Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode, Dahlia Lithwick explores the concerning state of the U.S. Supreme Court amid unprecedented leaks and internal discord. Examining instances such as the Dobbs leak and the unexpected release of confidential memos, we discuss what these events indicate about the Court's internal pressures and the implications for its integrity. We also scrutinize Chief Justice John Roberts' evolving role and the recent decisions that have sparked debate about his true allegiances and the Court's direction. Join us for an in-depth analysis of the challenges facing one of the nation's most pivotal institutions.
Dahlia Lithwick is the host of Amicus, Slate’s podcast about the law and the Supreme Court, and author of "Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America." She has held visiting faculty positions at the University of Georgia Law School, the University of Virginia School of Law, and the Hebrew University Law School in Jerusalem.
00:00 Introduction: Leaks and the Health of the Court
00:08 The Astonishing Dobbs Leak
01:36 Internal Pressure and Institutional Breakdown
02:30 Reevaluating Chief Justice John Roberts
03:40 Recent Decisions and Shifts in the Court
06:03 The Absence of a Center in the Court
07:30 Public Opinion and Judicial Conduct
11:33 The Future of the Court's Legitimacy
In this episode, Dahlia Lithwick explores the concerning state of the U.S. Supreme Court amid unprecedented leaks and internal discord. Examining instances such as the Dobbs leak and the unexpected release of confidential memos, we discuss what these events indicate about the Court's internal pressures and the implications for its integrity. We also scrutinize Chief Justice John Roberts' evolving role and the recent decisions that have sparked debate about his true allegiances and the Court's direction. Join us for an in-depth analysis of the challenges facing one of the nation's most pivotal institutions.
Dahlia Lithwick is the host of Amicus, Slate’s podcast about the law and the Supreme Court, and author of "Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America." She has held visiting faculty positions at the University of Georgia Law School, the University of Virginia School of Law, and the Hebrew University Law School in Jerusalem.
00:00 Introduction: Leaks and the Health of the Court
00:08 The Astonishing Dobbs Leak
01:36 Internal Pressure and Institutional Breakdown
02:30 Reevaluating Chief Justice John Roberts
03:40 Recent Decisions and Shifts in the Court
06:03 The Absence of a Center in the Court
07:30 Public Opinion and Judicial Conduct
11:33 The Future of the Court's Legitimacy
