Why Fani Willis can keep prosecuting Donald Trump

+ who is TikTok's boss? US Edition - Today's top story: Why Fani Willis was allowed to stay on as prosecutor of criminal case against Trump in Georgia -- and what happens next [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 March 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( As one of the few Black female district attorneys in the U.S., Fani Willis has made it known that race and gender have played a considerable factor throughout her career and life. Exaggerated or not, those claims appeared to have little to do with a Georgia judge’s ruling that she showed “a tremendous lapse in judgment” by hiring her boyfriend as special counsel to prosecute a significant case against Donald Trump. Though Trump’s defense attorneys could not prove an actual conflict of interest, the judge ruled that Willis had the appearance of benefiting financially from her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade by taking lavish vacations together. Criminal law professor [Ronald Sullivan explains the distinction]( and what the ruling means for the case against Trump – and the damage it may have done to Willis. “Although Willis dodged a bullet by being able to stay in the case, she will have to manage the harm to her reputation,” Sullivan wrote. This week we also liked articles about LBJ’s decision to [drop out of the 1968 presidential race](, why [older people need COVID-19 boosters](, and [AI’s influence over your listening habits](. [ [Get a global perspective on the news, with the best of The Conversation’s journalism from around the world, twice weekly.]( ] Howard Manly Race + Equity Editor Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis listens to final arguments in her disqualification hearing on March 1, 2024, in Atlanta, Ga. Alex Slitz/AFP via Getty Images [Why Fani Willis was allowed to stay on as prosecutor of criminal case against Trump in Georgia – and what happens next]( Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., Harvard University Though a Georgia judge strongly criticized the decision-making of Fani Willis, he did not kick her off the case against Donald Trump and his efforts to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. The 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago was not a peaceful event. Bettmann/Getty Images [Hopes that Biden will quit his reelection campaign ignore the differences – and lessons – of LBJ and 1968’s Democratic catastrophe]( Philip Klinkner, Hamilton College An unpopular president. A war that’s dividing the country. An upcoming election. What year is it? Even if you got a COVID-19 shot last fall, the spring shot is still essential for the 65 and up age group. whyframestudio/iStock via Getty Images Plus [COVID-19 vaccines: CDC says people ages 65 and up should get a shot this spring – a geriatrician explains why it’s vitally important]( Laurie Archbald-Pannone, University of Virginia As you get older, you’re at higher risk of severe infection and your immunity declines faster after vaccination. - [How AI is shaping the music listening habits of Gen Z]( Beatriz Ilari, University of Southern California; Lynne Snyder, University of Southern California In the past, adolescents’ musical palettes were dominated by the Top-40 artists, creating a widely shared – if perhaps narrow – repertoire of musical knowledge. - [Is TikTok’s parent company an agent of the Chinese state? In China Inc., it’s a little more complicated]( Shaomin Li, Old Dominion University In China, ‘private’ businesses aren’t entirely private and the ultimate boss is the CCP, not the CEO. - [Are private conversations truly private? A cybersecurity expert explains how end-to-end encryption protects you]( Robin Chataut, Quinnipiac University End-to-end encryption provides strong protection for keeping your communications private, but not every messaging app uses it, and even some of the ones that do don’t have it turned on by default. - [City mouse or country mouse? I collect mice from Philly homes to study how they got so good at urban living]( - [Israel’s army exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox are part of a bigger challenge: The Jewish state is divided over the Jewish religion]( - [Why do airlines charge so much for checked bags? This obscure rule helps explain why]( - [Pacemaker powered by light eliminates need for batteries and allows the heart to function more naturally − new research]( - [Ramadan will be difficult for those in Gaza or other war zones – what does fasting mean for those who might be already starving?]( - [Total solar eclipses, while stunning, can damage your eyes if viewed without the right protection]( - [What would a solar eclipse look like from the Moon? An astronomer answers that and other total eclipse questions]( - [Surviving fishing gear entanglement isn’t enough for endangered right whales – females still don’t breed afterward]( - [Climate-friendly beef? Argentina’s new ‘carbon-neutral’ certification could help reduce livestock emissions – if it’s done right]( - [I’m a political scientist, and the Alabama Supreme Court’s IVF ruling turned me into a reproductive-rights refugee]( - [Is the National Guard a solution to school violence?]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( President Joe Biden said on March 8 that if legislation banning the social media app TikTok reached his desk, he would do what? - A. Sign it - B. Veto it - C. Confer with Chinese President Xi Jinping - D. Do the "Bounce When She Walk" dance in the Oval Office [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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