This will not be short; my apologies. It’s one of those weeks! As we head into the first “real” day of Donald Trump’s first criminal trial tomorrow, keep in mind that among Judge Juan Merchan’s overarching concerns will be protecting the integrity of any convictions obtained in his courtroom so that they will not be reversed on appeal. Trial judges don’t like being reversed in the most ordinary of cases, and this one is far from ordinary.
We surely are in this together. Tonight will mark a year since my husband died here at home in Decatur, and we followed every second of every moment of this nightmare together, because we felt it was our responsibility to do so ... and I have missed talking to my pal. But I’m still reading and watching. Let’s see this through.
Wow so much to comprehend this week. I’ll be unavailable Tuesday half the day. I think this was the best comment I saw this weekend on the immunity claim,
“Olbermann also chimed in.
"Still hasn't occurred to Flatulence J. Trump that if Biden has presidential immunity he could arrest and detain without trial, Trump, his family, and every one of his supporters and never face consequences. Oh and cancel the election. You want to play this game, MAGA? You lose."
“I believe he is going to blow…he will do something so unhinged out of his rage that it will decide the election”- said Tony Schwartz today, predicting Trump will not be able to take the psychological pressure of being trapped in court with the constant accusations directed against him by witnesses and the prosecutors, in front of the seated jury that will decide his fate. Ever since the indictment was first filed, I have believed that Trump will become emotionally incapacitated at some point in the trial, when his mounting rage finally explodes uncontrollably.
And yet, given what we know about Trump's behavior and values, there are voters who say Biden would be at least as bad, if not worse. I can't begin to comprehend that kind of thinking. False equivalence and willful ignorance - - two powerful anti-democracy forces weakening our country. The rest of us must do everything we can to re-elect Biden and defeat Trump and MAGA.
What a closer ..."That's the world Trump is advocating for—I'm a criminal and you're stuck with me. It is the most forthright statement of authoritarianism imaginable. This is how Trump would end democracy, not with a bang, but with a whimper. The courts have to stand in his way."
Joyce -- thanks for the refresher course. I am still worried about Trump, who has begun declaring "the only way he can lose a court case is if the jury is rigged". This is, of course a repeat of his 2020 campaign declaration that he would only lose the election "if it is rigged", and though no "rigs" were found, he created chaos in a few states -- Arizona in particular. I have faith in the prosecution team and Judge Marchen to invalidate any such "rigging" that the defendant's lawyers may declare.
Let's go -- and let's remain in this together. I give Joyce Vance and Mary Trump my appreciation for keeping me sane by their mentoring and allowing me to comment and read others' comments on their Substacks. Thanks to all you fellow commenters.
Does anyone actually believe that the extreme wing of the Supreme Court will allow not grant Trump immunity? All they had to do was deny Certiorari and the well written & well thought-out Court of Appeals decision would have stood. The ONLY reason to grant a hearing is to overturn the decision. We may all be in this together, but they (the traitorous 5) are not with us.
“… we won’t be tolerating any of THOSE jokes at this newsletter! We’re a family-friendly operation…”
aw, shoot. And here I was hoping you would veer off and regale us with some chicken story, Joyce… you know pecking, pecking order, that kind of thing. We NEED the chicken stories in these difficult times!
I am thankful for Judge Merchan. I think he will be an excellent “umpire “. I would not want to be in his shoes. He will have to have the patience of Job with trump.
There are 34 felonies. Strength in numbers. I hope so.
I think the Prosecuting attorneys are of a higher caliber. I terrible thought just went through my head. Will Trump say his attorneys are incompetent and ask for a mistrial?
At least Pecker won’t be a hearsay witness and I think that important.
Joyce, until you brought it up his name wasn’t 😂 in my mind. So thank you for that.
It is a busy week. Tuesday with Gag order violations and consequences. I think the graduated punishment is the smartest way to go.
Someone must have had a word with Judge “loose” Cannon as she is finally doing something.
That is a good idea to ask SCOTUS if they like the idea of trump doing something to them if they don’t agree on his so-called presidential immunity.
I guess trump will be selling more crap to raise money for new bail. Maybe he could sell pieces of his flyover hair.
Buckle up and I am so relieved that we are in this together. Thanks so much Joyce for letting us know what to expect this week.
Thanks Joyce for the breakdown of the week in Trump land.
Wow. big week coming up.
These are gut-wrenchingly serious issues, and the Supreme Court hasn't shown any eagerness to rule on Trump's immunity.
I can picture you asking, these hypos in court. In my mind the issue couldn't be clearer.
Propose some insanely outlandish acts that a President could perform with total immunity.
I love your "He could assassinate a Supreme court Justice...". scenario. But while it is clear to both of us that this is outrageous, I expect the court will do one of two things.
One, issue a quick decision regarding your hypo affirming the absurdity on its face, (a guy can hope can't he?).
Or two, waffle around for a while stalling a decision and focussing on the minutae,. and nuance of wordings. effectively delaying this until after the election (which might render it moot)..
i expect the court will do something in between those two scenarios..
