Politics and views in the United States.

Actor Robert DeNiro joins Capitol Police officers to protest against Donald Trump at his New York hush money trial as both sides make closing arguments. And the Democratic Party moves to make sure President Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2024 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

When Trump ran in 2016, it was like a joke.

This buffoon running for president.

No, never could happen.

We'd forgotten the lessons of history that showed us other clowns who weren't taken seriously until they became vicious dictators.

Actor Robert De Niro joined former Capitol Police officers in denouncing former President Donald Trump outside the courthouse where Trump faces 34 counts for covering up hush money payments to a porn star.

De Niro will appear in campaign ads for President Joe Biden and attack Trump for what the actor called a "coward's violence" when inciting a mob to attack the Capitol on January 6th.

The former president's campaign fired back that De Niro's speech is the act of a desperate and pathetic campaign.

Trump campaign press secretary Caroline Levitt said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case is a witch hunt.

This case would have been laughed out of any other courtroom in America.

Legal scholars on both sides of the aisle, even liberal legal scholars agree.

There is no crime.

There is no case.

On the first day of the trial, Trump's campaign raised more than $1.5 million and has gotten sizable donations since.

But the former president's son, Don Jr., accused the Biden campaign of profiting financially and politically from the case.

Mirroring a key argument lawyers made in Tuesday's closing arguments, Don Jr. attacked witness Michael Cohen as a liar.

It is an insanity.

It is an embarrassment.

It's an abomination to democracy and to our republic.

And yet it continues.

In its closing arguments, the prosecution said the statements of Trump's former fixer are confirmed by the porn star payment's paper trail.

Meanwhile, President Biden will appear on the Ohio ballot after all.

The Democratic National Committee will nominate him through a virtual roll call vote ahead of both the official convention and Ohio's ballot deadline.

Lawmakers moved the state deadline for previous candidates but refused this time.

Michigan legislation would establish gun-free zones in the state capitol and other government buildings.

Senate bills would exempt lawmakers with concealed weapons permits but could mean a 90-day penalty for others.

Ryan Bates is with End Gun Violence Michigan.

We cannot have a functioning democracy at the barrel of a gun.

So it's incredibly important that we protect our legislators and protect our democracy from people who want to do it harm by bringing guns into the places where our laws are made.

The open carrying of guns in the Michigan capitol was banned a week after the January 6th attacks.

The Biden administration is expanding health care coverage for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Alin Yorico Badillo-Carrillo, with voices Jackson Hole, is a DACA recipient who says this will be good for the places where they live.

Not just for me, but I think it's a communal benefit.

If I have access to preventative care and access to medical care, then I'll be able to be healthier and then I'll be able to help others also.

Mexico City could run out of water by the end of June.

It's seen decreased rainfall due to recent El Nino weather, but the massive urban area has longstanding infrastructure and water management issues.

I'm Edwin J. Vieira for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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