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Do you think you'd actually be surprised to hear what Samuel Alito says on a secret recording?
“I don't want to force my religion on others.”
“The role of the Supreme Court is not to legislate as a judge.”
“No, I would not accept a seat on a private jet, even if I was already on my way to my destination. Otherwise, the seat would just be wasted.”
These mild remarks were Justice Alito's nightmare gaffe in Alexandra Petri's fictional interview with the Supreme Court justice. Thankfully, he was caught simply telling the fictional interviewer that he wanted to “restore our country to sanctity.” Otherwise, it could have ruined the image of the sleazy, vindictive person he had worked so hard to build.
Returning to the harsh and uncomfortable real world, Perry Bacon writes that there is a great deal of truth in Alito's recorded remarks, “and I hope that more liberals and moderates in positions of power share his perspective.”
Perry is referring to Alito's belief that the country is in the midst of a non-military civil war, in which one side will inevitably defeat the other. Alito's specific use of the word “side” is significant. Many on the left, Perry writes, are acting as if Trump is the only combatant.
But this battle is being fought in many states by many politicians who want wins, not compromises. Democrats need to stop pretending otherwise.
This week, the Editorial Board wrote about another blight on the judiciary: the proliferation of injunctions issued by federal district judges across the country that invalidate administrative actions. If opponents of these actions can get their cases heard before a qualified and credible judge, they essentially gain a de facto veto over federal policy.
Because there are many justices loyal to each party, this overreach would have a negative impact on both sides, meaning that Republicans and Democrats each have proposals for curbing the overreach. The committee explains the merits of each proposal.
Chaser: Ann Ternaes has drawn a cartoon of some new flags that the Aritos family should consider flying outside their home.
It would take significant human intervention for a city built on a lake to run dry, but that is slowly happening in Mexico City, a capital city emptied by hubris.
Eduardo Porter, who only moved back to the city two months ago, wrote that the water to his apartment has been cut off three times, as “Day Zero” — the date when the city's water reserves will be completely depleted — looms.
Eduardo's column is a fascinating history of the city's determined siege by developers, beginning in the 16th century with the Spanish removal of the Aztec canals and levees that regulated Tenochtitlan's waters. Then concrete came along, and that marked the beginning of the end.
“An unshakeable belief in human superiority over the natural environment prevents serious inquiry into how we should relate to the ecosystems we live in,” Eduardo writes. “We conquer them; if they try to flood, we let the water flow.”
This coincides with the editorial board's concern that environmental policies are losing support from voters around the world – see the crushing defeat of the Green Party in last week's European elections and New York's congestion pricing scheme becoming a pipe dream.
“The message is that there are enough voters who are not yet convinced that the effort is worth the cost,” the committee wrote. But spending a few days with Eduardo — maybe one of them without a shower — might change their mind. We can only hope that it's not too late.
The Chaser: Another cartoon! Edith Pritchett is excited about Apple's new create-your-own-emoji feature and has lots of ideas for new icons, including one that represents the increasingly ubiquitous emotion of climate anxiety.
Marc Thiessen writes that President Biden's implicit attack on Trump as an isolationist on the day of the Normandy Senate election was unfair. He writes that we should not listen to the many Republicans who claim that Trump is an ideological ally. “A closer look at Trump's record shows that he is not the isolationist they expect him to be.”
Mark points out President Trump's assassination of Qassem Soleimani and the various peace deals with Israel that were made during his presidency. Additionally, “President Trump said he could significantly increase aid to Ukraine!”
But another attack on Trump is inescapably accurate: “convicted felon.” And no one can put it better than Vice President Harris, writes Jen Rubin.
“Perhaps we should have expected that the former district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California would lead the onslaught,” Jen says in her best hit of insults, “but it's still remarkable how easily she twists the knife in.”
Sportswriter Jeff Pearlman, whose book was the basis for the HBO series “Winning Time,” agonized over how it portrayed legendary Lakers GM Jerry West, who died this week. Trump's habit of insisting that nothing bad would happen in the world if he were still president, or if he were president again, leads Max Boot to wonder where Trump's time machine is.
It's goodbye. It's a haiku. It's… “goodbye.”
The planet makes a decision
Have a newsy haiku of your own? Email me with any questions, comments or concerns you may have. See you tomorrow!
