'Start Here': No deal at Trump-Kim summit in Vietnam, Michael Cohen calls Trump 'a conman'
Here's what you need to know to start your day.
It's Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Let's start here.
1. The art of no deal
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un negotiated in person for the second time, in Vietnam, but the summit ended early without a signed agreement.
"Sometimes, you have to walk," Trump said, citing sanctions relief as a major sticking point.
At the beginning of negotiations, Trump said he was in "no rush" to demand denuclearization from Pyongyang, and that the pair of leaders "just want to do the right deal."
ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz and ABC News White House Correspondent Karen Travers join us from Hanoi.
2. Michael Cohen testifies
The president's former fixer and personal attorney, Michael Cohen, called his ex-boss "a racist," "a conman" and "a cheat" during blockbuster testimony delivered on Capitol Hill.
Cohen recounted to members of Congress on Wednesday what he witnessed working alongside Trump for more than a decade and implicated him in possible crimes. Cohen, who previously pleaded guilty to lying to Congress, will testify behind closed doors today.
ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce recaps Wednesday’s hearing, and ABC News' Kyra Phillips and Senior Executive Producer Chris Vlasto break down the potential impact of what Cohen told Congress.
"The Mueller report may be coming in the next few weeks, but that's only the end of the beginning," Vlasto tells us. "There's going to be far more investigations -- more than we can comprehend actually."
Phillips hosts "The Investigation," a podcast about the Russia probe. Listen each week for the latest on the Mueller investigation from the ABC News Investigative unit. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
In other news:
'If Trump wrote those business expenses, that would constitute total fraud': After Cohen's testimony on Wednesday, many Democrats are asking again about the president's tax returns.
'These indictments should serve as a stern warning to anyone trying to defraud elections in North Carolina: A Republican political operative is indicted.
'All she did was take advantage of the government': A Florida woman accused of an $840,000 fraud is indicted.
'I hope there are no questions left about Pakistan's capability and will to defend itself now': Two Indian fighter jets are shot down as tensions rise once again over Kashmir.
From our partners at FiveThirtyEight:
The NFL is drafting quarterbacks all wrong: No position in professional sports is more important or more misunderstood than the quarterback.
Last 'Nightline':
What we learned from Michael Cohen's House Oversight Committee testimony: In hours of fiery exchanges, the president's former lawyer said he coordinated with the president to pay Stormy Daniels for her silence, is aware of another "illegal act" by Trump and more.
'Grey's Anatomy' will become longest-running primetime medical drama: Fifteen seasons later, stars like Ellen Pompeo and Jesse Williams share how the show has changed their lives and the historic diversity they've achieved on- and off-screen.
On this day in history:
Feb. 28, 2013 -- Pope Benedict XVI resigns.
The must-see photo:
Michael Cohen reacts emotionally to the concluding statement of Rep. Elijah Cummings at Wednesday's hearing. (photo credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
For more great photos from around the world CLICK HERE.
Socially acceptable:
This pug was less than enthused when he had to leave his owner's air-conditioned store and venture outside into Australia's summer heat.
All right, you're off and running. Get the latest news on ABCNews.com and on the ABC News app. Details on how to subscribe to the "Start Here" podcast are below. See you tomorrow.
"Start Here" is the flagship daily news podcast from ABC News -- a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, or the ABC News app. On Amazon Echo, ask Alexa to "Play 'Start Here'" or add the "Start Here" skill to your Flash Briefing. Follow @StartHereABC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for exclusive content, show updates and more.
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