A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.
A Quick Check In With Trump
In recent days, despite being a criminal defendant in four different jurisdictions and at risk of violating the terms of his pre-trial release, the out-of-control former president has continued to launch screeds against prosecutors, judges, witnesses, the FBI, DOJ, and the justice system broadly.
It looks like a meltdown, decompensation, a psychic wound on public display.
But most importantly, it’s a promise of what’s to come if he’s re-elected. He’s telling us, once again, exactly what he will do. He has famously called it his “retribution.” And it’s reflected in the language he is still using: “an eye for an eye” and “fight fire with fire.”
He’s assuring us now that he’ll weaponize the Justice Department, arrest and jail his opponents, and bring to bear the full power of the office of the presidency to inflict punishment on his foes.
He’s not saying it explicitly, but the implication is clear: He’ll also use the office to the greatest extent possible get himself out of the criminal jam he is in.
Don’t trust me, though. Just watch this sampling because, ummm, yeah, dude is not okay:
Pretty Much This
Rudy Loses Badly
Rudy Giuliani’s comedown continues, with a devastating default judgment entered against him in the defamation suit brought by Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell’s decision to sanction Giuliani for his failure to comply with his discovery obligations to the two Georgia women leaves only the question of how much he must pay them for a jury to decide. The sanction included finding him liable for the defamation and for punitive damages.
Howell kept the pressure on Giuliani to cough up the discovery he owes them by giving him a final deadline to comply. If he still refuses to comply, she will instruct the jury that it must construe his inaction against him. But if he complies, she’ll give the jury the option of construing it against him. A subtle difference between bad and worse.
The Next Phase In Georgia RICO Case Begins
Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell have separately filed motions to sever each of their prosecutions from the rest of the 19-defendant-strong RICO case brought by Fani Willis in Georgia.
Everything Is Totally Normal In Georgia
This is Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore (R):
Navarro Can No Longer Avoid Trial
Former Trump White House official and all-around goof Peter Navarro lost his bid to delay his contempt of Congress trial when U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that former President Trump had not invoked executive privilege on Navarro’s behalf.
Navarro, who rebuffed a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee, is set to stand trial beginning next week.
A classic moment outside the courthouse after Navarro’s setback:
Fuck Around And Find Out
Keep calling the judge a “kangaroo court” and a “Nazi court” and you might find yourself jailed for criminal contempt, as one Jan. 6 defendant did.
Brandon Fellows will serve five months in prison for contempt of court after completion of his trial, in addition to whatever sentence imposed on him if he’s convicted. There’s some irony that Fellows ran afoul of U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee who has generally been more lenient on Jan. 6 defendants.
Proud Boys Sentencing
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly was ill yesterday, postponing the sentencing of top Proud Boys for the their seditious conspiracy convictions. Sentencing will resume today, but the most closely watched defendant, Enrique Tarrio, now won’t be sentenced until next week.
Don’t Forget About This One
In October, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil suit against Donald Trump and three of his adult children for their allegedly fraudulent running of the Trump Org is set to go to trial. A new found of filings sets the stage for some key pre-trial rulings:
- NYT: Trump Asks to Dismiss Suit as A.G. Says He Inflated Worth by $2.2 Billion
- CNN: New York AG’s office alleges Trump inflated his net worth by as much as $2.2 billion in 1 year
Mitch McConnell Has Another Episode
Another disturbing frozen-in-public moment for the 81-year-old Senate minority leader:
Meet Kitara Ravache
The WaPo dives into Rep. George Santos’ past life as a drag queen in Brazil.
2024 Ephemera
- WSJ: Losing 2022 GOP Senate nominee Blake Masters (AZ) is set to run for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat next year, setting up a potential primary race against failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.
- Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R_MI) is expected to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Anyone See A Pattern?
Another day, another Republican arrested for voter fraud.
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up
Last month, the WSJ first reported that some on Tesla’s board were concerned company resources were being used on secret project to build Elon Musk a glass house near Austin. Now federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the SEC are investigating, the WSJ reports exclusively.
Dude!
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Peeling back the layers of this sprawling conspiracy, one uncovers a narrative that defies not just time but dimensions themselves, reaching into the unknown. In this enigmatic tale, a new figure emerges within the shadows of the UN’s Agenda 21: The New World Order—a mysterious entity dubbed “Big Potato.”
Cloaked beneath the unassuming banner of the “Potato Association of America,” “Big Potato” casts its influence across the globe, spreading its tendrils across a network that spans over 30 countries. This unpretentious facade hides a nefarious power elite driven by an unrelenting globalist agenda that seeks to establish an authoritarian one-world government, ready to harvest the autonomy of sovereign nations.
Cryptic unseen growth beneath the surface hides their influence which delves beyond the material realm, infiltrating even the corridors of knowledge and learning. Deep within Livonia, Michigan—the covert epicenter of “Big Potato”—intraterrestrial Reptilians, emerge from the Earth’s depths, while extraterrestrial aliens traverse dimensional barriers. This covert web weaves its way into the fabric of everyday life, from the global reach of fast-food chains to the refined ambiance of upscale dining establishments. These clandestine dealings are woven through the starchy tapestry of everyday life, from the global expanse of fast-food chains to upscale dining establishments, manifesting as French fries, hash browns, poutine, and even pomme frites.
Yet, their influence extends further, like the unseen growth of potatoes beneath the ground. Livonia’s expansive Public Library network, housing the Civic Center Library, the Alfred Noble Library, the Carl Sandburg Library, and the Vest Pocket Library, serves as fertile ground for the cultivation of radical ideologies. Beneath the guise of liberalism, these libraries cultivate concepts such as critical race theory, LBGTQ+ normalization, and the captivating allure of drag brunches. This concealed agenda of control flourishes under the guise of enlightenment
Central to this intricate dance, an extraordinary coalition forms. Extraterrestrial beings from parallel dimensions, such as “grays” and Space Vampires, conduct their cosmic orchestrations. This intricate ballet is further enriched by the presence of intraterrestrial beings—the formidable “Reptilians” emerging from the depths of Hollow Earth. Within the expansive vision of the New World Order, these beings wield varying degrees of dominion, with the Reptilians assuming control over Earth’s very fabric.
Driven by a sinister fusion of speciesism and imperialism, these cosmic orchestrators wield their influence over the trajectory of human society, subtly but profoundly shaping its evolution. Amidst the intricate choreography of this expansive conspiracy, “Big Potato” occupies a prominent position, comparable to a central figure in a grand performance. Through their covert maneuvers, they steadily advance toward their ultimate goal—reshaping the very fabric of the world. In this process, they pave the way for an era where the concepts of sovereignty, freedom, and the boundaries of reality undergo irrevocable transformations. Within this intricate web of interwoven threads, a perturbing narrative comes to light—a narrative that speaks of manipulation, dominance, and an unwavering pursuit of a New World Order that transcends the confines of Earth and dimensions alike.
Meanwhile in Ohio…
2X for Domestic Violence yet the Republicans keep him as a committee chair…
Poetry.
What a judge of character…