Trump's state of mind key to prosecutors

+ grievances in political campaigns; abysmal preterm birth and maternal mortality rates in U.S. US Edition - Today's top story: Trump indictment: Here's how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law [View in browser]( US Edition | 3 August 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [The harsh reality of slavery during biblical times]( - [Only 12% of Americans think NASA should prioritize sending people to Moon]( - [Why and how prosecutors use immunity]( Lead story Given all that former President Donald Trump has been accused of, just how will state and federal prosecutors convince juries that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? That question is partially explained by Harvard criminal law professor Ronald Sullivan. A key element in both federal indictments on his handling of classified documents and his role in the Jan. 6 violent attack on the U.S. Capitol is Trump’s state of mind. While no one can say for sure what’s inside another’s mind, there are some clues, and those include the actions a suspect took before and after an alleged crime. This legal tool is [known as consciousness of guilt](. “As the country contemplates these indictments,” Sullivan writes, “it’s important to remember that federal prosecutors will dissect everything Trump did, said or heard to argue that his behavior indicates that he intended to commit the crimes for which he is charged.” [ [Miss us on Sundays? Get a selection of our best and most popular stories (or try our other weekly emails).]([]]( Howard Manly Race + Equity Editor Former President Donald Trump makes his way to the stage during a rally in Erie, Pa., on July 29, 2023. Dustin Franz for The Washington Post via Getty Images [Trump indictment: Here’s how prosecutors will try to prove he knowingly lied and intended to break the law]( Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., Harvard University A key element in proving Trump’s guilt or innocence is determining the former president’s state of mind and whether he has shown a consciousness of guilt before and after the alleged crimes. Economy + Business - [Many global corporations will soon have to police up and down their supply chains as EU human rights ‘due diligence’ law nears enactment]( Rachel Chambers, University of Connecticut; David Birchall, London South Bank University A new EU law would require thousands of multinational companies, including many based in the US, to look for signs of human rights abuses in their supply chains. Health + Medicine - [US preterm birth and maternal mortality rates are alarmingly high, outpacing those in all other high-income countries]( Sonia Hassan, Wayne State University; Hala Ouweini, Wayne State University A March of Dimes report gave the US a grade of D+ for maternal and infant health care, highlighting that the national preterm birth rate hit 10.5% in 2021, a record 15-year high. Science + Technology - [Most Americans support NASA – but don’t think it should prioritize sending people to space]( Mariel Borowitz, Georgia Institute of Technology; Teasel Muir-Harmony, Georgetown University A new survey catalogs Americans’ expectations about the future of space, from NASA to SpaceX. Two space policy experts describe how these results stack up against the current state of space affairs. Ethics + Religion - [Dismantling the myth that ancient slavery ‘wasn’t that bad’]( Chance Bonar, Tufts University There was no one type of slavery in ‘biblical’ or ‘ancient’ societies, given how varied they were. But much of what historians know about slavery during those eras is horrific. Politics + Society - [Could Trump turn his politics of grievance into a get-out-of-jail card? Neither prosecution nor even jail time have prevented former leaders in Israel, Brazil and Kenya from mounting comebacks]( James D. Long, University of Washington; Victor Menaldo, University of Washington Donald Trump has made personal grievances and payback the centerpiece of his presidential run. Will this strategy work? Two experts who study democracy look at others who have used these tactics. - [Immunity for witnesses is a key tool of prosecutors, whether they’re charging Trump or other alleged criminals – here’s how it works and what the limits are]( William Ortman, Wayne State University Immunity deals may play a key role in the prosecution of former President Donald Trump. - [Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction]( Peter A. Joy, Washington University in St Louis Delaying a trial by filing various requests and questions to the court might mean that witness memories are not as fresh, among other potential benefits for criminal defendants. - [Ending affirmative action does nothing to end discrimination against Asian Americans]( Jerry Kang, University of California, Los Angeles In their lawsuits against affirmative action, Students For Fair Admission claimed to want to protect Asian Americans. A law professor explains why the Supreme Court ruling doesn’t achieve that goal. International - [Myanmar crisis highlights limits of Indonesia’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ as it sets sights on becoming a ‘great regional power’]( Angguntari Ceria Sari, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan As current chair of the regional body ASEAN, Indonesia is tasked with resolving a conflict that has killed thousands. Progress has been slow. - [Headlines and front lines: How US news coverage of wars in Yemen and Ukraine reveals a bias in recording civilian harm]( Esther Brito Ruiz, American University School of International Service; Jeff Bachman, American University School of International Service An analysis of over 1,000 headlines shows key differences in how US media portray the aggressors and victims in the two conflicts. Trending on site - [Whistleblower calls for government transparency as Congress digs for the truth about UFOs]( - [Hiroshima attack marks its 78th anniversary – its lessons of unnecessary mass destruction could help guide future nuclear arms talks]( - [Rate hikes may have slowed inflation in the US – but they have also heightened the risk of financial crises for lower-income nations]( Today's graphic 📈 [A map of the United States that highlights regions where a large number of older adults face extreme heat. These regions include the northeast, west coast, and southeast.]( From the story, [Extreme heat is particularly hard on older adults – an aging population and climate change put even more people at risk]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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