Laura Coates Live

The Trump administration has released records of the FBI’s surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr. The release involves more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration’s chaotic handling of the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files continued Friday as the Justice Department asked a federal judge to make public years-old grand jury testimony made behind closed doors against the convicted sex offender. In its filing, the department justified releasing the heretofore secret evidence as “a matter of public interest.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A collection of letters gifted to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003 included a note bearing Donald Trump’s name and an outline of a naked woman, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor in Manhattan and the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, has been fired from her job in the Southern District of New York, according to people familiar with the situation. Comey was a prosecutor in the case against accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and more recently against Sean “Diddy” Combs. The reason for her firing was not immediately clear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some of President Donald Trump’s most loyal allies in Congress aren’t satisfied by his decision to not release additional files from the Jeffrey Epstein case, and it’s threatening to deepen the MAGA divide he now faces from his base. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeffrey Epstein’s former attorney joins as the controversy over the Epstein files turns into political quicksand for the president. Plus, Barack Obama tells Democrats to toughen up. Will his party listen? Also, Trump’s dramatically new tone on Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, ordered that DHS must develop guidance for officers to determine “reasonable suspicion” outside of the apparent race or ethnicity of a person, the language they speak or their accent, “presence at a particular location” such as a bus stop or their occupation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A federal judge agreed to issue a new nationwide block against President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. The ruling from District Judge Joseph Laplante is significant because the Supreme Court last month curbed the power of lower court judges to issue nationwide injunctions, while keeping intact the ability of plaintiffs to seek a widespread block of the order through class action lawsuits, which is what happened Thursday in New Hampshire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As monstrous floodwaters surged across central Texas late last week, officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency leapt into action, preparing to deploy critical search and rescue teams and life-saving resources, like they have in countless past disasters. But almost instantly, FEMA ran into bureaucratic obstacles, four officials inside the agency told CNN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than 160 people are known to be missing in Kerr County as a result of the flooding in central Texas, according to Gov. Greg Abbott, who cited “combined law enforcement efforts.” At least a dozen others are missing in other parts of the state, he said. Separately, officials confirmed that more than 110 people have died. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than 100 people have died after devastating floods hit central Texas. Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp that sits along the Guadalupe River, has confirmed that 27 campers and counselors died in weekend floods. Ten campers and one counselor are still unaccounted for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail after a jury found him guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution this morning. The judge cited Combs’ history of violence and past illegal conduct while explaining why he declined to release Combs as he awaits sentencing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The jury sent a note to the judge saying they have reached a verdict on the counts of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, but they are unable to reach a verdict on the racketeering conspiracy count. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A marathon voting session on President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy bill is underway in the Senate and has stretched overnight into the early hours of Tuesday morning after a weekend of negotiations and delays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court limits the power of lower courts to block Trump’s agenda. Though the case was intertwined with Trump’s executive order effectively ending birthright citizenship, the ruling does not settle the issue of whether the president can enforce that order. And there were signs that lower courts could move swiftly to block the policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emerging from a highly anticipated classified briefing on Thursday, Democratic and Republican senators were not in agreement over exactly how much US strikes on Iran set back that country’s nuclear program. Many Republicans said that they believe it will now take Iran years longer to build a nuclear weapon, though some acknowledged the threat is not completely neutralized. But Democrats said the picture is far less clear – and one said the US strikes set Iran back only by months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CIA Director John Ratcliffe on Wednesday said in a statement that the agency had obtained “a body of credible evidence [that] indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged” by recent strikes, underscoring a broad intelligence community effort is ongoing to determine the impact of the US strikes on three of the country’s nuclear sites on Saturday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities last weekend did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment that was described by seven people briefed on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump announced a ceasefire, claiming that Israel and Iran both approached him asking for peace. Plus, IDF says Iran launched missiles towards Israel as ceasefire nears. And, FBI and DHS warn of heightened