? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Follow this link:
Obama Aide on Trump Conviction: 'Honestly Surprised' - Newsweek

Photo: Feng Li (Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump needs to come get his people. After Barack and Michelle Obama announced in a statement that family matriarch Marian Robinson had passed away, supporters of the Republican presidential candidate wasted no time turning the former First Ladys tribute into some kind of political rally.

Can Donald Trump Serve As President From Prison?

Trolls left all kinds of racist, homophobic and sexist comments under a tribute Michelle posted on X, formerly Twitter. And while we know Trumps MAGA fan base is known to be morally depraved, this was low even for them.

I really dont care. Remember, when you guys tried to stop Trump from going to his own mother-in-laws funeral and his sons graduation.? wrote @marinasmigielsk

And then there was, For the most part, our side is being civil on this post, but when members of Trumps family died you leftists werent at all civil wrote @Chicago1Ray

You were the son she always had wrote @ColeTrickle____

A social media user going by @PatrioticPizzas wrote, F*ck off, you degenerate racist clown.

And then @ThatOldCoyote wrote, I think its so brave and beautiful of her to support you on your trans journey!

The only person that can 100% verify if you are Big Mike or not. Sad day wrote @Rev13BeastPope

Perhaps whats even more disturbing is that each of these Trump trolls has thousands of followers that most likely echo their same racist sentiments.

But heres what we know for sure: Trump was just found guilty of 34 felonies by a grand jury, and his base of supporters are not happy with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, calling for him to be disbarred and removed from office.

And as upsetting as it is to watch keyboard gangsters be so callous to our grieving former First Lady, in the words of Michelle: When they go low, we go high.

Visit link:
Trump Trolls Attack Michelle Obama 's Tribute to Mom's death - The Root

Marian Robinson, the mother of former First Lady Michelle Obama, has passed away at age 86.

My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today, Michelle Obama announced on social media.

Former President Barack Obama also shared an obituary remembering Robinson on Medium.

On Election Night in 2008, when the news broke that Barack would soon shoulder the weight of the world, she was there, holding his hand, the obituary noted, adding that she wound up moving to the White House and being the familys rock through Obamas presidency.

The trappings and glamour of the White House were never a great fit for Marian Robinson, the family wrote. The only guest she made a point of asking to meet was the Pope. Over those eight years, she made great friends with the ushers and butlers, the folks who make the White House a home.

Robinson was a Chicago native who inspired confidence and strength in her children and wasn't afraid to speak her mind, according to the family.

In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example, the family said.

See more here:
Marian Robinson, Mother of Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Passes Away - The Daily Beast

By Black PR Wire

(Black PR Wire) Washington, DC Recently, When We All Vote launched the Culture of Democracy Tour, a summer of action to register, educate and engage thousands of voters and volunteers. The Culture of Democracy Tour brings voting to popular culture through events, sweepstakes, campaigns, voter registration drives and more in partnership with the organizations thousands of volunteers and partners.

More than 200 partners have joined When We All Votes Culture of Democracy Collective a network of leading national and community organizations, including sports, corporate and entertainment partners, committed to registering, educating and mobilizing voters. Members include Essence, BET, Lyft, Girls Inc., NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Global Black Economic Forum, Lime, the Divine Nine National Pan-Hellenic Organizations, VoteRiders and the Executive Leadership Council, as well as major sport teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Mystics, New England Revolution, Houston Dynamo and more.

At a time when fewer young people are identifying with political parties, the work of nonpartisan organizations like When We All Vote has never been more critical, said Beth Lynk, executive director of When We All Vote. Through the Culture of Democracy Tour this summer, we will bring voting to the culture and meet voters where they are transforming how they view and participate in democracy and taking this momentum to the biggest stop of all: the ballot box.

Culture of Democracy Tour

When We All Votes Founder and Co-Chair Michelle Obama continues to be a trusted voice in the political space. She will use her voice throughout the tour to engage eligible voters.

