Here’s the highlight reel of the past week’s posts and events.
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| Here’s the highlight reel of the past week’s posts and events. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready to catch up on anything you may have missed. The Week Ahead: We went into the week with Trump promising Republicans they would “never lose the midterms and we will never lose a general election” if congressional Republicans would do away with the filibuster. The deal was already in the works to end the shutdown, but this is not a budget deal, just a can kicked down the road until late January, when it could happen all over again. We also discussed whether the Supreme Court would hear an appeal that could potentially reverse Obergfell on same-sex marriage—they didn’t, although as I suggested, this probably had more to do with the bad facts in that specific case than with the Court’s appetite for undoing marriage equality. They certainly didn’t want to do that and create a rallying cry for Democrats and LGBTQ community members and their allies before the midterm elections. And Trump pushed back hard against courts that ordered the administration to fund SNAP while he golfed and enjoyed a lavish seafood buffet at Mar-a-Lago. The Overnight News: A rare Monday morning update on developments including Trump’s pardon’s, the administration’s SNAP case, and SCOTUS’ decision not to hear the appeal in Davis v. Ermold. Big Tent: My online book talk with Vanita Gupta. My former DOJ colleague Vanita Gupta and I had a wide ranging conversation about what is going on at the Department and just how disturbing it is, and also discussed my book. If you missed us live, click here to go to the recording. Lincoln Square x Civil Discourse: Former Republican Stuart Stevens, who now works with the Lincoln Project, had me on to discuss my book. But it turned into one of the most honest and introspective conversations I’ve had with someone from the other side (previously), analyzing where Republicans went wrong. I flipped the tables on Stuart and did some of the questioning at that point, for a conversation I won’t forget any time soon. But His Emails: Senate Democrats released a tranche of emails obtained from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. I took you through some of the contents, predictably damning for Trump. If you missed this piece, I hope you’ll make time to read it. I concluded, “Is Trump’s McCarthy moment finally coming? A moment like the one where Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose red scare tactics held the country hostage and came close to destroying the First Amendment—an era I discuss in my book—was asked by a fed-up lawyer, ‘Have you no decency?’ That moment burst McCarthy’s bubble. We could, finally, be close. Trump has survived other moments like this, where he turned his glaring racism and misogyny into bonus points with his base. But he may not outlast the Epstein Files controversy.” Prosecuting Comey: We analyzed the consolidated motions filed by former FBI Director Jim Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James in their separate criminal prosecutions challenging the legitimacy of Trump’s insurance-lawyer-turned-U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan’s role in their prosecution. Another case of people targeted by the Trump administration standing up to the bully. Five Questions with Miles Taylor: I interviewed national security expert, democracy reform advocate, and author Miles Taylor about the launch of his new effort, Defiance.org. You may recall Miles as the author of the anonymous New York Times op-ed during the first Trump administration, which revealed internal dissent. Miles’ ongoing opposition to Trump landed him on Trump’s enemies list when the president singled him out in an early executive order. This is a great piece with insight from someone who understands what gets under the president’s skin and how to defy him successfully. I’m in Phoenix, Arizona, this morning for close to the last stop on my book tour. I’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the people I’ve visited with, from old friends who made dinner for me on the West Coast to a new one in Texas who knit me an amazing emotional support chicken (see below). Everywhere I go, there is realism, resolve, and the beginnings of optimism, and you’ve buoyed my spirits as much as I hope my book has helped with yours.
These are complicated legal times, and it’s easy for the truth to get lost in the chaos. Civil Discourse doesn’t just track today’s headlines—it connects them to the legal and political history that explains why they matter. We won’t forget what’s at stake, or let Trump and his allies rewrite the past. You can subscribe to Civil Discourse for free and get clear analysis that helps you see the whole picture, delivered straight to your inbox. If you’re in a position to, your paid subscription helps me devote the time and resources it takes to write the newsletter. That means everyone has access to information they can share with friends and family—a constructive act we can all participate in right now, helping more Americans understand how critical this moment is. We’re in this together, Joyce Share | |
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