We’ve now seen Volume 1 of Jack Smith’s report, released just after midnight when Judge Aileen Cannon’s order prohibiting DOJ from making it public lapsed.
Kudos to you, Joyce, for continuing to persist in examining the Trump swamp of grifters, abusers, bigots, authoritarians, and incompetents. Deep gratitude.
Please take your vitamins and play with your chickens now and again. We need you.
While you research and write, your loyal fans will do grassroots activism, stay in touch w/ our members of Congress and local electeds, and keep finding great people to run for office.
I encourage everyone to immediately do what I did 15 minutes ago - go to the DOJ’s website and send an email to the DOJ (for AG Garland) to demand the immediate release of Volume 2 !!!
Once liar criminal Trump is sworn in he will instruct the DOJ to terminate the Documents case and to burn all copies of Volume 2 !!!
Also consider calling the White House to ask President Biden to call AG Garland to instruct Garland to immediately release Volume 2 (and without any redactions!)
Redactions particularly for Vol 2 will HAVE to be done otherwise the released document will violate national security laws. That would subject Biden and Garland to criminal charges. Not a great idea.
I am willing to believe that there is a part I can play in all of this, mostly at the local level and in contacting my senators and reps. Many people scoff at calling your reps in Congress. That might be their experience "if they don't have to listen, aren't forced to change their ways, no amount of phone calls is going to make any change". perhaps those people are right. Nonetheless I continue to call and write and when they're at their home office I drop by. If they aren't there I ask their office volunteers to write down every word of my message.
Also, find out how to apply to be on the roster at your Chamber of Commerce, for local issues, like schools allowing trans youth to participate in sports, and argue against bullsh** measures at county meetings. Stand up and talk. People can be heard, so go and speak. Pay attention.
There's no room whiners and moaners who are too tired, too afraid or too uninformed. Myriad organizations exist to give you weekly lists of the things going on. Sign up for emails from the govt. watchers who simply publish each bill before Congress, who wrote it, who backs it, etc. Write about the idiotic bills, to your reps in Congress. There is much that you can do besides roll over and say it's all too much.
To those who rely on a deity to save us, there's no record in history of that happening other than through individuals taking action. Let's try THAT, 'k?
Thank you Joyce, for offering so much understanding.
For all that has been incomprehensible since November, 2016, the notion that dangerous incompetents like Hegseth will just waltz right in is, well, incomprehensible!
GOP senators would have to face the wrath of Trump and Elon's ability to bankroll primary challenges if they grew spines and voted not to confirm a clearly unqualified candidate as SecDefense.
Do you think any GOP senators will break rank with their fuehrer?
Well only 1/3 of the Senators were up for election in 2024. There might be a few who didn't have to run that could vote no but they will be up for election in 2026 or 2028 so the odds are not good.
I can't believe the questioning. He has racist tatoos. Took positions contrary to the Geneva Conventions and code of conduct.
What about insurrection? Was he involved. Did he support it? Does he give "aid or comfort" to insurrectionists? If so he is not qualified on that basis.
We were watching Hegseth's hearing until Joni Ernst began her worshipful questioning. Her obsequious flattery of Hegseth was so disturbing that we had to turn the TV off.
I think that count on the GOP side is clearly a goose egg.
It will be at least 53-47 maybe a few Democrats will join to curry favor with Trump. I won't be surprised (but will be depressed) if Fettermann votes yes.
It is so frustrating that people in government or wanna-be people in government just can’t tell the truth. We need to flood the zone with all the truth we find. It’s the only way to set us free.
It's hard to flood the zone between MAGA's ears with anything truthful. Because in their minds truth is liberal disinformation. But that is the zone we need to find a way to flood.
Judge Cannon's orders in January 2025 provided further proof that Judge Cannon is abusing her position and powers and she is acting like a mere con man to deceive the American public. In footnote 2 to her January 13 order, Judge Cannon publicly threatened DOJ attorneys with disciplinary action for potential lack of "candor' with respect to their "representations made to this Court." Yet, Judge Cannon said nothing to Trump's attorneys about their obvious (and irrefutable) lack of candor.
An actual future prosecution of Trump's accomplices by the DOJ under Trump's influence (or actual control) is the crucial "fact" on which the Defendants' so-called Emergency Motion (to conceal information from the American people) depended. Yet, the Defendants failed to present any evidence (or even argue) that the DOJ actually would pursue any prosecution of Trump's accomplices after Trump's inauguration. Judge Cannon certainly did not ask the DOJ to present any such evidence. Instead, in her January 13 order, Judge Cannon merely emphasized that the "parties agree that Volume II" merely somehow "concerns this criminal proceeding."
