Crash Course: Trump judge's ruling in Mar-a-Lago case proves Biden was right: MAGA is fascism

Judge Aileen Cannon's "special master" ruling employs the same logic as the Big Lie and the Capitol insurrection. [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL2xldHRlci80ODk1VwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). [Trump/Biden] Salon/Getty Images Trump judge's ruling in Mar-a-Lago case proves Biden was right: MAGA is fascism While most Americans were too busy enjoying Labor Day cookouts to pay much attention to the news, Cannon let loose with a decision breathtaking in its disregard for both the law and the judicial branch's legitimacy. In one sense, it's not a surprise that Cannon, a judge who Trump selected precisely because he knew how corrupt she was, eagerly [issued a ruling slowing down the Department of Justice's (DOJ) efforts to investigate Trump's theftÂ](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDYvdW5maXQtZm9yLXRoZS1iZW5jaC1leHBlcnRzLWFjY3VzZS1vZi1vYnN0cnVjdGlvbi1vZi1qdXN0aWNlLW92ZXItbWFyLWEtbGFnby1ydWxpbmdfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)of hundreds of classified documents from the U.S. government. But even though she had already taken the highly unusual action of signaling her intention to do her crony this favor, the most cynical observers of Trump's shady judicial appointees were surprised at how far she took it. Cannon not only threw a bunch of wrenches in the DOJ's ability to investigate a former president, undergirding her decision with the same logic of the Big Lie and the January 6 insurrection, but she extended a nearly unlimited right to Trump to break the law. As [national security legal expert Bradley Moss](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0Q6aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmFkTW9zc0VzcS9zdGF0dXMvMTU2NjgyNDExNDE5NDY4MTg1OFcDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) noted on Twitter, this ruling "is meant for Trump and Trump alone," giving him special rights not enjoyed by any other person in the country, including the actual president. All of this, even though Trump is a private citizen and not the president at all. Call it the Big Lie decision. Cannon's opinion rests on an unsubtle implication that[ Trump is somehow more president than the actual president](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RraHR0cHM6Ly9jaHJpc2dlaWRuZXIuc3Vic3RhY2suY29tL3AvanVkZ2UtYWlsZWVuLWNhbm5vbi1pcy10cnVtcHMtYmVzdD91dG1fc291cmNlPXN1YnN0YWNrJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWxXA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). [As a New York Times article explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOS8wNS91cy90cnVtcC1zcGVjaWFsLW1hc3Rlci1haWxlZW4tY2Fubm9uLmh0bWxXA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), "a court has never held that a former president can invoke the privilege to keep records from his time in office away from the executive branch itself." [As Slate's legal expert Mark Joseph Stern noted on Twitter](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0Q1aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9tanNfREMvc3RhdHVzLzE1NjY4MjcyMDU0NTU0OTUxNjhXA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), no legitimate judge would "take Trump's absurd filing seriously," but "Cannon is not a real judge, but a Trump judge, and one of the most corrupt of the bunch." [Read more from Amanda Marcotte.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDYvanVkZ2VzLXJ1bGluZy1pbi1tYXItYS1sYWdvLWNhc2UtcHJvdmVzLWJpZGVuLXdhcy1yaWdodC1tYWdhLWlzLWZhc2Npc20vVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) [Trump/Kash-Patel] Salon/Getty Images Promotion from Finny [Sign up for free!] Game-based finance education for working adults! When it comes down to learning good money habits, there's so much jargon out there. Finny's newsletter, The Gist, is different. Twice a week, you'll get simple 5-minute breakdowns of top money trends, personal finance, and investing tips delivered right to your inbox - for free. We highly recommend it. [Sign up for free!](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvaGw0NXJoY2xrNFcDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Kash Patel, Trump's disinformation