Twenty Four Hours of Trump

Let’s start tonight with a bit of expected news: the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals made swift work of Mark Meadows’ argument that his Fulton County prosecution should be removed to federal court. The panel of judges that heard oral argument on Friday ruled today that, "Federal-officer removal … does not apply to former federal officers, and even if it did, the events giving rise to this criminal action were not related to Meadows's official duties."

As we’ve discussed repeatedly, there’s a difference between candidate Trump (and his employees) and President Trump and his, especially when it comes to whether they’re entitled to immunity and other protections from prosecution. And in the context of removal, the 11th Circuit ruled the statute doesn’t protect former officials in any event. This ruling also spells game over for former DOJ employee Jeff Clark, and ends any possibility of defendants resolving their cases outside of Fulton County.

Worth noting: The 11th Circuit issued its opinion three days after oral argument and on the first following business day. Not to be outdone, just a few hours later the D.C. Court of Appeals set oral argument on Trump’s immunity motion appeal for January 9, only a week after the last brief is due. This is how it's done when an urgent matter comes before the courts. And it’s increasingly clear that all matters involving Donald Trump are urgent.

Here is Trump in Reno Sunday night:

Trump told the crowd: “We're going to win four more years in the White House, then after that we'll negotiate. Based on the way I was treated; we're probably entitled to another four after that." That's not a joking matter. That’s the leading GOP candidate saying he intends to stay in office for longer than the Constitution allows.

“If you hate America … then we don’t want you in our country,” Trump said. In Trump’s America, Trump gets to decide who among us hates America and should accordingly be excluded. He’s clear what should happen to those he doesn’t like—expulsion.

We need to wake up while there’s still time.

“I got indicted four times over bullsh*t,” Trump told the crowd.

You can watch the whole speech here, if you’re of a mind to.

The Reno Gazette Journal reported that, “Hundreds have been lined up for hours in the cold outside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center for a chance to see remarks from Trump.” They also reported there was, “lots impromptu cheering ‘We want Trump’ and other chants.”

The Nevada caucus will be held on February 8, 2024.

So listen up folks. Depending on where you live and the people you’re surrounded by, it may seem impossible for the country to reelect Donald Trump. I hear that from a lot of people. But the truth is, it’s not. He’s attracting large crowds in places as far flung as New Hampshire and Nevada, and some of our fellow citizens, inexplicably, do not see the fraud and the risk of fascism standing right in front of them. Here is the crowd in Nevada last night.

Trump wants to end American democracy, and only the voters and their persistence can stand between him and that goal. His people are not shy about saying it out loud. Here’s Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba: “They’ve got one year, and then we’re going to be looking at them,” she said, referring to Democrats. Habba is the general counsel and legal spokesman for Trump’s Save America political action committee, his primary fundraising and political spending entity since he lost in 2020. What does Trump plan to do if reelected? Help struggling families? Invest in education or infrastructure? Nope. Habba says he, and if she joins him in Washington she as well, will be investigating Democrats “deep and hard.” Like every good banana republic does.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham was asked about Trump’s use of language that echoed Hitler’s. Trump talked last week about immigrants “poisoning the blood” of America. Graham said Sunday on “Meet the Press,” “I could care less” what language Trump uses to describe migrants. Watch him here.

When Trump was running in 2015, Graham called him “a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” But apparently now, it’s all okay.

So, you see, it’s not just Trump. There are plenty of people left who are still willing to vote for him. And others who are willing to support and execute his plans.

I seem to be writing about the threat Trump poses over and over again these last few weeks. But the reality is that Trump poses great danger to our future, and we need every last American who sees it to find a way to make a difference in the coming election. Far too many of our fellow citizens have normalized the threat Trump presents, believe he won’t be able to affect their lives because of personal circumstances, or have tuned him out all together because they just can’t take it anymore. But the only way to make sure the country doesn’t have to take it any more is to put forth a massive effort to defeat him in the next election.

That’s what our job is here at Civil Discourse. We’ll be a part of that effort. Please continue to share the newsletter and be willing to have the sorts of conversations that meet people where they are and help them understand the importance of voting to save the Republic in 2024. My good friend Ian Bassin posted this fabulous cartoon that gets the point across quite directly.

We’re in this together,

Joyce