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I usually find myself far less impatient to know when and how major news stories are going to resolve themselves than are my readers, sources, and friends.
It isn’t that I’m not curious or interested; it’s just I don’t find it very productive to spend time trying to resolve the unresolvable before the time is right.
And I am certainly more inclined to game out the “how it will end” than the “when.”
Ah, the “when”!!!!
People in the news business have a particular obsession with the “when,” since it impacts their vacation planning.
Most particularly right now: On the Wide World of News’ biggest storylines, how much August staffing needs to be in place to cover what might occur?
This has been a very busy summer of breaking developments. Will that pace keep up over the next fortnight – or will we have a two-week respite before coming back to touch gloves right around Labor Day?
As the most grizzled and gritty news veterans can confidently assure you: Only time will tell.
*
The Russia invasion of Ukraine (remember that story?).
How it will end: Putin will lose.
When: 2023.
*
China’s attempt to control Taiwan.
How it will end: Never happens.
When: I told you – never.
*
Justice Department makes it clear what is up with the Trump documents.
How it will end: Flip if I know (I ended the weekend more confused than I began it.).
When: Patience will be needed, per the Wall Street Journal:
Investigators are now pursuing the next steps of the department’s criminal investigation into the handling of national security material and presidential records, a process that may take many months to play out…
They include what specifically investigators find in the seized documents; why they ended up at Mar-a-Lago; who accessed them at the Florida resort; and the actions of Mr. Trump and his lawyers as the two sides negotiated for months in the spring for the return of the records, according to people familiar with the inquiry….
Mr. Trump on Sunday asserted on his social-media platform that the Federal Bureau of Investigation took material protected by attorney-client privilege and asked for the material back. The Justice Department has set up what is known as a “filter team,” a separate group of agents and lawyers to review the materials and determine whether any of them are protected by such privilege before they will be provided to investigators, according to people familiar with the team.
*
Mr. Trump settles on an explanation for his apparent law breaking.
How it will end: Does it really matter at this point?
Per the New York Times handy summary:
Mr. Trump and his allies have argued that former President Barack Obama also mishandled documents (an allegation quickly dismissed as false by the National Archives); that the judge who signed the warrant authorizing the search must have been biased; that the F.B.I. might have planted evidence; that the documents were covered by attorney-client or executive privilege; and that Mr. Trump had declassified the documents.
When: After a certain former president takes his last breath.
*
How the stew of inflation, abortion, the Biden-Harris-Klain-Pelosi-Schumer legislative record, guns, Trump, poor Republican Senate candidates, etc will impact the outcome of the midterm elections.
How it will end: As this fine Wall Street Journal roundup makes clear, there isn’t a soul alive who knows, not even Charlie Cook!
When: November.
*
How much will Joe Biden be in demand on the campaign trail and what his message will be.
How it well end: More in demand than he was in July; check out Edward-Isaac Dovere’s essential read on the buoyed Biden boom:
Biden's aides had been planning his own big speech at the end of July, in Wisconsin -- until aides to Gov. Tony Evers, who's in a tight reelection fight, urged him not to come so they could avoid being together. White House aides had decided to go through with it anyway, until they realized that the necessary security measures would force them to cancel the local favorite Oshkosh Air Show.
Now that big Biden speech is being planned for shortly after Labor Day. Aides are preparing a hard-hitting kick off for midterm campaigning, with the President touting tangible, long-talked-about wins like lowering prescription drug costs and gun restrictions while hammering Republicans for being extremists who are in the pocket of special interests.
When: As the guy said, check back around Labor Day.
*
The Hunter Biden investigation.
How it will end: Plea bargain.
When: After the midterms but before his father makes a reelection announcement.
*
The determination of the 2024 major party presidential nominees.
How it will end: Wouldn’t you like to know!!???
When: After we see what 45 and 46 do.
*
The World Series winner.
How it will end: Subway series.
When: After five games.
