Crash Course: Prosecute Trump — it will lower the heated political temperature

Trump is clearly running scared. He knows he loses support when the facts get out. [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL2xldHRlci80ODExVwNzcGNCCmMGTz8PY0bhy2RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). [Donald-Trump] Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images Prosecute Trump — it will lower the heated political temperature Trump this week endorsed Sen. Lindsey Graham's warning that there will be "riots in the streets" if he is prosecuted and included a similar threat to Attorney General Merrick Garland in a court motion: "The heat is building up. The pressure is building up." Trump's gambit is about two things: Fundraising (always) and whipping his supporters into a violent rage. It all pushes in the same direction: Trump is leveraging the fears of another January 6 — or worse — in hopes that it will intimidate law enforcement into backing down and letting him commit crimes, even possible espionage, in peace. No one should be intimidated. On the contrary, this is all the more reason for the DOJ to go forward and prosecute Trump for his crimes. Not just because prosecuting Trump is the right thing to do. Not just because, [as Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times points out](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8yMy9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLW1hci1hLWxhZ28taW5kaWN0bWVudC5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmMGTz8PY0bhy2RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), history shows that surrendering to the kind of white supremacist violence Trump is threatening tends to only encourage more domestic terrorism. But also because recent history gives us good reason to believe that actually holding Trump accountable tends to turn down the heat. [Read more from Amanda Marcotte.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvcHJvc2VjdXRlLS1pdC13aWxsLWxvd2VyLXRoZS1oZWF0ZWQtcG9saXRpY2FsLXRlbXBlcmF0dXJlL1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) [Donald-Trump,-Mitch-McConnell,-Neil-Gorsuch,-Brett-Kavanaugh-and-Amy-Coney-Barrett-] Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images Promotion from Morning Brew [Check it out!] Become smarter in just 5 minutes There's a reason over 2.6 million people start their day with Morning Brew - the daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Business news doesn't have to be dry and dense...make your mornings more enjoyable, for free. [Check it out!](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMDVqaTQyYnF1bFcDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) A tsunami of dark money is flooding our justice system — and it's only getting worse Vast sums of unregulated dark money are increasingly used to buy influence in the justice system, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for money to buy something that should be beyond price. Revelations last week by the New York Times and ProPublica highlight the urgency of addressing this problem. As the Times [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8yMi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9yZXB1YmxpY2FuLWRhcmstbW9uZXkuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), "A new conservative nonprofit group scored a $1.6 billion windfall last year via a little-known donor…The source of the money was Barre Seid, an electronics manufacturing mogul, and the donation is among the largest, if not the largest — single contributions ever made to a politically focused nonprofit." The beneficiary of that unprecedented sum is a newly-created political group controlled by Leonard Leo, a right-wing activist with deep connections to Republican donors and politicians, as well as conservative forces within the Roman Catholic Church. There is little question, as the Times puts it, that Leo has helped to "engineer the conservative dominance of the Supreme Court and to finance battles over abortion rights, voting rights and climate change policy." As ProPublica [reports](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucHJvcHVibGljYS5vcmcvYXJ0aWNsZS9kYXJrLW1vbmV5LWxlb25hcmQtbGVvLWJhcnJlLXNlaWRXA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), Leo has successfully used dark money to "influence the Supreme Court… and… shift the balance of power throughout the judiciary — in federal district and appellate courts, and state supreme courts, too." Although the infusion of dark money to Leo's group is unprecedented in scale, it is just the latest example of the application of dark-money funding to the judicial appointment process at the federal and state levels, which has become a well-financed and highly politicized process. To put it mildly, such a process [threatens](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0QpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3VwLm9yZy9ib29rcy90aXRsZS8_aWQ9MTY4NTRXA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) the independence and impartiality of judges who are the beneficiaries of such largess. [Read more from Austin Sarat.