When a judge relies on something that parties merely "agree" rather than on the facts and evidence that the judge KNOWS the law REQUIRES, that is a big red flag. The parties' mere agreement that information merely somehow "concerns this criminal proceeding" clearly and irrefutably is not the standard in the law that governs Judge Cannon's own conduct. Even the Defendants' own motion (and the attached letter from Trump's counsel) emphasized that fact (and the controlling legal standard).
As the Defendants' counsel (and Judge Cannon) knew, the Defendants must actually believe (and show "good cause" (per Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) to believe) that "there is a reasonable likelihood that" public "dissemination" of some information actually in in Vol. I or Vol. II actually "will interfere" (in a material respect) "with a fair trial or otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice” (per S.D. Fla. Local Rule 77.2(a)). Judge Cannon knows (and always knew) that the Defendants did not show such good cause with respect to any information in either Volume I or Volume II. So, on January 13, Judge Cannon finally denied the so-called Emergency Motion with respect to Volume I. With respect to Volume II, Judge Cannon finally ordered a hearing (for January 17 and she gave the DOJ only until Jan. 14 to file an opposition to the Defendants' motion).
Trump's own public statements (and other compelling facts, including Trump's choices for leadership positions in the DOJ) establish there is no "likelihood" of a "fair trial" or "due administration of justice" by a DOJ controlled or influenced by Trump and his appointees. Even before Trump was elected, he publicly boasted that he, personally, "would fire [Jack Smith] within two seconds" after Trump's inauguration. Trump made that campaign promise to his supporters.
Smith, himself, compellingly proved he believes Trump will at least cause Smith to be subjected to harassment and retaliation and cause justice to be obstructed and he believes the DOJ will not prosecute Trump's accomplices. As you mentioned (and as Judge Cannon already knows) Smith already has resigned.
Trump and his counsel provided further compelling evidence that they all expect the termination of these criminal proceedings against Trump's accomplices. In a motion on Jan. 7, 2025 (regarding the Emergency Motion seeking to conceal Volumes I and II from everyone, including the U.S. Attorney General), Trump and his counsel actually argued and represented to the Court that "President Trump should be permitted to participate in these proceedings" precisely because Trump is the "soon-to-be President."
It is not even plausible that Trump and his counsel would insist on Trump's "right" to participate in criminal proceedings that they expect will continue all the way to trial. For years, Trump and his counsel worked hard to get out of such proceedings. For years, they asked judges of multiple courts to pretend that Trump had immunity from prosecution for his crimes specifically because participating in such proceedings would interfere with the president's ability to perform his duties.
Of course what we are really seeing from Judge Cannon is her Job Interview for her much desired placement on the US Supreme Court. Trump sez, “I lean on Aileen.”
It is soul crushing that a nominee so flawed, inexperienced and incompetent is on track to head the largest part of the government. We now know that Trump has obliterated the separation of powers. God help us all.
"Soul crushing" is a good description. But at least we have these comments to know that we are not alone and there are millions of people who feel the same. That gives me hope that we will find a way to break this trump curse.
Tammy Duckworth skewered Hegseth today...check out her questioning that showed how ill prepared this guy is for the job. Aside from character issues, the largest organization he has run had about 20 people in it and apparently he ruined it financially. He lacks the experience to be a base commander let alone Secretary of Defense. It's hard to take the GOP concern about national security seriously if this is their guy. Also, if Hegseth really believes in meritocracy, he should step down from consideration because he is unqualified. Period.
We cannot sufficiently underscore the grave damage Chief Justice John Roberts has done to the United States. His position on voting rights, his immunity fiction and the delay in deciding US v Trump ranks him, in my estimation, as the most contemptible person to have served in that role. Mitch McConnell is a distant second in his capacity and Lewis Powell (who wrote the famous memo known now by his name) ranks third but nonetheless culpable in his legal distortions. We are in store for four dark years - the likes of which I hope we can recover.
Thank you for getting us up to speed on the shenanigans as well as the real work of heroes like Jack Smith. I am deeply troubled and disappointed in the lack of leadership and action of Merrick Garland. What the heck has he been doing all this time?!
President Biden should pardon Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, to facilitate release of all the evidence of Trump's theft of classified documents. He should also pardon Liz Cheney and Jack Smith any other Trump antagonists on the J6 Committee and elsewhere who will accept pardons for doing the right thing by seeking to hold him to the standards of justice we all want our "leaders" to live up to.
