The hottest Judiciary Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

How to Humiliate an Economist

BIG by Matt Stoller • 32544 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Judge criticized American Airlines and JetBlue's experts for being dishonest.
  2. Economic experts at consulting firms like Compass Lexecon have conflicts of interest.
  3. Judge Sorokin's ruling against the Northeast Alliance indicates a potential end to airline consolidation.

The glory of the English Law

Wrong Side of History • 560 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The jury system in England is facing a decline, with plans to limit its use to only the most serious crimes. This change may affect a fundamental right that has been in place for over 800 years.
  2. Trial by jury has deep historical roots, evolving from early methods like trial by ordeal and trial by battle. The concept of having a group of peers decide a person's fate became an important part of English law and liberty through the Magna Carta.
  3. Juries are seen as a safeguard against tyranny and abuse of power. They protect individuals' rights, even if the public isn't always wise, by ensuring that justice isn't solely in the hands of officials.

CROSSPOST: Alan Wolff: Bamboozled: What made anyone think the Trump tariffs were legal?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 199 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Trump tariff package lacked a valid legal basis because the emergency statute used (IEEPA) doesn’t authorize broad, across-the-board tariffs and the Nixon 1971 surcharge precedent was misread.
  2. Other institutions failed to check the move—Congressional leaders avoided confrontation and courts were slow or enabling, letting an executive power grab undermine the separation of powers.
  3. This episode highlights the danger of loosely defined emergency powers and the need for Congress to reassert control over tariffs and investigate how the constitutional guardrails were bypassed.

The MAGA Carta

Diane Francis • 979 implied HN points • 09 May 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Magna Carta was the first document to say that the king isn't above the law. This idea is important for keeping leaders in check.
  2. The U.S. Constitution builds on this idea by creating guidelines for how power should be shared and controlled among the government.
  3. There is concern about a Supreme Court case that could give a president legal immunity while in office, which goes against the principle that no one is above the law.
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When Government Decides What You Can Read (Part 1)

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The White House ran a sustained, well-documented campaign pressuring major tech platforms to remove or downrank COVID‑related content, and that campaign was executed day-to-day by political digital operatives who targeted scientists and conservative commentators.
  2. A British nonprofit, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, provided target lists used by the administration, meaning a foreign partisan organization helped shape which American voices were flagged for suppression.
  3. Lower courts found likely government coercion, but the Supreme Court dismissed the case on standing, leaving the central First Amendment question unresolved and showing how procedural rulings can prevent accountability for executive actions.

The roundup, and an open thread

The Watch • 479 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The administration is reshaping institutions and using power for private gain, from monetized pardons and family windfalls to renaming federal bodies and pushing aggressive foreign and immigration actions.
  2. Checks on power and the rule of law are eroding as courts and agencies enable partisan maps and politicized probes while serious misconduct and wrongful convictions keep coming to light.
  3. Public health and vulnerable people are at risk as vaccine policy and prison protections are rolled back, and global child deaths are projected to rise after decades of decline.

Niall Ferguson on Trump’s National Security Strategy. The EU’s New Censorship. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 440 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Trump’s new National Security Strategy sparked heavy backlash and signals a tougher, more confrontational posture toward Europe and key allies.
  2. The European Union is ramping up enforcement against big tech with fines and antitrust probes, which is reshaping online speech and competition.
  3. National security and political battles are intensifying at home, from disputed Pentagon strikes and weapons testing to treatment of the National Guard and high‑stakes gerrymandering fights.

Kristi Noem vs. Harvard: What Their Language Reveals.

Breaking the News • 2616 implied HN points • 26 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Kristi Noem sent a harsh letter to Harvard, canceling its international student visas and making extreme demands. This showed a rude and controlling attitude.
  2. Harvard responded with a detailed legal complaint that emphasized its rights and academic independence. Their defense highlighted that the government's actions were unfair and retaliatory.
  3. A judge quickly ruled in favor of Harvard, granting a temporary order to protect the university from Noem's demands. This showed the importance of following lawful processes in governance.

Rwanda: This is what happens next

Striking 13 • 3014 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Judiciary
  1. The government in Rwanda is attempting to implement controversial policies, but they are facing significant challenges and obstacles at every step.
  2. The plan for dealing with asylum seekers is chaotic and unrealistic, resulting in confusion and uncertainty for all parties involved, including potential legal consequences.
  3. There are complex legal, constitutional, and parliamentary hurdles that the government needs to overcome in order to push through their proposed legislation, indicating a tough road ahead if they intend to proceed.

