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Here’s the highlight reel of last week’s posts and events. It was a week of combustibles—Trump’s hackneyed effort to settle the meritless lawsuit he brought against the IRS so he could benefit at taxpayers’ expense, compounded by his efforts to spare himself what’s reported to be at least $100 million that tax audits determined he owes the government led the way. Americans, including a handful of Republican Senators, are outraged, at least for the moment. But the question is whether that outrage will last and if so, what form it will take. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready to catch up on anything you may have missed.
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The Week Ahead: We headed into the week with an overview of a number of major legal and political issues, including: oral argument in the challenge by four law firms against Trump’s punitive executive order, SCOTUS on mifepristone, Trump’s election interference, and, in a bit of foreshadowing, kleptocracy.
Live with Alabama State Senator Merika Coleman: If you’ve been feeling less than hopeful watching the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court these last few weeks, Alabama State Senator Merika Coleman is the antidote you need. If you missed us live, watch now. You’ll hear some rare wisdom about where Democrats are and what the national party needs to do.
Live with Joyce Vance and Andrew Weissmann: My former DOJ colleague Andrew Weissmann joined me to discuss his new book, Liar’s Kingdom, along with and his insight that DOJ prosecutes all sorts of lies, but not those told by politicians, and that needs to change. Andrew is someone who is entitled to speak on these issues and has always had the courage to do so.
Kleptocracy: Although the lawsuit between Trump and his own government over leaked tax records was dismissed, a “settlement” was reached establishing an "Anti-Weaponization Fund" containing $1.7776 billion in taxpayer money that can be given out to Trump’s supporters, including insurrectionists. This is corruption defined. Read here for the full analysis of this critical issue.
Almost as Good as a Pardon: We picked up the kleptocracy thread yet again, courtesy of a settlement document posted on DOJ’s website detailing the terms of the agreement that includes a pardon on steroids for Trump, Trump’s family, and Trump businesses. It’s a virtual get-out-of-jail-free card, and also a get-out-of-debt one, and we need to understand what is happening.
American Kleptocracy is Upon Us - Live with Wajahat Ali: I joined Waj to review the developments with Trump’s tax case/slush fund/get out of jail free card week.
Shame and the Supreme Court: We discuss the so-called Purcell principle, and how it has and is being applied unevenly by SCOTUS—along racial lines. Why does SCOTUS apply the principle, which blocks last minute changes to election rules, but didn’t prevent rapid movement this week to favor white voters, to create such a clear double standard? Read here for an overview.
Todd Blanche Says We Support Trump’s Slush Fund: In a stunning interview with CNN, Todd Blanche speaks for the American people—and he says we want our tax dollars to go into Trump’s slush fund. Are you on board with this? I am not. Weigh in here.
Five Questions with Dr. Annie Polland: I’ve come to believe that historians are the real heroes of the American experiment, and Dr. Annie Polland, director of the Tenement Museum, bears this out. I think you’ll enjoy our conversation as much as I did.
Heading into Memorial Day: Here’s the one question we need to ask people this weekend.
These are complicated legal times, and it’s easy for the truth to get lost in the chaos. Civil Discourse doesn’t just track today’s headlines—it connects them to the legal and political history that explains why they matter. We won’t forget what’s at stake, or let Trump and his allies rewrite the past. You can subscribe to Civil Discourse for free and get clear analysis that helps you see the whole picture, delivered straight to your inbox. If you’re in a position to do so, your paid subscription helps me devote the time and resources it takes to write the newsletter. That means everyone has access to information they can share with friends and family—a constructive act we can all participate in right now, helping more Americans understand how critical this moment is.
We’re in this together,
Joyce