So, I missed a week for personal reasons. Did anything happen while I was gone?
Well, Trump got indicted again — not once, but twice, if you count the superseding indictment in the Mar-a-Lago case. And the indictment for plotting to overturn the 2020 election is the one we’ve all been waiting for. In a life and career that has been full of law-breaking, this is the one I want Trump held accountable for. If he gets away with cheating on his taxes and paying off porn stars, that’s just normal billionaire crime. But trying to stay in office after losing an election is arguably the worst thing any American president has ever done (though the Japanese removal and crimes against Native Americans make me hesitate about that). I want him to go to jail for it.
So naturally, the featured post has to be about the new indictment, but I’ll try not to repeat the wall-to-wall coverage you’ve undoubtedly seen elsewhere. To me, the striking thing in this case — and in the other Trump trials — is that he isn’t really contesting the evidence. The arguments Trump supporters make are mostly ad hominem attacks against anyone who dares to investigate the Great Orange One.
In the featured post, then, I want to model how I think we should argue with Trump supporters: Let them rant about “deranged” prosecutors, “Trump haters”, “election interference”, and “What about Hunter?”. But keep drawing them back to the evidence: Is he guilty? Did he do the things he’s accused of? If he did commit these crimes, should he be above the law? That post should come out shortly.
I wanted to keep that post focused, so more general stuff about the indictments (the text, links to other people’s analysis, etc.) will be in the weekly summary. Also: tomorrow’s vote on Ohio’s ballot initiative, yet another good jobs report, the ongoing destruction of public education in Florida, the democracy crisis in Israel, and a few other things.
Plus: I wanted to do a longer report on the Heritage Foundation’s detailed plan for the next Republican administration (and I may yet next week). But I’ll at least mention it today.
The weekly summary should come out around noon EDT.
The Weekly Sift 
Comments
In a life and career that has been full of law-breaking, this is the one I want Trump held accountable for.
Can’t seem to find anything he’s been convicted of – only accused of? Can you show what you mean by lawbreaking?
I watched last night a Netflix series about Trump who became famous for convincing the NYC to give a huge tax abatement for 40 years to build the Commodore hotel into the grand Hyatt in a city of crime and near bankruptcy from city mismanagement by mayoral administrations where state and feds no longer willing to bail out like today overflowing by people attracted to our sanctuary. That hotel was my first home in NYC when as legal immigrant I arrived 1983.
Next he built the ice skating rink in 4 months under budget after politicians in 4 years with huge overruns had not been able to do it.
And he then as first hired a WOMAN to build his Trump building and politicians refused his legal request for a huge abatement and he took to New York Supreme Court and won.
Then came his bestseller art of the deal book 1987 he launched at the Hyatt and because I had lived there I was invited.
Surrounded by his team of all walks of life including a black old woman in a wheelchair he spoke on a stage and room was full of politicians from everywhere who applauded.
Seems like after he decided to run all who loved he money endured his boastfulness until they felt threatened as he had beaten them in court before.
His guilt or innocence will be finally decided by the Supreme Court I guess years from now but by the people in the next election for sure.
Lawsuits have made him an underdog and he rises in polls every time indicted.
We shall see. Every politician breaking the law should be punished by a judge and his peers for sure like Nixon should have too.
He tried to overthrow democracy and install himself as emperor. You know damn well that’s what he wanted. Every sentence in your comment from the third paragraph on is just trying to obfuscate the point.
He tried to overthrow democracy and install himself as emperor. You know damn well that’s what he wanted.
Every sentence in your comment from the third paragraph on is just trying to obfuscate the point.
DAVID – No – I don’t – I have no way of actually KNOWING what he or anybody wants or wanted, as mind reading is not my skill, but that seem to be the attempt by the prosecutor, to prove in court beyond a reasonable doubt, that it’s what Trump thought.
I can’t see any legal precedents where thoughts – not words or actions – have been successfully – or even unsuccessfully – prosecuted – have you?
“Inciting a riot” I had expected but was not the charge at all?
Why do you think?
No I’m not trying to obfuscate anything – just asking questions – my own fear is setting a precedent – where we all could be indicted for what we think – you see no fear in that?
Maybe if Trump gets elected – he decided to indict people who in their thoughts wanted to lynch him ? Scary thought isn’t it ?
I certainly had that strong thought of “go away” when by mistake I once watched his “you are fired” horrible show.
Can’t anybody see how Trump are using media and the prosecutors in his favor – to get money for his campaign – increasing his approval ratings with independents, because he is now seen as the underdog – attacked with a weak made-up attempt to do in court what the impeachments did not accomplish?
If you are not sure you can win – don’t sue – like never ask a question of any politician that you don’t know the answer to !
Anyone wishing to understand the multi-faceted, seditious conspiracy to stage a coup in order to overturn the election for the purpose of keeping Donny Corruption in power has only to read the report from the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. The version with the forward by Ari Melber is particularly insightful.
Donny Corruption is extremely fortunate to have organized and led this conspiracy in this country. There are plenty of places in this world where his completely deserved punishment would have been swift, final, and televised as a warning to those who managed to escape justice not to try it again.