wizard, publishes worst children's book of all time Patel has a knack for telling political tall tales. Earlier this year, he tried to monetize his political fables, and his connections to Trump, to indoctrinate young readers, publishing a MAGA [polemic disguised](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0SQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZ3VhcmRpYW4uY29tL3VzLW5ld3MvMjAyMi9tYXkvMTYvZm9ybWVyLXRydW1wLW9mZmljaWFsLWthc2gtcGF0ZWwtd3JpdGVzLWNoaWxkcmVucy1ib29rLXJlcGVhdGluZy1mYWxzZS1jbGFpbS1vdmVyLXN0ZWVsZS1kb3NzaWVyVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) as a children's book called "[The Plot Against the King](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RDaHR0cHM6Ly9icmF2ZWJvb2tzLnVzL3Byb2R1Y3RzL3RoZS1wbG90LWFnYWluc3QtdGhlLWtpbmcta2FzaC1wYXRlbFcDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)." It aimed to plant in youthful brains the idea that the FBI investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign's coordination with Russia was without merit; in the book, it's presented as the wicked plot of "Hillary Queenton" against good "King Donald." In the real world, Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz's 478-page report, released in December 2019, [debunked](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzLzIwMTkvMTIvMDkvdGFrZWF3YXlzLWhvcm93aXR6LXJlcG9ydC1ydXNzaWEtaW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbi9XA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) the lie that the FBI lacked a legitimate basis to open an investigation of the Trump campaign. The predicate for beginning the probe was a July 2016 tip from an Australian intelligence official that a Russian operative had offered a Trump campaign volunteer "dirt" on Hilary Clinton. That crucial fact earned no place in Patel's indoctrination tract for kids Believe it or not, in his book the wizard "Patel" is the one who foils evil Hillary's plot. [Read more from Kate McMullan and Dennis Aftergut.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUva2FzaC1wYXRlbC1kaXNpbmZvcm1hdGlvbi13aXphcmQtcHVibGlzaGVzLXdvcnN0LWNoaWxkcmVucy1ib29rLW9mLWFsbC10aW1lL1cDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - How [deranged anti-Obama conspiracy theories](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDYvaG93LWRlcmFuZ2VkLWFudGktb2JhbWEtY29uc3BpcmFjeS10aGVvcmllcy1sZWQtYW1lcmljYS10by1kb25hbGQvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) led America to Donald Trump - "We, as a nation, failed our kids": The gruesome [educational consequences of the pandemic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDQvd2UtYXMtYS1uYXRpb24tZmFpbGVkLW91ci1raWRzLXRoZS1ncnVlc29tZS1lZHVjYXRpb25hbC1jb25zZXF1ZW5jZXMtb2YtdGhlL1cDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Have American jails become the inferior [replacement for mental hospitals?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUvaGF2ZS1hbWVyaWNhbi1qYWlscy1iZWNvbWUtdGhlLWluZmVyaW9yLXJlcGxhY2VtZW50LWZvci1tZW50YWwtaG9zcGl0YWxzL1cDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - [Serena Williams forced journalists](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUvc2VyZW5hLXdpbGxpYW1zLWZvcmNlZC1qb3VybmFsaXN0cy10by1nZXQtb3V0LW9mLXRoZS10b3ktYm94LWFuZC1jb3Zlci10ZW5uaXMtYXMtbW9yZS10aGFuLWEtZ2FtZS9XA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to get out of the "toy box" and cover tennis as more than a game - Gorbachev and Bush: The world's [massive missed opportunity](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUvZ29yYmFjaGV2LWFuZC1idXNoLXRoZS13b3JsZHMtbWFzc2l2ZS1taXNzZWQtb3Bwb3J0dW5pdHktZm9yLXBlYWNlL1cDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) for peace - [Lies, falsehoods and "vacuous truths"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDQvbGllcy1mYWxzZWhvb2RzLWFuZC12YWN1b3VzLXRydXRocy1leHBsb3Jlcy1hLW5ldy1yZWFsbS1vZi1hYnNvbHV0ZS1lbXB0aW5lc3MvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~): GOP explores a new realm of absolute emptiness - ["House of the Dragons"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUvaG91c2Utb2YtdGhlLWRyYWdvbnMtaW50cm9kdWNlcy10aGUtbGFubmlzdGVycy1iZWZvcmUtdGhleS1oYWQtZ2FtZS9XA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) introduces the Lannisters before they had