Minnesota Vice. Is There Anyone Trump Can’t Fire? Plus . . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 370 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A huge fraud at a Minneapolis nonprofit allegedly stole over $250 million meant to feed kids during the pandemic, with investigators saying some money was spent on luxury items and may have flowed to militants in Somalia.
  2. The Supreme Court is weighing a case that could let the president remove many more federal officials, which would greatly expand presidential power and reshape how government works.
  3. The newsletter highlights a string of cultural and political flashpoints — from assisted‑suicide debates and library book bans to online harassment of women scholars and infighting among Democrats — showing rising polarization on social issues.

February 23, 2026

Letters from an American • 29 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The president responded to the Supreme Court ruling by publicly doubling down on tariffs, claiming broad unilateral power and attacking the Court’s legitimacy.
  2. Those tariff threats have created real international and economic fallout — trading partners and the European Parliament froze or delayed deals, markets fell, and Congress shows little appetite to back the plan.
  3. A string of administration controversies and legal moves — blocked reports, a barred ambassador, officials' inappropriate behavior, and misconduct allegations — are damaging credibility and increasing political backlash.

The Supreme Court Strikes Trump’s Tariffs

The Reactionary • 38 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs, effectively ending the presidential tariff program.
  2. The decision was 6–3, with Chief Justice Roberts writing the opinion joined by Justices Gorsuch, Barrett, Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson, while Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh dissented.
  3. The Court emphasized that Congress under Article I has the power to set tariffs and declined to read the IEEPA’s broad 'regulate importation' language as giving the President sweeping economic authority.

Legislator Gao Chin vs the Kitchen Sink

Taipology • 30 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Judiciary
  1. Prosecutors sometimes use a “kitchen sink” tactic — piling on many unrelated or old grey-area charges and staging dramatic raids and media leaks so the public assumes guilt.
  2. That playbook is often used against opposition politicians, turning prosecutions into political battles that are confusing because the charges are heterogeneous.
  3. Even if legally permissible, this approach erodes trust in the rule of law and condemns defendants to years of legal limbo and public damage regardless of the final outcome.

How Much Power Does the President Actually Have Over the Civil Service?

Can We Still Govern? • 139 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The president actually has broad, statutory authority to shape hiring, exemptions, and conduct rules in the federal civil service—far more power than most people assume.
  2. That authority can be used to strengthen administrative capacity or to politicize and weaken agencies, and courts and Congress often defer or fail to check problematic uses.
  3. If we want laws to be implemented faithfully, Congress and the courts need to impose clearer statutory limits and enforce them, because professional norms alone won’t prevent abuse.

Are James Comey and Letitia James Finally Off the Hook?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 352 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A federal judge in Virginia threw out the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James.
  2. The dismissals were procedural rather than on the merits, and the Justice Department can still seek to continue or refile prosecutions.
  3. The rulings are a notable political setback for the Trump administration after public demands to prosecute them.

This Supreme Court Term Proves the System Still Works

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1456 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Supreme Court had notable victories for conservatives this term, including key rulings supporting Trump's policies. This shows a strong conservative majority in the Court.
  2. Some people, especially progressives, are upset about the Court's decisions, claiming they create confusion and support unlawful actions.
  3. Overall, the term demonstrated that the Supreme Court remains active and influential, not easily swayed by political pressure.

CROSSPOST: STEVE VLADECK: The Fifth Circuit Jumps the Immigration Detention Shark

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 46 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Fifth Circuit recently embraced an extreme immigration rule that can force noncitizens who were never lawfully admitted into mandatory detention with no chance for bond, contradicting many district court decisions.
  2. A long-term strategy to install judges who distrust traditional judging has produced appellate judges who treat legal reasoning as an obstacle and are competing to be as lawless and ideologically driven as possible.
  3. That dynamic threatens to warp the judicial system: judges pushing radical positions hope a compliant Supreme Court will follow, risking widespread injustice and legal chaos beyond this single immigration case.

At will? Whose will?

Can We Still Govern? • 254 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Supreme Court seems poised to let presidents remove independent agency leaders, which will make agencies more political and reward loyalty over expertise.
  2. The federal government is already operating like an at‑will system right now, with partisan firings and stripped safeguards that weaken career staff, reduce state capacity, and invite corruption.
  3. State experiments with at‑will hiring offer weak, mixed evidence and don’t map well to the federal level; you can’t safely combine lots of political appointees with at‑will employment without risking politicized abuses, so reforms need careful evaluation.

Carr lays down the law

A Lawyer Writes • 1395 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Judiciary
  1. The Lady Chief Justice clarified the constitutional relationship between the executive and judiciary.
  2. Baroness Carr emphasized the judiciary's exclusive responsibility for judicial deployment and matters.
  3. Carr outlined priorities such as promoting judicial strengths, unity, and addressing backlogs in the judiciary system.

