Flotsam and Jetsam - Jack Smith Files for Protection

A very lax Sunday morning, headed into the Dog Days of summer. Stacy McCain notices Everybody Keeps Indicting Trump, Without Regard for Consequences 

"One might notice a historical pattern here, and then — since we’re speaking of ominous auguries — contemplate America’s future once Our Leaders save us from Trump’s alleged threat to “subvert democracy.” But these people seem to have no proper sense of history, no more than they have any sense of irony or self-awareness, which explains the latest entry in John Hoge’s “I’m Not Making This Up, You Know” files: Secretary Antony Blinken@SecBlinken "The United States strongly condemns Russia’s conviction of opposition leader Aleksey Navalny on politically motivated charges. The Kremlin cannot silence the truth. Navalny should be released."

Jack Hellner at Am Think thinks This. Is. Rich. Biden condemns Russia's jailing of opposition leader Navalny. At Althouse, "It’s a sign of how acrid things have got that Biden’s main tactic is simply to put his opponent in prison." ""I don’t like Trump any more than the next person, but hauling him up in a criminal court is Third World stuff. Who cares he said the election was 'stolen'? . . . Writes Camilla Long (in the London Times). I thought that was nicely concise." Sundance at CTH is not shocked when Bill Barr Refuses to Say if He Assisted the Jack Smith Targeting of Donald Trump. The Redoubtable Julie Kelly on TwitterX, Julie Kelly 🇺🇸@julie_kelly2 "I know you'll be shocked to hear this. The 2 DOJ lawyers handling the case against Trump for J6 and attempts to "overturn" 2020 election are the same DOJ lawyers who declined to prosecute Andy McCabe for lying under oath--never mind his own role in 2016 election interference." Prosecutorial judgement is for Democrats and Deep Statists. Hat Hair's KT reports Special Counsel Jack Smith seeks emergency protective order against Trump

Trump posted on Truth Social Friday night the following statement: ‘IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU’ That was the entire post. One statement in all caps. Smith entered it into evidence Friday night shortly after Trump posted it. This is an indication that Smith’s team is actively monitoring Trump’s social media posts. They struck gold with what Smith considers a threat to himself, though Trump didn’t name any names.

Smith alleges the post is a threat to potential witnesses while Team Trump claims Smith is attacking political speech used by Trump. Trump faces allegations of trying to intimidate witnesses. Defendants are provided with evidence against them (discovery) but they cannot publicize it.

I think the rules are pretty clear that "threats" have to be somewhat specific as to the person threatened, and what the actual threat is (death, harm, legal trouble, etc). I think Trump's goal is goad Smith in to acts that seem biased. Mission accomplished. At the Victory Girls DOJ Prosecutors Want A Protective Order For Evidence On Trump "The real question is, if their charges are justified under the law, and their evidence is so airtight and solid, then why would they be so concerned if Trump talked about it? Hmmmm?" At the Daily Fetched, Joe Rogan Rages Over Trump Indictments: The “Actions of a Banana Republic.”  Althouse "Joe Rogan could be reversing course on his decision to not have former President Donald Trump on his podcast." ""In years prior, Rogan has been vocal about not wanting to interview Trump and has even admitted to turning down several opportunities to do so. But... [o]n the Thursday edition of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan sat down with political commentator Patrick Bet-David to discuss entrepreneurship and politics. 'When are you having Trump on,' Bet-David asked. 'I don’t know... I don’t know – maybe.'  From Twitchy, Dem Rep says the quiet part out loud about Republicans who support Trump. Tom Elliott@tomselliott, "Rep. @JasmineForUS (D-Texas): Republicans defending Trump "are getting dangerously close, in my opinion, to criminal culpability in and of themselves, as well."" 'Becca Downs at Town Hall, Here's the 'Democrat Dream Scenario' for the Trump Trial Ted Cruz Warns to Be Mindful Of. "they don't want the voters to vote on Biden's record. Because if we vote on Biden's record, Biden loses. Instead, they want to use the Department of Justice to steal the election," also speaking once more to news coverage in that "they're trying to steal it by dominating the headlines by bringing the full force of the federal government to bring case after case after case." At the Independent, Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential election fraud case. "The problem for Mr Lauro is that courtroom photographing and broadcasting are banned in federal court under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure."

