‘Greed and Cheating’ - Trump’s Very Bad Day Is A Very Good Day

From my Byline Supplement story documenting fascist themes in Trump’s 2024 speech, to Trump Org guilty on all counts for its ‘long-running criminal scheme’ to Jack Smith’s hustle, it was a good day

First things first - fighting fascism is a full-time job for a girl like I. Even though today was a very good day for democracy, and we must acknowledge the victories, we must also remain vigilant, steel-eyed, and alert.

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could kill our democracy - Moore v. Harper, a North Carolina challenge cooked up in a Koch tank to give states the ability to circumvent federal voting laws. Moore v. Harper is a North Carolina redistricting case that tests the independent state legislature theory—ultimately, a GOP push to make racial gerrymandering ‘great again’. Should the court rule in the state's favor, it will be devastating for voting rights, the 2024 elections, and American democracy.

We cannot depend on the kindness of conservative judges, and if things go sideways, I’ll see you in the streets.

Now, the good news, and there is a lot of it.

Georgia prevailed. The useful idiot chosen to carry the mission of tax breaks for the rich and churchy extremism was defeated and that means Democrats will have an expanded majority in the Senate.

President Biden tweeted of Senator Raphael Warnock’s win: “Tonight Georgia voters stood up for our democracy, rejected Ultra MAGAism, and most importantly: sent a good man back to the Senate. Here’s to six more years.”

Once again, Trump was the biggest loser. His Monday night rally for the defeated candidate, Herschel Walker, was not. That the election was so close is a travesty, and yet, a win is a win.

‘Trump’s Very Bad Day’

Today day started with a bombshell report by yours truly in Byline Supplement where I dissect Trump’s 2024 presidential announcement speech through the lens of Jason Stanley’s How Fascism Works to reveal the fascist themes contained in his speech. Corporate media spent six years parroting his propaganda, and I needed to frame it for what it is - dangerous. We have seen in recent years that dangerous rhetoric leads to violence.

As I wrote: “With the disgraced, twice-impeached former President Donald Trump now back in the ring, pro-democracy reporters are now facing whiplash, as corporate media outlets continue to platform him, while failing to confront the fact that their outdated ideas of journalistic impartiality are failing the very people they’re meant to serve.”

‘A Long-Running Criminal Scheme’

And in stellar legal news, a Manhattan jury found two Trump Organization companies guilty on charges of criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records to defraud tax authorities. As I have reported in my interviews with historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, authoritarians come to power to hide their corruption.

"This was a case about greed and cheating," Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said of the case. "The Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation got away with a scheme that awarded high-level executives with lavish perks and compensation while intentionally concealing the benefits from the taxing authorities to avoid paying taxes. Today's verdict holds these Trump companies accountable for their long-running criminal scheme."

Lastly, special counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed officials in Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona for all communications with Trump, his campaign and colleagues, according to multiple reports.

I have always thought this story would end with Trump fleeing to Moscow, just like former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych - a Putin puppet who was convicted of treason.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

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