Trial. Well have expert legal analysis for you on that in just a moment. Also ahead, the end of an era for Senate Republicans. The partys longest Serving Leader in the Upper Chamber is stepping down at the end of the year. Well take a look at Mitch Mcconnell legacy and who could replace him. And that comes as congressional leaders now have a deal to fund part of the government for a few more weeks, giving lawmakers a little more time to get a lot done. O get a lot done good morning, and welcome to way too early on this thursday, february 29th, a weekday, just what we needed this year to be a little longer. Im jonathan lemire, thanks for starting your day with us. And we begin with some massive news that broke late yesterday. The Supreme Court has agreed to consider former President Trumps claim of president ial immunity in his federal election interference case. The conservative courts decision to hear the case will further delay a potential trial. The high court has scheduled arguments for april 22nd, and a final ruling might not come until months later. If the court rules in favor of trump, the special counsels charges would be dismissed. If some Supreme Court rules as the u. S. Court of appeals already unanimously did, that trump does not have absolute immunity, the delay could push the start of the trial to the fall. That would set the stage for the promative republican nominee to be on trial in a criminal proceeding right before the president ial election. Theres also a possibility the trial wouldnt start until after the election. Meanwhile, an Appeals Court judge has denied trumps request to temporarily delay payment of the 454 million judgment in his new york civil fraud case. Trump offered to post a 100 million bond instead while he appeals the penalty, but that offer was rejected by the judge. Trumps lawyers admitted he does not have the cash for the full bond and would like have to selloff properties to raise the nearly 5s 00 million required. This as interest on the judgment grows by Tens Of Thousands of dollars each and every day. The judge, though, did pause other parts of the ruling, issuing a stay on trumps three year ban on obtaining a loan from the new york bank and allowing him to continue running businesses in the state. Trumps lawyers argue the ban on loans made it impossible to secure a bond for the full amount. The decision temporary, a fivejudge Appellate Panel will consider trumps request to delay payment on an expedited basis. That ruling expected in a few weeks. If the delay is not granted and trump does not post a full bond by the march 25th deadline, new York State Attorney general Letitia James could start the process of seizing trumps Bank Accounts or possibly even taking control of some of his properties. Joining us now former u. S. Attorney barbara mcquade. Shes also an msnbc legal contributor. Barbara, thank you so much for starting us off this morning. Lets start with the Supreme Court in this very consequential decision to take the Immunity Case. Lets give you a two parter on this. First, whats your reaction theyre taking it at all, and secondly what is your best guest if they agree with the lower court and allow the case to go to trial, when do you think it could happen . Yes, so my reaction was april 22 nd is getting awfully late in the calender to be able to hear the case, decide the case, and allow the case to go to trial. I dont think this is all doom and gloom. Im hearing a lot of negative reaction that its all over because i do think that there is time for this case to still go to trial before the election. I dont think well get a decision before may or even june, and judge chutkan has already said to donald trump that he is going to still employ the pretrial time for preparation he would have had. In other words, hes still going to get i think almost two months of pretrial preparation before we begin so the trial not beginning probably until late summer or early fall. Still i think this probably a 6 to 8 week trial and even with the late start we now see occur. Certainly lots of discussion about the political fallout here, because, of course, were this trial to be pushed back beyond the election and trump were to win, he could just make it go away. Barbara, lets talk about the other legal matter we just mentioned trumps lawyer acinformationed, he does not have the funds to pay for his new york fraud trial, so if hes not able to pay up, if hes not able to secure the bond and so on, what would be the potential repercussions . Could indeed the Attorney General seize lets say trump tower . Yes, not necessarily that one, but seize assets, and that happens all the time. Here people were paying attention to just because its such a high profile case. For example, in my former office we had a whole staff of lawyers whose job it was to recover assets. Take the deposition of a person who was accredited and they would find out where their assets where, if there were sources of income. They might garnish wages. But if there are real assets they could seize them and then liquidate them to make good on a debt. The reasons bonds are required for appeal for putting up the full escrow is to prevent people from simply stalling and while i pursue my appeal even if an appeal is frivolous. Unless donald trump gets relief from this court, i think well see Letitia James make good on her promise and begin seizing assets. Maybe