Tariff Refund Delays Could Cost Taxpayers $700 Million A Month

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 13 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Delaying refunds on the Supreme Court-invalidated tariffs adds about $700 million in interest every month — roughly $23 million per day — and could total around $25 billion if litigation is dragged out to the end of the president’s term.
  2. About $175 billion in tariff payments is tied up in bonds, so slow refunds hurt importers by freezing capital they could use to run their businesses.
  3. The Justice Department asked for a 90-plus day pause in the remand process (which the appeals court rejected), and continuing to fight refunds would waste government resources and force taxpayers to pay needless interest.

Should Israel Pardon Netanyahu to Save Itself?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 273 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Judiciary
  1. Ending Netanyahu’s corruption trial by pardoning him is presented as effectively admitting guilt and could mark the end of his political career.
  2. The trial has dragged on for more than five years and has deepened political divisions, with critics calling it overdue accountability and supporters calling it a witch hunt.
  3. Some advocate a pardon to let Israel "move on" and restore national unity, but that proposal is highly contentious amid recent political fights and the ongoing war.

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Imposes Travel Ban On Brazil Supreme Court Justices Persecuting Former President Bolsonaro

Michael Shellenberger • 966 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The U.S. has placed a travel ban on Brazilian Supreme Court Justices who are seen as persecuting former President Jair Bolsonaro. This is a significant move that could impact the justices' ability to travel freely.
  2. The ban comes after Brazilian police raided Bolsonaro's home, showing a serious escalation in conflict between him and the Brazilian government. Bolsonaro's legal troubles are making headlines right now.
  3. Brazilian elites, who often travel to the U.S., might feel the effects of this ban, especially because it could affect their social lives and connections abroad. Travel restrictions can be a powerful form of pressure.

Politics Chat, March 17, 2026

Letters from an American • 1 implied HN point • 17 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The item is labeled Politics Chat and dated March 17, 2026, so it’s a timely political post.
  2. It shows engagement numbers — 463, 12, and 60 — and includes a share option, indicating measurable reader interaction.
  3. The link points to Substack, which means the content is published as part of an online newsletter or commentary platform.

SBSQ #27: Is redistricting backfiring on Republicans?

Silver Bulletin • 212 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Both parties are locked in a redistricting arms race that looks like a prisoner’s dilemma, pushing maps toward maximal partisan advantage even though that outcome can hurt both sides.
  2. There are real brakes on extreme gerrymanders — incumbents don’t want to risk their own seats, and public opinion plus courts make truly outrageous maps politically and legally risky.
  3. If the Voting Rights Act is weakened, Republicans could gain a several-seat structural edge in the House, but strategic responses by Democrats and future coalition shifts could reduce or counteract that advantage.

The Donald Trumped

Diane Francis • 839 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Donald Trump was ordered to pay $355 million for lying to financial institutions, highlighting that even powerful people can face consequences for their actions.
  2. New York's strict financial laws help maintain its reputation as a leading financial center, protecting investors from fraud.
  3. Trump compared his legal troubles to the struggles faced by political prisoners, while there are concerns he may be under foreign influence regarding his debts.

‘They Want to Dismantle the System’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 217 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Congress provided funding to add 100 immigration judges, but the Justice Department has been firing existing judges instead of filling positions.
  2. Several experienced judges were abruptly removed without explanation—emails announced their firings, computers were shut down, and judges in San Francisco, Boston, and New York were affected.
  3. The court system, already struggling with a massive backlog, risks being further crippled by these removals and the actions look like an effort to dismantle the immigration court system.

Davos, The Dollar, and Donald

JoeWrote • 79 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Trump’s confrontational foreign moves are eroding the rules-based international order and straining alliances, shifting geopolitics toward power politics instead of agreed rules.
  2. Global investors are losing faith in the U.S. as a safe haven, driving down the dollar and U.S. assets while pushing money into gold and non‑US investments.
  3. Attempts to politicize the Federal Reserve and pressure its leadership risk destroying central bank independence, prompting financial leaders to diversify away from U.S. assets and weakening America’s financial dominance.

It begins

Adam's Legal Newsletter • 1677 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. In United States v. Trump, Judge Cannon's order in the Southern District of Florida raises concerns about her administration of the case, despite government arguments against her recusal.
  2. The Justice Department's motion for a 'Garcia hearing' in the Southern District of Florida raises issues of potential conflicts of interest for one of Trump's co-defendants and the need for protecting the defendant's rights to unconflicted counsel.
  3. Judge Cannon's actions in denying the Justice Department's motion to seal and requesting briefing on grand jury proceedings in a seemingly inconsistent manner, prompting questions about her decisions and the case's future direction.

