You may have heard last week’s conversation on the Supreme Court.
Well, there’s something about the Supreme Court that gets listeners’ attention. I received a lot of follow-up questions – so many, that I wished I had immediate access to another constitutional scholar.
Turns out, I did.
I already had recorded the second half of the conversation you’ll hear today with Robert Tsai. Tsai is Professor of Law at American University and a prize-winning essayist in constitutional law and history. Previously, he clerked for two federal judges and worked civil rights lawyer in Georgia. He has written three books, the most recent of which is Practical Equality: Forging Justice in a Divided Nation.
When we consider remedies to the various inequalities that define these times – from voting restrictions and oppressive measures against migrants to the rights of sexual minorities, victims of police action, and even racism in the criminal justice system – existing laws to address equality are often incomplete.
But in exploring the Constitution and reexamining important historical cases, Tsai explains how legal ideas that aren’t necessarily about equality at all — ensuring fair play, acting reasonably, avoiding cruelty, and protecting free speech — have been used to overcome inequality in the past and can serve as potent alternative tools to promote equality today.
Simply, Tsai offers a distinct view and outlines the possible innovative legal measures to overcome injustice.
But with all the comments from last week’s podcast, I asked Robert for a favor – would he be willing to do a quick update call where I could ask him some of the Supreme Court follow-ups I got from listeners. He agreed, so here it is.
For show notes & my newsletter, go to chrisriback.com
John Sides, political scientist and author of "The Gamble"
Stuart Stevens, chief strategist for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign
Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of "The Bully Pulpit"
Mark Halperin, co-author of "Double Down" and "Game Change"
Larry Sabato, University of Virginia's Center for Politics
Joe Scarborough, host of "Morning Joe" and author of "The Right Path"
Michael Beschloss on presidential second terms
Michael Beschloss, presidential historian
Jeff Greenfield on "If Kennedy Lived"
Jeff Greenfield, political analyst and historian
Gov. Howard Dean, Former DNC Chairman and Founder of Democracy for America
Ezra Klein, Washington Post Wonk Blog
Norm Ornstein, American Enterprise Institute
Rick Klein, Political Director of ABC News
Charlie Cook of the Cook Political Report
Stu Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report
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