The DSR Network Words Matter: Never Mind Being Blind, Right Now Justice in the US is Near Death
Jul 17, 2025
Dahlia Lithwick is a leading expert on the Supreme Court, while Norm Ornstein is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, focusing on U.S. politics. Together, they dive into the alarming erosion of democracy in America. They address the troubling influence of loyalty over legality within the Justice Department and the contentious nomination processes that threaten judicial integrity. The conversation explores the normalization of authoritarian practices and the critical implications for civil liberties and the rule of law.
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Trump's Judicial Loyalty Over Law
- Emile Bove epitomizes loyalty over constitutional fidelity in Trump's judicial picks.
- His lifetime appointment signals a lowering bar for judicial fitness, emphasizing Trump allegiance.
Justice Dept's Authoritarian Shift
- The Justice Department divides into punishing dissent and rewarding loyalty, fueling authoritarianism.
- Law enforcement responds to whom Trump favors, blurring legal norms disastrously.
DOJ Corruption Undermines Justice
- The DOJ punishes dissenters and suppresses voting rights while Civil Rights has become 'civil wrongs.'
- Pam Bondi exemplifies corrupt loyalty as a DOJ official benefiting Trump despite past unethical acts.
