Democrats should establish and fund a separate committee whose sole function is to investigate and prosecute those individuals who have engaged in criminal and unconstitutional acts. Jack Smith, if willing, should lead it.
It would be better if we had some major changes. A Constitutional Amendment making the President subject to all of the Federal statutes. Then new statutes giving the Congress power to appoint a special prosecutor with subpoena power - completely out from under DOJ. I also think we need to take DOJ and the Inspectors General out from under the Executive Branch and come up with new paradigms for their appointments.
Totally agree. I actually think overturning Citizens United should be the very first major effort, before the public forgets that it benefits Democrats in Congress too. I would love to hear Candidates commit to that process - but I'm being pragmatic and know it will not even be a minor priority come January and the feeding frenzy starts.
The benefits to Democrats are pretty dubious. It has forced them, if they want to be competitive, to make devil's bargains with corporations and oligarchs. Citizens United has corrupted our entire electoral process.
I don't think that can happen until we have a trifecta. Any laws that Congress can pass will be vetoed, and there will not be enough of an incentive to override it.
That decision was brought to you by rich GOP billionaires who wanted more control of the federal gov't. They established the lawsuit to be able to use corporate money to support candidates. That the SC said that "corporations" should have a voice - as if they were people was the worst reasoning that I have seen in my life. This stupidity gives a person who owns a corporation more say in selection of our government than individual Americans.
Don't you wish that we as individuals could have the rights of corporations? What would your taxable income be if you could first subtract your "cost of doing business?" Utilities, food, maintenance, transportation? All tax exempt. Think of it!
"[C]omprehensive fact-finding and truth-telling can combat disinformation and work towards creating a more shared reality; lay the political groundwork for institutional reforms; and generate support for other critical accountability measures, such as criminal prosecutions.”
What would be particularly effective would be researching and reporting to the public of how many policies and actions by the Trump administration directly impacted his own voters: rural, non-college, white people.
Put those statistics out there: closed rural hospitals, farmers with ruined markets and excessive fuel costs and beef imports cutting into their profits, millions cut off from Medicaid and SNAP benefits, or unable to afford insurance due to ACA subsidy cuts.
Perhaps those of us who are protesting on street corners and overpasses with the goal of winning a Pro Democracy Congress should be thinking now about shifting the messages on our signs after November with the goal to broadcast these statistics.
I worry that recovering from this regime’s vast damage is going to be slow. MAGA (or whatever moron-filled group rises from MAGA’s ashes) will try to rewrite the slow, painful pace of recovery as a “see, those Democrats lied to you again—they can’t fix anything”. We should be planning now to transfer our GOTV passion to educating a weary nation about the depths of the hole he dug and each step towards our renewal.
After a well-earned break, of course, to celebrate all our hours spent in successful (fingers crossed) protests against this hideous regime.
I do think some "swing" voters have had their hand burnt so deeply that they will remove it from the MAGA stove for good.
But as you say, there are a lot of Orwellian rewriters out there, including the .01% who will be pedaling frantically to shift the narrative (and have a LOT of money and media power).
Yes, that’s a great idea. One of the main projects for Dems will be education of voters, esp those who have become cynical & disengaged. Also agree a special commission, bi-partisan & non-partisan, would go a long way toward righting the ship & putting some distance from elected politicians . While I believe in Jack Smith’s deep knowledge as well as his integrity, the right may have managed to demonize & politicize him
too much. Whatever Dems do - assuming Trump et al cheating doesn’t win out - it will require sustained & vigorous effort as well as a solid plan to begin with.
I see those statistics put out constantly. I don't think you comprehend the "MAGA bubble." Have you seen interviews where people are presented with evidence and they say things like, "I still think he's the greatest for the job" or "I think that's fake news?"
Don Lemon, in particular, does interviews frequently and it's jaw dropping to listen to what people say.
But tRump controls his corrupt DOJ, so he will just ignore any new laws he doesn't like. This is all based on us winning big majorities in Congress in 2026 and 2028.
Maybe I am not remembering this situation correctly, but the decision in Citizens United had to do with existing laws and whether the case brought by Citizens United was unlawful.
We need to change the existing laws, and then have the case go back to the SC. But as I said above, any law passed in the next Congress will be vetoed by Trump. We have to pray for 2028 and a trifecta.
Those are all good ideas, and they could be "folded into" the brief that the committee should follow as a "final recommendation(s)" when the investigations wrap up. Also, they would have to wait for a trifecta Democratic administration to push them through. The tricky part is the Constitutional Amendment because of the required 2/3rds majority in the House and Senate and 3/4ths state ratification. Failing that would mean other "work-arounds".
