How is the Supreme Court really operating today—and what does it mean for American democracy?

In this episode of America at a Crossroads, legal scholar Leah Litman, professor of law at the University of Michigan and co-host of Strict Scrutiny, joins journalist Madeleine Brand for a timely conversation about the modern Supreme Court and the forces shaping its decisions.

Drawing from her New York Times bestselling book Lawless, Litman argues that the Court is increasingly driven by conservative grievance, fringe legal theories, and ideological outcomes rather than consistent legal principles. The discussion explores how this shift affects voting rights, reproductive freedom, executive power, and public trust in the judiciary.

Topics include:

• How the Supreme Court’s decision-making has changed in recent years
• The role of conservative legal movements and grievance politics
• What “lawlessness” looks like inside a powerful institution
• Consequences for democracy, civil rights, and the rule of law
• What comes next — and what citizens should be paying attention to

This program is part of America at a Crossroads, a virtual community conversation series examining the challenges facing American democracy.

Guest & Host

Leah Litman is a professor of law at the University of Michigan, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, and author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes.

Madeleine Brand is the host of the award-winning daily news and culture program Press Play and co-host of The Legal Eagle Files podcast.

About the Series

America at a Crossroads brings leading voices in law, politics, journalism, and civic life together for in-depth conversations about the future of American democracy.

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