Lately. You might call it stormy weather. What the hell. Trumps so desperate he started reading those bibles hes selling. Then he got to the first commandment. You shall have no other gods before me. Thats when he put it down and said, this books not for me. Thats President Biden with some jokes about his 2024 opponent during this weekends white house Correspondents Dinner. Well have more of the punch lines and the president s more serious message just ahead. Also ahead, well go through bidens latest conversation with the israeli Prime Minister amid a possible invasion in gazas Southern City of rafah. Plus, well bring you a recap of where Donald TrumpsHush Money Trial Stands and preview what could happen in the Manhattan Court this week. Good morning and welcome to Way Too Early on this monday, april 29th. Im jonathan lemire. Thanks for starting your day and week with us. And well begin this week with the annual white house Correspondents Dinner in washington, d. C. President joe biden took the stage on Saturday Night at the hilton to poke fun of himself, the media, and his political rivals before ending with a serious message about the need for a free press. Its been a year since i delivered this speech, and my wife jill with me tonight was worried how id do. I said, dont worry, just like riding a bike. She said, thats what im worried about. The 2024 elections in full swing, and, yes, age is an issue. Im a grown man running against a 6yearold. Age is the only thing we have in common. My Vice President actually endorses me. Did you hear what donald trump just said about a major Civil War Battle . Quote, gettysburg, wow trumps speech was so embarrassing the statue of robert e. Lee surrendered again. Being here is a reminder that folks think whats going on in congress is political theater. Thats not true. If it was congress theater, they would have thrown him out a long time ago. I want to close the night by offering my genuine thanks to the free press. There are some who call you the enemy of the people. Thats wrong, and its dangerous. In the age of disinformation, discredited information, that makes it dangerous, and that makes you more important than ever. So tonight id like to make a toast. To a free press, to an informed citizen city, to an America Where Freedom And Democracy endure. God bless america. The president also called for the release of Wall Street Gentle ReporterEvan Gershkovich held in russia as well as our journalists wrongfully detained across the globe. Next the president turned things over to the dinners keynote speaker, Saturday Night lives colin jost who withheld nothing. In solidarity with President Biden, i decided to lose all my black support. Im not saying both candidates are old, but you know jummy carter is out there saying i could maybe win this thing. Lara trump is here tonight. Whoo okay. I got one whoo. She recently released the cover of a song, i wont back down. Upon hearing it, tom petty died again. I cant believe im saying this to a member of the trump family, but maybe stick to politics . President biden, isnt it crazy hes only our second catholic president . Whats even crazier, well have our third in rfk jr. Im kidding. Like his vaccine card says, he doesnt have a shot. Joining us now, White House Reporter for bloomberg news, josh wingrove. Good morning. Good to see you. Both you and i were in the room Saturday Night. Though jost got mixed media reviews, he played well. He was pretty personal in his attacks, no jokes, on donald trump. What stood out for you, both silly and serious. You heard most of the speech in the highlights. It was short and sweet from the president. He didnt exactly drag on. He kept it focused in part on the topic of informed citizenry. He had a few thoughts, that readers are not always getting full goods and gave some barbs to some outlets in particular that he doesnt like. Hes addressing it at a time regarding journalists who complain he doesnt give more interviews but at the same time paid tribute to the journalists. We should note he came at all. Donald trump didnt go as president. Its great for everyone to have the president there. The event raises money as well for scholarships for young journalists. Its an important event, important to have the president there, important for press freedom, and in the background, the simmering questions about who joe biden talks to, when, how frequently. Youre certainly right, josh, to underscore the performance of the dinner. Lets talk about jost a little bit. Theyre jokes, but they had some truth to them. A lot of comments about the president s age, which, of course, the president himself also went after, but what stuck to me is what jost ran down about the campaign and acting in disbelief, how could this race be tied, that actually struck a chord with a lot of nervous democrats in the room. Jost at the end told a story about his grandfather on Staten Island voted for biden because he was a good man. He was saying, look, this is almost, you know, an existential moment for the country and weve got to view the question in that way, and hes imploring the press to view the question in that way. But, of course, he has real concerns, and theyre showing up in polls. Theyre showing up when you and i talk to real voters around age, inflation, the border. When we look at why the race is so tight, so many races are tight. So many polls feel like its 47 47 sometimes, jon. There are real issues President Biden is grappling