Exactly so, and getting an Amendment through 3/4 of the states is a slow process. Considering the makeup of many of the states' governments, it's unclear that we could even get the three-quarters needed ratification. We need a faster response time than this, so the work-arounds need to be examined.
This is the crux of the matter: we need to ensure people power. Accountability is critical, and our messaging and actions must show that we do not stand for corruption or for undermining democracy.
Democrats would be mired in these investigations to the exclusion of tearing down EVERYTHING Trump has done (like rebuild the WH east wing), rebuilding the federal government, reform our government, reform SCOTUS, just for starters. I know that takes both houses of Congress and probably the presidency too, but that's what's really necessary.
The DOJ has ALWAYS operated separately from the administration. NO other president has ever treated it as their personal justice department. If you put the power of the special prosecutor with Congress, then that could be abused by whatever party is in control of Congress.
I absolutely agree with closing the loopholes which the GOP allowed T and his cronies to slip through. The GOP STOPPED acting as a normal GOP party with Reagan. T did NOT create the problems we have. The rich, the Heritage and Federalist Societies, rich white racist men and the GOP created them over time. T was hired to be the crazy person that would attract the public's attention and spread the hate, while the rich took the final step to return us to the Gilded Age. T announced this by having a Hallowe'en party at Mar a Lago with the Gilded Age theme. But most importantly, we need an HONEST news media - required to report facts and evidence for any statement made. Balanced reporting does NOT mean that a party can use opinions and beliefs as if they were true.
I prefer the approach suggested in this publication a couple of weeks ago to forgo impeachment because it will never result in his removal and will simply be dismissed as partisan. Rather immediately start investigations into his staff and appointees. Right now they sit smugly feeling untouchable. Shake them up, scare them as much as possible, create as much disruption for Trump as possible. He's already paranoid let's push him over the edge.
What better way to shake them up than impeachment? Perhaps impeachment shouldn't be the first priority, but it shouldn't be taken off the table, either.
I agree entirely with what you say. And if it were possible to impeach Trump before his term is up, that leaves Vance in position going into the 2028 elections. I think we are far better off having the maniac there.
I appreciate your voice.. Please know that I would vote for impeachment: the Vance that remained, will be impacted by that process and the People's will. Best..
Why create another committee? We already have enough committees to investigate everything. They are in place and they are functioning. The Democrats are spread out in every committee, and have been all this time, gathering information and viewing evidence that has not been allowed to come forward because of Republican committee heads.
If and when Democrats are in charge, hopefully of both houses of Congress, the information is going to start flowing in a torrent. The representatives in each of the committees are already experts in their respective areas. Trying to create another committee only delays and complicates the process.
Jack Smith and the 100s of from DOJ attorneys and the former FBI special agents should be commissioned as Congresses investigative agency to uncover all the illegalities from this corrupt administration. Congress should also haul everyone granted a pardon by Trump to testify and confess the illegal acts that they committed that they were pardoned for. Since they are pardoned, they have no 5th amendment right to assert and it would be very useful in holding those former convicts accountable.
The first is to rescue undocumented immigrants imprisoned. Be sure, however, to control the future contact for everyone, not to cause any concern among voters who are worried about undocumented immigrants voting for Mr. Trump.
Can we also rescue the immigrants who ARE here legally from these concentration camps and from wherever they were deported to? And arrest those running the camps?
"Democrats should establish and fund a separate committee whose sole function is to investigate and prosecute..."
Investigative power already lies within Congress" purview. Prosecution is rightly under the Executive Branch. Imagine if the Republicans in Congress had the power of prosecution...
As usual, Ms. Rubin is spot-on. There is an embarrassment of riches for investigations. My suggestion would be to start with anything related to affordability, such as the attack on Iran and Trump's illegal tariffs. Then there are the massive grifts. It's easier to explain how wrong it is to have a Russian oligarch pay for a wedding reception of the President's son than to explain how wrong it is to accept an airplane from a nominal US ally that will eventually become Trump's personal property. Most people have arranged a wedding; not many people have bought or sold an airplane.
All other presidents put their personal financial assets in a special trust while in office so they couldn't use the power for their own benefit, but not Trump!!!! He has used his influence to amass billions at our expense and must be prosecuted for his crimes and punished no matter what his buddies in the Supreme Court say!
Fully agree, the effort must be comprehensive as Rubin suggests, but start with things people can relate to and will yield results that benefit the most of both parties. Dems must show some results or we will be right back where this all started. And finally, there must be a way to communicate this effectively, that is usually where Dems fall down. Like daily or weekly press conferences where the progress and results are reported.
