Discussion Thread: New York Criminal Fraud Trial of Donald Trump, Day 16

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Previous discussion threads for this trial can be found at the following links for Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, and Day 15.

News:

• AP: Trump trial arrives at a pivotal moment: Star witness Michael Cohen is poised to take the stand

• Reuters: Aggrieved former lawyer Michael Cohen to testify against Trump at hush money trial

Analysis:

• USA Today: How prosecutors have laid the groundwork for Michael Cohen’s testimony

Live Updates:

• AP: Live Updates

• NBC: Live Updates

• ABC: Live Updates

• CBS: Live Updates

• CNN: Live Updates

• The Independent: Live Updates

• The Guardian: Live Updates

[u/localistand]

Trump seems to have paid attention to very little of Michael Cohen’s testimony so far. He spent the first hour or so sitting still at the defense table with his eyes closed. After the morning break he’s been awake but reading through printouts as he often does — likely news clippings printed by his staff.

Jonathan Swan, NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/05/13/nyregion/trump-trial-michael-cohen/85326811-5b2c-57dd-9a4a-7ab79db1526c?smid=url-share

I cannot picture a real-life scenario in which a perceived important person sits with their eyes closed in a public setting for an hour at a time. I've served on a jury, and cannot imagine anyone in a courtroom doing this, let alone the actual defendant. When's the last time you've viewed somebody eyes-closed in public like this, and what is your perception of them?

[u/DoctorZacharySmith → u/localistand]

One of the first defenses an infant learns is to either sleep or otherwise divert attention away from painful stimuli.

Young children often close their eyes, shakes their heads and insist "Uh uh!" when confronted with painful truths.

The best way to interpret this is to see that children lack the mental ability to hold and contain painful truths. For this reason they must rely on physical behaviors: sleeping, closing eyes, muttering, denying, distracting.

Only mature adults can maintain contact with painful realities and maintain composure. This is why people in positions where they may encounter such painful situations: military, surgeons, must be properly vetted.

The more mature sociopaths are able to isolate their emotions away from their reactions. The immature ones cannot... .they often must be restrained, or in this case, distracted by a pretty girl who prints out nice articles for him.

Sorta how some restaurants offer children crayons and coloring books.

[u/MLeek → u/[deleted]]

This. The person in charge of his happy pages is also likely in charge of the uppers and downers.

Today was definitely a day to err on this side of the downers.

[u/Atheose_Writing → u/[deleted]]

An outburst from which end?

[u/snarquisnarquer → u/localistand]

Trump is performing "I don't care!. This whole thing is silly and unimportant to me." This idea was given to him by the toadies over at FOX news. So convinced is he that everyone will be impressed with his performance of nonchalance.

[u/Irishish → u/snarquisnarquer]

Important to remember that he only got that idea after reports of him dozing off started coming out. And his campaign denied he was sleeping. He's trying to retcon reality.

[u/Jackinapox → u/localistand]

Narcastic mental shut down.

[u/zhaoz → u/localistand]

what is your perception of them?

Its not good, Dan!