Trump's indictment shows the limits of presidential power

+ the holiness of donkeys and palms US Edition - Today's top story: Trump indictment won't keep him from presidential race, but will make his reelection bid much harder [View in browser]( US Edition | 31 March 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( When I was in journalism school, I did not imagine that I would one day work on a story about the indictment of a U.S. president. Or the indictment of a former president. But as the various local, state and federal investigations into former President Donald Trump progressed, an indictment looked likely enough that editors on our Politics and Society desk decided to work with scholars to prepare stories for if, or when, that happened. And yesterday, that grave moment arrived. The news flashed through our phones, computers, TV screens and radios: A Manhattan grand jury had voted to indict Trump for as-yet-unknown charges related to hush money paid to a pornographic film actress right before the 2016 election. We offer two stories today that delve into different aspects of the indictment. Constitutional law scholar Stefanie Lindquist of Arizona State University explores “the [consequences of an indictment]( and potential trial for Trump’s campaign and, if his effort is successful, his future presidency.” Bottom line, writes Lindquist: It’s hard to campaign or run a country if you’re in court or in jail. Presidential scholar Shannon Bow O'Brien looks at what the indictment says about the [limitations of presidential power](, not just what it says about Trump. “Throughout history,” she writes, “many presidents have pushed the boundaries of power for their own personal preferences or political gain. However, Americans do have the right to push back and hold these leaders accountable to the country’s laws.” Also today: - [Eating disorders in teens doubled during pandemic]( - [How technology has changed how we read]( - [Are you a news aficionado? Quiz yourself]( Naomi Schalit Democracy Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. AP Photo/Evan Vucci [Trump indictment won’t keep him from presidential race, but will make his reelection bid much harder]( Stefanie Lindquist, Arizona State University With a grand jury indictment of former President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, a legal scholar explores what the law says about the consequences of such an unprecedented act. Politics + Society - [Manhattan grand jury votes to indict Donald Trump, showing he, like all other presidents, is not an imperial king]( Shannon Bow O'Brien, The University of Texas at Austin Trump’s indictment will force Americans to grapple with the exact role of presidents – and limits of their power. - [In Turkey, women are feeling the worst aftershocks of the earthquake disaster – this disparity may lead to dwindling trust in government]( Willow Kreutzer, University of Iowa; Stephen Bagwell, University of Missouri-St. Louis When government responses to a natural disaster do not address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls, women tend to lose trust in the institutions. Science + Technology - [Archaeology and genomics together with Indigenous knowledge revise the human-horse story in the American West]( William Taylor, University of Colorado Boulder; Yvette Running Horse Collin, Université de Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier European colonists chronicled their version of how Indigenous peoples lived with horses. New collaborative research adds scientific detail to Indigenous narratives that tell a different story. Health + Medicine - [Eating disorders among teens have more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic – here’s what to watch for]( Sydney Hartman-Munick, UMass Chan Medical School Eating disorders in teens are common and dangerous, and parents and loved ones play a crucial role in helping to both identify concerning behaviors and promote healthy ones. - [Unconscious biases continue to hold back women in medicine, but research shows how to fight them and get closer to true equity and inclusion]( Jennifer R. Grandis, University of California, San Francisco After decades of effort to reduce discrimination in the workplace, a cultural change may be happening that will enable people to move past their unconscious biases. Ethics + Religion - [Holy Week starts off with lots of palms – but Palm Sunday’s donkey is just as important to the story]( Joanne M. Pierce, College of the Holy Cross Donkeys and palm leaves are both associated with Christianity’s Palm Sunday – but their symbolism couldn’t be more different. - [Why is Passover different from all other nights? 3 essential reads on the Jewish holiday]( Molly Jackson, The Conversation The Passover Seder has tradition and remembrance at its core, but has also evolved throughout the centuries in Jewish communities around the world. Podcast 🎙️ - [Too many digital distractions are eroding our ability to read deeply, and here’s how we can become aware of what’s happening]( Nehal El-Hadi, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation With the proliferation of social media platforms, smart devices and apps, the demands on our attention have never been greater. But how is this affecting our ability to process and retain information? From our international editions - [Uganda’s new anti-LGBTQ+ law could lead to death penalty for same-sex ‘offences’]( - [What the complicated social lives of wasps can teach us about the evolution of animal societies]( - [First Target, then Nordstrom — why do big retailers keep failing in Canada?]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Which change has Major League Baseball made for the 2023 season? - A. Banned the sale of peanuts due to allergy concerns - B. Banned players from spitting in front of children - C. Added a pitch clock to speed up games - D. Added a new verse to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" that replaces "cracker jack" with "ethnic snacks" - [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](