there are lots of other assets could go force and trump i sell them or Letitia James can go in and take them. Barbel rumcquade, thank you for starting us off this morning. We of course want to mention her new book, attack from within, how disinformation is sabotaging america is on sale now. Well have much more on the Supreme Court decision and the legal and political fallout a little later in the show, but we have a lot of other things to ghet to as well including Senate Minority leader Mitch Mcconnell who announced hell be stepping down this november and leaving the senate at the end of his term in 2026. Explaining his decision, the 82yearold mccomsaid this on the senate familiar. One of lifes most underappreciated talents is to know when its time to move onto lifes next chapter. So i stand before you today, mr. President and my colleagues, to say this will be my last term as republican leader of the senate. Im immensely proud of the accomplishments ive played some role in obtaining for the american people. I still have enough gas in my tank to thoroughly disappointment my critics, and i intend to do so with all the enthusiasm in which theyve become accustomed. First elect today the senate in kentucky back in 1984, mcconnell has led the gop caucus since 2007, making him the longest serving party leader in the senates history. The jockeying to replace mcconnell has already begun with senators john cornyn of texas, and senator minority whip john thune of south dakota all expected to seek the position. Joining us now congressional reporter for politico, daniela diaz. Momentous moment, one speculation would occur considering mcconnells Health Issues in recent months. Lets take a minute and weigh in on his legacy, what hes leaving behind, an imprint on the Upper Chamber to be sure but also the judiciary. Thats completely correct, jonathan. I mean hes been the leader of the Senate Republican conference for nearly two decades, and hes been the longest leader that the republican conference has ever had, that is why the news yesterday, which, we of course expected at some point he would announce his future plans for his role in the conference, but we didnt know was going to happen yesterday came unexpectedly and really sent shock waves through the republican conference, and he only started calling some of his republican colleagues yesterday morning to tell them the news. So its really a huge day, and its hard to overstate what the news means for the future of this body. So lets talk about the race to succeed him. You know, we mention the three johns, thats sort of the shorthand for those who are favorites to come next. What do you think, how is this going to play out, if you had to name a favorite who would it be . Right now its not very clear who the favorite is. And whoever becomes the next leader of the Senate Republican conference needs a majority, so its not really like the house speakers race where its going to be 218. In this case its going be the majority of how many republicans are in the senate after novembers election. But the Bigger Picture here is this time were probably going to see former President Donald Trump have a major say in whos going to be chosen. Remember mcconnell was elected in 2007 way before trump entered the political scene, now hes the republican presumptive nominee republican nominee for the 2024 election for the republican party, and we expect him to weigh in on who he would like to see especially considering mcconnell and donald trump havent had the smoothest relationship. Theyve had their bickering in the past, and so now we expect trump to weigh in just the same way we saw him weigh in on the house speakers house multiple times as we saw it happen in the lower chamber. Even though he hasnt weighed in just yet on mcconnell, we do expect him to play a role iphow this shapes out. Give us, mcconnell has stood up at times and he did not vote to convict in that second Impeachment Trial and suggested hes willing to endorse him again. And hes probably not going to endorse him again, and that is maybe a decision as well as his Health Issues that led up to his decision to not continue leading this Senate Republican conference considering that trump could be president again. I mean theyve had a really contentious relationship over the last eight years, and i t see that changing any time in the near future or nine months as trump tries to weigh in. Mcconnells ultimate legacy, of course, might be the Merrick Garland pick the way he helped shape the Supreme Court and so much there to pour over in the months and weeks ahead. Daniela diaz, thank you for joining us this morning. Still ahead well have much more on mcconnell and the Supreme Court decision and also get to Hunter Bidens day on capitol hill and what lawmakers are saying about his closed door deposition as part of the gop led impeachment inquiry into his father, President Biden. Plus the latest from capitol hill as congressional leaders strike a deal to temporarily keep the government running. Those stories and a check on sports and weather when we come right back. E right back hey asthmas got you going through it . Grab nucala for fewer asthma attacks. Nucala is a oncemonthly addon injection for severe eosinophilic asthma. Not for sudden breathing problems. Allergic reactions can occur. Get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or trouble