Welcome to the beat, I'm Ari Melber and today, for the first time ever,

defendant Donald Trump's fate in this criminal trial is now

in the hands of a jury of his peers.

The presiding judge giving the standard and detailed instructions to these 12 jurors in a case that's anything but standard, we know that.

And tonight we can report several brand new developments from the jury's first day of deliberations which lasted over four hours.

We have now gleaned new clues about what they're discussing, what they're considering, what

exact evidence and testimony they are focused on today and presumably leading into tomorrow when they hear more of it.

We can even tell you the kind of instructions that they want to make sure they're reviewing and so our breakdown on that new

information is top story in our broadcast tonight and here is how today's

process played out the nation riveted and on a collective verdict watch.

The historic criminal trial of a former president moves from the courtroom to the jury

room.

We have finally reached the beginning of the end.

And today is the day the jury gets the case.

Jury instructions will be delivered by Judge Mershawn to these 12 jurors.

Things just got serious, it feels like.

Yeah, it does, actually.

The gravity of this moment cannot be overstated.

There are four requests from the jury.

This is interesting and let's get into it.

We now have the first clues about what they're discussing.

The one thing I do think is good for potentially for this state here. is asking to have Michael Cohen's testimony read back.

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