Elie Mystal

Justice Correspondent & Columnist

@ElieNYC

Elie Mystal is The Nation’s justice correspondent and a columnist. He is also an Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center. He is the author of two books: the New York Times bestseller Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution and Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America, both published by The New Press. You can subscribe to his Nation newsletter “Elie v. U.S.” here.

Former US president Donald Trump appears in a Manhattan court during his arraignment on April 4, 2023, in New York City.

Trump’s Indictment Is a Slap on the Wrist, but Accountability Has to Start Somewhere Trump’s Indictment Is a Slap on the Wrist, but Accountability Has to Start Somewhere

This isn’t the case of our dreams, but Trump very likely committed these crimes. He should be prosecuted for them. And other prosecutions should follow.

Apr 4, 2023 / Elie Mystal

One of America’s Worst Judges Just Gutted a Key Part of Obamacare

One of America’s Worst Judges Just Gutted a Key Part of Obamacare One of America’s Worst Judges Just Gutted a Key Part of Obamacare

Reed O'Connor—a judge even the Supreme Court usually thinks is nuts—tossed out one of the most vital parts of the Affordable Care Act on Thursday.

Mar 31, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Donald Trump at a rally

Donald Trump Has Been Indicted. Don’t Get Your Hopes Up. Donald Trump Has Been Indicted. Don’t Get Your Hopes Up.

This is the first real attempt to hold Trump legally accountable for any of his many alleged crimes. But the odds of securing real justice seem very long.

Mar 30, 2023 / Elie Mystal

People gather at a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at the Covenant School campus in Nashville, Tenn., on March 28, 2023.

Republicans Want You to Forget Their Complicity in the Nashville Shooting Republicans Want You to Forget Their Complicity in the Nashville Shooting

Conservatives want to make the massacre about trans people or religion—anything but the blood-soaked murder factory they’ve forced us all to live in.

Mar 29, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Dr. Giovannina Anthony, an Ob-Gyn challenging Wyoming's new law banning most abortions, hugs her attorne

The GOP’s War on Obamacare Is Screwing Up Its War on Abortion The GOP’s War on Obamacare Is Screwing Up Its War on Abortion

It’s an irony so delicious I hope Alanis Morissette writes a song about it.

Mar 24, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Corporate America Is No Longer Pretending to Care About Diversity

Corporate America Is No Longer Pretending to Care About Diversity Corporate America Is No Longer Pretending to Care About Diversity

In what should be a surprise to no one, corporations are quietly trimming the “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” teams they loudly championed in 2020.

Mar 22, 2023 / Column / Elie Mystal

Donald Trump talks on the phone in the Oval Office.

Trump Might Face Criminal Charges—But He’s Unlikely to Face Justice Trump Might Face Criminal Charges—But He’s Unlikely to Face Justice

Georgia DA Fani Willis is expected to announce whether she’ll bring charges against Trump any day. The only question—what happens after that?

Mar 17, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Stuart Kyle Duncan

Protesting an Anti-Trans Trump Judge Isn’t Disrespectful, It’s American Protesting an Anti-Trans Trump Judge Isn’t Disrespectful, It’s American

Judge Kyle Duncan lashed out at students who protested his appearance at Stanford Law School, but shouting at political figures is our most protected speech right.

Mar 15, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Truck billboards drive in front of the Palace Hotel calling out Fox News' election denial

Fox News May Finally Pay the Price for Its Lies Fox News May Finally Pay the Price for Its Lies

The Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit has placed the network in real legal jeopardy, and even its friends might not bail it out this time.

Mar 9, 2023 / Elie Mystal

The Country Is Paying for Merrick Garland’s Failure to Prosecute Trump

The Country Is Paying for Merrick Garland’s Failure to Prosecute Trump The Country Is Paying for Merrick Garland’s Failure to Prosecute Trump

The special counsel may indict Trump for something, but it’s already too late to stop him from running for president again.

Mar 7, 2023 / Elie Mystal

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