Crash Course: Trump's only defense is celebrity: When you're a star, they have to let you do it

Meanwhile, Republicans talk about Trump like's he a stupid baby — and regard their voters as even dumber [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvN2ljeGtzNnpsNS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzBXA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvamswdDVzZXptbi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). Trump's only defense is celebrity: When you're a star, they have to let you do it The only thing Donald Trump loves more than committing crimes is bragging about all the crimes he commits. So it should come as no surprise that, mere hours after pleading "not guilty" in federal court over the theft-of-classified-documents case, the former president went before a crowding of adoring supporters to describe, [in great detail, how guilty he actually is](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMWM0aG05OWFpdi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). "Whatever documents a president decides to take with him, he has the right to do so. It's an absolute right. This is the law," Trump raved to the crowd gathered at his Bedminster, N.J. golf club for a post-indictment rally. All of that, of course, is a lie. [Read the rest from Amanda Marcotte.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvYWs0eXNzZHJ4dC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Legal experts: Jack Smith has a “backup plan” if Judge Aileen Cannon issues “Trump-friendly rulings” Special counsel Jack Smith could feasibly bring dissemination charges in a separate indictment against former President Donald Trump related to his handling of classified documents at his Bedminster, N.J. golf resort, legal experts argued in a Wednesday analysis from [The Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMmFhMWxkcmxxaS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzBXA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). The two instances pointing to Trump moving documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to his office in Bedminster and showing them off to others were outlined in the [DOJ's Thursday indictment](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbGxhNTlteXlkeS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzBXA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) and captured in [a 2021 recording](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbDRoc2QxcndtYS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) of the former president. In the indictment, prosecutors accuse Trump of showing a classified map to a political ally and disclosing a secret military plan to attack Iran to a writer and a publisher. [Read the rest from Tatyana Tandanpolie.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNTk1M253MDc5MS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) - Nonbinary star [Demi Lovato readopts she/her pronouns](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvOG5oOG42ZW44MS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), as is their right - Expert: [Inability to find new lawyer leaves Trump without expert](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvOTJzYWFwYXJzay8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to handle Espionage Act charges - More than meets the eye: [Dominique Fishback on becoming a "Transformers" star, "Swarm" serial killer](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMXBnNDM3aDhhcy8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - ["He's scared sh**less"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvaDVxbDVsNWN2cS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): Trump melts down on Truth Social after he's arraigned on 37 criminal charges - [Making "the last Beatles record" with AI](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvajZkZ3dhMWdjcS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): Cool restoration of John Lennon vocals, or novelty act? - Stripped of its cheekiness, Hulu's ["The Full Monty"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMva2wzeGFxb2h4My8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) transforms from a movie comedy into a TV slog - [Mike Pence flip-flips on "very serious" Trump indictment](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvejNoOWh4M3loZS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): "I can't defend what is alleged" - Judge greenlights [Carroll CNN town hall defamation claim](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvdzVtN3Z5NG9qci8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) — and "implicitly rejects" Trump defense - "This is so insane even for Fox": [Fox News calls Trump "president," labels Biden "wannabe dictator"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcG03dGEzMHg5OC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Trans children need gender affirming care — and scientists say [Republican bans hurt vulnerable kids](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbWY2eDBnNnFmeC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - “That is not a defense”: [Ex-Mueller prosecutor says Trump’s post-arrest speech was a “confession”](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvaWV2d3E4c3BnNi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - [Why MAGA didn't riot at Trump's arrest](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvaG9oY2E4bXlxeS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): Republicans in Congress vow to wage a civil war from within - On Trump's federal indictment: [A historic low brings hope](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvc3M4ZG1hNXp4cy8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - [Make the American flag great again](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvdjRybjc0cHEzOC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - You’re misusing the term [‘trauma bonded’](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNHgwemJseDNjMi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) If you found yourself here without subscribing, sign up for [Crash Course](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvZmJkenFrbzgzMy8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), so you don't miss anything! Trump's defenders get caught up in the corruption It is a truism that elected Republican officials are terrified of that Trump base and that's why they cannot bring themselves to defy him, no matter what he does whether it's bragging about assaulting women, coddling dictators or inciting insurrections. Now he's charged with serious violations of national security laws and they are once again falling in line behind him. But maybe that conventional wisdom is backwards now. Trump is actually in a weakened state but these GOP leaders have absorbed the self-serving Trump crusade against the "deep state." They have convinced themselves it is true and/or beneficial for them to claim that Democrats have done the same and got away with it. [Read the rest from Heather Digby Parton.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMWJrNXh4eDhucC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images) - "Grand jury indicts Daniel Penny in chokehold death of Jordan Neely," [ABC News](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcTBmM3pwMDhjcS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzBXA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Rust film set weapons supervisor was likely hungover, prosecutors say," [The Guardian](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcDc0bnlmamxuMi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzBXA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Starbucks ordered to pay $25.6 million to a manager who says she was fired for being White," [CNN](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvczIxZDd5ajc0Mi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzBXA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Twitter Hit With $250 Million Copyright-Infringement Lawsuit From Music Publishers," [Variety](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvZzg4b2wwZWN1di8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzBXA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) Toxic air requires social contract update yesterday Last week's [hemispheric wildfire smog](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMW1rN2p1czZsOC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzBXA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) exposed just how unprepared we are for the climate crisis that's already upon us particularly when it comes to the millions of essential workers that have no choice but to work outdoors often without access to healthcare or health insurance. By Wednesday June 7, 75 million Americans were under an air quality alert with New York City's air quality index hit 484 which is considered as "hazardous". According to the American Lung Association anything above a 300 reading "everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors." In the United States, where our founders found nature in the form of its wilderness so abundant, we've exploited our air, water, and earth-bound resources as if they were limitless despite uncomfortable evidence to the contrary. [Read the rest from Bob Hennelly.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMWFzdjBzbWNybC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTJrZHQ2ZDhpMzAmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZH8_74pkYGF0O1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmR_P--KZGBhdDtSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2023 Crash Course, All rights reserved. 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200, Wilmington, DE 19801 [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRmbXQ-P0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpkfz_vimRgYXQ7Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)