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.

Britney Spears posters

#FreeBritney Is Damn Right #FreeBritney Is Damn Right

The law has failed Britney Spears and likely many others—young, old, often female. Now it’s time to change it.

Jun 25, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Grinning John Roberts

Yesterday’s Union-Busting Supreme Court Decision Was a Segregationist Throwback Yesterday’s Union-Busting Supreme Court Decision Was a Segregationist Throwback

The court’s decision in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid will reverberate throughout the labor movement and far beyond.

Jun 24, 2021 / Elie Mystal for The Nation

Protest against Fulton decision

How the Supreme Court Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Religious Bigotry How the Supreme Court Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Religious Bigotry

The Supreme Court’s decision last week allowing a Catholic foster care agency to discriminate against LGBTQ couples was narrow—but awful.

Jun 21, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Republicans Tried to Kill the ACA—Instead It Got Stronger

Republicans Tried to Kill the ACA—Instead It Got Stronger Republicans Tried to Kill the ACA—Instead It Got Stronger

While not a complete victory, the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act places it on its firmest legal ground yet.

Jun 18, 2021 / Elie Mystal

DACA-rally-Supreme-Court

The Democrats Are Failing Dreamers, Failing Immigrants The Democrats Are Failing Dreamers, Failing Immigrants

Biden and the Democrats spent four years decrying Trump’s assault on immigrants. Now they’re refunding ICE and falling down on the Dream Act.

Jun 17, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Merrick Garland testimony

Why Is Garland’s DOJ Taking Trump’s Side Against E. Jean Carroll? Why Is Garland’s DOJ Taking Trump’s Side Against E. Jean Carroll?

There is no good reason for the Department of Justice to defend a former president against charges that he defamed a woman he allegedly raped.

Jun 10, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Joe Manchin committee hearing

Joe Manchin Cares More About ‘Bipartisanship’ Than Fighting Jim Crow Joe Manchin Cares More About ‘Bipartisanship’ Than Fighting Jim Crow

The senator says he won’t back a crucial voting rights bill because it’s too “partisan.” What he means is that white conservatives don’t like it.

Jun 8, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Andy Biggs press conf

The Miseducation of White Children The Miseducation of White Children

The attacks on critical race theory are just another attempt to prevent this country from reckoning with its racist past and present—by keeping white kids ignorant.

Jun 3, 2021 / Elie Mystal

It’s Time for Stephen Breyer to Retire From the Supreme Court

It’s Time for Stephen Breyer to Retire From the Supreme Court It’s Time for Stephen Breyer to Retire From the Supreme Court

The associate justice has served admirably on the Court for 27 years. But for the sake of our basic rights, he’s got to step down at the end of this term.

Jun 2, 2021 / Feature / Elie Mystal

The GOP Can’t Be Saved—and Neither Can Paul Ryan

The GOP Can’t Be Saved—and Neither Can Paul Ryan The GOP Can’t Be Saved—and Neither Can Paul Ryan

Ryan has become the latest Republican to urge his party to relinquish Trumpism and return to its principled past. The problem is, that past doesn’t exist.

May 28, 2021 / Elie Mystal

x