The Intelligence Briefing: Judgement Day

"In another time, in another place, you would get everybody's vote" Senator Graham to Judge Barrett.  

 

Well, that's not going to happen. Tomorrow, the Senate will likely confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. It will solidify the court's 6:3 conservative majority, a hallmark of the Trump legacy. But it won't be a unanimous vote -- not even close. Nothing like in 1993, when Ruth Bader Ginsburg was confirmed 96:3.  

 

But why? RBG was hardly a compromise choice, politically speaking. How has the nation's highest court become one of its biggest political lightning rods? There's a lot on the docket this term. From the Affordable Care Act to questions of church and state to ... oh right ... the possibility of a contested election, where the Court decides the outcome. 

 

So, we thought we’d ask… what does Amy Coney Barrett mean for the future of the high court? John Donvan moderates an incredibly timely debate between two of the nation's most esteemed constitutional law scholars. It's a competition of ideas on Barrett's nomination, her judicial philosophies, and whether Democratic proposals to reform the court -- things like court packing and term limits -- have any merit.  

 

Have a listen.  

 

AND COMING UP….  

 

Governments around the world are borrowing unprecedented sums to prop up their economies amidst a pandemic. But you knew that already. What you might not know is of a growing crop of economists taking a bold stance in saying that big spending is no bogeyman, and to “Stop Worrying About National Deficits.”  

 

We’d, of course, like to hear from you on this. Submit your own brief argument here and IBM’s Watson will work its AI magic to make it a part of a television show we produce with Bloomberg, called “That’s Debatable.”   

 

As always, let us know what you think.  

David Ariosto Head of Editorial, Intelligence Squared U.S. and  Shea O'Meara Editorial Director Intelligence Squared U.S.

 

P.S. -  Sign up here to find us in your inbox each week.  And if you like what you read, consider sharing this blog post with a friend here. You can always reach us at info@iq2us.org with ideas and feedback. 
 

POINT / COUNTERPOINT
Two perspectives on one of the nation's biggest debates this week.
Reforming the High Court

When pressed if he would support adding to the number of Supreme Court justices, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he’d convene a commission on reform. There’s no requirement for nine, and increasing the size of the bench has been done before, but some argue that adding to the high court now would constitute political suicide.

 

So ... if Democrats get the chance, should they pack the Supreme Court?

 

FOR:

There’s nothing more originalist than packing the court 

“[A] president working with Congress to change the Supreme Court’s size has a rich historical tradition that is both constitutionally protected and backed by 231 years of precedent.”
- Washington Post

 

AGAINST:

Reform the Court, but Don’t Pack It

“It could escalate beyond control, […] with no stopping point as victors just keep upping the numbers on the high bench with every election cycle.”
- The Atlantic

 

INTELLIGRAPHIC

DOUBLE DIGITS
When one number tells two stories.

27
The number of years Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg served on the Supreme Court

Justices are appointed for life. But should they be?

 

The Need for Supreme Court Term Limits

“Longer terms have led to an increasingly political confirmation process and a court more likely to be out of touch with the general public”
- Center for American Progress

 

Term Limits Won't Fix the Supreme Court

“The best argument for term limits is that they would make the Supreme Court more of a standard issue in presidential and Senate campaigns and thus less of a political football when the winners of those elections get to nominate and confirm justices.”
– The Atlantic

 

POINTS OF VIEW
Top insights and news from the intellectual leaders
who have battled it out on the Intelligence Squared stage.

- A Biden victory could mean substantial U.S. investment in environmental, social and governance sectors, but Europe is already ahead of the curve, writes Gillian Tett. [Read more via Financial Times, Gillian's debate on the global financial crisis.]

- Meanwhile, Josef Joffe argues that the European Union’s two most powerful member states, Germany and France, are experiencing a rift of their own, potentially jeopardizing EU initiatives. [Read more via Project Syndicate, Josef's debate on America's Future]

- Should the Supreme Court decide election-law cases before the election? Andrew C. McCarthy argues yes. [Read more via National Review, Andrew's debate on Edward Snowden.]

- Fareed Zakaria envisions what the city will look like in a post-pandemic world. [Read more via CNN, Fareed's debate on the drug war.]