with in his campaign right now that are giving donald trump a tailwind and are hanging over the question of whos going to win this election, not only the press donecy. But the house and senate could flip. Its a very contentious year, which, of course, adds a lot of juice and drama to these dinners. Big crowds, all these events this weekend. The president s speech came a day after he gave a lengthy interview with howard stern and it happened on friday. In a poignant moment, biden discussed the death of his son beau, who was, of course, the State Attorney General for the state of delaware. Take a listen. Look, beau my son beau should be sitting here instead of me. Hes more capable than i am. I wrote a book called, promise me, dad. He knew his time was up and we were one night having dipper at our home before he was in the hospital incapacitated. He said, can we talk . I said, sure. He said, look, promise me, dad, promise me, dad, youll not leave public life. I know when i go, youll want to quit. Youll want to quit. He looked at me and said, dad, give me your word, give me your word, look at me. I give my word on the health of my family. He said, promise me, dad, you wont step back, and i made the promise. Before he passed away i shouldnt the last thing he said before he passed away, literally we were in the hospital, we were lying in bed with him, he looks and he said, im not scared, dad, its okay. Im not scared, its okay. And he was gone within anyway. Wow. So, josh, its certainly chronicled about the president s deep emotional tragedy there. Lets talk about how this plays into the campaign, not the death but rather the president sat down for this interview with howard stern. There have been a lot of complaints about how few hes done. This brought out his human side. So many of his friends said, look, we want americans to know that part of him more. Whats your sense as you talk to campaign and white house officials . Are we going to see more of these types of settings . Whats the rest of this Campaign Going to look like . Theyre certainly signaling that they are. They want to go to hosts and platforms that reach people directly, whether its podcasts, smart lists, for instance, or interviews like this as opposed to they seem really disinterested in say a print interview with a newspaper thats prompted a lot of discussion over the last couple of weeks. Biden is not the only world leader to be doing this, jon. They sort of want to be getting their message out directly. Theres two sides of this coin. Our leader, if they hear this story oneonone, good setting, nice Big Microphone In Front of you, the audios good, that this helps. But the question the alternative is when you do live interviews like that, its, of course, harder for realtime factchecking, and theres less of a filter or gut check on some of the things that are said to the extent they need to be gutcheck. Thats the two sides of the coin. Absolutely, were seeing biden do more of these kinds of thing, less of the round tables. We havent seen him in the briefing room, for your instance, in the white house. This is the strategy theyre going with. President trump also does a lot of oneonone interviews, former President Donald Trump. Whether its biden, trump, or never world leader, youre more likely to see them in the podcast realm more frequently in the coming months because, a, they want to get in the peoples ears, and, b, it helps them avoid the level of scrutiny they would get. Good points. We appreciate you starting off the week with us after a busy weekend. It was a fun one. Still ahead here, what were learning about a meeting between donald trump and his former 2024 opponent ron desantis. That took place yesterday. Plus, the latest on the growing unrest on College Campuses across the country amid protests over the war in gaza. Those stories and a check on sports and weather when we come right back. Sports and weather when we come right back psst psst ahhh with flonase, allergies dont have to be scary. Spraying Flonase Daily gives you long lasting nondrowsy relief. Flonase all good. Also, try our Allergy Headache and nighttime pills. So this is pickleball . Its basically tennis for babies, but for adults. It should be called wiffle tennis. Pickle yeah, aw whoo these guys are intense. We got nothing to worry about. With e trade from morgan stanley, were ready for whatever gets served up. Dude, you gotta work on your trash talk. Id rather work on saving for retirement. Or college, since you like to get schooled. Thats a pretty good burn, right . Got him. Good game. Thanks for coming to our clinic, first ones free. psst psst ahhh with flonase, allergies dont have to be scary. Spray Flonase Sensimist daily for nondrowsy long lasting relief in a scent free, gentle mist. Flonase all good. Also, try our Allergy Headache and nighttime pills. And theyre all coming . Flonase all good. Those who are still with us, yes. Grandpa whats this . Your wings. Light em up gentlemen, its a beautiful. Day to fly. Welcome back. As tensions continue to mount in the United States over the war in gaza, President Biden is looking to reassure israel of americas commitment. They talked about the efforts to secure the remains hostages as well as israels looming Ground Operation in rafah. Biden has strenuously voiced his opposition to the plan, and netanyahu has showed no signs of backing away from it. Yesterday was the first time they spoke since april 4th. Meanwhile back in the