My advice would be to start with whatever can be done relatively quickly. We need to get the ball rolling and we need some very public accountability wins to keep voters engaged through 2028. Affordability is a good idea and a much needed win for people currently struggling - as well as a powerful symbol to wield against the current regime. However imho the affordability issue is s double/edged sword. Biden was blamed for the costs of things when it wasn’t really his fault and he was doing very well getting us out of the worst of it compared to the rest of the world. Trump’s lies about lowering prices were believed. The truth is that “affordability” is bigger and more complex than one president - even though currently trump’s own actions have for the most part caused the current crisis. To link it to one president or one party in people’s minds will bite the next time a global weather event affects the price of groceries or another pandemic affects supply chains. Most voters will blame the easiest target - hyped by opposing political party or billionaire owned media - the president. So maybe an affordability win plus investigation and accountability of corruption and further enrichment of the trump crime family and billionaires like musk.
"They should be prepared, focused, and determined to search out wrongdoing at the highest levels of the Trump regime as soon as they take office."
I would add that Democrats must be prepared to apply the same standard to Congressional Republicans who are all responsible for every wrong doing of the Executive. We cannot play the game of referring charges to the Department of Justice. Democrats must be prepared to use the inherent contempt powers of Congress. Republicans know their gooses are cooked if they loose power. They will not leave office peacefully knowing full well the consequences of being held accountable for their crimes.
What are you going to accuse them of? Not stopping Trump when they knew better? That would be all of the Republicans in Congress. Do you seriously think there is a case to be made?
I wholeheartedly agree with Jen. But to achieve success, newly elected Dems need to be ready to convene their investigations on day 1. Let’s hope that someone in the Party is putting together the infrastructure and the process so we aren’t flailing around for months (in other words, prepare like a Republican). I like the idea of a special investigative committee as it will be critical that we also pass legislation that will begin to bring relief to the country and shore up democracy.
This is exactly correct, Gail. No need to wait until January to begin deliberations. Congress rarely meets in session under this squirrelly speaker Mike Johnson. He is too afraid that even members of his own party will open investigations into the regime’s vast malfeasance. So he recesses and sends members home for extended vacations. Democrats need to use that time to continue to work for the American people and make preparations for all of these trials into Trump’s massive corruption, and Republican’s collusion.
Are you really unaware that the people we vote in in November will not be seated until January? The Dems will NOT have a majority at least until January. Enough people need to vote for the best Dem candidate for each position.
I don't think that the Democrats have been sitting around doing nothing all this time. They have presented numerous bills that never come out of committee. Give them more credit than that
I asked my Congressman, Jamie Raskin, just this question about clawing back ill gotten gains and financial restitution for damages done by this regime. He said absolutely.
By all means investigate and expose, but at the same time be careful here. If Dems spend all their time chasing Trump regime malfeasance they will lose in 2028 when Trump is no longer on the ballot. Voters will ask, "What did you do for us regarding affordability, immigration, the war etc." and Dems will have nothing to show for it. Look what happened with the January 6 hearings, which were really excellent, but they did nothing to stop Trump from coming back to haunt us.
Democrats can, and must, do both. They cannot be accused of looking away from the massive malfeasance of the Trump regime. That would be complicity. Ending the war against Iran and the insane tariffs will go a long way toward controlling prices. Immediately. Restore healthcare. Immediately. Congress holds the power of the purse. There should be nonstop bills put forward to correct Trump’s many, many abuses. Even if these are not veto proof in the senate, Congress needs to put forth the effort to protect the country and regain trust in the process. Immediately.
Yep. They can walk and chew gum at the same time. I hear a lot of what many of them have to say, and believe they are ready and able to leave the charge once it becomes possible
Do you understand how much it takes to do any part of this given all of the damage done by Musk, T, Miller et al?????????? Thousands of the best employees are gone. Procedures have been mucked up. Files are not being done properly.....
If the Democrats take either congressional house, it will be by a slim margin due to gerrymandering in the House and institutional bias in the Senate. Thus, investigations will be about the only thing they will be able to do as the Republicans will no doubt stymie any proposals to ameliorate the average person's financial situation and, in fact, will likely be hoping for a recession so in 2028 they can claim that the Dems did nothing. That's how things are played in this cynical age of politics.
Yes, the period between 2026 and 2028 will be critical. Hopefully Democrats will be able to successfully highlight how their legislation to improve the general welfare has been stopped by Trump's veto.
I suspect we'll be hearing that word - veto - frequently.
1. What projects from the “Inflation Reduction Act, (Biden’s Infrastructure Bill) can be salvaged, PRONTO! Prioritize all legislation bills that will benefit working families. Restore healthcare for as many as possible. Resolve the Social Security “cliff.”
2. Pursue all criminal actors from the “wrong right.” (You know so little will be accomplished in this area!) Pardons, deaths, beyond extradition, snails paced courts. Not much to gain here going into the 2028 elections, by design.