game - Tennis bad boy or perfectionist? [Showtime’s “McEnroe”](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDQvam9obi1tY2Vucm9lLXJldmlldy1zaG93dGltZS10ZW5uaXMvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) is a candid exploration of a complex star - ["The Bad Seed Returns"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUvdGhlLXNlZWQtcmV0dXJucy1yZXZpZXctbGlmZXRpbWUvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~): Despite McKenna Grace's unnerving moments, the sequel never really blossoms - Glitter down the Atlanta Highway – the [B-52s are setting out](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDQvZ2xpdHRlci1kb3duLXRoZS1hdGxhbnRhLWhpZ2h3YXktLXRoZS1iLTUycy1hcmUtc2V0dGluZy1vdXQtb24tdGhlaXItZmluYWwtZGFuY2UtcGFydHkvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) on their final dance party! - [Meet the “outcast rats”](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUvbWVldC10aGUtb3V0Y2FzdC1yYXRzLXRob3NlLXZpcmFsLW9zdGVudGF0aW91cy1jaXR5LXJhdHMtYXJlLXdlaXJkLWxvbmVycy1pbi10aGVpci1yYXQtd29ybGQvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~): Those viral, ostentatious city rats are weird loners in their rat world - Ready in a flash, [caramelized tomato and sesame noodles](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0SEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUvcmVhZHktaW4tYS1mbGFzaC1jYXJhbWVsaXplZC10b21hdG8tYW5kLXNlc2FtZS1ub29kbGVzLWFyZS10aGUtYmVzdC1idWRnZXQtZnJpZW5kbHktd2Vla25pZ2h0LW1lYWwvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) are the best budget-friendly weeknight meal - [Jammy eggs](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDQvamFtbXktZWdncy1hcmUtdGhlLWJlc3QtcGFydHktZWdncy9XA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) are the best party eggs - You’ve been [storing your “good” butter](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDUveW91dmUtYmVlbi1zdG9yaW5nLXlvdXItZ29vZC1idXR0ZXItdGhlLXdheS9XA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) the wrong way Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. [Pro-Trump-protesters] Jon Cherry/Getty Images America is finally waking up to the fascist danger: Let's hope it's not too late For the last six years or so, most Americans — especially white Americans — were in denial about the monster rampaging across the country. Like privileged children, they believed that if their eyes were closed, the monster couldn't harm them. The real world does not work that way. Those slumbering Americans are not entirely responsible for their bad decisions. In one ear they had the hope-peddlers and centrist pundits whispering, like faeries or gods in some pre-Raphaelite painting, that everything would be fine and they should just keep sleeping. In the other ear were Donald Trump, the Republican fascists and their allies, assuring them that everything would be fine and good because the Trump movement was fighting for "real Americans" like them. As the [song lyric](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0QuaHR0cHM6Ly9nZW5pdXMuY29tL05hcy1ueS1zdGF0ZS1vZi1taW5kLWx5cmljc1cDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) (drawn from an [Elizabethan poem](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0QlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmFydGxlYnkuY29tLzMzMS81ODYuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)) warns us, sleep is the cousin of death. That is especially true for democracies in crisis and under siege by fascism and authoritarianism. A much-discussed [new poll from NBC](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmJjbmV3cy5jb20vbWVldC10aGUtcHJlc3MvZmlyc3QtcmVhZC9uYmMtbmV3cy1wb2xsLTU3LXZvdGVycy1zYXktaW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbnMtdHJ1bXAtY29udGludWUtcmNuYTQzOTg5VwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) suggests, however, that slumbering Americans may finally be waking from their slumber. The poll found that the issue of "threats to democracy" has overtaken the "cost of living" in perceptions of the most important issue facing the country, and that the big legislative package meant to address climate change and health care that was recently enacted by Democrats is widely popular. [Read more from Chauncey DeVega.