breathing. Infections that can cause shingles have occurred. Dont stop steroids unless told by your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. May cause headache, injection site reactions, back pain, and fatigue. Ask an Asthma Specialist if nucala is right for you. No, my dentures uncomfortable dracula, lets fight back against discomfort. With new poligrip power max hold comfort. It has Superior Hold Plus keeps us comfy all day with its pressure absording layer. Time for a bite if your mouth could talk it would ask for. Poligrip. Heres to Getting Better with age. Heres to beating these two every thursday. Help fuel today with boost high protein, complete nutrition you need. Without the stuff you dont. So, heres to now. Boost. Welcome back. As we turn to some of the mornings other top stories. Hunter biden struck a defiant and emotional tone during closed door testimony as part of the republicanled impeachment inquiry into his father, President Biden. At his Deposition Yesterday Hunter condemned the investigation as a partisan political pursuit that was based on a false premise and fueled by lies. Hunter also reiterated his stance that he never involved his father in any of his Business Dealings while also acknowledging the mistakes he had made himself, pointing to his long baltal with addiction. Were told during the nearly 7hour long closed door deposition there were heated moments and, quote, kerfuffles. Heres what democrats said went down behind the scenes. I think it is extralaem disturbing to see the lack of professionalism, the lack of grounding and the abuse of Public Resources and abuse of public power in order to pursue something that truly wheres whose points at this juncture is very unclear. This whole thing really has been a tremendous waels of our legislative time and the peoples resources. I cannot believe that they have found a new low. It is so embarrassing to sit in the room for an hour while they try to weave Conspiracy Theory after Conspiracy Theory that only embarrasses them further. Its very clear that theres no there there. After the testimony hunter biden said his deposition went, quote, great. So far lets be clear. Republicans have yet to turn up any evidence in their impeachment investigation. And while that circus was going on, congress did get some actual work done. They reached an agreement to avoid a partial Government Shutdown that would have begun tomorrow night, friday evening. Congressional leaders announced in a statement yesterday, they will pass a Stop Gap Bill that will fund multiple departments through march 8th. The deadline for the rest of the departments also moved back a couple of weeks now to march 22 bld. The move will give legislators until next friday to put the finishing touches on some of the bills that will fund the governments departments for the rest of the fiscal year. Congressional leaders say both chambers in congress will vote on the measure before the friday evening deadline. This delay pushes the shutdown deadline beyond super tuesday, beyond the president s State Of The Union address, but a lot of work still ahead. Still ahead, well turn to sports and another record breaking performance from College Basketball phenom kaitlan clark. Plus nba legend lebron james puts on a show, but was it enough to lift the lakers to a comeback against the clippers . Well be right back with that. G . Well be right back with that. E. With its customizable options chain, easytouse tools and Paper Trading to help sharpen your skills, you can stay on top of the market from wherever you are. E trade from Morgan Stanley power e trades easytouse tools make complex trading less complicated. Custom scans help you find new trading opportunities, while an Earnings Tool helps you plan your trades and stay on top of the market. E trade from Morgan Stanley heres to Getting Better with age. Heres to beating these two every thursday. Help fuel today with boost high protein, complete nutrition you need. Without the stuff you dont. So, heres to now. Boost. That threepointer from Katelyn Clark gives her the Major CollegeWomens Basketball scoring record. She passed the kansas legend. Clark who had 33 a 33point tripledouble during last nights win against minnesota set the season threepoint record. Shes now just 18 points shy of breaking the combined ncaas overall scoring record. Im sure shell do it soon into her next game. She is truly the story in College Sports right now. Lets move to nba and the battle for los angeles thanks to a huge Fourth Quarter from who else, lebron james. Lebron rocking it. Step back, three on the way. Lebron james with five threes here in the quarter. Lebron had 19 points in the Fourth Quarter alone, Outscoring The Clippers by himself in the final frame and leading the lakers back from a 21point deficit. He also assisted on 11 of the lakers baskets and either scored or assisted 11 of the 13 baskets in the final period. The clippers did have a chance to tie the game with under 10 seconds to go. The lakers made a couple free throws. Meanwhile Dallas MavericksStar Luka Doncic celebrated his birthday with a 30point tripledouble. That is a obscure fact, but we give it to you anyway. The mavs beat the raptors 136125 bouncing back from tuesday nights loss in cleveland. Meanwhile, College Football playoff season could be expanding again. The 12team format will debut the Upcoming Season but officials are