To many Americans, Clarence Thomas makes no sense. For more than 30 years on the Court, he seems to have been on a mission — to take away rights that benefit Black people. As a young man, though, Thomas listened to records of Malcolm X speeches on a loop and strongly identified with the tenets of Black Nationalism. This week on More Perfect, we dig into his writings and lectures, talk to scholars and confidants, and explore his past, all in an attempt to answer: what does Clarence Thomas think Clarence Thomas is doing? Voices in the episode include: • Juan Williams — senior political analyst at Fox News • Corey Robin — professor of political science at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center • Angela Onwuachi-Willig — Dean of Boston University School of Law • Stephen F. Smith — Notre Dame Law School professor Learn more: • 1993: Graham v. Collins • 1994: Holder v. Hall • 1999: Chicago v. Morales • 2003: Grutter v. Bollinger • 2022: Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College • 2022: Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina • “The Enigma of Clarence Thomas” by Corey Robin • “Black Conservatives, Center Stage” by Juan Williams • “Just Another Brother on the SCT?: What Justice Clarence Thomas Teaches Us About the Influence of Racial Identity” by Angela Onwuachi-Willig • “Clarence X?: The Black Nationalist Behind Justice Thomas's Constitutionalism” by Stephen F. Smith • “My Grandfather’s Son” by Justice Clarence Thomas Supreme Court archival audio comes from Oyez®, a free law project by Justia and the Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School. Support for More Perfect is provided in part by The Smart Family Fund. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @moreperfectpodcast, and Twitter @moreperfect.

Juan Williams, a Fox News political analyst and author, joins the discussion on Trump's virtual address to global leaders at Davos. He underscores the implications of Trump’s tariffs on international relations amid the Ukraine conflict. The conversation shifts to the rapid changes in immigration policy, including military deployment at the border and executive orders on citizenship. Williams also shares insights from his new book, focusing on the evolution of civil rights movements and the transformative role of social media in today’s activism.

Juan Williams, a Fox News Policy Analyst and author of 'New Prize for These Eyes,' dives deep into the complexities of America's second civil rights movement. He highlights the evolution of activism from the 1960s to today, discussing the decentralized leadership of modern movements like Black Lives Matter. Williams examines the challenges of police brutality, the ramifications of slogans like 'defund the police,' and the impact of demographic shifts since the 1960s. He also navigates the delicate issues of race in education and the need for empathy in community struggles.