I wish I could argue this myself as a mathematician. The logic it will take to affirm Trump has total immunity, is simply missing. I haven't studied law, but logic is logic.
I've just finished reading Project 2025 and its dystopian vision. If the court stalls on this until after what will surely be contested election outcome, parts of the program might begin to be implemented.
For the sake of sanity while reading the Heritage Foundation's fever-dream, I devoured Barbara McQuaid's new book 'Attack from Within". reading them side by side. I highly recommend Barb's book to everyone.
All this means we need every vote we can get in November. We need to keep women's issues, Dobb's, IVF, et al in the public discourses. We need to hammer his extreme visions and threats in the media and amongst ourselves. We can't let "Trump ennui" set in.
We need strong outreach to swing voters, young voters, first time voters... I want 98% turnout.
The press needs to keep repeating these stories. People have notoriously short memories (primacy and recency).
We need to use recency to the fullest.
45,000 or so votes cleverly spread over Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin in the last election could have given those states to Trump.
It was a lot closer than I liked. Folks need to be reminded just how close it was.
We need to stay focused and stay energized and engaged. Talk to anyone and everyone we need their vote.
Together we are stronger and we are in this together.
It sometimes feels like the republicans are shooting themselves in the foot. what with IVF and increasingly harsher abortion laws. It's easy to get complacent.
I truly appreciate this thorough "week ahead" summary as well as the daily/periodic updates. It saves me from reading so many details in multiple articles until I can understand better where my focus should be. Thanks to Joyce and to the commenters.
The real "joke" is going to be when Stormy Daniels testifies as an eyewitness to the fact that Trump's equipment is a "joke." He's going to have a hard time living that one down.
Use this interactive chart to visualize the connections between David Pecker, Michael Cohen, Trump and others involved in the NY election interference case.
Succinctly put, Joyce, and as you say, that's all he's got. And that's exactly what a majority on the Court has to reject out of hand. Can't be any other way...no "narrow" ruling, no remanding in order to set up another round of appeals. Failing that, the Court fails America, fails the democratic order, full stop.
Thomas and Alito will guarantee their two votes for some contrived immunity, attaching some notional "official acts" to a count or two in the indictment, but surely the other seven Justices won't have it, declaring that no immunity - implied or otherwise - shields a president from consequences of alleged criminal acts, and allows the DC trial to proceed without encumbrances.
We surely are in this together. Tonight will mark a year since my husband died here at home in Decatur, and we followed every second of every moment of this nightmare together, because we felt it was our responsibility to do so ... and I have missed talking to my pal. But I’m still reading and watching. Let’s see this through.
Wow so much to comprehend this week. I’ll be unavailable Tuesday half the day. I think this was the best comment I saw this weekend on the immunity claim,
“Olbermann also chimed in.
"Still hasn't occurred to Flatulence J. Trump that if Biden has presidential immunity he could arrest and detain without trial, Trump, his family, and every one of his supporters and never face consequences. Oh and cancel the election. You want to play this game, MAGA? You lose."
“I believe he is going to blow…he will do something so unhinged out of his rage that it will decide the election”- said Tony Schwartz today, predicting Trump will not be able to take the psychological pressure of being trapped in court with the constant accusations directed against him by witnesses and the prosecutors, in front of the seated jury that will decide his fate. Ever since the indictment was first filed, I have believed that Trump will become emotionally incapacitated at some point in the trial, when his mounting rage finally explodes uncontrollably.
And yet, given what we know about Trump's behavior and values, there are voters who say Biden would be at least as bad, if not worse. I can't begin to comprehend that kind of thinking. False equivalence and willful ignorance - - two powerful anti-democracy forces weakening our country. The rest of us must do everything we can to re-elect Biden and defeat Trump and MAGA.
What a closer ..."That's the world Trump is advocating for—I'm a criminal and you're stuck with me. It is the most forthright statement of authoritarianism imaginable. This is how Trump would end democracy, not with a bang, but with a whimper. The courts have to stand in his way."
Joyce -- thanks for the refresher course. I am still worried about Trump, who has begun declaring "the only way he can lose a court case is if the jury is rigged". This is, of course a repeat of his 2020 campaign declaration that he would only lose the election "if it is rigged", and though no "rigs" were found, he created chaos in a few states -- Arizona in particular. I have faith in the prosecution team and Judge Marchen to invalidate any such "rigging" that the defendant's lawyers may declare.
Let's go -- and let's remain in this together. I give Joyce Vance and Mary Trump my appreciation for keeping me sane by their mentoring and allowing me to comment and read others' comments on their Substacks. Thanks to all you fellow commenters.
Does anyone actually believe that the extreme wing of the Supreme Court will allow not grant Trump immunity? All they had to do was deny Certiorari and the well written & well thought-out Court of Appeals decision would have stood. The ONLY reason to grant a hearing is to overturn the decision. We may all be in this together, but they (the traitorous 5) are not with us.
