Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. This morning we’re looking at:

— Merrick Garland’s appointment of a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden. Will this hurt or help Joe Biden?

— Judge Tanya Chutkan’s threat to take “whatever measures are necessary” to stop Trump from intimidating potential witnesses in his upcoming trial for seeking to overturn the 2020 election. What will Trump do next?

— The tragedy in Hawaii and the mounting costs of climate change. Yet Trump is readying a “Project 2025” to roll back environmental regulations and spur more carbon pollution if elected. Hello?

— The UAW’s demand in negotiations with the Big Three automakers that worker pay rise by the same percentage as CEO pay. What’s the back story here?

— The truly remarkably great economy. Why isn’t Biden getting credit, and should we worry?

— DeSantis bars Romeo and Juliet from Florida classrooms, and Ohio Republicans vote against a constitutional amendment that would have made it harder to protect abortion rights. What’s really going on with the GOP?

Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and, if you wish, take our klatch poll:

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