How We Voted in 2016 Contributed to UnitedHealth's Acquisition of Change Healthcare

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 479 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The 2016 election had lasting effects on healthcare, influencing how major companies like UnitedHealth operate and acquire others. Our votes in elections can impact our everyday lives, including healthcare costs and data security.
  2. UnitedHealth acquired Change Healthcare despite government pushback, which raised concerns about competition and data security. The deal was approved partly because of a judge who favored business interests over regulatory caution.
  3. Big corporations, like UnitedHealth, are becoming more powerful, controlling more parts of the healthcare system. This trend can lead to increased costs and reduced patient protections, making it crucial to pay attention to political choices that affect healthcare regulations.

Terror in New Orleans. Plus . . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2211 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A truck attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day killed at least 15 people, raising concerns about the threat of terrorism in the U.S. that resembles recent attacks in Europe.
  2. RFK Jr. suggests using 'tough love' and community support to tackle addiction issues but there are mixed opinions on whether this approach is effective or could limit access to helpful medications.
  3. There is a growing debate within the Trump administration about how to handle Iran, with different factions pushing for either aggressive action or a more isolationist approach.

How to Fix the US Supreme Court

The Garden of Forking Paths • 1552 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The US Supreme Court is highly politicized with lifetime appointments causing a imbalance of power.
  2. By looking at models from small island nations, like Comoros and Fiji, we can find ways to reform the US Supreme Court using consociationalism and centripetalism.
  3. Proposed solutions for Supreme Court reform include changing the judicial selection process to be nonpartisan and considering power-sharing models like in New Jersey or requiring a supermajority vote for confirmations.

Some 2026 Predictions

The Future, Now and Then • 126 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Trump’s governing coalition looks brittle and likely to fracture from internal infighting, which will reduce their capacity to attack opponents and could help Democrats win narrow congressional majorities, though authoritarian moves may still intensify.
  2. The AI boom will keep inflating but trigger a strong cultural backlash as low-quality AI output becomes ubiquitous; the government may prop up AI finance to avoid a crash while crypto likely slips into another winter as investors pull back.
  3. Broader systems are worsening: billionaires will consolidate media, platforms and public agencies may fail to handle disasters or health crises, and rising emissions and preventable deaths could cause long-term harm even if political power shifts.

Amy Coney Barrett and Bari Weiss Live in NYC: Get Your Tickets Now

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 704 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Justice Amy Coney Barrett is a unique figure on the Supreme Court, not having attended an Ivy League school and being a mother of seven. She often stands out for her ability to work across political lines.
  2. Her upcoming book, 'Listening to the Law,' shares insights about the Supreme Court and her judicial philosophy. The book will be available for attendees to buy at a discounted price before its official release.
  3. The event aims to explore the future of the Supreme Court and its impact on American society, tackling important topics like privacy and civil rights in today’s changing world.

I have bad instincts. Listen to me.

Sex and the State • 32 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Making lots of mistakes can be an advantage because people who learn the hard way figure out step-by-step how to correct themselves and can teach that process to others.
  2. Societies need governments and centralized adjudication to prevent endless private revenge, since evolved impulses to punish don’t scale well in large, diverse groups.
  3. Admitting when we’re wrong and being willing to change our minds is essential for political coexistence. People often vote based on feeling liked more than policy, so empathy and forgiveness matter.

February 7, 2026

Letters from an American • 31 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The administration has adopted a rule allowing mass detention of noncitizens without bond, greatly expanding who can be held and prompting widespread legal challenges.
  2. Detentions have risen from roughly 40,000 to over 70,000 people and rely on private contractors and new large facilities, with reported deaths and a breakdown in medical care after ICE stopped paying providers and the VA ended its role.
  3. The government is buying huge warehouse-style and 'mega' detention sites—often without local notice—which has spurred strong community protests and moral and legal alarm as officials treat deportation logistics like a business.

WHEN AN HONORABLE JUDGE MEETS A CORRUPT GOVERNMENT

Seymour Hersh • 30 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Judge Jerry Blackwell found that ICE and other federal agents carried out aggressive arrests and deportations in Minneapolis without following constitutional due process, raising serious legal compliance questions.
  2. The federal raids were a political show of force in a largely Democratic, immigrant-rich city and produced mass arrests, violent clashes, and deaths among protesters.
  3. The case exposed a clash between judicial oversight and politically driven federal enforcement, revealing a constitutional tension over how far federal power can go when courts insist on legal limits.