Elie Mystal

Justice Correspondent & Columnist

@ElieNYC

Elie Mystal is The Nation’s justice correspondent and the host of its legal podcast, Contempt of Court. He is also an Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center. His first book is the New York Times bestseller Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, published by The New Press. Elie can be followed @ElieNYC.

Former president Donald Trump and Chief Justice John Roberts.

How John Roberts Went Full MAGA How John Roberts Went Full MAGA

A revealing article in The New York Times details how the chief justice put his thumb on the scale for Trump to keep him on the ballot and out of jail.

Sep 17, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee US Senator JD Vance.

White People Have Never Forgiven Haitians for Claiming Their Freedom White People Have Never Forgiven Haitians for Claiming Their Freedom

Behind the vicious Trump-Vance attacks on Haitian immigrants is a long history of making the people of Haiti pay for the audacity of their revolution.

Sep 13, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Ron DeSantis Goes Full Big Brother on Abortion Rights Supporters Ron DeSantis Goes Full Big Brother on Abortion Rights Supporters

DeSantis is fighting hard to block a ballot initiative codifying abortion rights in Florida—so hard he’s sent police to question people who signed a petition supporting the measur...

Sep 11, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris, speaks during a debate on October 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, and Republican presidential candidate former president Donald Trump speaks during a debate on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.

How to Debate Donald Trump How to Debate Donald Trump

There’s almost no way to “win” a debate against a serially unserious liar like Trump, but if Harris can knock him off his vibe, she might stand a chance.

Sep 6, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Meet the MAGA Zealots Who Are Gunning to Become Their State’s Top Prosecutors

Meet the MAGA Zealots Who Are Gunning to Become Their State’s Top Prosecutors Meet the MAGA Zealots Who Are Gunning to Become Their State’s Top Prosecutors

The Republican Attorney Generals Association is working overtime to install authoritarian AGs across the country.

Sep 4, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage alongside Andrea Campbell, who is being discussed as a possible attorney general pick.

It’s Not Too Early to Ask: Who Should Replace Merrick Garland? It’s Not Too Early to Ask: Who Should Replace Merrick Garland?

Should Kamala Harris win in November, her attorney general pick will be among her most critical cabinet appointments. Progressives should start organizing now.

Aug 30, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Judge using gavel in court (focus on foreground, blurred motion) - stock photo

The Federal Judiciary Has a Gerontocracy Problem The Federal Judiciary Has a Gerontocracy Problem

From district courts all the way up to the Supreme Court, judges are refusing to retire, holding on to power well past their prime.

Aug 28, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Protesters gather outside the Supreme Court Building on July 1, 2024, the day the court issued its decision in Donald Trump's immunity case.

This Bill Aims to Strip Trump’s Immunity—and the Supreme Court’s Power This Bill Aims to Strip Trump’s Immunity—and the Supreme Court’s Power

In a sign that Democrats are finally getting serious about reining in the Supreme Court, Senator Check Schumer has proposed the No Kings Act.

Aug 6, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson Is Redefining What It Means to Be a Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Is Redefining What It Means to Be a Liberal Justice

During her short time on the Supreme Court, Jackson has articulated a skepticism toward judicial power that feels particularly urgent in a post-Roe world.

Aug 5, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Donald Trump speaks with Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News, during a question-and-answer session at the National Association of Black Journalists convention on July 31, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois.

The National Association of Black Journalists Made the Whitest Decision Possible The National Association of Black Journalists Made the Whitest Decision Possible

In providing a platform to Donald Trump, the NABJ opted for a totally predictable outcome—35 minutes of insults and racism.

Aug 1, 2024 / Elie Mystal

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