Analyzing the news requires some knowledge about how things really work in America. And that ability can only be developed with experience, which I have - nearly 50 years worth.

Enter Donald Trump's petition to the Supreme Court that he should be protected from all criminal charges for his actions on January 6 because he was carrying out his official executive branch duties as he saw fit.

Simply put: There was no criminal intent by Mr. Trump.

The court's three liberal justices, who are personally appalled by the former president, are not likely to accept that.

But the other six jurists clearly do NOT want to limit presidential authority in a case this subjective. If Trump had sold his office and received secret payments, that would be one thing. But allowing a federal prosecution on the theory that Trump willfully wanted to destroy the election process is quite something else.

So, my prediction is that the Supreme Court sends the case back to a lower federal court to define the exact actions for which a president can be prosecuted.

That decision would delay the January 6 conspiracy case until after the November vote. The subtext being the Supremes don't want to interfere with the election.

We'll know before the Fourth of July if I'm right.

Enjoy the weekend. New column on Sunday.