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Hello from CNN, I'm Joe Beck, with the five things you need to know

for Thursday, May 16th.

Former President Donald Trump's hushman. things you need to know for Thursday, May 16th.

Former President Donald Trump's hush money trial is reaching its final stages.

His old lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, will be back on the stand today as the defense continues to cross-examine him.

CNN's Karis-Ginnell has more on what to expect from that.

They just want to undercut his credibility and one thing that they're going to look at are some of the

past statements he's made under oath and that is

because he's under oath now so they want to say to the jury he has lied

before under oath you shouldn't believe him now there's so much of this could

come down to whether the jury believes Michael Cohen.

And so the name of the game is really to try to show that he's a liar who can't be trusted.

Cross-examination could go through to Monday, with court taking a break tomorrow

so that Trump can go to his son's high school

graduation.

Then it will be the defense's turn to call witnesses.

But it's not clear if they will, and even if they do, it's likely to just be one expert.

House Republicans are taking a first step towards holding Attorney General Merrick Garland

in contempt of Congress today.

Two House committees are holding markups to discuss the measure and they could

...