Trumps’s solution to paying his mounting legal costs includes a deal with the RNC to allow him to funnel donations to organization that cover his bills
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Donald Trump may be on course to once again win the Republican presidential nomination, but he’s also dealing with big legal bills brought on by the four criminal cases against him, along with several civil suits that have won pricey judgments thus far. The Associated Press reports that the former president has come up with a solution: an agreement with the Republican National Committee that will allow him to first funnel donations to organizations that cover his legal bills, before they reach the RNC. He’ll hope to start raking it in – and potentially cover his massive finance gap with Joe Biden – on 6 April, when Trump has invited donors to a fundraiser in Florida.
He may be behind the president in money, but polls continue to indicate Trump is leading Biden in public support. CNN and SSRS this morning released new polling that found the two men are tied in Pennsylvania, and Trump is ahead of Biden in Michigan – both swing states crucial to either’s path to victory. The survey also found a familiar dynamic: less than half of voters in the two states say they are happy with their choices for president, confirming other polls that have found Americans are not exactly fired up about the 2020 rematch expected to play out in November.
Congress is scrambling to pass a $1.2tn bill that will prevent a partial government shutdown set to begin at midnight. The first votes are expected in the House of Representatives at 11am, and it will need a two-thirds majority to pass – a tight margin for any bill.
The United States is expected to introduce a resolution at the United Nations calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. We have a separate live blog following the latest on that.
The White House press briefing kicks off at 1.30pm ET. Expect questions about Israel, Biden’s polling, and the beleaguered impeachment effort.
