Trump’s ‘Spygate’ lies could be a win

Plus, an embattled Mike Johnson makes his way to Mar-a-Lago

VIEW IN BROWSER MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news VIEW IN BROWSER MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Thursday, Apr. 11, 2024 THE LATEST How Trump's 'Spygate' lies could prompt a win for Americans' privacy rights By Hayes Brown As House members returned to Washington this week, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was already struggling to rally his caucus around a bill to extend a 9/11-era surveillance program. The effort to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act's Section 702 had already split the House GOP for months. but a compromise of sorts was finally about to hit the floor on Wednesday, just days before the program is set to expire.    And then former President Donald Trump weighed in.   "KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!" he wrote on Truth Social, resurrecting one of his longstanding false claims about the 2016 election. And the bill being debated didn't concern all of FISA, just Section 702. But Trump's post was enough though to bolster a revolt among conservative Republicans, 19 of whom voted with Democrats to block the reauthorization bill from coming up for debate. For once, though, the GOP's disarray and obedience to Trump fortuitously may be put to good use. While Trump's "Spygate" narrative remains false, it may be harnessed to improve a broken part of America's intelligence gathering system.   This is a preview of  Hayes Brown's latest article. Read the full column here. TOP STORIES ZEESHAN ALEEM MTG's scathing five-page letter should have every Republican looking over their shoulder At this point, it appears that if Johnson goes ahead in the coming weeks with a bill providing aid to Ukraine, Greene might just pull the trigger. Read more. JA'HAN JONES Nassau County executive dismisses 'brownshirt' claims, moves ahead with civilian militia Nassau County GOP is moving ahead with its armed, civilian militia. And they're not alone. Read more. CLARISSA-JAN LIM Biden may not be on the ballot in Alabama this November. Here's why. The secretary of state blames a scheduling issue, but state lawmakers found an easy solution when Donald Trump faced a similar problem in 2020. Read more. JORDAN RUBIN Allen Weisselberg's jail sentence shows what Alvin Bragg won't hesitate to do The former Trump Organization CFO was prosecuted by the same DA's office that's set to try Trump himself in the hush money case. Read more.         TOP VIDEOS KATY TUR Embattled House Speaker Johnson to give remarks with Trump in Mar-a-Lago WATCH NOW DEADLINE WHITE HOUSE Hear the questions potential jurors in Donald Trump's New York hush money trial will be asked WATCH NOW MORNING JOE Kari Lake is now blasting the Arizona abortion law she once praised WATCH NOW ALEX WAGNER TONIGHT Attacks on election workers by Trump followers drive huge, historic turnover ahead of election WATCH NOW MORE FROM MSNBC Go beyond the headlines with the new MSNBC app. Read, watch, and listen to breaking news and analysis, anytime, anywhere. Download the new MSNBC app now. Monday at 10am Eastern, Ana Cabrera and José Díaz-Balart kick off special coverage of the first of former President Trump's criminal trials as jury selection begins in New York, with Andrea Mitchell, Chris Jansing, and Katy Tur picking up coverage throughout the afternoon.   MSNBC INSIGHTS Have you ever wanted to provide MSNBC with your opinion about their TV programs, documentaries, and digital products, such as MSNBC.com, newsletters, and podcasts? Now is your chance! Join the MSNBC Insights Community.   Download the MSNBC App: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE