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 reviewed Trump’s September 2025 Presidential Memo titled “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence,” commonly referred to as NSPM-7, which allows him to designate anyone who disagrees with him as a domestic terrorist. And indeed, by the end of the week, there was news that DOJ would issue subpoenas to Minnesota government and former Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Our prediction that DOJ wouldn’t pursue an investigation into Renee Good also turned out to be accurate. Instead, Pam Bondi opened an investigation into Good’s partner, leading a number of career federal prosecutors in Minnesota to resign. Live with Tess Bridgeman: Understanding The War Powers Act: Tess taught a master class in understanding what Trump is doing in Venezuela, and planning to do elsewhere in the world, getting us up to speed on the War Powers Act and Congress’ ability to hold a president accountable—if it will. CNN’s Elie Honig & I Discuss ICE & Minneapolis: Elie and I had a wide-ranging conversation about Renee Good’s murder (my characterization, not his), and the implications of DOJ’s failure to investigate. Should ICE Agents Be Able to Wear Masks?; Congress has the power to fix this problem. And while there are several Democratic members contemplating bills that would prohibit masking except when necessary, they don’t seem to have caught on yet. States are trying to step into the breach, but they may run into the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause in court. A Painful Case: Prosecuting an Officer Who Was Part of the Slow Response in Uvalde: Texas prosecutors are trying an Uvalde officer. The trial is ongoing, with a verdict likely next week. Live Before Bedtime with Katie Phang: Katie and I got to mull over the day’s news. Civic Courage with Marc Elias: Marc updated us on the biggest challenges to the midterm elections and the steps we can take to be prepared. Don't Take the Bait: “In the time of Trump, ‘Don’t take the bait’ is a rule that’s almost as important as ‘Do not obey in advance.’ In a moment where ICE and other federal agents seem to have been directed by their leadership to make the situation on Minneapolis streets more, not less, dangerous, it’s important to understand why. Donald Trump is toying with imposing the Insurrection Act and he’s looking for an incident that would give him an excuse. It’s not that he needs one—it would be in character to do it anyway, but it would be cleaner for him this way. This piece includes an explanation of how the Act works. Does Resistance Work? with Ruth Ben-Ghiat: Professor Ben-Ghiat always manages to inspire while she educates, and I feel fortunate to have her as a friend. You’ll especially want to hear her explanation of Chile’s “Parade of Joy,” a unique exercise of peaceful protest. It’s the Cynicism: There is a rising tide of cynicism in our country, and it’s directly tied to Trump’s utter disregard for the truth. People lose their bearings and their values when the leader of a country crashes confidences in its institutions, and the would-be dictator is the one who benefits. It’s our focus on community, resistance, and courage that will get us through this.
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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