The Brian Lehrer Show Supreme Court on Planned Parenthood Funding and 'Third Country' Deportations
Jun 26, 2025
Kate Shaw, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, discusses crucial Supreme Court rulings. She delves into the Medina v. Planned Parenthood case, revealing its implications for Medicaid funding and civil rights challenges. The conversation also examines a controversial decision regarding deportations to third countries, highlighting the concerns over due process and the ethical dilemmas of sending migrants into instability. Shaw sheds light on upcoming cases that could affect education and voting rights.
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Medicaid Enforcement Limited by Supreme Court
- The Supreme Court ruled individuals cannot sue states under Section 1983 to enforce Medicaid rights against defunding of Planned Parenthood.
- This decision empowers states to target Planned Parenthood without private legal challenges, weakening individual enforcement of federal statutes.
States' Rights Over Individual Medicaid Access
- The ruling effectively prioritizes state government powers over Medicaid recipients' rights to qualified healthcare providers.
- It disempowers individuals from suing even when states deny access to federally protected services like those Planned Parenthood provides.
Dissent Warns on Civil Rights Erosion
- Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson's dissent emphasized that limiting Section 1983 enforcement undermines post-Civil War civil rights protections.
- She warned the decision weakens individuals' ability to challenge state violations and contradicts Reconstruction-era legislative intent.