More than 40 million Gen Zers will be eligible to vote in November, and almost half are people of color, including 8.8 million Latinos and 5.7 million Black youth. 71 percent of the people who registered with When We All Vote in 2020 were young people and people of color, with a turnout rate of 83 percent surpassing the national average by nearly 20 percentage points. With reports of lower voter enthusiasm dominating the narrative, the Culture of Democracy Tour is critical to remind voters of their power and encourage voter participation. Highlights include:

Culture of Democracy Collective

The more than 200 members of the Culture of Democracy Collective will register voters through their platforms. For example:

Earlier this year, When We All Vote laid out its three-pronged strategy for 2024: 1) register at least 500,000 Americans to vote; 2) reach and mobilize 5 million voters to cast their ballots; 3) change the culture around voting with partners and celebrity co-chairs and ambassadors.

ABOUT When We All Vote:

When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.

In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.

Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington and Rita Wilson.

When We All Vote is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). Learn more here.

ABOUT Civic Nation:

Civic Nation is a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives working to build a more inclusive and equitable America. Civic Nation shifts culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders and influencers to tackle some of our nations most pressing social challenges. Civic Nation is home to seven national initiatives and campaigns: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, Its On Us, Online for All, SAVE On Student Debt, We The Action, and When We All Vote. Learn more here.

Excerpt from:
PRESS ROOM: Michelle Obama's When We All Vote will bring voting to the culture and engage voters across the ... - Afro American Newspaper

Marian Robinson, the mother of former First Lady Michelle Obama, passed away at the page of 86 on Friday.

Both Michelle and her husband, former President Barack Obama, issued statements online in honor of Robinson's passing. The former first lady wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, that her mother "was my rock, always there for whatever I needed."

"She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today," Michelle said.

The family said in a shared statement that Robinson "passed peacefully this morning, and right now, none of us are quite sure how exactly we'll move on without her."

Robinson, a Chicago native, moved to Washington, D.C., after Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election. During her son-in-law's eight years in office, she became a well-known figure in the White House and made occasional appearances at holiday celebrations and other events. Her priority, however, was taking care of her granddaughters, Malia and Sasha, who were 10 and 7 years old when their father became president.

During a 2018 interview with CBS News, Robinson said that after Barack Obama was elected, she "felt like this was going to be a very hard life for both" him and her daughter.

"And I was worried about their safety. And I was worried about my grandkids. I mean, that's what got me to move to DC," Robinson said.

The joint statement regarding Robinson's death was signed by the former president and former first lady as well as Michelle's older brother, Craig Robinson, and his wife Kelly. Marian Robinson's six grandchildrenAvery, Leslie, Malia, Sasha, Austin and Aaronwere also signed on the statement.

Family members described Robinson as having a "wisdom" that "came off as almost innate," and said that she was nothing but "encouraging" to her children as they forged their own career paths.

"At every step, as our families went down paths none of us could have predicted, she remained our refuge from the storm, keeping our feet on solid ground," the statement read. "On Election Night in 2008, when the news broke that Barack would soon shoulder the weight of the world, she was there, holding his hand."

Barack Obama said in his own statement regarding his mother-in-law's passing, "There was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example."

Tributes poured out on social media following the news of Robinson's passing. Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey wrote in response to the former first lady's post to X that his "thoughts are with the Obama and Robinson families as they grieve this great loss and remember her remarkable life."

Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly wrote that, "Marian Robinson was a true Chicagoan who instilled our values of family and community to her children and grandchildren. My heart is with the Obama and Robinson families as they grieve and remember her extraordinary life."

"RIP Mrs. Marian Robinson, who has passed away at the age of 86. Mrs. Robinson was the beloved mother of former First Lady, Mrs. @MichelleObama," posted Shermichael Singleton, a political commentator and Republican strategist. "You and your late husband, Mr. Fraser Robinson III, did an outstanding job raising Mrs. Obama and Craig Robinson."

Niall Stanage, a White House columnist for The Hill, shared an image taken in 2008 of Robinson on the night that her son-in-law won the presidential election. The image features Barack Obama holding Robinson's hand while sitting on a couch.

"One of the simplest yet most moving news photos I've ever seen," Stanage wrote along with the post.

Funeral proceedings have not been announced by the Obama and Robinson families at this time.

Update 05/31/24, 7:41 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and background.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Read the rest here:
Michelle Obama's Message on Her Mother's Death - Newsweek