28 Comments
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David J. Sharp's avatar

Looks like Roberts is willing to let the reactionaries have their way to protect the reactionary Supreme Court and its leader. Well done, John—who needs bravery when you can pretend you’re in charge?

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Susan V's avatar

My understanding is that these funds are for work that's already been done, which if so makes this that much more galling and reprehensible.

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Marthe du Sud-Ouest's avatar

Refusing to pay is also one of Trump’s few maneuvers, no matter what sphere he’s operating in. I’m disgusted with Roberts, and have been since he anointed Trump dictator last summer. What does Roberts even *get* out of this? Hope he’s proud of the role he played in killing the Republic and ending the rule of law in favor of rule by one spectacularly unqualified, stupid, vicious, incurious little man. An unusually petty dictator.

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Joe From the Bronx's avatar

Interesting to read this and Steve Vladeck's take side-by-side.

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Chris Geidner's avatar

Agreed. I just read his piece, and I think we both agree on most of what it going on here; I think we're just weighing signals and the import of steps a little differently, leading to framing that looks very different — but I'm not sure, if you deconstruct it all, really substantively is. I'm very concerned about the signal but think it could still turn out OK for the rule of law. Steve thinks Wednesday's step was OK for the rule of law but is very concerned about what it could lead to ultimately.

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MissNumbersNinja's avatar

Thanks for sharing your perspective on the SCOTUS stay and your perspective on Vladeck's perspective! :-)

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MissNumbersNinja's avatar

By the by, here is a link to Steve Vladeck's analysis if anyone is looking for it

https://www.stevevladeck.com/p/127-chief-justice-robertss-administrative

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Sue Connaughton's avatar

As the country remains in accelerated free fall, it becomes more and more clear- the courts are not going to save us. In fact, they may make things worse by legitimizing trumps illegal and unconstitutional actions.

What’s next?

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Romaine Voigt's avatar

Roberts is disgusting; history will kick him to the curb along with his complicit Nazi jurists on the now useless and disgraced Supreme Court. It’s a tragedy.People are already needlessly suffering and dying because of the despicable barbarian squatting in the WH withhis flying monkey cabinet of cash-insulated mega criminals. Musk non-stop lies about USAID and the press,which at this point is a huge part of the problem, doesn’t ask one useful or revealing question. Our country is being hammered into pulp by monsters. I hope any rep of the illegitimate Trump adm. anywhere in the world is treated with the utmost contempt. Anyone who advances Trump’s fascist agenda is a traitor who should face certain ruin.

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Margaret Fisher SF Bay Area's avatar

Roberts is the richest scotus justice @ $25 million and a multimillion-dollar pension awaiting him. He’s a demonic force, like his billionaire buddies. Having everything, he sits above the human fray and serves his ego with no connection to the impact of his judgements. He could protect our nation, and the world, yet he prefers to throw it to the jackals.

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Jean in Florida's avatar

Maybe the Supreme Court should start thinking long term. At some point when Trump & his ilk get total control, then what would they need with the Courts?

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Marthe du Sud-Ouest's avatar

No need for the court at all. Roberts et al. have served their purpose.

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Randy's avatar

I've long thought that John Roberts is the most dangerous person on the Supreme Court and the biggest threat to the rule of law. He's better at hiding it than Thomas and Alito, but he's no less fanatical in his zeal to promote his lifelong partisan ideals at the expense of the Constitution.

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Leonard Grossman's avatar

Chris writes with justifiable outrage, setting forth, step by step, the brief history of the administration's perfidy and Roberts' apparent collusion with them. Every minute of delay in resumption of payments is costing lives. Meanwhile, DOJ is destroying any credibility it once had.

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Lauren Brody's avatar

Thank you, Chris.

Is there any intel on how the district courts are feeling about the Supremes and the chaos they sew with their rulings on Chevron, their quickness for CO's suit about Trump not being eligible and the loooooong drawn out BS over immunity? What they've done to the rule of law can't be over-stated and if I was a judge, I'd be very mad.

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Karen Scofield's avatar

This should be interesting, outside of Deleting,or ignoring the Judge Ruling in DC, what more would they need to declare the District of Columbia a part of the Administrative Branch of Government?! I weep for the Future 🇺🇸

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Richard Van Atta's avatar

Roberts rules of DISORDER!!!

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MissNumbersNinja's avatar

LOL!!! I have to take a moment to laugh at this, in a gallows humor sort of way.

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Heidi in Real Time's avatar

If SCOTUS ultimately rules in favor of the defendants when reviewing the case via the shadow docket, would that signal that the justice system guardrails are gone?

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Trump and Musk and Roberts to U.S.—let ‘em die, they’re the wrong color and gender anyways.

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Dana Shilling's avatar

I'm beginning to think Trump's plan is for everyone in the US to die so he can sell it to Putin as vacant.

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Or build Trump America World with exhibits of nearly extinct African-Americans, hardworking and underprivileged Latinos, and Nekkid Wimmin displays.

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Elizabeth's avatar

No surprise here. Only 3 members of SCOTUS respect the constitution. The others respect bribes and political favors. SCOTUS exists to interpret the constitution not destroy it.

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Jackie's avatar

The “Supreme” Court is responsible for this, shame.

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Wendy Arnold's avatar

More delay, delay, delay using Trump's legal strategy. Only the rich or government can do this.

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