"Let the punishment fit the crime". King Con has killed the reputation of our country and has appropriated its assets to himself and his family. How can we take that back?
Well done, as usual, though it would be provident to quickly begin the task of reforming the supreme court and investigating the department of justice. Both of these "institutions" have failed us egregiously.
That would be a beginning. The ethics policy that guides lower courts and the rest of the federal work force should also apply to the supreme court. They're federal employees too and should have no exception.
Thanks, Jennifer, for mentioning the fatalists who say accountability is never gonna happen. I'm also sick of that mindset because it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. The current path is not sustainable for democracy. We need people demanding accountability, not accepting its absence.
Where to start when we think we know where we want to end? First, the DOJ will be a formidable enemy, so I would start with a full and public exposure of the Epstein Files. This will accomplish two things: It will expose the DOJ's complicity in aiding and abetting international sex trafficking and money laundering and it will expose some of MAGA's biggest donors. So that puts the MAGA donor class on notice, and it neutralizes Comrade Blanche's ability to run interference. Then I would create a bipartisan committee to investigate the Trump family-related quasi-government corruption and crimes. That group would focus on the Tungsten mine deal, the Venezuela deal, and the related extortion of their natural resources, and, of course, the Iran War extortion and bribes paid by the Arab Gulf States to Kushner and Witkoff. This is where it would be handy to appoint a Special Counsel with experience in international corruption, such as Jack Smith. This action would announce to Trump's Cabinet and his Middle East sources of filth and corruption that the jig is up, and that the time of atonement is at hand.
Next, we should investigate the activities of the Nerd Reich, and that calls for a deep dive into DOGE and its illegal activities. I fully expect this investigation will result in criminal charges against Elon Musk, Big Balls, et.al. That investigation will result in the exposure and silencing of the cowards of the Nerd Reich. Those 3 investigations should take up at least 2 years and bring us to the 2028 Presidential elections, when the Democrat candidate can announce to the non-billionaire class of Americans the full plan to eliminate the DC Swamp, and the American Plan to Prosperity, Justice, and Hope for all citizens, and also announce the plan to tax the Parasites who tried to kill and jail us in their ICE-version of hell. They must pay for the reconstruction of our Republic!
Of course, the "lawless Trump gang will refuse to cooperate," but I think there are two larger problems: 1) that this administration has hollowed out and/or coopted so much of the DOJ and the rest of the Civil Service, that it will be a challenge to find enough people to carry out prosecutions, etc.; and 2) that if the Democrats spend all their time trying to right Trump wrongs, and not moving to address the income gap, ending the war, restoring social services supports like SNAP and health care, etc., they will not be able to win the White House in 2028.
Accountability is vital. So is establishing the record of this horrible time in America's history. But the Dems will have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, or no one will care. We have seen far too much of a Congress that does nothing for the people it supposedly represents.
So pleased that minds far better than mine (and so many of them) are thinking about the necessary work to undo all the damage done by this administration and prevent it from ever happening again.
Democrats need to seriously think about the Speaker position in both House and Senate. These positions will need to be held by strong, constitutionally sound people. Might I suggest a few names....Pete Buttegig, Gavin Newsom, or any constitutionally sound retired justice or attorney.
Democrats should establish and fund a separate committee whose sole function is to investigate and prosecute those individuals who have engaged in criminal and unconstitutional acts. Jack Smith, if willing, should lead it.
It would be better if we had some major changes. A Constitutional Amendment making the President subject to all of the Federal statutes. Then new statutes giving the Congress power to appoint a special prosecutor with subpoena power - completely out from under DOJ. I also think we need to take DOJ and the Inspectors General out from under the Executive Branch and come up with new paradigms for their appointments.
An amendment overturning Citizens United would be a great start. That horrifying decision is a major factor in what got us here in the first place.
Totally agree. I actually think overturning Citizens United should be the very first major effort, before the public forgets that it benefits Democrats in Congress too. I would love to hear Candidates commit to that process - but I'm being pragmatic and know it will not even be a minor priority come January and the feeding frenzy starts.
The benefits to Democrats are pretty dubious. It has forced them, if they want to be competitive, to make devil's bargains with corporations and oligarchs. Citizens United has corrupted our entire electoral process.
I don't think that can happen until we have a trifecta. Any laws that Congress can pass will be vetoed, and there will not be enough of an incentive to override it.
That decision was brought to you by rich GOP billionaires who wanted more control of the federal gov't. They established the lawsuit to be able to use corporate money to support candidates. That the SC said that "corporations" should have a voice - as if they were people was the worst reasoning that I have seen in my life. This stupidity gives a person who owns a corporation more say in selection of our government than individual Americans.
