SCOTUS Silently Grinds Democracy Into Powder as Trump Distracts America
May 17, 2024
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Author Dahlia Lithwick discusses recent Supreme Court developments, while journalist Judd Legum talks about the right-wing's use of cancel culture. Topics include SCOTUS decisions, cancel culture weaponization, and implications for democracy.
The Supreme Court has displayed a lack of alignment with public sentiment, evident in controversial decisions such as the CFPB case.
Abortion cases highlight the Court's focus on doctors' rights over women's well-being, indicating a disregard for women's health and dignity.
Conservatives' criticism of cancel culture is ironic, with aggressive tactics used to stifle dissenting voices, revealing contradictions within the anti-cancel culture movement.
Deep dives
The Supreme Court's Unpredictable Term
The Supreme Court's current term stands out with a myriad of controversial cases, including two abortion cases and Trump-related issues. Despite ethics scandals and public outcry, the Court has shown no signs of moderating its behavior or aligning with public sentiment.
Implications of Recent Court Decisions
Recent Court decisions, such as the CFPB case, illustrate a lack of concern for consumer protection and an attempt to dismantle government agencies. Additionally, abortion cases highlight the Court's disregard for women's health and dignity, focusing on doctors' rights rather than the well-being of women.
Future Threats to Reproductive Rights
Beyond the Court's decisions, there are looming threats to reproductive rights through initiatives like Project 2025, aiming to restrict abortion access and rights through executive actions. It is crucial to raise awareness and urgency about these impending challenges to protect reproductive freedom.
Critique of Cancel Culture and Woke Universities
Railing against cancel culture and woke universities is a common theme among conservatives. Journalist Judd Leggam highlights the irony in this stance, pointing out the lucrative nature of critiquing cancel culture. He reveals the aggressive tactics used by the right to stifle dissenting voices, citing instances where individuals were pressured to resign due to orchestrated campaigns. The podcast delves into the real cancel culture perpetuated by some conservative factions, shedding light on the contradictions within the anti-cancel culture movement.
Debunking Myths of Woke Indoctrination in Universities
The episode challenges the pervasive narrative of woke indoctrination in American universities. Referencing data from Open Syllabus, it reveals that terms like critical race theory and transgender appear infrequently in syllabi, disproving claims of widespread ideological activism. Despite widespread beliefs, the data indicates that such subjects are not dominant in curricula. The critique encompasses both right-wing and moderate perspectives, questioning the validity of claims portraying universities as liberal indoctrination centers.
This week on The New Abnormal, author Dahlia Lithwick talks us through the recent developments at the Supreme Court. Plus! Journalist Judd Legum joins the show to discuss the right-wing’s weaponization of cancel culture and its implications.