We tend to avoid printing “hype” articles ahead of expected big moments in the news. If XYZ is scheduled for a certain date and time we prefer to (1) let you know that it’s been scheduled (2) keep you updated on any noteworthy developments that related to XYZ and (3) carry XYZ live if possible or quickly report on the outcome if not. Other outlets like to fill space with reminders like “Suspense builds for XYZ” because they suck and we’ll just leave it at that to avoid a long tangent.

So yeah we’re going to break our unwritten rule against it to “preview” the action in two separate federal courts on Monday: First at 10 AM EDT a hearing is set in disgraced former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows’s attempt to remove the conspiracy charges against him in Georgia state court to a federal court. Marky’s got a shiny new Caucasian lawyer on his team ready to argue for him – a Ken Starr acolyte no less. Fulton County DA Fani Willis is using the Hatch Act to hatchet Meadow’s argument that he was acting on the color of federal authority when he helped Trump harass Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Could get ugly for the “Chief’s Chief.”

The bigger story however will be Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith’s crucial hearing – also at 10 AM EDT – in front of DC Circuit Judge Tanya Chutkan who will decide when to start the Orange God Emperor’s trial on the post-2020 election coup attempt charges. Make no mistake, this decision will be a very big fucking deal and could help determine the fate of American democracy if it ensures Trump is a convicted felon going into the 2024 election. The trial must be initially scheduled for late 2023 or early 2024 – before the Mar-a-Lago docs trial – if that’s going to happen.

BONUS: Two-time double-voting piece of shit Trump fan James Saunders will be sentenced to prison in a Cuyahoga County, Ohio court on Monday – also at 10 AM Eastern Time.