The Bulwark Podcast S2 Ep1042: Leah Litman and Andrew Egger: Grievance All the Way Down
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May 14, 2025 
Leah Litman, a law professor at the University of Michigan and author of *Lawless*, joins Andrew Egger, White House correspondent at The Bulwark, to discuss the Supreme Court's emotionally driven decisions. They delve into how the justices interpret key issues like birthright citizenship and LGBTQ rights while revealing a newfound boredom from the White House with MAGA media's soft questions. The conversation thrives on contemporary grievances, media interactions, and the oddities of Trump's crypto ventures, weaving an insightful narrative through today's political landscape.
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Supreme Court's Culture War Cases
- The Supreme Court's current docket includes major culture war cases like bans on gender-affirming care and LGBTQ-inclusive books.
- Conservative justices interpret equality and religious freedoms in ways that reflect grievance and cultural conflict.
Contradictions in Court's Agency Doctrine
- The Court wrestles with limiting agency power through doctrines that oddly exempt presidential foreign affairs actions.
- This creates tension between restricting agencies and promoting expansive presidential power.
Originalism's Varied Meanings and Uses
- Originalism has dual origins: some saw it as a principled interpretive method, others as a tool to roll back civil liberties.
- Conservative justices now use originalism flexibly to justify preferred outcomes rather than strict textual fidelity.