United States, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor ron desantis met privately over breakfast if florida yesterday. One source described the meeting as, quote, nice and friendly, a far cry from the insults the two traded during the republican parts contest. The source says desantis plans to help raise money for trump. The meeting took place at their mutual home in florida. The meeting was arranged by a mutual contact whos a real estate chairman of a company. But were told it was desantis who reached out to, quote, bury the hatchet. Trump has not publicly selected a running mate, and its unlikely desantis would run, plus theyre both from florida and that would make it difficult. Its yet another example of a former foe of donald trump coming back to endorse him. Watch to see if nikki haley eventually does the same. Meanwhile bill barr was pressed on friday about his support for trump in this years race. Barr has said he will vote for trump despite previously saying that the previous president should be nowhere near the oval office and trump mocking him on social media just last week. Heres what barrs told Cnns Kaitlan Collins friday night. What you said recently, which was that, you know, the conduct that was involved with donald trump, you said trying to subvert and prevent the progress, the execution of probably the most important process we have, which is the peaceful transfer of power after an election. Name one thing biden has done thats worse than that. His whole administration. Is worse than Subverting Traipse Fehr of power . Did he succeed . Only because mike pence stood in the way. Look, i was very loud in saying i thought it was the whole episode was shameful and im very troubled by it. Thats why its not anness decision, but i then when you have a hobsons choice, you have to pick the lesser of two issues. You dont see this as a definition of putting party over country. No. Bill barr continuing to embarrass himself. Still ahead, well turn to sports. The big three is a big bust. Well bring you highlights. Plus, well bring you the reaction from stanley cup playoffs. All that when we come back. Ayofs all that when we come back nexium 24hr prevents Heartburn Acid for twice as long as pepcid. Get allday and allnight Heartburn Acid prevention with just one pill a day. Choose acid prevention. Choose nexium. Can neuriva support your brain health . Mary, janet, hey thinking eddie, no frasier, frank. Frank . fred how are you . fred. Fuel up to 7 brain health indicators, including your memory. Join the Neuriva Brain Health challenge. ella fashion moves fast. jen so we partner with verizon including your memory. To take our operations to the next level. marquis with a custom private 5g network. ella we get more control of production, efficiencies, and greater agility. jen thats enterprise intelligence. vo its your vision, its your verizon. Ah, these bills are crazy. She has no idea shes sitting on a goldmine. Well she doesnt know that if she owns a Life Insurance policy of 100,000 or more she can sell all or part of it to coventry for cash. Even a term policy. Even a term policy . Even a term policy find out if youre sitting on a goldmine. Call Coventry Direct today at the number on your screen, or visit coventrydirect. Com. Nexium 24hr prevents Heartburn Acid before it begins. Get allday and allnight Heartburn Acid prevention with just one pill a day. Choose acid prevention. Choose nexium. Edwards. Oh, edwards, a signature slam. Anthony edwards, a rising superstar with a huge poster dunk in the fourth quarter, good for two of his 31 secondhalf points for the minnesota timberwolves. Edwards finished with a team hie 40 in the game as the wolves finished off the phoenix suns with a sweep. Last nights final, 122116. Minnesota will meet the Denver Nuggets or the l. A. Lakers in the second round of the western playoffs. Denver up, 31. One wonders what holds for this team, expectations not met there. Meanwhile in dallas, the clippers blew a 31point lead but still did hold off the mavericks. Paul george and james harden each scored 33 points for l. A. Clippers beat the mavs. That series now tied up, 22. Game five wednesday night back in southern california. To the Eastern Conference now, the Indiana Pacers pushed whats left of thegyplagued to the brink of elimination. They combined for 353 points in the game as the pacers used a Franchise Playoff Record 22 threepointers to beat the bucks, 2113. Theyre in trouble. Game five tomorrow night in milwaukee. The New York Knicks, meanwhile, are also just one win away from the second round. Jalen brunson was immense, scoring 47 points in a game, the most ever by a knicks player in the postseason, and the New York Knicks beat the 76ers, 9792. They can punch a win in a game five tomorrow night at msg. Turning now to the stanley cup playoffs, Artemi Panarin scored the goahead gold on a power play early in the third period, and the trophywinning New York Rangers finished off a pretty easy sweep with the Washington Capitals with that 42 win. The rangers, that ire good. Next theyll face either the Carolina Hurricanes or the crosstown rival new York Islanders in the second round. Leading that series, 31. In the western conference, three teams are on the brink of elimination. The Los Angeles Kings are looking to lose the fifth after they were shut out by the Edmonton Oilers last night, 10. To nashville now, a hat trick helped the Vancouver Canucks to a 43 o. T. Victo