Episode description

We're only one week into 2024, and there's so much news to catch up on! Melissa, Leah, and Kate discuss ProPublica's reporting about rich guys giving Justice Thomas money when he hinted at retiring because his salary as a justice was too low. Then, they look to the latest in state courts, which are deciding issues such as Donald Trump's presidential eligibility, women's access to emergency abortion care, and fairly drawn electoral maps. After some quick previews of the cases the Supreme Court will hear this week, they welcome special guest Ross Rayburn, Peloton instructor and author of Turning Inward: The Practice of Introversion for a Calm, Joyful, Authentic Life. Ross shares advice for staying sane in this election year, and insights on how listening to Strict Scrutiny is actually a form of meditation.

• Read ProPublica's reporting: "A 'Delicate Matter': Clarence Thomas’ Private Complaints About Money Sparked Fears He Would Resign"
• Read Punish Treason, Reward Loyalty: The Forgotten Goals of Constitutional Reform After the Civil War, by Mark A. Graber
• Read the Fifth Circuit's opinion in the EMTALA case we covered last November
• Get a copy of Ross Rayburn's book, Turning Inward: The Practice of Introversion for a Calm, Joyful, Authentic Life
  • Code STRICT10 gets you 10% off at bookshop.org!

• Pre-order your copy of Leah's forthcoming book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes (out May 13th)
• Follow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky