It’s the Fourth of July, and I don’t think I have ever been less excited to be an American.
Anyway, it was an eventful week. Tuesday was Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony to the 1-6 Committee, which was really our first view inside the Trump White House. Her testimony damaged both Trump’s legal defenses and his public image. I’ll describe that in the featured post, which should be out shortly.
Last week I covered three major Supreme Court decisions: the reversal of Roe, tossing out New York’s gun law, and forcing Maine to subsidize religious schools. All of them were major steps backwards for America, and are a big part of why this Independence Day feels so dismal. This week the march towards Gilead continued: a public school football coach can lead students in public prayer during a school event, and the EPA has lost a tool for fighting climate change. I’ve decided not to go into as much detail about these, and to cover them in the weekly summary.
Also in the summary: Both sides continue to react and respond to the Court’s Roe reversal. Russia is slowly advancing in eastern Ukraine. Most of the worst candidates in Tuesday’s primary elections lost. And Covid looks set to take off again after the holiday weekend.
I have an unexpected meeting this morning, so I don’t know when I’ll get the summary out. I’ll aim for noon, but who knows?
The Weekly Sift 
Comments
Thank you, Doug I read you always We met on the porch at Star Island about six years ago when you were reading a book concerning Hillary Clinton And your piece on the second amendment is on my phone and I have shared it with hundreds of people. It is the best that I have ever read I have been a lawyer for 53 years and I was a judge for 11 years and the rule of law means a great deal to me, and obviously, to you as well
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Praise from Caesar is praise indeed.
Meetings! UGH! I have a blogger buddy, an expat in New Zealand who has two passports; I wish I had such an option. https://www.rogerogreen.com/2022/07/04/independence-goes-only-so-far/
I have been reading your column for years and truly appreciate your analysis and comments. And I share your feelings about this years 4th of July. Thank you for validating it and clearly stating the reasons.
Surely the EPA decision is worth some comment. Several justices seem to be willing to gut delegation to regulatory agencies. Jamelle Bouie has some remarks in the NYT about Congress’s power under the Constitution to limit the court’s ability to review laws, but of course that would require eliminating the filibuster…
It’s in the weekly summary.
Thanks!