It Is Impossible to Be Too Alarmed About the Immunity Decision

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This decision is absolutely outrageous. It is in the hall of fame of worst Supreme Court Decisions in our nation's history. It's that bad. As such, we recorded a ton, there is yelling involved. And cursing. And we even did an extra length patron episode to answer some of your questions. Neil Gorsuch recently promised that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity would be one “for the ages,” and Chief Justice John Roberts has certainly delivered here. In this special episode recorded on the 248th anniversary of history’s most famous rejection of monarchical tyranny, we review the historical context and (alleged) legal foundations of Trump v. U.S. (July 1, 2024). How much power has the Supreme Court just given future presidents? Are the unusually stark warnings of the authoritarian consequences of this decision from the liberal dissenters as “disproportionate” as Roberts claims, or are they exactly proportionate to the broad protections against investigation and prosecution which it seems to provide?

Matt shares his perspective from nearly two decades of working with people seeking asylum from failed (and failing) democracies, and we close with our hopes for a better American future.

• U.S. v. Trump (July 1, 2024)

• U.S. v. Nixon (July 27, 1974) 

• Trump’s motion to dismiss DC federal charges on the basis of presidential immunity

• Judge Chutkan’s decision denying Trump’s motion to dismiss

• DC Circuit’s unanimous decision affirming denial of Trump’s motion to dismiss

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