Don't you wish that we as individuals could have the rights of corporations? What would your taxable income be if you could first subtract your "cost of doing business?" Utilities, food, maintenance, transportation? All tax exempt. Think of it!
💯
"[C]omprehensive fact-finding and truth-telling can combat disinformation and work towards creating a more shared reality; lay the political groundwork for institutional reforms; and generate support for other critical accountability measures, such as criminal prosecutions.”
What would be particularly effective would be researching and reporting to the public of how many policies and actions by the Trump administration directly impacted his own voters: rural, non-college, white people.
Put those statistics out there: closed rural hospitals, farmers with ruined markets and excessive fuel costs and beef imports cutting into their profits, millions cut off from Medicaid and SNAP benefits, or unable to afford insurance due to ACA subsidy cuts.
It's time to pop the MAGA-delusion balloon.
“Put those statistics out there”.
Perhaps those of us who are protesting on street corners and overpasses with the goal of winning a Pro Democracy Congress should be thinking now about shifting the messages on our signs after November with the goal to broadcast these statistics.
I worry that recovering from this regime’s vast damage is going to be slow. MAGA (or whatever moron-filled group rises from MAGA’s ashes) will try to rewrite the slow, painful pace of recovery as a “see, those Democrats lied to you again—they can’t fix anything”. We should be planning now to transfer our GOTV passion to educating a weary nation about the depths of the hole he dug and each step towards our renewal.
After a well-earned break, of course, to celebrate all our hours spent in successful (fingers crossed) protests against this hideous regime.
Yes, it is a slog and all uphill in the snow!
I do think some "swing" voters have had their hand burnt so deeply that they will remove it from the MAGA stove for good.
But as you say, there are a lot of Orwellian rewriters out there, including the .01% who will be pedaling frantically to shift the narrative (and have a LOT of money and media power).
Well said👍🏼💙
Yes, that’s a great idea. One of the main projects for Dems will be education of voters, esp those who have become cynical & disengaged. Also agree a special commission, bi-partisan & non-partisan, would go a long way toward righting the ship & putting some distance from elected politicians . While I believe in Jack Smith’s deep knowledge as well as his integrity, the right may have managed to demonize & politicize him
too much. Whatever Dems do - assuming Trump et al cheating doesn’t win out - it will require sustained & vigorous effort as well as a solid plan to begin with.
I see those statistics put out constantly. I don't think you comprehend the "MAGA bubble." Have you seen interviews where people are presented with evidence and they say things like, "I still think he's the greatest for the job" or "I think that's fake news?"
Don Lemon, in particular, does interviews frequently and it's jaw dropping to listen to what people say.
The US news media/journalists have been in GOP pockets since Reagan!
Constitutional Amendments take a long time to get passed. We can't wait that long to protect our democracy.
But tRump controls his corrupt DOJ, so he will just ignore any new laws he doesn't like. This is all based on us winning big majorities in Congress in 2026 and 2028.
Did you not note the comment about counterproductive fatalism?
Maybe I am not remembering this situation correctly, but the decision in Citizens United had to do with existing laws and whether the case brought by Citizens United was unlawful.
We need to change the existing laws, and then have the case go back to the SC. But as I said above, any law passed in the next Congress will be vetoed by Trump. We have to pray for 2028 and a trifecta.
Those are all good ideas, and they could be "folded into" the brief that the committee should follow as a "final recommendation(s)" when the investigations wrap up. Also, they would have to wait for a trifecta Democratic administration to push them through. The tricky part is the Constitutional Amendment because of the required 2/3rds majority in the House and Senate and 3/4ths state ratification. Failing that would mean other "work-arounds".
Exactly so, and getting an Amendment through 3/4 of the states is a slow process. Considering the makeup of many of the states' governments, it's unclear that we could even get the three-quarters needed ratification. We need a faster response time than this, so the work-arounds need to be examined.
see above.
There are still more than 2 years of the tRump regime to run. I am betting there will be quite the appetite for preventing anything like it again.
From your mind and keyboard....
This is the crux of the matter: we need to ensure people power. Accountability is critical, and our messaging and actions must show that we do not stand for corruption or for undermining democracy.
Democrats would be mired in these investigations to the exclusion of tearing down EVERYTHING Trump has done (like rebuild the WH east wing), rebuilding the federal government, reform our government, reform SCOTUS, just for starters. I know that takes both houses of Congress and probably the presidency too, but that's what's really necessary.
BINGO...
The DOJ has ALWAYS operated separately from the administration. NO other president has ever treated it as their personal justice department. If you put the power of the special prosecutor with Congress, then that could be abused by whatever party is in control of Congress.