"But Smith seemed to be appealing to an idea we’ve touched on frequently—not letting Donald Trump drag everyone else down to his level."
But Smith seemed to be appealing to an idea we’ve touched on frequently—not letting THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, THE TENEO NETWORK, and THE REPUBLICAN PARTY drag everyone else down to THEIR level.
Trump is Reagan writ large and writ vulgar. Reagan in bed with Ralph Reed, movement conservatism with the religious right. The Southern Strategy. Conservatives from Bill Buckley and Pat Buchanan to David Duke and Tucker Carlson et al enthralled by foreign dictators. . . Trump is just the symptom of that part of the electorate fed on/feeding on the specious rhetoric of right wing extremism. Newt Gingrich, George Will, Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones et al. Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell et al Extremists and liars did not swallow the elephant whole, they ate it bite by bite before spitting it out in their own image - a Trump.
Kudos to you, Joyce, for continuing to persist in examining the Trump swamp of grifters, abusers, bigots, authoritarians, and incompetents. Deep gratitude.
Please take your vitamins and play with your chickens now and again. We need you.
While you research and write, your loyal fans will do grassroots activism, stay in touch w/ our members of Congress and local electeds, and keep finding great people to run for office.
You may enjoy my take on the future of Jack Smith and our first presidential felon.
https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/its-not-over
I encourage everyone to immediately do what I did 15 minutes ago - go to the DOJ’s website and send an email to the DOJ (for AG Garland) to demand the immediate release of Volume 2 !!!
Once liar criminal Trump is sworn in he will instruct the DOJ to terminate the Documents case and to burn all copies of Volume 2 !!!
Also consider calling the White House to ask President Biden to call AG Garland to instruct Garland to immediately release Volume 2 (and without any redactions!)
Here's the web site.
https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice
for your heading, scroll the choices until you see messages to the attorney general.
Thank you Mimi. I just sent in my comments.
Thank you, Mimi!!!
Done! Message sent to Atty General
Me too, thanks for the link
Thank you sent to both
Thank you. I have just sent a message to the Attorney General.
Done!
Done. Thank you.
Thank you Mimi. Just sent my message.
I wrote again this morning.
Just sent my message.
Thanks, Mimi. You made contacting the AG easy.
Thanks for the link. Just submitted mine
Thanks SO MUCH Mimi. Just sent in my message to the A.G. Your link and informative comment made is so easy to do.
Done! Thank you for the link, it made a difference.
Sent in mine.
Thank you. I just entered my comments.
YES! DO SOMETHING!
https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice
Thanks Mimi! Doing it right now!
For President Biden:
president@whitehouse.gov
And my letter to President Biden has been sent.
Done. Thank you.
Thanks Mimi. Done!
I did!!! Thank you!
Will do that tonight! Thanks Joel.
Joel, I just sent an email to DoJ.
Redactions particularly for Vol 2 will HAVE to be done otherwise the released document will violate national security laws. That would subject Biden and Garland to criminal charges. Not a great idea.
Done. Sent the request to AG Garland. Thanks for the suggestion. I feel better now.
Shh Dont wake Garland up.
Done.
To paraphrase Tiny Tim, "God save us, every one." We will need it.
I am willing to believe that there is a part I can play in all of this, mostly at the local level and in contacting my senators and reps. Many people scoff at calling your reps in Congress. That might be their experience "if they don't have to listen, aren't forced to change their ways, no amount of phone calls is going to make any change". perhaps those people are right. Nonetheless I continue to call and write and when they're at their home office I drop by. If they aren't there I ask their office volunteers to write down every word of my message.
Also, find out how to apply to be on the roster at your Chamber of Commerce, for local issues, like schools allowing trans youth to participate in sports, and argue against bullsh** measures at county meetings. Stand up and talk. People can be heard, so go and speak. Pay attention.
There's no room whiners and moaners who are too tired, too afraid or too uninformed. Myriad organizations exist to give you weekly lists of the things going on. Sign up for emails from the govt. watchers who simply publish each bill before Congress, who wrote it, who backs it, etc. Write about the idiotic bills, to your reps in Congress. There is much that you can do besides roll over and say it's all too much.
To those who rely on a deity to save us, there's no record in history of that happening other than through individuals taking action. Let's try THAT, 'k?
Thank you Joyce, for offering so much understanding.
Do you have more info on; "gov't watchers.... who publish bills"?
