*By Max Godnick*
Nicki Minaj. Cardi B. Ariana Grande. Michael Avenatti?
Stormy Daniels's attorney made his debut on the pink carpet Monday night, appearing among the starlets at the MTV Video Music Awards. The high-profile lawyer was fresh off a trip to the political hotbed of New Hampshire, sparking more speculation that he will run for president in 2020.
"I'm gauging what the reaction is," Avenatti told Cheddar's Vanessa Freeman outside Radio City Music Hall in New York. "I'm listening to people, and I'm figuring out if this makes sense or not."
In the past few weeks, the lawyer has made conspicuous stops in three battleground states ー Florida, Iowa, and now New Hampshire ー after announcing earlier this month that he's ["seriously considering"](https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/10/politics/avenatti-in-iowa/index.html) a White House run.
"I haven't ultimately made a decision yet, but I'm encouraged," Avenatti said.
He issued his stances on several polarizing issues on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti/status/1029385486958305280), echoing the Democratic party's views on everything from gun control to healthcare. At the VMAs, he said no child should forego a college education because of financing.
"We've got a lot of work to do," he said. "We can't afford another six years of this president."
When Cheddar asked Avenatti his pick for a second-in-command, he knew just the right choice.
"I think J.Lo would make a good running mate," he said. "She's very smart, and I think she knows how to bring it."
Jennifer Lopez was granted this year's VMA Video Vanguard Award for her accomplishments in the industry.
For full interview [click here] (https://cheddar.com/videos/which-vmas-pop-star-is-michael-avenatti-choosing-as-his-running-mate).
The Commerce Department on Tuesday updated and broadened its export controls to stop China from acquiring advanced computer chips and the equipment to manufacture them.
And in a surprise move, President Joe Biden has joined former President Trump's Truth social platform.
The Supreme Court ruled it would allow the Biden administration to regulate so-called ghost guns, or those untraceable homemade weapons, and also barred two Texas-based manufacturers from selling products that can be turned into ghost guns.
Former President Donald Trump returned to a New York City courtroom Tuesday to watch the civil fraud trial that threatens to disrupt his real estate empire, renewing his claims that the case is a baseless and politically targeted distraction from his 2024 campaign.
Over 30 people were arrested outside of the White House Monday during a protest against the Israel-Hamas war.
President Joe Biden swept into wartime Israel for a 7 1/2-hour visit Wednesday that produced a heaping dose of vocal support and a deal to get limited humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt.
The Pentagon has sent “prepare to deploy” orders to about 2,000 U.S. troops to be ready to respond to the Israel-Hamas war, two U.S. officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that has not been announced yet.
The head of Israel’s Shin Bet security service has taken responsibility for not warning of the bloody Oct. 7 Hamas rampage that killed over 1,400 Israelis.
Republicans rejected Rep. Jim Jordan for House speaker on a first ballot Tuesday, as an unexpectedly numerous 20 holdouts denied the hard-charging ally of Donald Trump the GOP majority needed to seize the gavel.
The federal judge overseeing the 2020 election subversion case against Donald Trump in Washington imposed a narrow gag order on him on Monday, barring the Republican former president from making statements targeting prosecutors, possible witnesses and the judge's staff.