If we don’t change the ground rules, then we will have fixed nothing and it will happen again. We need 2 paths to removing a rogue President.
I absolutely agree with closing the loopholes which the GOP allowed T and his cronies to slip through. The GOP STOPPED acting as a normal GOP party with Reagan. T did NOT create the problems we have. The rich, the Heritage and Federalist Societies, rich white racist men and the GOP created them over time. T was hired to be the crazy person that would attract the public's attention and spread the hate, while the rich took the final step to return us to the Gilded Age. T announced this by having a Hallowe'en party at Mar a Lago with the Gilded Age theme. But most importantly, we need an HONEST news media - required to report facts and evidence for any statement made. Balanced reporting does NOT mean that a party can use opinions and beliefs as if they were true.
Also start impeachment hearings immediately against Trump and his cabinet cronies.
I prefer the approach suggested in this publication a couple of weeks ago to forgo impeachment because it will never result in his removal and will simply be dismissed as partisan. Rather immediately start investigations into his staff and appointees. Right now they sit smugly feeling untouchable. Shake them up, scare them as much as possible, create as much disruption for Trump as possible. He's already paranoid let's push him over the edge.
What better way to shake them up than impeachment? Perhaps impeachment shouldn't be the first priority, but it shouldn't be taken off the table, either.
I agree! The Senate wouldn't be able to oust Trump probably so go after his cabinet members!
I agree entirely with what you say. And if it were possible to impeach Trump before his term is up, that leaves Vance in position going into the 2028 elections. I think we are far better off having the maniac there.
I appreciate your voice.. Please know that I would vote for impeachment: the Vance that remained, will be impacted by that process and the People's will. Best..
NO, FIRST WE RELEASE THE IMMIGRANTS IN OUR CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
Why create another committee? We already have enough committees to investigate everything. They are in place and they are functioning. The Democrats are spread out in every committee, and have been all this time, gathering information and viewing evidence that has not been allowed to come forward because of Republican committee heads.
If and when Democrats are in charge, hopefully of both houses of Congress, the information is going to start flowing in a torrent. The representatives in each of the committees are already experts in their respective areas. Trying to create another committee only delays and complicates the process.
Jack Smith and the 100s of from DOJ attorneys and the former FBI special agents should be commissioned as Congresses investigative agency to uncover all the illegalities from this corrupt administration. Congress should also haul everyone granted a pardon by Trump to testify and confess the illegal acts that they committed that they were pardoned for. Since they are pardoned, they have no 5th amendment right to assert and it would be very useful in holding those former convicts accountable.
Let "The Trump Trials" begin and see how many Cannonballs fly from MAGA-Land.
If you can't get a conviction (is that the right term?), impeachment will just look like another exercise in futility. But might work with Hegseth.
Or Tish James; that may trigger DonOld like nothing else!
The first is to rescue undocumented immigrants imprisoned. Be sure, however, to control the future contact for everyone, not to cause any concern among voters who are worried about undocumented immigrants voting for Mr. Trump.
Can we also rescue the immigrants who ARE here legally from these concentration camps and from wherever they were deported to? And arrest those running the camps?
Thank you. Absolutely. I have forgotten many are in some African countries.
"Democrats should establish and fund a separate committee whose sole function is to investigate and prosecute..."
Investigative power already lies within Congress" purview. Prosecution is rightly under the Executive Branch. Imagine if the Republicans in Congress had the power of prosecution...
Great idea- I hope we can get to that
The mantra should be: “Compliance Is Complicity”.
As usual, Ms. Rubin is spot-on. There is an embarrassment of riches for investigations. My suggestion would be to start with anything related to affordability, such as the attack on Iran and Trump's illegal tariffs. Then there are the massive grifts. It's easier to explain how wrong it is to have a Russian oligarch pay for a wedding reception of the President's son than to explain how wrong it is to accept an airplane from a nominal US ally that will eventually become Trump's personal property. Most people have arranged a wedding; not many people have bought or sold an airplane.
All other presidents put their personal financial assets in a special trust while in office so they couldn't use the power for their own benefit, but not Trump!!!! He has used his influence to amass billions at our expense and must be prosecuted for his crimes and punished no matter what his buddies in the Supreme Court say!
Fully agree, the effort must be comprehensive as Rubin suggests, but start with things people can relate to and will yield results that benefit the most of both parties. Dems must show some results or we will be right back where this all started. And finally, there must be a way to communicate this effectively, that is usually where Dems fall down. Like daily or weekly press conferences where the progress and results are reported.