Excellent advice
For all that has been incomprehensible since November, 2016, the notion that dangerous incompetents like Hegseth will just waltz right in is, well, incomprehensible!
Joyce, why do you expect Hegseth to be approved?.
Because that seems to be the trend with the MAGAts. The most repulsive and least qualified get the jobs.
GOP senators would have to face the wrath of Trump and Elon's ability to bankroll primary challenges if they grew spines and voted not to confirm a clearly unqualified candidate as SecDefense.
Do you think any GOP senators will break rank with their fuehrer?
I believe Senators with any self respect and character did not run for reelection, which means what's left is the bottom of the barrel.
Well only 1/3 of the Senators were up for election in 2024. There might be a few who didn't have to run that could vote no but they will be up for election in 2026 or 2028 so the odds are not good.
My guess is that no one has the balls to say no to the orange first felon.
53 GOP votes including Joni Ernst who was the most likely GOP to oppose Hegseth now days she will vote for him.
Pretty much a shoo in at this point. GOP Senators are just kissing *ss.
I can't believe the questioning. He has racist tatoos. Took positions contrary to the Geneva Conventions and code of conduct.
What about insurrection? Was he involved. Did he support it? Does he give "aid or comfort" to insurrectionists? If so he is not qualified on that basis.
Did you listen to any of the GQP senators yesterday? Especially Ernst. She was literally drooling over him. Absolutely disgusting.
We were watching Hegseth's hearing until Joni Ernst began her worshipful questioning. Her obsequious flattery of Hegseth was so disturbing that we had to turn the TV off.
He has all the qualifications (not) for the job. Not enough if any have the balls to stand up and vote no.
I think that count on the GOP side is clearly a goose egg.
It will be at least 53-47 maybe a few Democrats will join to curry favor with Trump. I won't be surprised (but will be depressed) if Fettermann votes yes.
It is so frustrating that people in government or wanna-be people in government just can’t tell the truth. We need to flood the zone with all the truth we find. It’s the only way to set us free.
It's hard to flood the zone between MAGA's ears with anything truthful. Because in their minds truth is liberal disinformation. But that is the zone we need to find a way to flood.
Thank you Joyce! Given the trash elected and confirmed, I’ll spend more time admiring
your glorious feathered friends. I have a wonderful horse, a fantastic garden, great kids and
an adorable 11 pound pug, Clementine. Along with my husband, you, HCR, and Steve….
this is my family for the next four years. Love all the commenters as well!!
Judge Cannon's orders in January 2025 provided further proof that Judge Cannon is abusing her position and powers and she is acting like a mere con man to deceive the American public. In footnote 2 to her January 13 order, Judge Cannon publicly threatened DOJ attorneys with disciplinary action for potential lack of "candor' with respect to their "representations made to this Court." Yet, Judge Cannon said nothing to Trump's attorneys about their obvious (and irrefutable) lack of candor.
An actual future prosecution of Trump's accomplices by the DOJ under Trump's influence (or actual control) is the crucial "fact" on which the Defendants' so-called Emergency Motion (to conceal information from the American people) depended. Yet, the Defendants failed to present any evidence (or even argue) that the DOJ actually would pursue any prosecution of Trump's accomplices after Trump's inauguration. Judge Cannon certainly did not ask the DOJ to present any such evidence. Instead, in her January 13 order, Judge Cannon merely emphasized that the "parties agree that Volume II" merely somehow "concerns this criminal proceeding."
When a judge relies on something that parties merely "agree" rather than on the facts and evidence that the judge KNOWS the law REQUIRES, that is a big red flag. The parties' mere agreement that information merely somehow "concerns this criminal proceeding" clearly and irrefutably is not the standard in the law that governs Judge Cannon's own conduct. Even the Defendants' own motion (and the attached letter from Trump's counsel) emphasized that fact (and the controlling legal standard).
As the Defendants' counsel (and Judge Cannon) knew, the Defendants must actually believe (and show "good cause" (per Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) to believe) that "there is a reasonable likelihood that" public "dissemination" of some information actually in in Vol. I or Vol. II actually "will interfere" (in a material respect) "with a fair trial or otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice” (per S.D. Fla. Local Rule 77.2(a)). Judge Cannon knows (and always knew) that the Defendants did not show such good cause with respect to any information in either Volume I or Volume II. So, on January 13, Judge Cannon finally denied the so-called Emergency Motion with respect to Volume I. With respect to Volume II, Judge Cannon finally ordered a hearing (for January 17 and she gave the DOJ only until Jan. 14 to file an opposition to the Defendants' motion).
