💥 Axios PM: "This was a crisis"

Plus: Protests go global | Friday, May 03, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Amazon   Axios PM By Mike Allen · May 03, 2024 Happy Friday! Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 436 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: Hope Hicks takes the stand Former President Trump in court today. Photo: Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images Hope Hicks today became the first member of former President Trump's inner circle to take the stand in his New York trial, Axios' Erin Doherty reports. Prosecutors hope Hicks' testimony will demonstrate that the release of the "Access Hollywood" tape prompted Trump to agree to hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. 🎯 "There was consensus amongst us all that the tape was damaging and this was a crisis," Hicks testified. "I had a good sense to believe this was going to be a massive story and that it was going to dominate the news cycle for the next several days," she said. "This was a damaging development." Trump lawyer Emil Bove had just begun cross-examination of her, asking about her time at the Trump Organization, when she broke down, AP reports. Bove said: "Your honor, can we take a break?" Judge Juan Merchan asked Hicks if she needed time. The witness had turned away from the microphone and appeared to be in tears. "Yes," she said gently. ⚡️ Context: Hicks was one of Trump's closest and most trusted aides before and during his presidency. The jury will hear later in the trial from Michael Cohen, who was Trump's longtime lawyer and "fixer" before their very public falling out. Go deeper: What you need to know from this week's testimony     2. 🚀 China's moonshot A Long March 5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-6 mission lunar probe, lifts off at the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in southern China today. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images China today launched one of the most ambitious lunar missions the world has seen in decades — an uncrewed craft whose mission is to collect samples from the dark side of the moon. 🌘 The mission is also part of China's larger ambitions to develop a base on the moon. "It is a bit of a mystery to us how China has been able to develop such an ambitious and successful program in such a short time," French researcher Pierre-Yves Meslin told Reuters.     A message from Amazon More than 60% of sales in Amazon's store come from independent sellers     After starting StoveShelf in his Milwaukee apartment, Scott turned to Amazon tools to grow his small business. "I love Seller Forums," Scott said. "The community is pretty awesome." The result: Scott moved his business out of his apartment and into a warehouse. Find out more.     3. Catch me up French students at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Paris today. Photo: Stephane De Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images 🎓 Pro-Palestinian protests are now gaining traction on college campuses around the world. Students occupied a building at the prestigious Sciences Po university in Paris, which police cleared this morning. NYT gift link. ⚖️ Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and his wife were indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges. The Justice Department alleges that the couple accepted almost $600,000 in bribes. Go deeper. The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in April, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9% from 3.8%. Go deeper.     4. 🏇 Happy Derby weekend Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Above, a horse works out early this morning at Churchill Downs, where the 150th Kentucky Derby will run tomorrow. Below, fans watch today's races, which will culminate with the Kentucky Oaks. Photo: Charlie Riedel/AP     A message from Amazon "Amazon's tools help us attract new customers"     When Lisa-Jae and Kammy took their small business beyond their hometown of East Hampton, New York, they turned to Amazon's suite of tools to help. "Amazon was a major turning point in our growth," they said. Key number: More than 60% of sales in Amazon's store come from independent sellers. Discover more.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: