‹ Back

Wouldn’t you just love to see a trial of Trump v. Reality? A full-blown, knockdown drag-out legal battle culminating in Trump having to answer for all of his grift and corruption and deceit. In a court of law. Under oath.

Well, we just might have to grab some popcorn next year and get ourselves a ringside seat. Because Trump v. Pulitzer Board has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster.

Here’s the backstory: the Pulitzer Prize Board committed the sin of refusing to rescind the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the New York Times and the Washington Post for their reporting on Russian interference to help the Trump campaign. The Board commissioned two independent reviews and both reviews found that nothing in the reporting had been discredited by later facts. Because Russia did, in fact, actively help Trump get elected. (This is a different issue than whether Trump and/or his campaign actively sought their help, which is still the subject of some debate.)

So what does Mr. Fragile Ego/Mr. Litigation-Happy do? Why, of course, he sues them. “You defamed me!” His feewings were so hurt that it emotionally devastated him. It ruined his reputation. (That one’s particularly rich, isn’t it.) Cost him millions if not billions. He demanded astronomical damages.

And then he waited for them to cower, roll over, and cough up money. Like CBS and ABC. Like the spineless law firms. But instead the Pulitzer Prize Board said…wait for it…fine.

Let's see the evidence, Mr. Trump.

What have they sought in discovery (which is all discoverable in a case involving emotional damages and pecuniary damages)?

In a word, everything.

Medical records. Psychological records. Prescription histories. Tax returns. Financial holdings. Crypto assets. Liabilities. The Pulitzer Prize Board says show us the proof, Donald. The whole enchilada. And while we're at it, they want documentation proving that all those other lawsuits, the E. Jean Carroll cases, the CNN suit, the ABC settlement, the CBS meltdown, and the Wall Street Journal-Epstein birthday card actually caused the billions and billions of dollars in harm Trump keeps claiming.

Oh, he’ll do the usual Trump deflection dance. Delay. Give incomplete responses. Scream "witch hunt.” But then unless he folds, it’ll all come out. Trump would finally face a justice system applied evenly instead of using it as a weapon to punch down on anyone with less resources than he.
Maybe we’ll even get confirmation of the Putin-Trump connection. Can Pulitzer give a prize to their own lawyers?