Trump’s war against the Constitution and the rule of law will reach a climax, not in one, but in a series of Supreme Court cases. There are three plausible outcomes:
- The Court tries to split the difference. It gives Trump most of what he wants, but not all, and makes a great show of its independence. Trump grudgingly acquiesces.
- The Court remains genuinely independent, to Trump’s fury. He ignores the rulings he doesn’t like but suffers few consequences for it.
- The Court remains genuinely independent. Trump is forced by the state of public opinion to accept its rulings.
Option #2 provides the necessary precedent for a future Democratic president to disregard unfavorable rulings. Option #1 will bring the Court into disrepute with the left and probably results in the same outcome. Only Option #3 keeps the Court relevant and the McConnell Project in place.
Over to you, John. You can’t keep the McConnell version of the Constitution without taking some risks.