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.

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

How a Supreme Court Case About Pigs Could Further Undermine… Abortion Rights

How a Supreme Court Case About Pigs Could Further Undermine… Abortion Rights How a Supreme Court Case About Pigs Could Further Undermine… Abortion Rights

On the surface, National Pork Producers Council v. Ross is about animal cruelty. But for the conservatives, it’s also a way to attack basic rights.

Oct 14, 2022 / Elie Mystal

Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund outside the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court Is Ready to Take Down More of the Voting Rights Act The Supreme Court Is Ready to Take Down More of the Voting Rights Act

Make no mistake: The racist redistricting map preferred by Alabama Republicans will win the day. But how the court gets to that decision is an open and important matter.

Oct 5, 2022 / Elie Mystal

The Supreme Court Returns on Monday, Stronger and More Terrible Than Ever

The Supreme Court Returns on Monday, Stronger and More Terrible Than Ever The Supreme Court Returns on Monday, Stronger and More Terrible Than Ever

This term, the high court will cement its grip on political life in America, overturning affirmative action and other critical protections along the way.

Sep 29, 2022 / Feature / Elie Mystal

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