Trending Now - Addressing Corruption in the Supreme Court: Possible Solutions

WHO:

Kottke - Jamelle Bouie, columnist for the New York Times, discusses the Supreme Court.

Alternet - Clarence Thomas, Justice of the Supreme Court; Samuel Alito, Justice of the Supreme Court; Donald Trump, President of the United States; Barack Obama, former President of the United States; Joe Biden, President of the United States.

WHAT:

Kottke - Bouie states, "The Supreme Court is corrupt."

Kottke - Bouie argues that the Supreme Court acts as a "super legislature."

Kottke - Bouie claims the Roberts Court ignores the Constitution's text to pursue partisan goals.

Alternet - Bouie asserts that the Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act.

Alternet - Bouie mentions that the court has a preference for Republican presidents, allowing broader presidential power under Trump compared to Obama.

Kottke - Bouie suggests that court reform must be a priority if Democrats gain a supermajority in 2029.

WHERE:

Kottke - Bouie refers to the Supreme Court's actions affecting voting rights and presidential powers in the United States.

WHEN:

Alternet - Bouie predicts that court reform must be addressed in 2029 if Democrats achieve a supermajority.

WHY:

Kottke - Bouie argues that the Supreme Court's actions substitute public trust for private interests.

Alternet - Bouie claims the court's decisions reflect a partisan agenda, particularly favoring the Republican Party.

HOW:

Kottke - Bouie suggests expanding the court and implementing jurisdiction stripping to reduce its power.

Alternet - Bouie proposes creating a national appeals court with judges from existing circuits to limit the Supreme Court's jurisdiction.

(UPDATED May 1, 2026 23:20 UTC)

Jamelle Bouie, a columnist for the New York Times, recently discussed the Supreme Court's actions, labeling it as corrupt and arguing that it functions as a "super legislature" that prioritizes partisan goals over the Constitution. He highlighted the court's impact on voting rights, claiming it has effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act and shown a preference for Republican presidents, which has allowed Trump broader presidential power compared to Obama. Bouie emphasized that if Democrats secure a supermajority in 2029, court reform should be a top priority, suggesting measures like expanding the court and creating a national appeals court to limit its jurisdiction.