The Supermajority

How the Supreme Court Divided America

By: Michael Waldman

Narrated by: Robertson Dean, Michael Waldman - introduction

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

An incisive analysis of how the Supreme Court’s new conservative supermajority is overturning decades of law and leading the country in a dangerous political direction.

In The Supermajority, Michael Waldman explores the tumultuous 2021­-2022 Supreme Court term. He draws deeply on history to examine other times the Court veered from the popular will, provoking controversy and backlash. And he analyzes the most important new rulings and their implications for the law and for American society. Waldman asks: What can we do when the Supreme Court challenges the country?

Over three days in June 2022, the conservative supermajority overturned the constitutional right to abortion, possibly opening the door to reconsider other major privacy rights, as Justice Clarence Thomas urged. The Court sharply limited the authority of the EPA, reducing the prospects for combatting climate change. It radically loosened curbs on guns amid an epidemic of mass shootings. It fully embraced legal theories such as “originalism” that will affect thousands of cases throughout the country.

These major decisions—and the next wave to come—will have enormous ramifications for every American.

It was the most turbulent term in memory—with the leak of the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, the first Black woman justice sworn in, and the justices turning on each other in public, Waldman previews the 2022-2023 term and how the brewing fights over the Supreme Court and its role that already have begun to reshape politics.

The Supermajority is a revelatory examination of the Supreme Court at a time when its dysfunction—and the demand for reform—are at the center of public debate.

©2023 Michael Waldman (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Understanding our times and seasons

The Supermajority paints clear picture of where we are as a country. We no longer hold the truth that we have a government that is of the people by the people and for the people.

This should be a serialized media presentation, for the return of some normalization of the Supreme Court.

SCOTUS has been manipulated beyond belief for decades. As a result it no longer represents the Will of the People. and must be updated to reflect honor, integrity, ethical standards, fairness, the best of what we deserve. Michael is clearly presenting an alternative to what has recently developed in this new century. We are ashamed that it no longer reflects the majority of the population. It is time to eliminate the Electoral College in order for the majority to win elections!

Required reading

Outstanding book that’s quite revealing and interesting. At the same time,it’s sad because it is unlikely that anything will happen to revolutionize the court.

An excellent and thorough history of the supreme court end the situation that exists today

This book makes it extremely important to regard the current situation that we face in the United States today. It points out the dangers that we face from a citizenry not educated to the possibilities that one branch of government has the power to.destroy the constitution.

A must read

Michael Waldman has done an excellent job of explaining the Supreme Court and the negative and ominous effects that the super majority is having on our country. It saddens and frightens me to see the changes that have already taken place and what might be to come with this court. Mr. Waldman thank you for painting this clear picture of the implications of this court and what could happen if it goes unchecked and unchallenged. I will do all I can as a citizen and a voter to change it.

A well-grounding manifesto against the right wing takeover of the SCOTUS

A solid discussion of how the court got to where it is right now, in the grips of a majority packed and shaped by the right wing. The author does not pull any punches but also backs up his take with tons of historical background and reasoning .

My favorite part of the book was the ongoing mini biographies of each Justice - e.g., how Neil Gorsuch’a perspective was shaped by watching his mom Anne Gorsuch get rightfully hammered for her illegal and immoral efforts to demolish the EPA under the Reagan administration.

Essential to understanding current political environment

A valuable and fair-minded history of the Supreme Court followed by a comprehensive analysis of the current court and its rulings. This book is an excellent and balanced guide to understanding the current legal and constitutional issues and challenges.

Timely account about Supreme Court

Michael Waldman’s study of the super six majority on Sup Ct, its decisions and the legal landscape against which they were decided is accessible to lawyer and layperson. He describes a growing trend to upend established law in areas from civil rights to federal regulation with specific focus on cases decided in 2022. He also previews the cases just decided in 2023 term. He concludes that the Court is running a great risk of losing of the public respect which is a key component to the legitimacy of our judicial system. He also point to a sobering fact-this majority likely will exist years more so those who want to change the legal landscape this Court is creating should focus their efforts in Congress, state legislatures and courts where conservative interests have largely held sway for two decades.

Informative for both the novice and the pro

Outlining the social, political and legislative explanations of how the Supreme Court has arrived at its current makeup, this book is a good refresher for those who lived through much of this history and good overview for those who either ignore/d it or are too young to remember it.

Super important story… dryly written & read

I think this book had the potential to be so much better! I wish the author had used more plain language and had explained some of the cases in a bit more depth. And the performance was so dryly read it made listening difficult.
That said, I didn’t HATE it. It’s an important , worthwhile story about history we souple all ne aware of.