Sunday Morning Wrap-Up
Here’s your Sunday morning wrap-up, so you can make sure you didn’t miss out on any of the past week’s columns. Grab your coffee—or something stronger, if necessary.
The Week Ahead: We started the week with the government shutdown and no end in sight. Project 2025 architect Russell Vought is focused on implementing the plan under cover of the shutdown. Republicans are blaming Democrats and ignoring the imminent emergency over spiraling health insurance premiums and Medicaid costs. But the House was still out of session as we started the week, which means the newest Democrat, Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva, still hadn’t been sworn in—Grijalva is the last vote needed to pass a bipartisan discharge petition to force the DOJ to release the Epstein files.
Are We the Nazis Now?: Trump promised he’d deport violent criminals. Instead, ICE is going after legal residents and citizens and terrorizing children. The treatment of human beings because their skin is brown is deplorable. And there’s the lingering message: if you’re an American citizen, don’t exercise your First Amendment rights unless you want to become a target too.
The First Review of My Book: Forgive my shameless self-promotion but I’m incredibly excited about how my first book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable, is being received. I hope you’ll grab a copy or two if you haven’t already, and I’d love to get to sign it for you if you’re able to come to one of the events on my book tour!
Jack Smith Speaks: Ohio Republican Jim Jordan has “invited” Jack Smith to testify—behind closed doors, of course—to the House Judiciary Committee, as part of its tired effort to claim Smith’s special counsel investigation into Trump was weaponization of the Justice Department. Here’s to hoping Smith insists on public testimony, where nothing can be taken out of context and everything is on display for the public. The administration claims it’s transparent, but we still haven’t seen either the Epstein files or the files from Smith’s investigation into Trump.
A Court Tells Trump No (Again), While SecDef Clamps Down on the First Amendment: A federal court told the Trump administration it can’t fire government employees during the shutdown, which seems likely to linger at least until next week. The move to do so is all part of implementing Project 2025.
Indicting Political Enemies: The Comey indictment was shocking, and the James indictment was too. But what happens if revenge prosecutions become a new normal in America? This piece examines the response we need to prepare.
John Bolton: This indictment is not in the same category as the Comey and James indictments. This piece offers the overview you need to understand the charges and the issues.
Five Questions with Congressman Jake Auchincloss: This is a thoughtful, substantive look at some of the most important issues we face with a young Massachusetts Congressman.
No Kings: We did it. And if these pictures don’t lift you up, there are more coming. I’m sure your socials, like mine, were flooded with them, but I’m saving some of the best ones people sent me (you should see my inbox! A joyous riot of photos!) to share all week.
Thank you to everyone who sent pictures from their No Kings marches Saturday! I started out acknowledging every email, but then the stream turned into a river, and now I’m several hundred behind. Please now that I love at every email and I’m enjoying them so much! I’ll share some throughout the week. It’s amazing how steady, brave and committed we all are! I hope you’re feeling pride and a sense of accomplishment right now.
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, 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