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Let’s get right to it. If you missed any of this week's columns between summer time off and the press of news, here’s your weekly wrap-up:
The Week Ahead: If you need a reminder of how we got to where we are with Trump’s takeover in Washington, D.C., all of the relevant law is laid out here. And, I can’t emphasize this enough—if you missed the story of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s support for religious “leaders” who advocate for women to lose their rights, including the right to vote, make sure you take a look at this one.
When the President becomes the Police: The Posse Comitatus Act and the hypocrisy of claiming crime is up when it isn’t and pretending you are there to fight crime when you aren’t.
Living in 1984: I’ve been dilatory in getting our discussion of our summer book club choice underway, but mea culpa, it feels like we’re living through 1984 redux, and we’re discussing the implications of the book for 2025 every single day. Keep reading and we’ll carve out some time for conversation about the book itself this week.
Asha Rangappa: If you missed my chat with Asha, a former FBI agent with national security expertise, grab a glass of wine and settle in. I always feel smarter for having spent time with smart people.
The title of this piece says it all: Congress may have the spending power, but Trump can usurp it if they won't protect it: A panel of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals held that the only the comptroller general of the General Accountability Office (GAO) can sue the administration for violating Congress’ power of the purse. If you missed this piece, there’s an interesting discussion I haven’t seen anywhere else of the comptroller’s power and the setup that provides him with independence from the White House, even though the president appoints him. This is a don’t miss piece for that discussion, but also because this issue is headed to the Supreme Court. It would be just like John Roberts to craft a majority for the proposition that while Article I of the Constitution gives Congress exclusive control of the purse strings, only this one government entity can sue; no private parties who’ve been harmed by the president’s actions. (This has echoes of conservatives’ lawsuits seeking a decision that would affirm the Voting Rights Act’s prohibition on racial discrimination in elections, but would conclude that only the Justice Department has standing to sue to redress any wrongs). Read this one now so you’re up to speed when the plaintiffs ask the full court of appeals to reconsider the panel’s decision and reverse it.
Democrats Finally Bring a Gun to the Gun Fight: California Governor Gavin Newsom led the charge against redistricting efforts in Texas that were a raw effort to change the political equation in the House of Representatives in the next election. Fighting back against the power grab was overdue.
Moving the Window: Last night, I wrote to you about Trump’s effort to move the Overton Window, which frames the range of acceptable policy choices and excludes the fringes. Trump is clearly on a mission to legitimize American streets with masked, armed troops loyal to him. Make sure you read this important piece that connects the dots and helps us talk with our friends and neighbors about what is really happening during these strange and dangerous weeks and why it’s not only about the District of Columbia.
If you’re around this morning, join Mary McCord and me for a Substack Live discussion of the latest developments in our nation’s capital. You’ll get an email notice when we go live if you’re a subscriber.
I hope you’ll use the week’s posts to stay up to speed and that you’ll share them widely. It will take every last one of us to reset guardrails in Congress in the 2026 election. There will be nothing more important, and the time to start educating people around you is now. Thanks for being here with me at Civil Discourse, as we take on the challenges ahead!
We’re in this together,
Joyce
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