Kennedy’s Retirement Sets Up Battle over Future of Court

The retirement announcement of Justice Anthony Kennedy from the Supreme Court sent shockwaves throughout the political world on Wednesday. Kennedy, who had been rumored about possibly retiring sometime during Trump’s first term, will leave the court on July 31.

Kennedy was known for much of his tenure as the swing vote on the court, was still considered a conservative justice, though he voted with the liberal bloc on issues such gay rights and abortion. On controversial issues, his vote usually determined the outcome of the case given the two blocs of normally liberal and normally conservative blocs (one major exception were the Obamacare cases, in which Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal bloc to uphold it, while Kennedy voted with the conservatives to overturn it).

If Trump manages to get his nominee confirmed, assuming the nominee is in the mold of his first nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who often votes with the conservative bloc and holds to the idea of interpreting the constitution as written, it could move the court further to a more conservative direction on most issues, such as abortion and labor issues. Democrats in Congress are expected to near-unanimously oppose whoever the nominee is, though some senators from states Trump won, such as Joe Donnelly from Indiana, Joe Machin from West Virginia, and Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota, may vote for the eventual nominee; all three voted to confirm Gorsuch last year. However, Trump could lose support from moderate, pro-choice Republicans, such as Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine. In addition, John McCain’s possible absence because of brain cancer may mean one fewer Republican vote.

Supreme Court Rules in Labor, Travel Ban Cases

The Supreme Court issued two rulings this past week that delighted many conservatives and angered as many liberals. In the first case, the Supreme Court ruled that public sector unions could no longer involuntarily collect fees from non-union members for their bargaining services. Labor unions argued that these fees prevented free-riding from non-union members, as unions must represent all employees equally in their bargaining, not just their own members. At the heart of this case were the political activities of unions, which overwhelmingly support and donate to Democratic candidates, with which many public employees took issue. The ruling this week will likely mean less money in union coffers and thus less funding for political activities.

The second case dealt with Trump’s travel ban on people from several countries, most of them Muslim-majority. The Supreme Court argued in their decision that the President had the power to ban certain nationalities to protect national security, while the dissenting justices argued that the ban stemmed from prejudice given Trump’s campaign promise to ban Muslim immigration.

Roseanne Barr’s Tweet Causes Cancellation

The return of Roseanne to television saw big ratings, but the show could not survive the statements of its star. Barr’s tweet, which said that Valerie Jarrett, a former Obama adviser, seemed like the result of the Muslim Brotherhood and an ape mixing together, caused ABC to cancel the show. Barr has apologized for the remark, claiming the sleep drug Ambien caused her to make the statement (the maker of the drug denies such effects).

Barr, a strong supporter of President Trump, has said she may fight to keep the show on air. Trump did not defend her statement, but tweeted that ABC owes him an apology for what he views as negative coverage of his administration. Trump had earlier praised Barr for the success of her show.

Harvey Weinstein Indicted on Rape, Assault Charges

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on sexual assault charges. He was freed after posting a $1 million bail.

Weinstein was a major figure in Hollywood when multiple women came forth to accuse the executive of sexual harassment and assault over the years. Weinstein was removed from the company he founded with his brother, Bob, and has been stripped of his membership in the Academy. These charges in New York are the first to be pressed, with other charges possible, though some may be difficult to prove given the time that has elapsed between now and when the alleged actions took place.

US-North Korea Summit Still on Schedule, For Now

The summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Km Jung Un is still scheduled to occur on June 12, though whether it will occur is still a matter of debate. Dealings with the reclusive, repressive regime have been historically fraught with deceit and broken promises, most notably promises to not develop nuclear weapons.

The meeting was previously canceled by Trump earlier this month after North Korean threats to cancel the meeting and the absence of North Korean diplomats from preparation meetings. However, a secret meeting between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in helped to decrease tension between the two countries after North Korea criticized joint US-South Korean military drills (a reason it gave for why it may cancel the meeting). Trump backtracked, saying that the summit, to be held in Singapore, may still happen. US diplomats have continued to make preparations for the summit. However, the unpredictable nature of the North Korean government, as well as the personalities involved in the summit, could once again prevent it from occurring.

At the heart of the issue is the North Korean nuclear program which has been in development for over a decade. North Korea has missiles which can reach far beyond its own borders, threatening US allies such as Japan and South Korea as well as the US itself. President Trump was involved in a diplomatic spat with the North, calling Kim “rocket man” and saying the US nuclear arsenal was far superior than Kim’s. North Korea replied by calling Trump a “dotard.”