Slate Daily Feed Amicus | There Is No Musk-Trump Feud Without The Roberts Court
Jun 7, 2025
Michael Podhorzer, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former political director of the AFL-CIO, dives into the intersection of wealth and judicial power. He discusses how figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump are reshaping the Supreme Court's decisions, influencing democracy. The conversation highlights recent judicial shifts favoring the wealthy, the implications for labor movements, and the need for collective action. Podhorzer also advocates for a deeper understanding of these dynamics as essential for preserving democratic values.
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Roberts Court: Auctioned Judiciary
- The Roberts Court represents a decades-long project by wealthy interests to reshape the judiciary for their agenda.
- This legal movement seeks to bypass democratic constraints to impose unpopular policies through appointed justices.
Judicial Supremacy's Democratic Risk
- Bipartisan acceptance of judicial supremacy has led to a slow constitutional crisis.
- The court's power undermines democracy by making key policy decisions without electoral consent.
Rule by Fiat vs. Law
- The Roberts Court often rules by fiat, making up outcomes rather than applying law uniformly.
- This 'rule by fiat' contrasts with genuine rule of law, highlighting the court's biased decisions.
