All posts tagged: SCOTUS

We Must Be Clear-Eyed”: Harris Calls To Oppose New SCOTUS Nominees “Before They Happen

We Must Be Clear-Eyed”: Harris Calls To Oppose New SCOTUS Nominees “Before They Happen

Published by Jenni Sidey

Authored by Jonathan Turley, Former Vice President Kamala Harris is rallying Democratic donors to oppose  “additional justices” that might be nominated by President Donald Trump “before they happen.” Harris is heralding the fundraising by Josh Orton, president of the dark-money group “Demand Justice” (made infamous for its campaign to get Justice Stephen Breyer to resign). Demand Justice has pushed a radical agenda, including court packing. In a post on X, Harris highlighted a New York Times article on the “liberal organization” “preparing a multimillion–dollar effort to oppose potential Trump Supreme Court appointees before they happen.” Orton announced that “the project would cost $3 million to start and $15 million more if vacancies occurred.” The group expressly cited the possibility of Justices Clarence Thomas (77) and Samuel Alito (76) retiring. Harris called upon people to contribute, posting that : “We must be clear eyed about what is at stake with the Supreme Court right now. We cannot allow Donald Trump to hand pick one, if not two, additional justices. The nation’s highest court must be stopped from becoming even more beholden to him.” …

Trump on Iran; SCOTUS Birthright case; VA home loan : NPR

Trump on Iran; SCOTUS Birthright case; VA home loan : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today’s top stories In a roughly 20-minute address to the nation last night, President Trump made the case for the war with Iran, which began over a month ago. He said that the war has been a military success and he expects U.S. forces to leave the country in a few weeks. The president was critical of U.S. allies, saying it is their responsibility to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for oil access. President Trump speaks about the war in Iran from the Cross Hall of the White House on April 1, 2026. Pool/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Pool/Getty Images 🎧 The president spent most of his first address to the nation about this war explaining why Iran was a threat, NPR’s Deepa Shivaram tells Up First. Trump said it would be intolerable if Iran had a nuclear weapon, and U.S. involvement was an …

SCOTUS, birthright citizenship and what’s a stake for education : NPR

SCOTUS, birthright citizenship and what’s a stake for education : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Any child born on U.S. soil has a right to citizenship. It was established by the 14th Amendment in 1868, and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme court 128 years ago. On Wednesday, the high court is set to hear oral arguments in a case that could narrow or even end birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara. The Trump administration has argued the “privilege” has been too freely applied to children of non-citizens. “Hundreds of thousands of people are pouring into our country under birthright citizenship, and it wasn’t meant for that reason,” President Trump said last year. If this constitutionally protected right is struck down by the court, it would apply to children born on or after Feb. 20, 2025. According to a projection by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute and Penn State, that could result in about 255,000 U.S.-born children beginning life without U.S. citizenship every year. By 2045, that could add up to 4.8 million children. “Birthright citizenship is fundamental for child wellbeing,” says Wendy Cervantes of The Center for Law and Social …

SCOTUS set to deal major blow to mail voting ahead of midterms

SCOTUS set to deal major blow to mail voting ahead of midterms

Published by Sam Flores

In the 2024 election, nearly one in three Americans voted using mail-in or absentee ballots, accounting for some 48 million votes. And despite persistent rhetoric against it, even President Donald Trump votes by mail. Nevertheless, Trump further admonished mail voting while pushing the SAVE America Act, which could radically change how people vote ahead of the midterms. “Mail-in voting means mail-in cheating,” he said to press in Memphis, Tenn., Monday. “I call it mail-in cheating, and we got to do something about it all.” Outside of the legislature, another body is doing something about mail ballots that may change how millions of Americans vote. The U.S. Supreme Court began oral arguments Monday on Watson v. RNC, a case determining if Mississippi allowing late mail-in ballots violates federal law establishing a specific election day. The largest question in this case is whether ballots need to be received by Election Day or just be cast by Election Day and allowed to be received later. “ I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you’re seeing the Trump administration talk …

“These people are crazy”: Trump uses State of the Union to attack Democrats, SCOTUS

“These people are crazy”: Trump uses State of the Union to attack Democrats, SCOTUS

Published by Sam Flores

He might have closed the speech with message of unity ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, but Donald Trump used much of the runtime of his 2026 State of the Union address to attack his opponents. In a rambling speech that included cameos from the U.S. men’s hockey team, several military commendations and numerous shout-outs to conservative cause célèbre crime stories, Trump railed against his detractors in the Democratic Party and his allies at the Supreme Court. The president repeatedly squabbled with Democrats in attendance, saying they spread a “dirty rotten lie” about the cost of living in the United States and accusing them of “ripping children from their parents’ arms” while decrying trans-affirming care for minors. He spoke over heckles from Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib when he claimed that the country was being “pillaged” by Somali-Americans in Minnesota. He accused the Democrats of opposing voter ID laws because “the only way they can get elected is to cheat.” Trump also took a moment to attack Rep. Nancy Pelosi directly, after floating legislation that …

Wall Street Journal Condemns Trump’s Tariff Tantrum Against SCOTUS

Wall Street Journal Condemns Trump’s Tariff Tantrum Against SCOTUS

Published by Sam Flores

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board denounced US President Donald Trump’s reaction to the Supreme Court restricting his ability to impose tariffs on Friday night, stating that the president “owes” an apology “to the individual Justices he smeared on Friday and the institution itself.” “Mr. Trump doubtless won’t offer one, but his rant in response to his tariff defeat at the Court was arguably the worst moment of his Presidency,” the board wrote in an editorial headlined “Trump Demeans Himself as He Attacks the Supreme Court”. In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down most of the “emergency” tariffs Trump tried to implement, finding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorise the president to impose them. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. Following the court’s decision, Trump raged against the justices who ruled against him, calling them a “disgrace” and calling their decision an “embarrassment to their families.” “Others think they’re being politically correct, which has happened before far too often with certain members of this court,” …

Trump on Iran; Minnesota; SCOTUS Trans Sports Cases : NPR

Trump on Iran; Minnesota; SCOTUS Trans Sports Cases : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today’s top stories President Trump said yesterday that he is imposing a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran. This is the president’s latest move to turn up the pressure on the country as it deals with growing unrest. Trump says he continues to receive hourly reports of violence against protesters. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, over 600 Iranians have died in the violence. Trump previously warned that the U.S. was “locked and loaded” and would rescue the protesters if the killings continued. A demonstrator displays a placard calling for President Trump to intervene in Iran during an anti-Iranian-government protest in Berlin, Germany, on Jan. 12. John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images 🎧 Trump isn’t known for human rights initiatives, NPR’s Franco Ordoñez tells Up First. During Trump’s first administration, he ordered …