Cato Daily Podcast Best of Cato Daily Podcast: A Few From The Dirty Dozen
May 13, 2025
Dive into landmark Supreme Court cases that redefined governmental power, affecting individual freedoms. Discuss the ramifications of rulings like Wickard v. Filburn and McConnell v. FEC, and the pressing need to reassess these legal decisions. Unpack the American Trucking case to uncover how agency discretion can undermine constitutional limits and personal liberties. This conversation highlights the crucial balance between government authority and individual rights, advocating for a protective judicial approach.
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Supreme Court Expands Federal Reach
- The Supreme Court has drastically expanded federal authority over local activities via Wickard v. Filburn and Gonzalez v. Raich.
- Even non-commercial, in-state activities like growing marijuana for personal use now fall under federal regulation if aggregated effects impact commerce.
Tenth Amendment's Diminished Role
- The Court's decisions in Wickard and Raich undermine the Tenth Amendment's protections of state sovereignty.
- These rulings diminish the amendment's relevance, further eroding liberty safeguards.
Campaign Finance Jurisprudence Evolves
- McConnell v. FEC shows the Court's troubling stance on political speech and campaign finance.
- However, recent cases like Wisconsin Right to Life hint at a possible shift toward better First Amendment protections.