226 Comments
Nov 20, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance

I so appreciate your insight. I became a fan of yours thru MSNBC and signed up for your newsletter. I so look forward to your calm, logical and smartly “simple” explanations of all this calamity. Keep up the good work. Somebody smart said, “We’re all in this together”. ✊🏻

Expand full comment

I think the appointment of the Special Counsel is appropriate. AG Merrick Garland is a by-the-book type of prosecutor. This Special Counsel, Jack Smith, has direct experience supervising the DOJ's Public Integrity Section having overseen it AFTER the Ted Stevens debacle. The fact that he has been at The Hague for the last four years means that he apparently managed to avoid somewhat the politicization of the DOJ during the Barr Administration. This Special Counsel started his career in the Brooklyn U.S. Attorneys' Office, which like other NYC U.S. Attorneys' Offices has among the best prosecutors. I am the type of institutionalist that likes seeing important high profile cases handled by career prosecutors.

I don't think it will delay any indictment by much. And I think it will streamline the bureaucracy & put as point person someone with a lot of relevant trial experience. If the case cannot be succinctly explained to him, it is not ready. And by bringing in a new supervisor it is bringing in a fresh pair of eyes. I tend to think Garland brought Smith in because he believes that the case is nearly ready for indictment

Expand full comment

Thank you, Joyce, for brightening my day with your chicken video and pictures. 😀

Expand full comment

My hope and prayer is that the Special Counsel, Mr Smith, will live into his reputation and continue with alacrity the Justice Department’s excellent work thus far. I despair the the man-child Elon has let Trump back on Twitter. Maybe Trump will keep his word to not go back to Twitter. But I doubt it.

Expand full comment
Nov 20, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance

Joyce - Along with Chuck Rosenberg, no one breaks down the events and issues of the day better than you. Both of you take the time to articulate a clear and understandable analysis of the complex stories that all of us face every day. Thanks for your wisdom.....and thanks for sharing the activity of your chickens!! It truly is a welcome and funny break from the insanity swirling around on a daily basis.

Expand full comment
Nov 20, 2022·edited Nov 20, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance

Your post reminded me of the importance being grateful and taking time to just be present. This week is a welcome diversion for me, planning and cooking for my family. I too played with my three new Speckled Sussex chicks and loved on my old horse. I’m hopeful about the new special counsel, mostly because I listen to people like you who are wise in these matters. Happy Thanksgiving!

Expand full comment

Fluffy chicken bottoms! I have never thought to appreciate fluffy chicken bottoms. And the wall behind them looks like a beautiful abstract painting. I could stare at it all day (when not distracted by chicken bottoms...) Thank you for all this.

Expand full comment

I liked finding out that, when he took leadership of the public integrity unit, Smith was asked by a reporter if he was worried about the political power that subjects of his investigations might wield against him, and he replied "If I was someone who could be cowed, I'd have sought a different line of work." I think Trump should be trembling in his shoes.

Expand full comment
Nov 20, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance

You and the Sisters-in-law are better than any game that will be played in the history of foozeball or pickle ball. I look forward to all our batteries being charged and coming out of a holiday buzz to enjoy how the rule of law will finally provide the exit for a primordial grifter and his acolytes. For all the folks who cannot afford to even cuss me out because of their lack of any way to communicate their discontent, I will never forget how much I have to be grateful for. I am a work in progress. Grateful for all your writings, Joyce.

Expand full comment
founding
Nov 20, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance

I love your entry to discussion with the beautiful chicken and chicks. Life is beautiful there. I still cry that my husband has died and no one in his family invites me for the holidays. I don’t know why. So that I don’t make myself deeply depressed I’m doing everything I like about Christmas. 🎄 I just ordered a big wreath for the front door and I’m making the Québécois foods I was taught by my great-grandmother and my grandfather. We lived in Salem, Massachusetts where we’d lived for many years and our families on my mother’s side went back to the days of the witches and beyond. My dearest friend still lives there where I was born too. We are deeply connected that way, as my 11th great grandfather was chairman of the grand jury that sentenced 2 of her 11th great-grandmothers to be hung. How lucky we were that the governor put a stop to all these and we lived generations to know one another and face the curse that would dissolve. We both write about Salem. This makes every holiday special. Thank you for your posts. Have a good Thanksgiving.🦃

Expand full comment
Nov 20, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance

I am so glad you found a way to get some down time, especially down on the farm with chickens time. It’s been a crazy few weeks and I know you are doing an amazing amount of work to keep us informed and ahead of the game. And what a game it is.

I’m in Florida, where we just can’t move faster than our despicable governor. Our state is gerrymandered and voter suppressed and yet I still hope we can do better in 2024 than we did this year. It is disheartening, but the work must go on.

I know you spend some time on Twitter and I do as well. It’s stranger than it’s ever been. The former guy was allowed back. I have him blocked but that doesn’t stop many people from tweeting out the stuff he does. This will and has directly lead, already, to even more hate on that site. It’s exhausting but we can’t look away, even though I really want to.

All this to say, I’m glad I have dogs. They aren’t as pocket sized as the chickens but they are a great reminder of the good in the world. Thanks for reminding us to take the time to recharge.

Expand full comment

There’s been lot of noise ever since Elon Musk took over Twitter about him letting Trump back onto the platform..I decided that would be my line in the sand..Finally today when that was reported to be happening I shut down my account and dumped it..

I have been thinking about that decision and I realize that it was actually less about Trump and more about Musk..With all of the stupid things he has been doing and tweeting, all of the observant writing about the goings-on at the company, I had just had enough of Elon Musk..

I dumped my Facebook and Instagram presents so many years ago I can’t even remember, now I am without any of these platforms..It is a rather liberating feeling..The place where I’ve discovered a sense of comfort, belonging and sanctuary is on Substack..

”Civil Discourse”, “America America”, “The Warning”, “Letters From An American”. I’m happy to be a member of these committees..where my batteries get a daily recharge..This is the thing I did for myself..

Happy Thanksgiving everybody..

Cheers,

Sam

P.S. The way I’m hearing Jack Smith characterized by those whom I have great respect, makes me feel I can relax..I'm eager to read what you have to say about him Joyce..

Expand full comment
Nov 20, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance

I was comforted by your recent tweet that the appointment of a special counsel would not more than minimally (I.e. a couple weeks) slow down the investigative process. An indictment is coming, in my view, and I think the only real debate is whether the harder to prove crimes will be included. But all that can wait. It is time to be thankful. Among the many things I’m grateful for this year is the certainty, to quote a sage, that we’re all in this together. Thanks for being a sensible voice of explanation in a swirl of chaos. And thanks for sharing your chickens. We all have our “chickens” in one form or another, and your inclusion of them is a constant reminder to set aside the urgent and spend time with the important. Happy thanksgiving to you and yours.

Expand full comment

Good use of a Saturday. Always time for analysis and writing later.

Expand full comment

I am so glad to hear, Joyce, that you found some time to spend outside with the chickens. I can’t imagine how you find time for teaching, podcasting, and doing commentary for MSNBC. But I got a lot more done when I was your age.

Expand full comment
Nov 20, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance

I had a flock of two dozen chickens that I raised from the hatchling stage when I lived up in NW Connecticut. What a joy they were! I miss mine, and love seeing yours.

Expand full comment