
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. The news did not slow down for the Thanksgiving holiday; if anything, it sped up. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready to catch up on anything you may have missed. The Week Ahead: We returned to the critically important case involving the deportation flights to El Salvador, for which President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, and the contempt proceedings initiated by Judge James Boasberg when the government continued with the flights in defiance of his order. We also looked to Maryland, where a federal grand jury is investigating whether Trump allies improperly assigned unauthorized people who were not DOJ employees to develop mortgage fraud claims against Trump critics; to the Comey prosecution, where the government’s flawed case continued to struggle; and to the administration’s threats against congressional Democrats. Explanation: The Comey and James Prosecutions, Dismissed Without Prejudice: Preet Bharara and I went live for a conversation on the dismissal of the James Comey and Letitia James prosecutions. I added in an in-depth written explanation of Judge Cameron Currie’s order. Live with Lee Gelernt & Joyce Vance: ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt joined us for an important conversation about the El Salvador deportation case with the kind of firsthand information that you can only get from the person who’s running a case. A good one to listen to today if you missed it. There will be more on this case in the next weeks. Fresh Air: A pinch-me moment—I joined Terry Gross for a conversation on Fresh Air, and you can listen along! Also, to my eternal joy as a parent, Terry and I discussed a conversation I had with my youngest son, Ollie, and he’s been hearing about it everywhere he’s been for the past week. He’s doing a good job of pretending he isn’t mortified that I discussed him on a radio show that’s wildly popular with his friends and their parents (I’d included our conversation in my book with his permission). Wednesday Catch-Up: You just thought the Wednesday before Thanksgiving would be a slow news day. I updated you on a unanimous decision from the Eleventh Circuit affirming a million dollar damage award against Donald Trump and Alina Habba for making frivolous claims in Trump v. Clinton; the end of the Georgia election-interference against Trump and others; the North Carolina gerrymandering case; Trump’s continued efforts to intimidate Senator Mark Kelly and other congressional Democrats who made the noncontroversial suggestion that members of the military and intelligence community shouldn’t follow illegal orders; and finally, the National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C. Happy Thanksgiving 2025!: In this case, the title says it all. Chicken content and holiday wishes from me. Live with Jay Kuo: Listen along to a conversation between two appellate lawyers addressing your questions and thinking through what we’re seeing from the Trump administration in real time. The Moment to Pick a Side Has Come: This is a don’t miss piece. I provide legal and historical context as we look into recent reporting from The Washington Post on the September 2, 2025, strike by the U.S. military on a boat allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave instructions to “kill everybody.” This is our introduction to the issue. I followed up early this morning, video will be available later today, with a conversation with NYU Law Professor Ryan Goodman about the implications of this extremely serious moment, especially now that Congress is showing a serious intent to engage in oversight. That may be the biggest surprise of the week!
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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