My advice would be to start with whatever can be done relatively quickly. We need to get the ball rolling and we need some very public accountability wins to keep voters engaged through 2028. Affordability is a good idea and a much needed win for people currently struggling - as well as a powerful symbol to wield against the current regime. However imho the affordability issue is s double/edged sword. Biden was blamed for the costs of things when it wasn’t really his fault and he was doing very well getting us out of the worst of it compared to the rest of the world. Trump’s lies about lowering prices were believed. The truth is that “affordability” is bigger and more complex than one president - even though currently trump’s own actions have for the most part caused the current crisis. To link it to one president or one party in people’s minds will bite the next time a global weather event affects the price of groceries or another pandemic affects supply chains. Most voters will blame the easiest target - hyped by opposing political party or billionaire owned media - the president. So maybe an affordability win plus investigation and accountability of corruption and further enrichment of the trump crime family and billionaires like musk.
..(the gifted airplane) .. much less, then had the People of the United States pay for the plane's renovations..
"They should be prepared, focused, and determined to search out wrongdoing at the highest levels of the Trump regime as soon as they take office."
I would add that Democrats must be prepared to apply the same standard to Congressional Republicans who are all responsible for every wrong doing of the Executive. We cannot play the game of referring charges to the Department of Justice. Democrats must be prepared to use the inherent contempt powers of Congress. Republicans know their gooses are cooked if they loose power. They will not leave office peacefully knowing full well the consequences of being held accountable for their crimes.
All states with MAGA Senators should call for special elections to oust these traitors!
I would include Fetterman is this category!
What are you going to accuse them of? Not stopping Trump when they knew better? That would be all of the Republicans in Congress. Do you seriously think there is a case to be made?
I wholeheartedly agree with Jen. But to achieve success, newly elected Dems need to be ready to convene their investigations on day 1. Let’s hope that someone in the Party is putting together the infrastructure and the process so we aren’t flailing around for months (in other words, prepare like a Republican). I like the idea of a special investigative committee as it will be critical that we also pass legislation that will begin to bring relief to the country and shore up democracy.
This is exactly correct, Gail. No need to wait until January to begin deliberations. Congress rarely meets in session under this squirrelly speaker Mike Johnson. He is too afraid that even members of his own party will open investigations into the regime’s vast malfeasance. So he recesses and sends members home for extended vacations. Democrats need to use that time to continue to work for the American people and make preparations for all of these trials into Trump’s massive corruption, and Republican’s collusion.
Absolutely! Spot on!
Are you really unaware that the people we vote in in November will not be seated until January? The Dems will NOT have a majority at least until January. Enough people need to vote for the best Dem candidate for each position.
I don't think that the Democrats have been sitting around doing nothing all this time. They have presented numerous bills that never come out of committee. Give them more credit than that
I didn’t suggest that they have done nothing. Once they are a majority, whole different ballgame and they need a plan for getting a lot done fast.
I guess what I am saying is that they *do* have a plan
I asked my Congressman, Jamie Raskin, just this question about clawing back ill gotten gains and financial restitution for damages done by this regime. He said absolutely.
By all means investigate and expose, but at the same time be careful here. If Dems spend all their time chasing Trump regime malfeasance they will lose in 2028 when Trump is no longer on the ballot. Voters will ask, "What did you do for us regarding affordability, immigration, the war etc." and Dems will have nothing to show for it. Look what happened with the January 6 hearings, which were really excellent, but they did nothing to stop Trump from coming back to haunt us.
Democrats can, and must, do both. They cannot be accused of looking away from the massive malfeasance of the Trump regime. That would be complicity. Ending the war against Iran and the insane tariffs will go a long way toward controlling prices. Immediately. Restore healthcare. Immediately. Congress holds the power of the purse. There should be nonstop bills put forward to correct Trump’s many, many abuses. Even if these are not veto proof in the senate, Congress needs to put forth the effort to protect the country and regain trust in the process. Immediately.
Yep. They can walk and chew gum at the same time. I hear a lot of what many of them have to say, and believe they are ready and able to leave the charge once it becomes possible
Do you understand how much it takes to do any part of this given all of the damage done by Musk, T, Miller et al?????????? Thousands of the best employees are gone. Procedures have been mucked up. Files are not being done properly.....
That is why a special investigating committee should be assigned the Trump fiasco! Other business can then go forward.
If the Democrats take either congressional house, it will be by a slim margin due to gerrymandering in the House and institutional bias in the Senate. Thus, investigations will be about the only thing they will be able to do as the Republicans will no doubt stymie any proposals to ameliorate the average person's financial situation and, in fact, will likely be hoping for a recession so in 2028 they can claim that the Dems did nothing. That's how things are played in this cynical age of politics.
Yes, the period between 2026 and 2028 will be critical. Hopefully Democrats will be able to successfully highlight how their legislation to improve the general welfare has been stopped by Trump's veto.