threat environment in U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel and Iran exchanged fresh strikes as the conflict entered a second week with little sign of ending. President Donald Trump meanwhile indicated that his two-week timeline for a decision on US military involvement in Iran is the “maximum” amount of time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump said he will allow two weeks for diplomacy to proceed before deciding whether to launch a strike in Iran. A powerful Iran-backed militia in Iraq vowed to attack US military bases in the region if Trump decides to enter the conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Israel-Iran conflict enters its seventh day, President Donald Trump held a Situation Room meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss US options. While saying earlier that his patience “has already run out” with Tehran, Trump indicated he has not yet made a final decision on whether the US would get involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel entered its sixth day, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on social media, “The battle begins.” Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” He also called the supreme leader an “easy target” and said that America’s “patience is wearing thin.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Israel and Iran trade strikes on a fifth day of conflict, civilians in flashpoint areas face waves of attacks. In Iran, at least 224 people have been killed since hostilities began. In Israel, 24 people have been killed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two people have been killed in Israel and dozens injured by Iranian strikes, Israeli authorities said. Iran reported at least 78 people killed in Israeli strikes, including senior military officials, and 320 wounded, mostly civilians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel has launched unprecedented strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear program and senior military leaders in an attack that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said will last many days. The attack plunges the Middle East into fresh uncertainty, increasing the risk of a regional war as Israel braces for Iran’s retaliation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Downtown Los Angeles is now under curfew for a second night. Mayor Karen Bass said the number of people arrested last night was “minor,” and she hopes no one is arrested tonight. Similar protests are popping up in other major US cities, including New York, Chicago, Austin and Washington, DC. More demonstrations are planned this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Protests unfolding nationwide against President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda come as Immigration and Customs Enforcement races to meet White House arrest quotas. White House border czar Tom Homan maintained this week that despite protests, ICE operations to enforce Trump’s immigration policies would continue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than 700 Marines based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California have been mobilized to respond to the protests in Los Angeles, and the troops will join the thousands of National Guard members who were activated by President Donald Trump over the weekend without the consent of California’s governor or LA’s mayor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A woman using the pseudonym “Jane” took the stand for a second day of salacious testimony at the end of the fourth week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal trial. Jane’s testimony comes as the prosecution seeks to show Combs and his inner circle used violence, lies, drugs, and other means to coerce Jane and Cassie Ventura into having sex with other men as part of drug-fueled sexual performances known as “hotel nights” or “Freak Offs.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A judge rebuked Sean “Diddy” Combs for his behavior in court, and a woman using the pseudonym “Jane” alleged that Combs pressured her to have sex with other men as part of her testimony at the hip-hop mogul’s federal criminal trial. The key testimony from Jane comes as the prosecution seeks to show Combs and his inner circle used violence, lies, drugs, and other means to coerce Jane and Cassie Ventura into participating in sexual performances with male escorts known as “hotel nights” or “Freak Offs.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A forensic video expert and a woman who said Sean “Diddy” Combs dangled her over a balcony took the stand Wednesday in the Hip-hop mogul’s federal criminal trial. The testimony came as the prosecution has sought to prove Combs and some in his inner circle constituted a criminal enterprise that used threats, violence, kidnapping and other means to coerce women into “Freak Offs” with male escorts and to protect his image. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eddy Garcia, a former security officer at the InterContinental Hotel, gave evidence about his involvement in a 2016 video of Combs that shows him physically assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Garcia said he accepted $100,000 from Combs in exchange for video footage. Derek Ferguson, the former chief financial officer for Combs’ record label, testified this afternoon about how he helped Combs manage his finances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A former employee of Sean “Diddy” Combs concluded her testimony Monday afternoon after three days on the stand at his federal criminal trial, during which she recounted multiple alleged instances of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by Combs. The employee, testifying under the pseudonym “Mia,” was the 21st witness in the case and gave one of the lengthier testimonies thus far, second only to key witness Cassie Ventura. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Mia,” a former assistant to Sean “Diddy” Combs and friend to Cassie Ventura who is testifying under a pseudonym, is expected to be back on the stand Monday for more cross-examination. She spoke today about the violence and abuse — verbal, physical and sexual — she experienced while employed by the music mogul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A former employee of Sean “Diddy” Combs took center stage in his federal criminal trial Thursday and testified that he physically and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions during the time she worked for him. The employee, who is testifying under the pseudonym “Mia,” is expected to return to the stand on Friday to end the third week of testimony. