What a Day Podcast Summary: “What To Know About Today's SCOTUS Birthright Case”

Release Date: May 15, 2025
Host: Jane Coaston
Producer: Crooked Media

Supreme Court Hearing on Trump's Birthright Citizenship Case

Overview

In this episode of What a Day, Jane Coaston explores the pivotal Supreme Court hearing addressing the Trump administration's attempt to revoke birthright citizenship in the United States. The discussion not only centers on this high-profile issue but also delves into the broader and increasingly contentious topic of nationwide injunctions.

Conversation with Washington State Democratic Attorney General Nick Brown

Jane Coaston hosts a critical conversation with Nick Brown, the Democratic Attorney General of Washington State, who is at the forefront of one of the key cases being heard by the Supreme Court today.

• Clarifying Nationwide Injunctions

  Brown explains the concept of nationwide injunctions, emphasizing their significant impact beyond the specific cases they pertain to. “The issue around the scope of nationwide injunctions is not a new issue,” he states (03:56). He highlights that these injunctions prevent federal policies from being enforced nationwide, rather than limiting their effects to the parties involved in the litigation.

• Impact on Birthright Citizenship

  Discussing the birthright citizenship case, Brown underscores the necessity for a uniform application across all states. He warns against the dangers of a patchwork system where citizenship rights vary state by state. “If people born in Idaho tomorrow were not citizens, they would lose all sorts of benefits. The state would then be burdened with helping to care for them,” Brown explains (06:38).

• Supreme Court’s Role and Bipartisan Frustration

  Brown expresses surprise that the Supreme Court is focusing on nationwide injunctions instead of directly addressing the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. He notes the bipartisan frustration with the growing use of nationwide injunctions, pointing out the irony of the Trump administration’s current criticism given their support of such injunctions under previous administrations. “There is some need for clarity on nationwide injunctions,” he remarks (05:57).

• Future Legal Battles

  Looking ahead, Brown asserts that his office will continue to challenge the Trump administration’s policies regardless of today’s verdict. “We will continue to advocate for the rights and the harms that we're seeing caused by the Trump administration,” he states (10:16).

Notable Quotes:

• On the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.” (02:15)
• On the absurdity of state-specific citizenship: “If people born in Idaho tomorrow were not citizens, they would lose all sorts of benefits...” (06:38)
• On the necessity for nationwide applicability: “Birthright citizenship needs to apply nationally.” (03:37)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Congressional Testimonies

Summary

Jane Coaston also reports on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s challenging first hearings before Congress as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy faced intense scrutiny over his qualifications, proposed budget cuts, and his stance on vaccines amidst a spreading measles outbreak.

• House Appropriations Committee Hearing

  Kennedy defended Trump's health budget proposal, which includes significant funding cuts to the CDC and NIH, alongside a $500 million allocation for his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. He faced tough questions from House Democrats about his plan to eliminate 20,000 HHS jobs and dismantle entire health agencies.

• Vaccine Stance Under Fire

  One of the most pressing issues was Kennedy’s ambiguous position on vaccines. When asked directly by Representative Mark Pocan if he would vaccinate his child against measles, Kennedy evaded a clear answer. “For measles, probably for measles. What I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant,” he responded (14:51). During the Senate hearing, his analogy further confused the issue: “If I advised you to swim in a lake I knew there'd be alligators in, wouldn't you want me to tell you there were alligators in it?” (15:29).

Notable Quotes:

• On vaccine opinions: “My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.” (14:51)
• On providing honest information: “I am not going to just tell people everything is safe and effective if I know that there's issues.” (15:47)

Host’s Commentary:

Jane Coaston critically notes, “You are not a public health expert, but you are, unfortunately the top public health official in the country, so your takes are actually very relevant.”

Other News Highlights

Election of John Ewing Jr. as Omaha’s First Black Mayor

John Ewing Jr., the former county treasurer, made history by becoming Omaha’s first black mayor after defeating incumbent Jean Stothert. The nonpartisan race focused on local issues such as affordable housing and public safety, despite underlying partisan tensions. Ewing’s victory speech emphasized a new chapter for Omaha: “Tonight we celebrate, but tomorrow the real work begins.” (10:00-11:14)

Immigration Inquiry of Political Commentator Hasan Piker

Hasan Piker, a prominent left-wing political commentator and streamer, shared his unsettling experience of being detained and interrogated by Customs and Border Protection upon returning to the U.S. Piker alleges that the questioning was politically motivated, focusing on his views on groups like Hamas and the Houthi rebels. He expressed discomfort with the nature of the interrogation: “Considering that the entire interrogation revolved around protected speech and my opinions, I felt a little weird about that.” (19:45)

Positive Public Health News: Decline in Drug Overdose Deaths

In a rare piece of good news, the CDC reported a significant decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2024, estimating a drop of nearly 27% compared to the previous year. This decline is attributed to better access to addiction treatment and the use of naloxone for overdose reversals. However, Secretary Kennedy’s proposed cuts to naloxone distribution funding threaten to undermine these advancements.

Concluding Remarks

Jane Coaston wraps up the episode by highlighting the critical legal and political battles that are shaping the nation’s policies on citizenship and public health. The Supreme Court’s decisions on nationwide injunctions and birthright citizenship, coupled with the contentious testimonies of public officials like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., underscore the profound impact of judicial and executive actions on everyday American lives.

Notable Quotes Summary:

• Nick Brown on the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.” (02:15)
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on vaccines: “My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.” (14:51)
• Hasan Piker on interrogation: “The entire interrogation revolved around protected speech and my opinions, I felt a little weird about that.” (19:45)

Attribution

All quotes and discussions are attributed to the respective speakers with their corresponding timestamps as indicated in the transcript.

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