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvYS10c3VuYW1pLW9mLWRhcmstbW9uZXktaXMtZmxvb2Rpbmctb3VyLWp1c3RpY2Utc3lzdGVtLS1hbmQtaXRzLW9ubHktZ2V0dGluZy13b3JzZS9XA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - [Don't celebrate the Espionage Act](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvZG9udC1jZWxlYnJhdGUtdGhlLWVzcGlvbmFnZS1hY3QtLWV2ZW4tYXBwbGllZC10by1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtaXRzLWEtbGF3L1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) — even applied to Donald Trump, it's a dreadful law - Joe Rogan does nothing to correct Aaron Rodgers as he trumpets [COVID-19 misinformation](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvam9lLXJvZ2FuLWFhcm9uLXJvZGdlcnMtbWlzaW5mb3JtYXRpb24vVwNzcGNCCmMGTz8PY0bhy2RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - It's "difficult to curb his impulses": ["The Patient" star Domnhall Gleeson](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvdGhlLXBhdGllbnQtZG9taG5hbGwtZ2xlZXNvbi1meC1odWx1L1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) on a killer in therapy - The queer horror of ["Dracula"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvZHJhY3VsYS1xdWVlci1ob3Jyb3ItYnJhbS1zdG9rZXIvVwNzcGNCCmMGTz8PY0bhy2RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "You never go into the upper kitchen, ever" and other [survival tips from a waiter in Paris](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAveW91LW5ldmVyLWdvLWludG8tdGhlLXVwcGVyLWtpdGNoZW4tZXZlci1hbmQtb3RoZXItc3Vydml2YWwtdGlwcy1mcm9tLWEtd2FpdGVyLWluLXBhcmlzL1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - How to use [corn in late summer desserts](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvaG93LXRvLXVzZS1jb3JuLWluLWxhdGUtc3VtbWVyLWRlc3NlcnRzLWZyb20tcmVmcmVzaGluZy1pY2UtY3JlYW0tdG8tc2Vhc29uYWwtZnJ1aXQtYnVja2xlL1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), from refreshing ice cream to seasonal fruit buckle Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. [Mandela-Barnes] Sara Stathas for the Washington Post/Getty Images The wind has shifted: We can beat Republicans — and elect progressives — in November Almost all the primaries are behind us now, and the outlook is still grim for the midterm elections this fall. The semi-fascist Republican Party is well-positioned to win control of the House and has a decent chance of also gaining a majority in the Senate. But demagoguery is not destiny. Progressives can help steer the future in a better direction over the next two months. In Georgia, Sen. Raphael Warnock is running slightly ahead of Trump-selected ex-football star Herschel Walker, thanks to the latter's various [scandals](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly9hcG5ld3MuY29tL2FydGljbGUvbGlmZXN0eWxlLXNwb3J0cy1uZmwtY29sbGVnZS1mb290YmFsbC1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1wYW5kZW1pYy01ZTI4NzVlZWMxMWU5M2Y5YTNiZjFmYzg1OTEzN2ZmOFcDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), [missteps](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ2VvcmdpYWRlbW9jcmF0Lm9yZy9saWUtYWZ0ZXItbGllLXRvcC1yZWFzb25zLXdoeS1oZXJzY2hlbC13YWxrZXItcmVmdXNlcy10by1kZWJhdGUtcmV2ZXJlbmQtd2Fybm9jay9XA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) and [lies](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ2VvcmdpYWRlbW9jcmF0Lm9yZy9hbGwtZXllcy1vbi13YWxrZXJzLWxpZXMtd2Fsa2VyLXJlcGVhdGVkbHktbGllZC1hYm91dC13b3JraW5nLXdpdGgtbGF3LWVuZm9yY2VtZW50L1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Another African American will join Democrats in the Senate if Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes can retire [arch-reactionary](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud3ByLm9yZy9yb24tam9obnNvbi1jb3VydHMtY29udHJvdmVyc3ktYW5kLWNvbnNlcnZhdGl2ZS1iYXNlLXJlZWxlY3Rpb24tY2FtcGFpZ24tcmV2c1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Sen. Ron Johnson. Partly thanks to his [serious messaging mishap](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0QraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1BT3JvMjVoVUJOTVcDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) at a supermarket in a campaign video, Trump-endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz is running behind populist Lt. Gov. John Fetterman for Pennsylvania's open Senate seat. As progressives look toward November and aim to help out in the most strategic races, two tasks are imperative — to push back against the racist, anti-democratic Republicans, and to push forward for the full progressive agenda that's popular with the broad electorate, even if much of it is viewed unfavorably by the corporatized Democratic establishment. [Read more from Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvdGhlLXdpbmQtaGFzLXNoaWZ0ZWQtd2UtY2FuLWJlYXQtLWFuZC1lbGVjdC1wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZXMtLWluLW5vdmVtYmVyL1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Sweeping