Trump NY Criminal Trial, Week 1: The Latest on Jury Selection, Media Reaction, and More

Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP

After months of delays and challenges, The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump (i.e. the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump) began in Manhattan criminal court on Monday. It is expected to last six to eight weeks.

After heading into Friday’s court proceedings with 12 jurors and one alternate, five more alternates were added. That allowed Judge Juan Merchan to declare “we have our full panel” and paved the way for opening statements in the first-ever criminal trial of a former president to begin next week.

Around 1:30pm ET on Friday – approximately the same time the jury selection was completed – a man was caught on camera setting himself on fire outside of the courthouse in an area designated for demonstrators. A spokesperson for the NYPD said the man was in critical condition. No one else appears to have been injured.

While there are no cameras allowed in the courtroom, there has been no shortage of breathless reporting from the corporate media about Trump and the jurors every move. To keep you up to date on everything that is happening in the case, we’ve rounded up the best commentary from Megyn and her guests this week on the jury, the press, the judge, and more.

The Jury

Judge Merchan Scolds Media for Revealing Too Much Information About Jurors

On Thursday, Megyn was joined by Charles C.W. Cooke and Jim Geraghty of National Review to discuss the issue with jurors refusing to be fair and impartial about the trial, Judge Juan Merchan scolding the media for revealing too much about the jury, two jurors already getting dismissed, and more.

Judge Accuses Donald Trump of Jury ‘Intimidation’ During Selection Process

On Wednesday, Megyn was joined by legal experts Vinnie Politan and Jonna Spilbor to discuss Judge Juan Merchan attacking Donald Trump over jury “intimidation” for muttering something quietly in the courtroom, Trump’s comments after court that could be used against him in the trial, and more.

What We Know About the First Seven Jurors Selected to Serve in the Trump Hush Money Trial

On Wednesday, Megyn was joined by legal experts Vinnie Politan and Jonna Spilbor to discuss what we know about the seven jurors selected thus far to serve on the jury in the Donald Trump hush money trial , whether seating lawyers on a jury helps the prosecutor or defense, the significance of the media that jurors consume, and more.

The Media

Megyn’s Dramatic Reading of ‘Foreplay for the Nerd Reporters’ Covering Trump’s NYC Trial

On Wednesday, Megyn opened the show with her first edition of Fifty Shades of Orange, a dramatic reading of the most ridiculous coverage of the Trump “hush money” trial, why it’s “foreplay for nerd reporters,” and more.

The Trial

Megyn Explains the Ramifications of Donald Trump’s New York Hush Money Trial

On Monday, Megyn began the show discussing the unprecedented moment in America as former President Donald Trump went on trial in NYC, the anticipated “media circus,” the mockery of our legal system coming to light with this trial, and more.

Will Donald Trump Take the Stand in His NY Hush Money Trial?

On Monday, Megyn was joined by Alan Dershowitz, author of Get Trump, and Josh Hammer, host of America on Trial with Josh Hammer, to discuss whether Donald Trump will take the stand in the hush money trial, Trump’s statements in court vs. court of public opinion, and more.

The Faulty Legal Theory Behind Trump’s Hush Money Case and the ‘R-Rated’ Trial Ahead

On Monday, Megyn was joined by Alan Dershowitz, author of Get Trump, and Josh Hammer, host of America on Trial with Josh Hammer, to discuss the truth about the faulty legal theory connecting hush money and campaign expenditures that is key to the case, the “R-rated” trial ahead, whether the court should release the audio of the trial to the public, and more.

You can check out Megyn’s full analysis by tuning in to The Megyn Kelly Show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch the program live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.