Head to Net Suite.com

slash Briefing Now for their one-of-a-kind flexible financing program.

From CNN, I'm a Foma D.K.

With the five things you need to know for Thursday, May 16th.

Donald Trump's defense attorneys tried to paint Michael Cohen

as bent on revenge in the former president's hush money

trial.

During their cross-examination, they grilled Trump's former fixer and personal attorney about his media remarks.

The defense brought up two episodes of Cohen's podcast, where he said he wanted Trump to go to prison.

And Cohen admitted that he kept posting about the trial on social media, despite knowing a paralegal was tracking his accounts and the district attorney's office asking him to stop.

He also got more animated on the stand when asked about the times he lied under oath.

Trump's legal team is now questioning Cohen about the payment at the center of the

hush money case. We'll have the latest in our next episode at 6. House Republicans took their first step

today towards holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt. They say he

failed to comply with the congressional subpoena to turn over records of President Joe Biden's

interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hurt.

Republicans ceased on Herr's description of the president as a quote, well-meaning

elderly man with a poor memory, a characterization that Biden has disputed.

Biden has asserted executive privilege over the recordings, ahead of the contempt proceedings

against Garland.

Republicans say the tapes would provide more information than a written transcript, but the Department

of Justice maintains they have to protect privacy concerns.

...