Hi there, everyone. It is 4 o'clock in New York. I'm Alicia Menendez, Infernal Cole Wallace.

A tense legal battle is unfolding in court filings between special counsel Jack Smith and

Donald Trump in the criminal case involving Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

And while the dispute is technically over the handling of evidence in this case, it's

quickly becoming a proxy world over team Trump's strategy in the ex-presidents' mob-boss tactics

and intimidating and threatening anyone who tries to hold him legally accountable.

It's a little complicated but incredibly important. Here's where things stand right

now.

Federal Judge Chanya Chetkin was ordered to hearing this week over the Justice Department's

request for protective order, the rules governing the discovery process between prosecutors

and the defense team. As the Washington Post notes, such protective orders can be technical,

they are routinely approved by judges to protect witnesses and government investigative

methods and priorities by limiting evidence sharing by the defense to people authorized

by the court. In its argument for protective order, the Justice Department made a nod to

the fact that the defendant has no problem using his massive platform to attack anyone.

He considers to be an enemy. The Post reports prosecutors explain that they wanted to immediately

turn over evidence to speed the defense trial preparations, but were concerned in part

over Trump's history of posting on social media about, quote, witnesses, judges, attorneys

and others associated with cases against him.

The Trump's defense team complained the government's proposed limits were overbroad and would

limit the First Amendment rights of President Biden's main political opponent.

Here's what Team Trump proposed, according to the New York Times. Mr. Loro proposed

...