DeepSummary
The podcast episode features a discussion between Tyler Foggatt and staff writer Amy Davidson Sorkin about the major Supreme Court cases decided and pending during this term. They delve into the court's landmark rulings, such as overturning the constitutional right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson and establishing a new test for gun laws in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.
Sorkin explains the far-reaching implications of the Dobbs and Bruen decisions, including the court's struggle to interpret and apply its own rulings as lower courts grapple with implementing them. They discuss cases like United States v. Rahimi, which upheld a federal law prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing guns, and the pending case on presidential immunity that could shape the ability to prosecute former presidents.
The conversation also touches on the Supreme Court's influence on the 2024 election, with Biden suggesting he may have the opportunity to appoint two new justices. Sorkin and Foggatt examine the politicization of the court, the justices' concerns about their public image, and the broader implications of the court's decisions on issues like abortion, guns, and the balance of federal and state power.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Supreme Court's landmark decisions on abortion and gun rights this term have far-reaching implications and have created confusion as lower courts grapple with implementing them.
- The court's upcoming ruling on presidential immunity could shape the ability to prosecute former presidents for actions taken while in office.
- The 2024 presidential election could significantly impact the Supreme Court's composition, with Biden suggesting he may have the opportunity to appoint two new justices.
- The Supreme Court is facing criticisms and concerns about its politicization, public image, and the justices' personal safety.
- The court's decisions on issues like abortion, guns, and federal agency power are shaping the balance of federal and state authority.
- There are divisions and differing approaches among the conservative justices, despite their ideological alignment.
- The court's struggles to interpret and apply its own precedents, such as in the Bruen decision on gun rights, have created uncertainty and confusion.
- Discussions around Supreme Court term limits and the lifetime appointment of justices have emerged amid concerns about their long-lasting legacies.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The idea that if he's re elected, he's going to appoint two more flags upside down is really, I really mean it.“ by Joe Biden
- “With Brune, they added this uncertainty. They remade it, and they're dealing with what they've done.“ by Amy Davidson Sorkin
- “You know, it's hard if you're refusing to treat a woman who comes in in crisis. They just didn't want to ever have to exercise the conscience requirements.“ by Amy Davidson Sorkin
- “And this case was coming that came to them. This is the case that the Fifth Circuit said, we don't see a problem with this guy having a gun.“ by Amy Davidson Sorkin
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Episode Information
The Political Scene | The New Yorker
WNYC Studios and The New Yorker (audio_production@condenast.com)
6/26/24
The New Yorker staff writer Amy Davidson Sorkin joins Tyler Foggatt to examine the biggest Supreme Court decisions of the year—those already decided and those yet to come. They discuss the Court’s attempt to moderate its radical rulings on guns and abortion, its politicized selection of which cases to hear, and its influence on the 2024 election.
This week’s reading:
- “The Supreme Court Steps Back from the Brink on Guns,” by Amy Davidson Sorkin
- “Yet More Donald Trump Cases Head to the Supreme Court,” by Amy Davidson Sorkin
To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com.