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Police and fire investigators who looked into the rapper Kid Cudi’s allegations and a celebrity stylist who said he witnessed several assaults testified Wednesday in the third week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A former employee of Sean “Diddy” Combs testified Tuesday that Combs threatened to kill rapper Kid Cudi after learning that the fellow musician was dating Cassie Ventura. Capricorn Clark, who worked for Combs and his companies off and on from 2004-2018, offered the dramatic details to begin the third week of testimony in Combs’ federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial. Combs has pleaded not guilty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

International Harvard students say they are experiencing “pure panic” amid the Trump administration’s move to bar foreign enrollment, as students from around the world told CNN they are coming to grips with the possibility of revoked visas, suspended research and being blocked from reentry to the United States if they leave this summer. A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration’s ban on Friday, after the nation’s oldest and wealthiest college filed a suit in federal court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rapper Kid Cudi — who had a brief relationship with Cassie Ventura — testified about his interactions with Combs. Ventura testified last week that she endured physical and sexual abuse from Combs and detailed how he orchestrated drug-fueled sex performances called “Freak Offs.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prosecutors said they plan to call Scott Mescudi, the musician known as Kid Cudi, to the stand Wednesday or Thursday. The prosecution has argued Combs and some in his inner circle used threats, violence, drugs, bribery, arson, kidnapping and lies to coerce Ventura and another woman into participating in sex parties he called “Freak Offs” and to protect the music mogul’s reputation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As week two of the RICO and sex trafficking trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs continues, Laura Coates sits down with Suzi Siegel, one of Combs’ former assistants, to hear more about what went down in Diddy’s world behind the scenes. Plus, we learn from CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister about a key piece of testimony from Cassie Ventura’s mother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cassie Ventura is no longer on the stand, but she was the central character in testimony from three witnesses on Monday in the federal criminal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Pop singer Dawn Richard, Ventura’s former best friend and one of Combs’ former assistants each testified about their interactions with Ventura as the prosecution sought to bolster Ventura’s testimony last week that Combs physically abused her and controlled her life for over a decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The singer Cassie Ventura wrapped up her dramatic testimony Friday afternoon after answering questions for nearly 20 hours over four days at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ racketeering and sex-trafficking trial. Ventura, Combs’ former longtime girlfriend, is the star witness in the case and has alleged Combs physically and sexually abused her and used violence and blackmail to make her participate in drug-fueled sex parties known as “Freak Offs” over more than a decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laura Coates catches entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister just after court concludes for the week for a breakdown of the most important moments and the biggest shocks from the first week of the federal criminal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. They get into Cassie Ventura’s emotional testimony, the potential impact of the settlements she’s now disclosed, and the surprising testimony from another witness that puts the case in a new light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cassie Ventura, ex-girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and one of his accusers, took the stand for a third day today in Combs’ federal criminal trial. Cross-examination will continue tomorrow, and the judge is urging lawyers to wrap up Ventura’s testimony before the weekend, as she’s due to give birth soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Building on her testimony a day earlier, on Wednesday the pregnant 38-year-old pop singer Cassie described in disturbing detail what happened after her 2016 assault in a Los Angeles hotel, offered visual proof of other alleged assaults, acknowledged she settled a civil lawsuit for $20 million and explained to the jury why she decided to speak out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On day three of Diddy’s federal criminal trial, Cassie Ventura wrapped up her harrowing testimony — and the effects were immediate. Her words, and the disturbing details of Diddy’s alleged abuse and so-called “freak offs," will have a big impact on the defense's strategy when they cross examine her tomorrow. Laura Coates breaks down what it all means with criminal defense attorney and CNN legal analyst Mark O’Mara. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the second day of Diddy’s federal trial, all eyes turned to star witness Cassie Ventura. The singer, once signed to Bad Boy records, had a complex relationship with Diddy marked by abuse. But will the jury see her only as a victim? We’ll ask one of Bill Cosby’s former attorneys, Monique Pressley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cassie Ventura, the former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and one of his accusers, testified today in his federal criminal trial. She described Combs as controlling and said some of their arguments would get violent. She’ll be back on the stand for a second day of testimony tomorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices