I very much appreciate the historical background you’ve added to the current story. You do that quite often and I think it adds a depth to your work that is rarely seen elsewhere. It expands the scope of the story and makes it easier to evaluate the current action when compared to similar history. Thank you, as always, for your excellent work.
Strongly agree! I recently discovered this newsletter and have been blown away by the quality so far. Both the historical context and clear eyed analysis are top notch.
Given the Gestapo Trump is assembling in the "judicial" arm of his administration, Biden's actions are entirely defensible regardless of what he promised in the past. Could Biden have forseen the bizarre, vile, gangster group Trump is assembling when he made those promises? I think it's taken most of us by surprise and I'd do what Biden did, too, if I were in his position.
If Biden had not pardoned hunter hunter would have been killed in prison with a shiv and the killer would have been pardoned by Trump. So Biden saved his kid. Doing what any father would have been done any substacker that thinks otherwise will lose their subscribers
At this point, family is all he has left. After a lifetime of public service, he's been rejected. I don't blame him. Look down the road toward the pardoning of "patriots" who have injured and killed others on January 6. The new promise is to open the prison gates.
I appreciate the historical context. But I think there are far more urgent matters at the moment. I hope you'll do this level of coverage on Kash Patel. The Atlantic this weekend said the nomination threatens a "constitutional crisis greater than Watergate." Just when I think I'm shocked by Trump's nominees, he manages to lower the bar again.
There's also Musk's threat on Twitter against Alexander Vindman, the whistleblower who brought our attention to Trump's call with Zelensky. As some kind of second VP, Musk has become one of Trump's mouthpieces. The legacy media has done very little with this.
I am sympathetic to Biden's expressed rationale, that his son was already subject to far worse punishment than the charges merited and that the political climate was such that his son would have continued to be persecuted in the prison system. Had the incoming President been a rational person with morals and principles that comported to American norms of decency and fair play, Biden may not have pardoned Hunter. However, Trump is not normal in any way and his cabinet nominations make that patently clear.
Biden promised he would not pardon Hunter. Some promises need to be broken. A bad marriage is the most obvious example. When things happen that alter the circumstances of the promise, it must be broken. The threats of retribution and revenge from the incoming administration have definitely altered the circumstances.
You mention that the President did not address his reversal, but it seemed to me that the entire statement was doing so, as he opens with the acknowledgment that he promised to not interfere, then proceeds to explain why he ended up doing so. Maybe I’m missing something? Either way, I appreciate your analysis and historical context!
An excellent summary, of which I was unaware. I wonder how many past presidents would have turned over a son to the whims of a hostile incoming administration. I suspect that even Lincoln would have yielded to love of family.
Once again, you knock it out of the park. I've learned more about government from your newsletter than any publication I've read. Thank you for your thoroughness Gabe, in research and clarity.
He would have been a cruel father, indeed, had he not pardoned his son. Circumstances changed; when he made those promises he was the nominee. Good for him for using the presidential pardon power to help his son.
The GOP and Trump have perfected the art of Orwellian double-think, demanding strict adherence to "rules" they’ve gleefully torched. They insist on accountability for their enemies while excusing or outright celebrating their own rule-breaking. From undermining the justice system to defying constitutional norms, they weaponize laws as tools of convenience—enforcing them selectively to punish dissent while claiming victimhood when held to account. It’s not rule-following they champion; it’s the illusion of it, wielded to mask their own relentless pursuit of unchecked power.
Tired of the GOP's hypocrisy, nihilism, and corruption? Subscribe here:
Thank you for this in-depth explanation. You used the word ‘fealty’ at the end of this piece and I have come to the conclusion that it really is up to us, the citizenry, to work hard to preserve our democracy. “We the people” is not an abstract term to me. Politics can be an ugly game. We shall see how the fealty to DJT plays out.
If Biden had not pardoned Hunter, it would have confirmed his feeble-mindedness. Thank God he is saving his son and all of us never ending investigations by the Trump Justice department. I’d argue he’d be doing the country a favor by giving blanket pardons to everyone on Kash Patel’s published hit list.
I very much appreciate the historical background you’ve added to the current story. You do that quite often and I think it adds a depth to your work that is rarely seen elsewhere. It expands the scope of the story and makes it easier to evaluate the current action when compared to similar history. Thank you, as always, for your excellent work.
Strongly agree! I recently discovered this newsletter and have been blown away by the quality so far. Both the historical context and clear eyed analysis are top notch.
Given the Gestapo Trump is assembling in the "judicial" arm of his administration, Biden's actions are entirely defensible regardless of what he promised in the past. Could Biden have forseen the bizarre, vile, gangster group Trump is assembling when he made those promises? I think it's taken most of us by surprise and I'd do what Biden did, too, if I were in his position.
If Biden had not pardoned hunter hunter would have been killed in prison with a shiv and the killer would have been pardoned by Trump. So Biden saved his kid. Doing what any father would have been done any substacker that thinks otherwise will lose their subscribers
At this point, family is all he has left. After a lifetime of public service, he's been rejected. I don't blame him. Look down the road toward the pardoning of "patriots" who have injured and killed others on January 6. The new promise is to open the prison gates.
I appreciate the historical context. But I think there are far more urgent matters at the moment. I hope you'll do this level of coverage on Kash Patel. The Atlantic this weekend said the nomination threatens a "constitutional crisis greater than Watergate." Just when I think I'm shocked by Trump's nominees, he manages to lower the bar again.
There's also Musk's threat on Twitter against Alexander Vindman, the whistleblower who brought our attention to Trump's call with Zelensky. As some kind of second VP, Musk has become one of Trump's mouthpieces. The legacy media has done very little with this.
Thanks again.
And please don't forget Pete Hegseth. Excellent reporting from Jane Mayer at the New Yorker.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/pete-hegseths-secret-history
I am sympathetic to Biden's expressed rationale, that his son was already subject to far worse punishment than the charges merited and that the political climate was such that his son would have continued to be persecuted in the prison system. Had the incoming President been a rational person with morals and principles that comported to American norms of decency and fair play, Biden may not have pardoned Hunter. However, Trump is not normal in any way and his cabinet nominations make that patently clear.
Biden promised he would not pardon Hunter. Some promises need to be broken. A bad marriage is the most obvious example. When things happen that alter the circumstances of the promise, it must be broken. The threats of retribution and revenge from the incoming administration have definitely altered the circumstances.
I whole heartedly agree. Threats of retribution cannot be ignored.
You mention that the President did not address his reversal, but it seemed to me that the entire statement was doing so, as he opens with the acknowledgment that he promised to not interfere, then proceeds to explain why he ended up doing so. Maybe I’m missing something? Either way, I appreciate your analysis and historical context!
An excellent summary, of which I was unaware. I wonder how many past presidents would have turned over a son to the whims of a hostile incoming administration. I suspect that even Lincoln would have yielded to love of family.
Once again, you knock it out of the park. I've learned more about government from your newsletter than any publication I've read. Thank you for your thoroughness Gabe, in research and clarity.
He would have been a cruel father, indeed, had he not pardoned his son. Circumstances changed; when he made those promises he was the nominee. Good for him for using the presidential pardon power to help his son.
Great piece this morning ☕ Gabe and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
The GOP and Trump have perfected the art of Orwellian double-think, demanding strict adherence to "rules" they’ve gleefully torched. They insist on accountability for their enemies while excusing or outright celebrating their own rule-breaking. From undermining the justice system to defying constitutional norms, they weaponize laws as tools of convenience—enforcing them selectively to punish dissent while claiming victimhood when held to account. It’s not rule-following they champion; it’s the illusion of it, wielded to mask their own relentless pursuit of unchecked power.
Tired of the GOP's hypocrisy, nihilism, and corruption? Subscribe here:
https://substack.com/@patricemersault
Thank you for this in-depth explanation. You used the word ‘fealty’ at the end of this piece and I have come to the conclusion that it really is up to us, the citizenry, to work hard to preserve our democracy. “We the people” is not an abstract term to me. Politics can be an ugly game. We shall see how the fealty to DJT plays out.
If Biden had not pardoned Hunter, it would have confirmed his feeble-mindedness. Thank God he is saving his son and all of us never ending investigations by the Trump Justice department. I’d argue he’d be doing the country a favor by giving blanket pardons to everyone on Kash Patel’s published hit list.
JFK removed all of his legal risks by appointing his brother as Attorney General, thus making the DoJ an arm of the Kennedy Crime Family.