ORDER IN THE COURT: More than half of the first batch of 96 prospective jurors in Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial were dismissed yesterday after they said they would not be able to be objective. It’s going to be a long slog to empanel a jury.

  The first former president ever to go criminal trial complained to reporters, “It’s perfect for radical left Democrats. This is about election interference, that’s all it’s about.”

  Even before interviewing jurors, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office opened with a request to fine Trump $3,000 for violating his gag order against speaking about potential witnesses, court staff, and family. Judge Juan Merchan said he would hold a hearing on the matter later this month.

  Trump appeared to fall asleep in court while lawyers hashed out pre-trial issues, according to NY Times reporter Maggie Haberman. He’s already been nicknamed “Don Snorleone”. Haberman wrote that “Mr. Trump appeared to nod off a few times, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest.” Trump was seen smirking at jurors when he was introduced as the defendant.

  Trump denies any relationship with porn star Stormy Daniels, but he is accused of falsifying business records and violating campaign finance laws in paying her not to speak about the affair she now says they had in 2006. The payment was made just before the 2016 election by then Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who now says he was reimbursed after Trump was president.

WAR DOLLARS: House Speaker Mike Johnson said he’s planning to move the stalled national security spending package for military aid to Israel, Ukraine, and other American allies as well as a separate bill to appease the more extreme conservatives who have been vehemently opposed to backing Kyiv.

  Johnson has been under increased pressure after Iran’s weekend attack on Israel and Ukraine’s weakening resistance to Russian invaders. He plans for separate votes each on aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.

   Johnson is under threat of being removed from his office by extreme conservatives opposing aid for Ukraine. “We know that the world is watching us to see how we react,” Johnson told reporters. “We have terrorists and tyrants and terrible leaders around the world like Putin and Xi and in Iran, and they’re watching to see if America will stand up for its allies and our interests around the globe — and we will.”

BRIDGE TO NOWHERE: The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the ship collision that collapsed Baltimore’s Key bridge last month. The massive container ship lost power and hit the bridge, causing the deaths of six construction workers fixing potholes on the roadway.

  The Washington Post, reports that federal investigators are questioning whether crew members knew the ship’s systems were malfunctioning before they left port.

TRANSITIONAL ISSUES: The Supreme Court issued an order to temporarily allow Idaho to enforce its ban on gender-affirming treatment for minors. It’s an indication that at least some of the justices are ready to engage with this hot-button medical/political issue.

  The court’s conservatives voted to allow the ban to take effect over the objections of the three liberals.

HOOP DREAMS: College basketball star Caitlin Clark last night was picked first in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. Clark scored 3,951 points in her four years at Iowa, the most ever by an NCAA player, male or female.

  Kamilla Cardoso, the power center with flaming red hair for champion South Carolina, went to the Chicago Sky. 

  The draftees go to work right away. Training camp begins April 28^th and the season openers are in one month. It’s going to be an adjustment for Clark. The female professionals are bigger and she’s had a hard time hitting the basket when she’s up against some height.  

THE SPIN RACK: Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down traffic in several major US cities yesterday. They blocked San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge for hours. — The armorer on the film “Rust,” who loaded a revolver with a live bullet resulting in the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter. It was the maximum sentence for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. The film’s producer and star, Alec Baldwin, who handled the gun, also is charged with involuntary manslaughter. — Facing increasing competition and slowing sales, the Tesla car company says it will lay off about 10 percent of its work force, roughly 14,000 people. — After just six months CNN cancelled the show King-Charles featuring CBS anchor Gayle King and former NBA star, Charles Barley. No one was watching. — The spire on Copenhagen’s historic stock exchange building collapsed in a fire that destroyed half the 17^th Century building. Firefighters and staff rushed to save historic furniture and paintings. The 56-meter spire depicted the spiraling intertwined tails of four dragons.

BELOW THE FOLD: The White House revealed President Biden’s 2023 tax return, showing that he and his wife Jill earned $620,000 last year. They paid 23.7 percent of it in federal taxes.

  Donald Trump always says he’d love to disclose his tax returns but they are under audit.  

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