At Red State, 'Manic Contrarian' (I assume that's a pseudonym) asks (and answers) Does Trump's Shutdown Decision Disqualify a Future Presidency? "Trump has disqualified himself from ever being elected president again simply by virtue of that single, solitary decision while in office. And this I believe in the marrow of my bones." I disagree. Trump is not a doctor or a scientist at any level. He had to chose advisors for this purpose, and Fauci and Brix stood out as leaders. Both, with good intentions, suggested a lock-down policies, that probably did, in the beginning, save some lives (remember, many medical institutions were overwhelmed in the beginning), but were carried out far too long, and resulted in untold damage.

 ET, Joe Biden's Claim of No Involvement in Son's Business Affairs 'Categorically False': Devon Archer. Nick Arama at Red State has That Video of Ukrainian Prosecutor Viktor Shokin That Blows Up Joe Biden's Claims About Firing. NYPo reports Liberal media bends over backward to dismiss new Joe Biden revelations. I don't think WaPoo has had a single article on the Biden corruption scandal in at least two weeks, meanwhile, their coverage of Trump troubles is non-stop. 

Like a broken clock, Politico gets around to agreeing with me, Don’t Blame the Dog. Blame Joe Biden.

The Babylon Bee "reports" the White House Says Bidenomics So Successful The Average American Has Twice As Many Jobs As They Had Two Years Ago. Twitter, cited by Hat Hair, Your Kamala argle-bargle lesson for today RNC Research@RNCResearch "Kamala Harris: "As the name suggests, community banks are in the community!" It would take less time and trouble to report when she says something not stupid or circular. '

Hat Hair's KT wants to know Where has THIS Ron DeSantis been? Salena Zito at WaEx explores The riddle of JD Vance. Also at WaEx, Republicans get behind preferred pick to challenge Sen. Jon Tester's reelection bid, Tim Sheehy, a businessman and former Navy SEAL.

Stacy McCain, First Person Plural Pronouns starts with the DOJ dropping some election charges against Sam Bankman-Fried, and digresses from there. "Meanwhile, take note of how David Brooks uses first-person plural pronouns — “we,” “us,” “our,” etc. — in speaking of the decadent elite." Jazz Shaw reports Mississippi's ban on felons voting is struck down... for now. 

Campus Reform predicts The battle over affirmative action is just beginning. "Campus Reform lays out the field of play as universities try to outflank the Court, and conservatives work to rein them in." At the College Fix, Appraiser can sue black professors who accused him of racism, judge rules. 

On TwitterX Elon Musk makes an interesting offer, Elon Musk@elonmusk "If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill. No limit. Please let us know." Wow, but that could create a rather strong disincentive for doing so.

Riley Gaines

At Da Wire, Alabama Library Reverses Decision After Canceling Kirk Cameron, Riley Gaines Faith-Filled Story Hour Event

An Alabama public library reversed its decision to cancel a Moms for Liberty book reading event featuring actor Kirk Cameron and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines. It will now allow it to take place on Saturday.

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library System announced Wednesday that the Madison Public Library could no longer hold the event after the scope of attendees quickly grew from approximately 30 to 300, citing concerns about security and capacity. After backlash and a letter from law firm First Liberty Institute, the library system reverted back to allowing the event, Fox News reported.

At Hair Hair, When even hardcore vegans aren't falling for the guy-is-a-girl trick from The Trans Rights Issue: Equality Claims and Belief Claims at  Animal Rights The Abolitionist Approach. Beege Wellborn titters "Frankly, this is hilarious. The guy is trying to be as affirmatively polite as he possibly can while still saying, “Nope.” His essay has also been banned repeatedly for “hate speech” and “undermine the dignity and rights of transgender and/or binary individuals."