“… we won’t be tolerating any of THOSE jokes at this newsletter! We’re a family-friendly operation…”
aw, shoot. And here I was hoping you would veer off and regale us with some chicken story, Joyce… you know pecking, pecking order, that kind of thing. We NEED the chicken stories in these difficult times!
I am thankful for Judge Merchan. I think he will be an excellent “umpire “. I would not want to be in his shoes. He will have to have the patience of Job with trump.
There are 34 felonies. Strength in numbers. I hope so.
I think the Prosecuting attorneys are of a higher caliber. I terrible thought just went through my head. Will Trump say his attorneys are incompetent and ask for a mistrial?
At least Pecker won’t be a hearsay witness and I think that important.
Joyce, until you brought it up his name wasn’t 😂 in my mind. So thank you for that.
It is a busy week. Tuesday with Gag order violations and consequences. I think the graduated punishment is the smartest way to go.
Someone must have had a word with Judge “loose” Cannon as she is finally doing something.
That is a good idea to ask SCOTUS if they like the idea of trump doing something to them if they don’t agree on his so-called presidential immunity.
I guess trump will be selling more crap to raise money for new bail. Maybe he could sell pieces of his flyover hair.
Buckle up and I am so relieved that we are in this together. Thanks so much Joyce for letting us know what to expect this week.
Thanks Joyce for the breakdown of the week in Trump land.
Wow. big week coming up.
These are gut-wrenchingly serious issues, and the Supreme Court hasn't shown any eagerness to rule on Trump's immunity.
I can picture you asking, these hypos in court. In my mind the issue couldn't be clearer.
Propose some insanely outlandish acts that a President could perform with total immunity.
I love your "He could assassinate a Supreme court Justice...". scenario. But while it is clear to both of us that this is outrageous, I expect the court will do one of two things.
One, issue a quick decision regarding your hypo affirming the absurdity on its face, (a guy can hope can't he?).
Or two, waffle around for a while stalling a decision and focussing on the minutae,. and nuance of wordings. effectively delaying this until after the election (which might render it moot)..
i expect the court will do something in between those two scenarios..
I wish I could argue this myself as a mathematician. The logic it will take to affirm Trump has total immunity, is simply missing. I haven't studied law, but logic is logic.
I've just finished reading Project 2025 and its dystopian vision. If the court stalls on this until after what will surely be contested election outcome, parts of the program might begin to be implemented.
For the sake of sanity while reading the Heritage Foundation's fever-dream, I devoured Barbara McQuaid's new book 'Attack from Within". reading them side by side. I highly recommend Barb's book to everyone.
All this means we need every vote we can get in November. We need to keep women's issues, Dobb's, IVF, et al in the public discourses. We need to hammer his extreme visions and threats in the media and amongst ourselves. We can't let "Trump ennui" set in.
We need strong outreach to swing voters, young voters, first time voters... I want 98% turnout.
The press needs to keep repeating these stories. People have notoriously short memories (primacy and recency).
We need to use recency to the fullest.
45,000 or so votes cleverly spread over Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin in the last election could have given those states to Trump.
It was a lot closer than I liked. Folks need to be reminded just how close it was.
We need to stay focused and stay energized and engaged. Talk to anyone and everyone we need their vote.
Together we are stronger and we are in this together.
It sometimes feels like the republicans are shooting themselves in the foot. what with IVF and increasingly harsher abortion laws. It's easy to get complacent.
Recency, recency, recency...
Thanks again Joyce you've charged me up.
I truly appreciate this thorough "week ahead" summary as well as the daily/periodic updates. It saves me from reading so many details in multiple articles until I can understand better where my focus should be. Thanks to Joyce and to the commenters.
Unbelievable that SCOTUS even took up that immunity case. They should have refused to consider it. It is chilling they accepted it.
Thank you, again, Joyce. There is so much speculation buzzing around. I like having my feet on the ground. Your information is helpful.
The real "joke" is going to be when Stormy Daniels testifies as an eyewitness to the fact that Trump's equipment is a "joke." He's going to have a hard time living that one down.
Use this interactive chart to visualize the connections between David Pecker, Michael Cohen, Trump and others involved in the NY election interference case.
https://embed.kumu.io/57dca2676fb8b16685918531f068864f#election-interference-101
Follow the money from Knight Insurance and Axos Bank to Trump's questionable $175 bond.
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/04/03/trumps-bonds-don-hankey-greg-garrabrants-chubb-insurance-axos-bank-knight-insurancefollow-the-money/
"...I'm a criminal and you're stuck with me".
Succinctly put, Joyce, and as you say, that's all he's got. And that's exactly what a majority on the Court has to reject out of hand. Can't be any other way...no "narrow" ruling, no remanding in order to set up another round of appeals. Failing that, the Court fails America, fails the democratic order, full stop.
Thomas and Alito will guarantee their two votes for some contrived immunity, attaching some notional "official acts" to a count or two in the indictment, but surely the other seven Justices won't have it, declaring that no immunity - implied or otherwise - shields a president from consequences of alleged criminal acts, and allows the DC trial to proceed without encumbrances.