Former President Trump's latest gag order workaround may be to let his surrogates do the talking, Axios' Erin Doherty reports.

• Why it matters: Trump loyalists have flocked to the Manhattan courthouse in recent days, lobbing criticism that the presumed GOP presidential nominee is unable to say under the gag order.

House Speaker Mike Johnson argued today that it was a "sham" trial designed to keep Trump off the campaign trail. (Reality check: No evidence.)

• The speaker called the prosecution's star witness, ex-Trump fixer Michael Cohen, "a man who is clearly on a mission for personal revenge."

⚡ State of play: VP hopefuls have found a fresh stage at the courthouse.

• Also spotted today: Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who criticized presiding Judge Juan Merchan's daughter; former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy; and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
• "This is a politicized persecution," Ramaswamy said on Fox News.
• Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) were there yesterday.

"I do have a lot of surrogates," Trump said this morning before proceedings began. "And they are speaking very beautifully."

• Go deeper.

More Americans fell behind on their credit card payments at the beginning of the year, according to Fed data out today.

• Why it matters: Rising credit card troubles can signal that people are feeling financial stress — a worrying indicator for an economy powered by consumer spending, Axios Markets co-author Emily Peck reports.

🧮 It's a bit puzzling that delinquencies are hovering at rates last seen during the Great Recession when the current economy is strong and unemployment is low.

• High inflation and rising interest rates are likely starting to hurt lower-income Americans — particularly renters.

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1. 🚨 Secretary of State Tony Blinken visited Kyiv as U.S. military aid began arriving in Ukraine. The country is working to stave off increased Russian attacks on its second largest city, Kharkiv, Axios' Jacob Knutson and Bec Falconer report.
2. ⚖️ Arizona's Supreme Court agreed to delay enforcement of a Civil War-era abortion ban for another 90 days, Axios' April Rubin and Ivana Saric report.
3. ⛺ Pro-Palestinian protesters at Harvard disbanded their encampment after students said they reached an agreement with the university, Axios Boston's Steph Solis reports.
4. 📺 CNN's Sam Feist — who started at the network as an intern and has been Washington bureau chief for the past 13 years — will leave at the end of June to become CEO of C-SPAN later this summer. He's the third CEO in C-SPAN's 45-year history. Go deeper.

Krispy Kreme is teaming up with the Queen of Country on its first-ever celebrity doughnut line, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports.

• The Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection — an ode to Dolly Parton — launched today and includes four limited-edition doughnuts. The confections will be sold at Krispy Kreme shops and select grocery stores nationwide.
• "These doughnuts remind me of home," Parton said in a release.

The flavors, darling? First, the Dolly Dazzler Doughnut, a glazed doughnut dipped in strawberry icing — with gold, pink and white glitter sprinkles, and a chocolate "Dolly butterfly piece."

• 🍑 Also: Peachy Keen Cobbler Doughnut, Banana Puddin' Pie and Chocolate Crème Pie.

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