TRUMP ON TRIAL: Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified yesterday that he arranged in 2015 with Donald Trump and his then lawyer Michael Cohen to print favorable stories about Trump and kill the scandalous ones to help Trump in his campaign to become president. Prosecutors called it the “Trump Tower conspiracy.” 

  Pecker testified that during the August 2015 meeting Pecker asked what he and his tabloid could do “to help the campaign.”  Pecker said he responded that, “I would be your eyes and ears,” and that he explained the tabloid practice of “catch and kill,” in which he would buy the rights to a damaging story and never publish it.

  The tabloid king did just that, paying to bury the claim by former Playboy model Karen McDougal that she’d had an affair with Trump, and shelling out $30,000 to a Trump Tower doorman who falsely said Trump had a child out of wedlock. 

  Paying a news source is not against the law, but the government says it was done to help the Trump campaign and therefore was an illegal campaign contribution. Pecker, who was granted immunity from prosecution, is expected to continue testifying tomorrow about events that led to the Stormy Daniels payoff and the allegation that Trump buried it in his business records.

  The court day started with a heated hearing on whether Trump violated his gag order at least 10 times. He’s not allowed to say things about court staff or families, witnesses, or the jury. But Trump called Cohen and Daniels “sleaze bags” and re-posted a Fox News claim about “undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury.”

  Trump lawyer Todd Blanche argued that because the gag order has not been enforced so far he thought the prosecutors had waived it. He claimed that Trump’s social media posts about potential witnesses and jury selection were protected political speech.  Judge Juan Merchan lost his patience and told Blanche, “You’re losing all credibility with the court.” 

STICK THE LANDING: The Justice Department announced that it will pay $138.7 million to settle claims by female athletes, including top gymnasts, for the agency’s failure to investigate sexual abuse by the former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

  The settlement covers 139 claims that the FBI failed to promptly investigate the initial reports about Nassar that ultimately led to the revelation that he had sexually assaulted hundreds of women and girls under the guise of medical examinations and treatment. This latest award brings the total of victim awards and settlements to about $1 billion.

  The complaints were pressed by gymnastic stars Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, and Aly Raisman. Female gymnasts, many of whom are barely teenagers when they reach the top ranks, can be particularly subject to abuse by an authority figure.  “These women were assaulted because of the FBI’s failure and there is no amount of money that will make them whole again,” Mick Grewal, a lawyer for 44 of the claimants, told The NY Times. “Their goal with all this was to make sure that this never happens again.”

CAMPUS CAMPING: Columbia University administrators and pro-Palestinian protesters were still negotiating overnight over the clearance of a large encampment occupying part of the campus. The University’s midnight deadline passed without the protesters removing their tents or the cops rousting them out.

  The protesters demand an immediate cease fire in Gaza and that Columbia divest itself from investments in Israel, as one young woman said, “complete divestment from anything related to Israeli settler colonialism, apartheid, and genocide.” 

  Similar protests are taking place on campuses across the country.

  After an agreement for removal of a significant number of tents, the departure of non-students, and barring discriminatory or harassing language by protesters, the University said it will “continue conversations for the next 48 hours,” but riot police have surrounded the protesters.

LEG ROOM: The Department of Transportation is cracking down on the airlines on behalf of passengers, imposing new rules about extra fees, cancellations, and delays.

 Under one new rule the airline must reveal the full price of travel, including baggage fees, before passengers pay for their tickets. Airlines will also be required to give prompt cash refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed.

  Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement, “Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them – without having to ask.”

THE SPIN RACK: The Senate approved the long-delayed military aid for Ukraine and Israel, sending the bill to President Biden for signing. — Tesla profits fell 55 percent in the first three months of the year as the electric car company faces increasing competition in the market for electric vehicles. —The Federal Trade Commission issued a ruling that employers can no longer, in most cases, stop their employees from going to work for rival companies. The FTC said the action could help create jobs, raise wages, and increase business competition. — Democrats in the Arizona legislature are expected today to make a third attempt to repeal the state’s 1864 law outlawing abortion. — The Tennessee legislature passed a bill yesterday allowing K-12 teachers and school staff to carry guns in school.They will be required to have training. — Former Long Island Rep. George Santos, who was ejected from Congress for being a lying scammer, announced that he’s giving up a bid to run for the office again.

BELOW THE FOLD: Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 WNBA draft pick and former Iowa star, is set to sign a $28 million endorsement with Nike that includes a signature shoe. This might be why she’s not complaining about her $76,000 salary with the Indiana Fever.