Trump's own public statements (and other compelling facts, including Trump's choices for leadership positions in the DOJ) establish there is no "likelihood" of a "fair trial" or "due administration of justice" by a DOJ controlled or influenced by Trump and his appointees. Even before Trump was elected, he publicly boasted that he, personally, "would fire [Jack Smith] within two seconds" after Trump's inauguration. Trump made that campaign promise to his supporters.
Smith, himself, compellingly proved he believes Trump will at least cause Smith to be subjected to harassment and retaliation and cause justice to be obstructed and he believes the DOJ will not prosecute Trump's accomplices. As you mentioned (and as Judge Cannon already knows) Smith already has resigned.
Trump and his counsel provided further compelling evidence that they all expect the termination of these criminal proceedings against Trump's accomplices. In a motion on Jan. 7, 2025 (regarding the Emergency Motion seeking to conceal Volumes I and II from everyone, including the U.S. Attorney General), Trump and his counsel actually argued and represented to the Court that "President Trump should be permitted to participate in these proceedings" precisely because Trump is the "soon-to-be President."
It is not even plausible that Trump and his counsel would insist on Trump's "right" to participate in criminal proceedings that they expect will continue all the way to trial. For years, Trump and his counsel worked hard to get out of such proceedings. For years, they asked judges of multiple courts to pretend that Trump had immunity from prosecution for his crimes specifically because participating in such proceedings would interfere with the president's ability to perform his duties.
EXACTLY!
Of course what we are really seeing from Judge Cannon is her Job Interview for her much desired placement on the US Supreme Court. Trump sez, “I lean on Aileen.”
It is soul crushing that a nominee so flawed, inexperienced and incompetent is on track to head the largest part of the government. We now know that Trump has obliterated the separation of powers. God help us all.
"Soul crushing" is a good description. But at least we have these comments to know that we are not alone and there are millions of people who feel the same. That gives me hope that we will find a way to break this trump curse.
Thank you for educating us, Joyce. Very much appreciated, as always.
Tammy Duckworth skewered Hegseth today...check out her questioning that showed how ill prepared this guy is for the job. Aside from character issues, the largest organization he has run had about 20 people in it and apparently he ruined it financially. He lacks the experience to be a base commander let alone Secretary of Defense. It's hard to take the GOP concern about national security seriously if this is their guy. Also, if Hegseth really believes in meritocracy, he should step down from consideration because he is unqualified. Period.
We cannot sufficiently underscore the grave damage Chief Justice John Roberts has done to the United States. His position on voting rights, his immunity fiction and the delay in deciding US v Trump ranks him, in my estimation, as the most contemptible person to have served in that role. Mitch McConnell is a distant second in his capacity and Lewis Powell (who wrote the famous memo known now by his name) ranks third but nonetheless culpable in his legal distortions. We are in store for four dark years - the likes of which I hope we can recover.
That’s quite something: you’ve had some shockers as chief justice. But I can’t say you’re wrong.
“How very Roy Cohn of him.” In a nutshell.
Thank you for getting us up to speed on the shenanigans as well as the real work of heroes like Jack Smith. I am deeply troubled and disappointed in the lack of leadership and action of Merrick Garland. What the heck has he been doing all this time?!
President Biden should pardon Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, to facilitate release of all the evidence of Trump's theft of classified documents. He should also pardon Liz Cheney and Jack Smith any other Trump antagonists on the J6 Committee and elsewhere who will accept pardons for doing the right thing by seeking to hold him to the standards of justice we all want our "leaders" to live up to.
"But Smith seemed to be appealing to an idea we’ve touched on frequently—not letting Donald Trump drag everyone else down to his level."
But Smith seemed to be appealing to an idea we’ve touched on frequently—not letting THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, THE TENEO NETWORK, and THE REPUBLICAN PARTY drag everyone else down to THEIR level.
Trump is Reagan writ large and writ vulgar. Reagan in bed with Ralph Reed, movement conservatism with the religious right. The Southern Strategy. Conservatives from Bill Buckley and Pat Buchanan to David Duke and Tucker Carlson et al enthralled by foreign dictators. . . Trump is just the symptom of that part of the electorate fed on/feeding on the specious rhetoric of right wing extremism. Newt Gingrich, George Will, Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones et al. Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell et al Extremists and liars did not swallow the elephant whole, they ate it bite by bite before spitting it out in their own image - a Trump.
They didn't spit it out because the image is the excrement that rhymes with spit, in which a Trump also rhymes with another word for it.