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.

“Elie v. U.S.”

“Elie v. U.S.” “Elie v. U.S.”

A weekly newsletter by The Nation’s Elie Mystal.

Apr 14, 2025 / Elie Mystal

Samuel Alito Jr., associate justice of the US Supreme Court, from left, Clarence Thomas, associate justice of the US Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, associate justice of the US Supreme Court, and John Roberts, chief justice of the US Supreme Court, during the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2025.

Here’s What the Supreme Court’s Recent Rubber-Stamp Rulings Are All About Here’s What the Supreme Court’s Recent Rubber-Stamp Rulings Are All About

The spate of recent Supreme Court decisions overturning Trump administration losses in the lower courts are all about saving face—and securing power.

Apr 10, 2025 / Elie Mystal

Donald Trump greets US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on his way to address a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025.

How a Case From 1803 Explains John Roberts’s Approach to Donald Trump How a Case From 1803 Explains John Roberts’s Approach to Donald Trump

Roberts wasn’t “rebuking” Trump when he issued his statement against impeaching judges. He was bending the knee.

Mar 20, 2025 / Elie Mystal

A segregation-era sign that hung over a water fountain in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Trump-Musk Regime Wants to Make Segregation Great Again The Trump-Musk Regime Wants to Make Segregation Great Again

In a boon for racist businesses, the administration has ended a ban on segregated facilities for federal contractors.

Mar 19, 2025 / Elie Mystal

Donald Trump speaks at the Justice Department March 14, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Trump Is Trying to Create His Own Personal Legal Strike Force Trump Is Trying to Create His Own Personal Legal Strike Force

With his speech at the DOJ, Trump officially declared his intention to reshape the legal system according to his whims and will.

Mar 18, 2025 / Elie Mystal

Protesters demonstrate in lower Manhattan in support of Mahmoud Khalil on March 10, 2025.

We Are Asking the Wrong Questions About Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest We Are Asking the Wrong Questions About Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest

The only relevant question is not “How can the government do this?” It is “How can we who oppose this fascist regime stop it?”

Mar 12, 2025 / Elie Mystal

Who Gave Away the Skies to the Airlines?

Who Gave Away the Skies to the Airlines? Who Gave Away the Skies to the Airlines?

In 1978, Jimmy Carter signed the Airline Deregulation Act. It gave rise to some truly miserable air travel—and neoliberalism.

Mar 11, 2025 / Feature / Elie Mystal

Introducing “Elie v. U.S.”

Introducing “Elie v. U.S.” Introducing “Elie v. U.S.”

A preview of Elie Mystal’s new weekly newsletter.

Mar 7, 2025 / Elie Mystal

Donald Trump greets Chief Justice John Roberts as he arrives to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol on March 4, 2025.

The Supreme Court Just Ruled Against Trump—but Don’t Get Too Excited The Supreme Court Just Ruled Against Trump—but Don’t Get Too Excited

Even as the court rejected Trump’s freeze on USAID, it effectively gave him another chance to delay sending life-saving money abroad.

Mar 6, 2025 / Elie Mystal

Donald Trump applauds while delivering a State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in 2018.

The Democrats Should Boycott Trump’s Speech to Congress This Week The Democrats Should Boycott Trump’s Speech to Congress This Week

Refusing to attend the speech would be the first indication that Democrats are not just playing politics—and playing them badly—but resisting.

Mar 3, 2025 / Elie Mystal

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