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDYvYW1lcmljYS1pcy1maW5hbGx5LXdha2luZy11cC10by10aGUtZmFzY2lzdC1kYW5nZXItbGV0cy1ob3BlLWl0cy1ub3QtdG9vLWxhdGUvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Brazil braces for turbulence on eve of Bolsonaro’s independence day rallies," [The Guardian](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZ3VhcmRpYW4uY29tL3dvcmxkLzIwMjIvc2VwLzA2L2JyYXppbC1ib2xzb25hcm8taW5kZXBlbmRlbmNlLWRheS1yYWxsaWVzVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Tech tool offers police ‘mass surveillance on a budget’," [Associated Press](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly9hcG5ld3MuY29tL2FydGljbGUvdGVjaG5vbG9neS1wb2xpY2UtZ292ZXJubWVudC1zdXJ2ZWlsbGFuY2UtZDM5NTQwOWVmNWE4YzZjM2Y2Y2RhYjViMWQwZTI3ZWY_Y3VyYXRvcj1NZWRpYVJFREVGVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Anti-trans stalkers at Kiwi Farms are chasing one victim around the world. Their list of targets is growing." [NBC News](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmJjbmV3cy5jb20vdGVjaC9pbnRlcm5ldC9jbG91ZGZsYXJlLWtpd2ktZmFybXMta2VmZmFscy1hbnRpLXRyYW5zLXJjbmE0NDgzNFcDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Politico’s new owner pledges ‘nonpartisan’ coverage — while privately praying for Trump’s re-election," [Raw Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0SVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuLmNvbS9lbi11cy9uZXdzL3BvbGl0aWNzL3BvbGl0aWNvLXMtbmV3LW93bmVyLXBsZWRnZXMtbm9ucGFydGlzYW4tY292ZXJhZ2Utd2hpbGUtcHJpdmF0ZWx5LXByYXlpbmctZm9yLXRydW1wLXMtcmUtZWxlY3Rpb24vYXItQUExMXd6NTFXA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Fox producer's warning against Jeanine Pirro surfaces in Dominion defamation suit," [NPR](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy8yMDIyLzA5LzA2LzExMjExODc1NDIvZG9taW5pb24tdm90aW5nLWZveC1uZXdzLWxhd3N1aXQtcGlycm9XA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "'Tell me what money we have': Inside the preposterous task of writing original songs for TV," [Los Angeles Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGF0aW1lcy5jb20vZW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudC1hcnRzL3R2L3N0b3J5LzIwMjItMDktMDEvb3JpZ2luYWwtc29uZ3MtdHYtbW9uYXJjaC1mb3gtZmFsbC1hcnRzLXByZXZpZXdXA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) [Donald-Trump] Spencer Platt/Getty Images “I’m really rich”: Trump claims he doesn’t even “need financing” as Truth Social deal falls apart The blank-check company that planned to merge with former President Donald Trump's struggling Truth Social venture failed to secure enough shareholder support for a one-year extension to complete the deal. Trump launched the Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, with plans for a $1.3 billion cash infusion from [Digital World Acquisition Corp.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0RiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMjEvaW5zaWRlLXRoZS13ZWlyZC13b3JsZC1vZi1kd2FjLWFscmVhZHktc29hcmluZy1zb2NpYWwtbWVkaWEtc3BhYy9XA3NwY0IKYxfLeRhjm0UsclIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). But the deal has been on hold indefinitely as Digital World [faces scrutiny](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjYvdHJ1bXAtbmV2ZXItcGF5cy1oaXMtYmlsbHMtdHJ1dGgtc29jaWFsLXJlcG9ydGVkbHktc3RpZmZzLWNvbnRyYWN0b3ItYW1pZC1maW5hbmNpYWwtZGlzYXJyYXkvVwNzcGNCCmMXy3kYY5tFLHJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department over whether the company illegally negotiated the deal with Trump before going public. Trump downplayed the deal ahead of Monday's vote on Truth Social, arguing that the company is "doing really well" despite widely-reported financial struggles. The former president accused the SEC of "trying to hurt" his merger partner and suggested that he may line up private investors instead. "I don't need financing, 'I'm really rich!'" he wrote. "Private company anyone???" [Read more from Igor Derysh.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk-v7IP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMDYvaW0tcmVhbGx5LXJpY2gtY2xhaW1zLWhlLWRvZXNudC1ldmVuLW5lZWQtZmluYW5jaW5nLWFzLXRydXRoLXNvY2lhbC1kZWFsLWZhbGxzLWFwYXJ0L1cDc3BjQgpjF8t5GGObRSxyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. 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