Vox Sentences - The latest in Trump's Georgia case

Wednesday, September 6, 2023:

Hey readers!

Li Zhou, here, filling in for Izzie Ramirez. Here’s what we’re following today:

Up first: It’s a quiet arraignment day for the 19 defendants in Trump’s Georgia indictment. 

In other news: A “soft landing” is looking more and more plausible for the economy.

Izzie will be back in your inbox tomorrow! 

The latest in the Trump Georgia case, briefly explained

Arvin Temkar/Getty Images

It was a very remote arraignment day in Georgia. Trump, as well as the 18 other people charged in Fulton County, were all scheduled to be arraigned today. But they all pleaded “not guilty” and waived their right to in-person arraignments, choosing to advance their cases by submitting paperwork to the court.

The lowdown: As part of this indictment, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has charged Trump with racketeering — and 12 other felonies — in his bid to overturn the state’s election results in 2020.

• The Georgia case is one of the most important of all of Trump’s indictments. The outcome of this case could have major implications for the future of democracy — and a president’s ability to try to cling to power.
  
  

• The list of people charged in Georgia is lengthy. The 19 defendants include everyone from former Trump attorney John Eastman — seen as a key architect of the plan to challenge the 2020 election results — to regional Georgia actors like David Shafer, who served as a false elector in the state. That means the verdict could also create new boundaries for what a candidate’s allies can legally do to help them dispute results after they lose a race.
  
  
• The trial could happen soon. No date has yet been set, but Willis is pushing for a trial ahead of the 2024 election, while Trump’s attorneys are urging a later date.  

The stakes: Nicole Narea and I put together a rundown of all the people charged in the Georgia indictment, which alleges that the defendants collectively participated in a criminal enterprise aimed at undoing the state’s election results. 

In addition to the precedent it could set, this indictment differs from the federal ones for a few other reasons. Because of Georgia’s system for pardons, which requires the approval of a special state board, Trump would not be able to pardon himself if convicted. 

And Georgia law allows cameras in the courtroom, so the trial for this indictment is expected to be livestreamed, a move that could shape public discourse on the case. 

Read our full visual guide (complete with mugshots) and explainer here.

The outlook for the US economy is getting stronger

Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

As Americans continue to struggle with the cost of living, there may be some good news around the corner. Here’s what you need to know:

• More signs are pointing to a possible “soft landing” — an economic scenario in which inflation goes down but the US avoids a recession. [Bloomberg]
  
  
• Last week, an August jobs report showed slowing job and wage growth, which may not be the best sign for workers, but are data points suggesting that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to curb inflation could be working. [Vox] 
  
  
• Goldman Sachs has adjusted the odds of a recession, reducing them from 20 percent to 15 percent, citing declining inflation and a cooling labor market among the reasons. [Fortune]
  
  
• “The likelihood of recession has lessened, and the likelihood of soft landing has increased,” according to Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board. [Vox]

Did the Cold War ever end?

Historian Calder Walton explains why we need to rethink how we talk about the Cold War, and offers a new way to look at the US's current antagonistic relationship with Russia and China.

• This past summer was the hottest one ever. It surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by roughly 0.3 degrees Celsius. [CNN]
  
  

• The Pentagon is calling out Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville. The Republican lawmaker has placed holds on key military nominees in protest of the Defense Department’s abortion policies. Military leaders are over it. [PBS]
  
  

• US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visits Ukraine. Blinken committed another $1 billion in aid to Ukraine, bringing the US total to upward of $75 billion, and signaling America’s commitment to the country. [Associated Press]
  
  

• A Proud Boys leader has gotten the longest January 6 sentence thus far. Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years for sedition, the most severe penalty for anyone involved in the insurrection. [New York Times]

“Never underestimate them”: A Holocaust historian’s warning about Germany’s far right

Vivek Ramaswamy and the lie of the “model minority”

Zadie Smith on the problem of the good white woman

The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, explained

Today’s crossword

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