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Do not look away. It’s more important now than ever to stay informed and to understand what’s happening to our democracy.
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If you missed any of this week's columns, here’s your weekly wrap-up:
The Week Ahead: The Week started as it ended, with Trump pursuing his dreams of an imperial presidency, including talk about going into Chicago. Now, as Chicago prepares in earnest, it’s important to understand as much as possible about what the stakes are.
Forgetting the Survivors: Victims and survivors should be at the center of accountability for the crimes committed against them, but when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein, that hasn’t been the case. We took a moment to discuss.
Can Federal Troops be Stationed at the Polls in 2026: Federal law prohibits sending the military to American polling places. But Trump, again, is trying to move the Overton Window, the framework for what is normal and acceptable. Here, there is a clear law that we all need to be aware of and insist upon. Public opinion really does matter, or Trump wouldn’t be trying so hard to impact it. We can’t let that happen.
The Fowl Content You Need: Chickens and turkeys. Need I say more?
It’s Time to Release the Epstein Files: Trump, who campaigned on releasing the Epstein files, had his White House accuse Republicans in Congress who supported that move this week of “hostile” acts. People who fight this hard to hide something have something to hide. Keep calling for Trump to release the files!
A Really Well Insulated Attic: In an unprecedented move, some lower court judges are criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court, and it’s well worth your time to understand what they’re saying.
Five Questions With Fulton County, Georgia, Commissioners Mo Ivory and Dana Barrett: In Fulton County, Republicans are trying to force Democrats to put election deniers on the Board that oversees elections. It’s a move they’ll use elsewhere if they get away with it in Georgia, which means we all need to understand what’s happening.
The American Dictator: This is the piece to share with your friends who still don’t understand just how serious of a threat our country is facing with Donald Trump.
Flashback to a column from December 2022 that it’s worth revisiting: Are The Frogs Boiled? It’s hard to read, because we now what has happened since then. But these words remain true, and we need to understand it is the long view we have to take here:
Our long game is protecting democracy. We have to be willing to stay engaged, even when it’s difficult. The midterm elections showed that there is a core of decency at the heart of the American electorate that demands better than Trump. So let’s fight with information and with truth. Let’s make sure we compile a record of elected officials who gave Trump another pass in December 2022 when the threat was crystal clear and unambiguous; of who went on with their Christmas shopping, as though nothing had happened. That knowledge will matter in future elections. Let’s do the hard job that’s demanded of us as citizens and hold our elected officials accountable. They need to be, and I don’t intend to get boiled.
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. Subscribe today for clear analysis that helps you see the whole picture, delivered straight to your inbox. And make sure you share our conversations with your friends and family—that’s one constructive act we can all do, helping more Americans understand how critical this moment is.
We’re in this together,
Joyce
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