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.

Supreme Court

This Supreme Court Case Is a Case Study in Conservative Hypocrisy This Supreme Court Case Is a Case Study in Conservative Hypocrisy

Just weeks after railing against race-conscious college admissions, the justices entertained a bogus race-based argument aimed at undermining Native sovereignty.

Nov 29, 2022 / Column / Elie Mystal

The Stench of Corruption Is Growing Stronger Around the Supreme Court

The Stench of Corruption Is Growing Stronger Around the Supreme Court The Stench of Corruption Is Growing Stronger Around the Supreme Court

Chief Justice John Roberts insists the court can police itself, but all evidence points to the contrary.

Nov 22, 2022 / Elie Mystal

Prospective students tour the Harvard campus

Is the “U.S. News” Ranking System Finally Starting to Crumble? Is the “U.S. News” Ranking System Finally Starting to Crumble?

While it’s tempting to view the decision by three elite law schools to pull out of the magazine’s rankings as little more than elite posturing, it could have real effects.

Nov 18, 2022 / Elie Mystal

Democrats Should Use This Moment to Codify “Roe v. Wade”

Democrats Should Use This Moment to Codify “Roe v. Wade” Democrats Should Use This Moment to Codify “Roe v. Wade”

The midterms proved that Americans support abortion rights, and Democrats should enshrine them—even though the Supreme Court will promptly strike them down.

Nov 15, 2022 / Elie Mystal

Conservatives Don’t Actually Have an Argument for Killing Affirmative Action

Conservatives Don’t Actually Have an Argument for Killing Affirmative Action Conservatives Don’t Actually Have an Argument for Killing Affirmative Action

The Supreme Court hearings on affirmative action revealed just how weak the right-wing position is—but the GOP justices will overturn the policy anyway.

Nov 11, 2022 / Elie Mystal for The Nation

“It Could Have Been Worse” Is the Wrong Response to the Midterms

“It Could Have Been Worse” Is the Wrong Response to the Midterms “It Could Have Been Worse” Is the Wrong Response to the Midterms

While the red wave didn’t materialize, the fact that Republicans performed as well as they did—thanks in part to radical gerrymandering—should terrify us.

Nov 10, 2022 / Elie Mystal

Make No Mistake, the Supreme Court Will Kill Affirmative Action

Make No Mistake, the Supreme Court Will Kill Affirmative Action Make No Mistake, the Supreme Court Will Kill Affirmative Action

This week’s oral arguments made clear that the conservative justices will gut race-conscious admissions—and that the move won’t help Asian American students.

Nov 1, 2022 / Elie Mystal

Is Gen X a Bunch of Trumpers? Maybe That’s the Wrong Question.

Is Gen X a Bunch of Trumpers? Maybe That’s the Wrong Question. Is Gen X a Bunch of Trumpers? Maybe That’s the Wrong Question.

Amid the hoopla over polls suggesting the slacker generation is tilting right, it’s worth pausing to ask who we mean by "Gen X."

Oct 25, 2022 / Elie Mystal

Utah Senator Mike Lee and independent challenger Evan McMullin stand together before their televised debate.

A Black Guy’s Guide to Utah’s Senate Debate A Black Guy’s Guide to Utah’s Senate Debate

Here’s what happened when Evan McMullin, an anti-Trump former Republican, tried to take on Mike Lee, an early Big Lie evangelist.

Oct 19, 2022 / Elie Mystal

Democrats Still Aren’t Trying Hard Enough to Reclaim the Judiciary

Democrats Still Aren’t Trying Hard Enough to Reclaim the Judiciary Democrats Still Aren’t Trying Hard Enough to Reclaim the Judiciary

If Democrats really want to take back the judicial branch, they can start by ditching an old tradition: the blue slip.

Oct 17, 2022 / Column / Elie Mystal

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