The Early Word: Looking Toward August

Jimmy Carter’s grandson said Tuesday that the former president is “coming to the end” in a brief update about the 39th president’s health, CNN reports.

Rolling Stone: “In the last several days of courtroom drama, Trump has been accompanied by an entourage of prominent Republican lawmakers eager to be seen offering their public support to the indicted former president. Not only is their presence an act of theatrical solidarity, they have been acting as mouthpieces for Trump, who remains bound by a gag order barring him from attacking witnesses, jurors, court staff, prosecutors, and the families of those involved in the case.” “On Tuesday, Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, addressed reporters gathered outside of court and repeated attacks against witnesses and the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who has led a Democratic consulting firm, that have previously landed Trump in hot water.” “Johnson was not the only one of Trump’s guests to target Merchan’s daughter.”

“Eight TikTok creators sued the U. S. government Tuesday to block the recently passed law that forces ByteDance to divest of the social media app or face a ban, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment,” CNBC reports.

“Rudy Giuliani, a former U. S. attorney turned lawyer for Donald Trump, has not been served with notice of his indictment by an Arizona grand jury last month related to his alleged attempts to thwart the former president’s 2020 loss in the state,” the Washington Post reports. “It’s not for a lack of trying.” “A team of prosecutors and investigators for Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) has made multiple attempts to serve Giuliani a summons — essentially a formal notice that he has been criminally charged here and must appear before a judge May 21.”

Trump attorney Todd Blanche cross-examined witness Michael Cohen in the former president’s criminal “hush money” trial: BLANCHE: On April 23, you went on TikTok and called me a crying little shit. COHEN: That sounds like something I would say.

“I’m shocked they want to silence the voice of MAGA.” — Steve Bannon, quoted by ABC News, in response to prosecutors wanting his 4-month jail sentence to begin immediately.