Encouraging take about Jack Smith:

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Exactly. Garland knows details, knows the rump is guilty, but had to formalize it to distance it

This is my speculation, of course I don't read minds or remote view documents and computer screens in offices.

1) Smith took over long-running complex investigations. Fact.

2) Smith is no nonsense kinda guy. Fact.

3) Garland was pipped by (McConnell and) the rump who appointed three judges to Garland's rightful seat. Fact. Thus Garland is forced to add a layer between him and indictment. Garland must still decline to veto an indictment recommendation from Smith, but will simply rubber-stamp it, correctly. This will lower the temperature a little bit (not much) and we can all use the cumulative effect of many efforts to lower the temperature a little bit.

4) I'm sorry. All this manouevring is necessary for success and takes time.