1/ Donald, Unprecedented: There are a lot of crucially important events unfolding across the country (Supreme Court decisions, chaos in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives) and the world (Ukraine, Sudan, Israel, and Palestine), so in some ways it seems perverse, once again, to focus so much attention on one man. The fact remains, however, that the trial taking place in Room 1530 in the Manhattan Criminal Court will have a massive and complicated impact on the future of this country. For the first time in American history, a former occupant of the White House is facing criminal charges. As David Corn of Mother Jones put it, “[Donald] keeps setting new Guinness Records in terms of unprecedented history.” The reality is, the future of the country is, to a significant degree, tied to the future of Donald Trump.
2/ Standard Operating Procedure: Before jury selection began, Judge Merchan took Donald through the Parker warning — standard operating procedure in a criminal trial: “You have the right to be present during the trial and to assist your attorneys. Do you understand?” “Yes.” “If you disrupt the proceedings, you can be excluded from the courtroom and committed to jail based on your conduct, and the trial will continue on in your absence. Do you understand?” “I do.” “If you do not show up, there will be an arrest. Do you understand?” “I do.” Per the judge’s instructions, Donald will be stuck in that New York City courtroom for at least four days a week and eight hours a day. He is not free to come and go as he pleases. He needs to ask for permission if he wants, for example, to attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court for the presidential immunity case (denied) or his son’s high school graduation (despite the fact that he didn’t attend the high school graduations of his four older children). The decision is pending, despite Donald’s claim that the judge has already ruled against him. No doubt Donald feels as though he’s being singled out for extraordinary punishment, but that’s because he has so rarely been in a situation in which he has no control over either the narrative or the proceedings. Because this is a criminal trial, he will have virtually no say about anything that happens inside that courtroom and, indeed, over anything that happens to him if he steps outside the lines that Judge Merchan draws. Donald doesn’t handle it well when he feels like the walls are closing in on him. He freaks out — and acts out — when he feels thwarted because he so rarely ever has been. We’re looking at a very old and fairly complex psychology that goes back to his childhood. The crows finally coming home to roost when he’s in his late 70s is something that he’s not going to be able to manage. We’re going to be seeing Donald Trump in a unique context for which he is totally unprepared. At a rally or at a press conference, he controls the room. He is determining the narrative, and any gaps or ramblings can be put down to the fact that he’s riffing or being extemporaneous or doing improv. In the courtroom, however, Donald can’t speak out of turn — he will be subject to the judge’s rules. And a lot of people are going to see certain traits, like his thuggishness, his temper, his sense of grievance, that may play well to some in certain settings, but that in this setting will come across very differently. He will be seen to be rude, weak, and incapable of controlling himself when bound by the same rules to which the rest of us must conform. There’s a reason he tried to get this case delayed until the 11th hour. Even after one day, it was clear Donald wasn’t faring well. He’s experiencing serious psychological trauma. The narcissistic wound that he’s suffering right now is basically short-circuiting him.
@MaryLTrump Orale Resister Mary Don Snoreleone #DonSnoreleone
@MaryLTrump Mary, can you solve the mystery as to whether or not Donald attended any of his children’s high school graduations?
@MaryLTrump I see that Mr. Trump is being attacked in every aspect, this will certainly affect the race for the White House. I still believe that Mr. Trump will overcome this difficult period..💙
@MaryLTrump Vote for Biden and Harris in November 💙