I suspect we'll be hearing that word - veto - frequently.
The DEMS CAN SAY ALL THAT THEY WANT TO, but the news media/journalists are in the pockets of the GOP and have been since Reagan.
Better a slim margin than none at all.
The approach should be two-fold:
1. What projects from the “Inflation Reduction Act, (Biden’s Infrastructure Bill) can be salvaged, PRONTO! Prioritize all legislation bills that will benefit working families. Restore healthcare for as many as possible. Resolve the Social Security “cliff.”
2. Pursue all criminal actors from the “wrong right.” (You know so little will be accomplished in this area!) Pardons, deaths, beyond extradition, snails paced courts. Not much to gain here going into the 2028 elections, by design.
One of your sharpest essays. May we see the accounting that you highlight!
Thank you, Jen -- I'm so glad you're feeling better !!!!
I appreciate that you refer to the current administration by a different term, “regime” - which is most appropriate.
"Let the punishment fit the crime". King Con has killed the reputation of our country and has appropriated its assets to himself and his family. How can we take that back?
Start with voting and speaking out.
And don't forget the people he has had murdered in boats and in Iran! Not to mention the ICE murders!
Well done, as usual, though it would be provident to quickly begin the task of reforming the supreme court and investigating the department of justice. Both of these "institutions" have failed us egregiously.
Impeach Alito and Thomas!!
That would be a beginning. The ethics policy that guides lower courts and the rest of the federal work force should also apply to the supreme court. They're federal employees too and should have no exception.
Thanks, Jennifer, for mentioning the fatalists who say accountability is never gonna happen. I'm also sick of that mindset because it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. The current path is not sustainable for democracy. We need people demanding accountability, not accepting its absence.
Right you are KKG. And, accountability MUST take place NOW.
It is criminal that it HASEN'T happened yet!!
Thanks, Jen!
Where to start when we think we know where we want to end? First, the DOJ will be a formidable enemy, so I would start with a full and public exposure of the Epstein Files. This will accomplish two things: It will expose the DOJ's complicity in aiding and abetting international sex trafficking and money laundering and it will expose some of MAGA's biggest donors. So that puts the MAGA donor class on notice, and it neutralizes Comrade Blanche's ability to run interference. Then I would create a bipartisan committee to investigate the Trump family-related quasi-government corruption and crimes. That group would focus on the Tungsten mine deal, the Venezuela deal, and the related extortion of their natural resources, and, of course, the Iran War extortion and bribes paid by the Arab Gulf States to Kushner and Witkoff. This is where it would be handy to appoint a Special Counsel with experience in international corruption, such as Jack Smith. This action would announce to Trump's Cabinet and his Middle East sources of filth and corruption that the jig is up, and that the time of atonement is at hand.
Next, we should investigate the activities of the Nerd Reich, and that calls for a deep dive into DOGE and its illegal activities. I fully expect this investigation will result in criminal charges against Elon Musk, Big Balls, et.al. That investigation will result in the exposure and silencing of the cowards of the Nerd Reich. Those 3 investigations should take up at least 2 years and bring us to the 2028 Presidential elections, when the Democrat candidate can announce to the non-billionaire class of Americans the full plan to eliminate the DC Swamp, and the American Plan to Prosperity, Justice, and Hope for all citizens, and also announce the plan to tax the Parasites who tried to kill and jail us in their ICE-version of hell. They must pay for the reconstruction of our Republic!
Nice comment, Marcus. I agree with you.
But we have lost our democracy. We must retrieve it in order to do what you suggest.
#1Priority. Remove big money from politics and government.
Totally agree!
Of course, the "lawless Trump gang will refuse to cooperate," but I think there are two larger problems: 1) that this administration has hollowed out and/or coopted so much of the DOJ and the rest of the Civil Service, that it will be a challenge to find enough people to carry out prosecutions, etc.; and 2) that if the Democrats spend all their time trying to right Trump wrongs, and not moving to address the income gap, ending the war, restoring social services supports like SNAP and health care, etc., they will not be able to win the White House in 2028.
Accountability is vital. So is establishing the record of this horrible time in America's history. But the Dems will have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, or no one will care. We have seen far too much of a Congress that does nothing for the people it supposedly represents.
So pleased that minds far better than mine (and so many of them) are thinking about the necessary work to undo all the damage done by this administration and prevent it from ever happening again.
Democrats need to seriously think about the Speaker position in both House and Senate. These positions will need to be held by strong, constitutionally sound people. Might I suggest a few names....Pete Buttegig, Gavin Newsom, or any constitutionally sound retired justice or attorney.
Hear,hear! Continuing the idiocy in any form will do nothing to slow the slide into perpetual “Oligarchy of the Idiots “!