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.

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This Was My Most Privileged Year Ever This Was My Most Privileged Year Ever

While Covid-19 destroyed the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, I was able to leverage every ounce of privilege I have to make this year work.

Mar 10, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Contemplation of Justice

The Supreme Court Is Poised to Find New Ways to Disenfranchise Black Voters The Supreme Court Is Poised to Find New Ways to Disenfranchise Black Voters

If the court gives the go-ahead to two new, blatantly discriminatory voting laws, we can say goodbye to free and fair elections.

Mar 5, 2021 / Elie Mystal

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I Would Not, Could Not, Read Those Books to Kids! I Would Not, Could Not, Read Those Books to Kids!

Dr. Seuss Enterprises was absolutely right to ditch six racist Seuss books—and no, that's not cancel culture in action.

Mar 3, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Merrick Garland

It Was Garland’s Hearing—but Women of Color Were on Trial It Was Garland’s Hearing—but Women of Color Were on Trial

Merrick Garland finally got his confirmation hearing, but the GOP spent most of the time attacking the women of color nominated to join him at the Justice Department.

Feb 23, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Voting Sticker

The GOP’s 2022 Strategy: Voter Suppression or Bust The GOP’s 2022 Strategy: Voter Suppression or Bust

After failing to suppress enough Black votes to steal the 2020 election, Republicans are preparing for a heist the next time around.

Feb 22, 2021 / Column / Elie Mystal

President Joe Biden

What Joe Biden Gets Totally Wrong About Student Debt What Joe Biden Gets Totally Wrong About Student Debt

The president’s resistance to canceling $50,000 in student debt is not about law or policy but about craven, misguided politics.

Feb 19, 2021 / Elie Mystal

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Can the NAACP Succeed Where Everyone Else Has Failed? Can the NAACP Succeed Where Everyone Else Has Failed?

The organization is suing Trump on behalf of Representative Bennie Thompson, a survivor of the Capitol insurrection, under the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act.

Feb 17, 2021 / Elie Mystal

Senator Lindsey Graham

Republicans Won’t Convict Trump—Because They Won’t Convict Themselves Republicans Won’t Convict Trump—Because They Won’t Convict Themselves

The Republican senators who are being asked to judge Trump are guilty of the very same high crime for which the former president has been impeached.

Feb 12, 2021 / Elie Mystal

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Fox News Should Pay for the Lies and Slander It Helped Promote Fox News Should Pay for the Lies and Slander It Helped Promote

The media giant is facing a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit from voting machine maker Smartmatic—and it’s prepared to play ruthless legal hardball to win.

Feb 11, 2021 / Elie Mystal

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If Senators Won’t Kill the Filibuster, They Should at Least Sweat for It If Senators Won’t Kill the Filibuster, They Should at Least Sweat for It

The current version of the filibuster demands nothing of senators other than the desire to gum up democracy. That has to change.

Feb 4, 2021 / Elie Mystal for The Nation

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