Children’s Online Safety Bill Is Passed in California," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8zMC9idXNpbmVzcy9jYWxpZm9ybmlhLWNoaWxkcmVuLW9ubGluZS1zYWZldHkuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Ron DeSantis’ First Voter Fraud Bust Is Quickly Imploding," [Slate](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9zbGF0ZS5jb20vbmV3cy1hbmQtcG9saXRpY3MvMjAyMi8wOC9mbG9yaWRhLXZvdGVyLWZyYXVkLWVsZWN0aW9uLXBvbGljZS1kZXNhbnRpcy1lbnRyYXBtZW50Lmh0bWxXA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Why Doesn’t America Build Things?" [Motherboard](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudmljZS5jb20vZW4vYXJ0aWNsZS85M2EzOWUvd2h5LWRvZXNudC1hbWVyaWNhLWJ1aWxkLXRoaW5nc1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Scenes From a Ukrainian Summer Camp," [The Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL2ZhbWlseS9hcmNoaXZlLzIwMjIvMDgvdWtyYWluZS1zdW1tZXItY2FtcC1ydXNzaWFuLWludmFzaW9uLzY3MTE2OC9XA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Billionaire John Malone loves Fox News. But he owns a piece of CNN," [Vox](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudm94LmNvbS8yMDIyLzgvMjYvMjMzMjI3NjEvY25uLWpvaG4tbWFsb25lLWRhdmlkLXphc2xhdi1jaHJpcy1saWNodC1icmlhbi1zdGVsdGVyLWZveC1wZXRlci1rYWZrYS1jb2x1bW5XA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Critics and Fans Have Never Disagreed More About Movies," [Bloomberg](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmxvb21iZXJnLmNvbS9uZXdzL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJzLzIwMjItMDgtMjgvY3JpdGljcy1hbmQtZmFucy1oYXZlLW5ldmVyLWRpc2FncmVlZC1tb3JlLWFib3V0LW1vdmllcz9jdXJhdG9yPU1lZGlhUkVERUZXA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) [Cassidy-Hutchinson] Brandon Bell/Getty Images "The timing is suspect": Secret Service official who tried to torpedo Hutchinson testimony retires Secret Service Deputy Director Tony Ornato abruptly retired on Monday just two days before he was scheduled to be interviewed by Jan. 6 investigators. Ornato, who made the [unprecedented transition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMzAvcmVwb3J0ZXItYWNvbHl0ZS1kaXNwdXRlZC1odXRjaGluc29uLXRlc3RpbW9ueS1icm9rZS1ldmVyeS1zZWNyZXQtdHJhZGl0aW9uX3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmMGTz8PY0bhy2RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) from the Secret Service to the Trump White House as deputy chief of staff for operations, [pushed back](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvb2ZmaWNpYWxzLWRpc3B1dGVkLWNhc3NpZHktaHV0Y2hpbnNvbi1ib21ic2hlbGwtdGVzdGltb255LXdlcmUtdHJ1bXBzLXllcy1tZW4tcmVwb3J0L1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) on former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee earlier this year, disputing her claim that former President Donald Trump lunged at a Secret Service agent after he was told he couldn't accompany his supporters to the Capitol. Though anonymous agency [sources told media](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvb2ZmaWNpYWxzLWRpc3B1dGVkLWNhc3NpZHktaHV0Y2hpbnNvbi1ib21ic2hlbGwtdGVzdGltb255LXdlcmUtdHJ1bXBzLXllcy1tZW4tcmVwb3J0L1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) outlets Ornato was willing to testify under oath, Ornato has yet to agree to an interview with the Jan. 6 committee and recently [retained a private lawyer](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMjUvc2VjcmV0LWFnZW50cy10cmllZC10by10b3JwZWRvLWh1dGNoaW5zb24tdGVzdGltb255LWxhd3llci11cC1yZWZ1c2UtdG8tdGVzdGlmeS1wYW5lbC9XA3NwY0IKYwZPPw9jRuHLZFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). Department of Homeland Security investigators probing deleted Secret Service text messages were scheduled to interview Ornato on Wednesday, according to [The Intercept](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RXaHR0cHM6Ly90aGVpbnRlcmNlcHQuY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjkvamFudWFyeS02LXNlY3JldC1zZXJ2aWNlLWFudGhvbnktb3JuYXRvLXJldGlyZW1lbnQvVwNzcGNCCmMGTz8PY0bhy2RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, department lawyers and the department's inspector general "had been attempting to interview Ornato since June 29 and spent all of July and much of August following up," according to the outlet. "I think the timing is suspect and interesting," former Mike Pence aide Olivia Troye told CNN. "I think it will be interesting to see how this plays out," she added, "and I'm also very curious to see where his future employment will be." [Read more from Igor Derysh.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMzAvdGhlLXRpbWluZy1pcy1zdXNwZWN0LXNlY3JldC1vZmZpY2lhbC10cmllZC10by10b3JwZWRvLWh1dGNoaW5zb24tdGVzdGltb255LXJldGlyZXMvVwNzcGNCCmMGTz8PY0bhy2RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmMGTz8PY0bhy2RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk8cRPP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpjBk8_D2NG4ctkUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)