The Beginning of the End For Affirmative Action - The Tuesday AM Quickie 11/1/22

By Jack Crosbie — Nov 1, 2022

I'd like to see more creativity out of the Democratic party, and generally out of local and state legislatures, in finding ways to effectively govern while circumnavigating the judiciary – something we're not getting back anytime soon. Just a stray thought for today. - Jack

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THE BIG NEWS

Supreme Court Poised to Toss Affirmative Action Programs

Another week, another potential upheaval in the foundations of U.S. social welfare programs, thanks to a 6-3 Supreme Court that no one elected and no one can get rid of by political means. This week: affirmative action.

To recap: the Court is currently hearing two cases brought by the group Students for Fair Admissions, the brainchild of conservative litigator Edward Blum. SFA is suing both Harvard and the University of North Carolina on similar grounds. A formal decision isn't expected until June. But after Monday's first day of arguments, it's not looking good.

So far what we've seen is about what you'd expect: Clarence Thomas said "I don't have a clue what it [diversity] means," Samuel Alito questioned what "underrepresented minority" meant, and called college admissions a "zero sum game." All of this is basically playing right into SFA's suit.

Justice John Roberts, of course, took some strange middle ground where he appeared to ask questions about a way to create "race neutral diversity" according to the Times, which is basically signaling that he might try to limit the scope of whatever draconian decision his fellow conservatives bring down. Thanks John, huge help. The Court's three liberal justices put up firey defense of affirmative action, but they don't have the votes. They just don't.

As far as what a bad decision could mean, it's still unclear. But we do know that these court decisions can set precedent and create interpretations of the law that can change everything from how NYC public K-12 schools admit kids to how colleges award scholarships. All of this is wrapped up in the desegregation movement and Brown v Board of Education, so watch these cases like a hawk as they come down – this is the next step in the fascist project, for sure.

MORE STORIES TO WATCH

Details on Pelosi's Attacker's Plan Are Grim

We have more details on the attack on Paul Pelosi thanks to the charges filed by federal prosecutors against assailant David DePape, 42, and man. They're grim. Per the Times:

The assailant’s mission, he would later tell the police, was to take hostage and perhaps break the kneecaps of Ms. Pelosi, whom he saw as “the ‘leader of the pack’ of lies told by the Democratic Party.”
...
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, which filed the federal charges, Mr. DePape told investigators in an interview that he wished to break Ms. Pelosi’s kneecaps if she “lied” and see her “wheeled into Congress” as a lesson to other members of Congress. Explaining why he didn’t flee the scene after he realized Mr. Pelosi had surreptitiously dialed 911, Mr. DePape compared himself to the founding fathers battling the British, saying “he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender,” according to the federal complaint.

When Pelosi wasn't home, he turned that violence on her husband. Paul Pelosi is still in the ICU.

Trump Begging Supreme Court to Hide His Tax Returns From Congress

Time to play "what's Trump begging his handpicked court to do today?" Aaaand yep it's still the tax thing. To reorient you in this continuing saga of stupid, Trump is asking the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent the House Ways and Means Committee from getting their hands on his tax returns, asking the court to freeze the process while Trump's ever-shifting uber-stupid legal team prepares an appeal. If the court doesn't do Trump's bidding, the Treasury department could be compelled to release the returns to Ways and Means as early as Wednesday. What fun!

QUICKEST QUICKIES

Russian Missiles Knock Out Tap Water in Kyiv The brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure aren't letting up. via NYT.
Judge Blocks Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster Merger A brief interruption of the continued mega-corpor-merger game, this time in the book industry. via NYT.
Missouri Investigating Woman Who Was Denied Life-Saving Abortion She shared her story with the press, and now the GOP-led government is trying to burn her for it. via Jezebel.
Russia is Trying to Recruit Afghan Mercenaries to Fight in Ukraine They're offering fighters protection from the Taliban if they sign on to a private contract with the Wagner Group. via AP.

SOME NUMBER

$600,000

Amount of new TV buys AIPAC is taking out to attack Pennsylvania state Rep. Summer Lee, who's running for Congress.

ON THE SHOW TODAY

11/1: With one week until the midterm elections, Sam and Emma break down the biggest headlines of the day.

DON'T MISS MR CLIPS

What Does A Ukrainian Victory Look Like?

Sam and Emma discuss some of the coverage they've given the war in Ukraine.

Flip-Flopping Republican Finds New Way To Spin 'The Big Lie'

Republican candidate Don Bolduc has flip-flopped on his denial of the results of the 2020 election several times... here he is trying it again!

PARTING WORDS

“My team will work with Congress to look at these options that are available to us and others. It’s time for these companies to stop war profiteering, meet their responsibilities to this country, give the American people a break and still do very well.”

– Joe Biden, finally getting tough on oil companies.

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