PBS NewsHour - Supreme Court

Major decisions expected from the Supreme Court in the coming days could reshape higher education and immigration policy. Geoff Bennett discussed the cases with NewsHour Supreme Court Analyst Marcia Coyle. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In the coming weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling on the use of race in college admissions. The case is focusing attention on other practices used in admissions that may need to change, including the children of alumni who often have preference and are often white and affluent. Geoff Bennett discussed legacy applicants with Evan Mandery for our series, Rethinking College. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A new book explores the Supreme Court's growing influence on the country through emergency actions on cases not on the official docket. For the past decade or so, the court has gotten involved in cases concerning big issues, often setting new principles without hearing arguments and without explaining their reasoning. John Yang discussed that with Stephen Vladeck, writer of "Shadow Docket." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

There are political battles on the state level this week with a handful of primary races heating up and action on abortion laws. We check in with reporters Colin Campbell of North Carolina, Ryland Barton of Kentucky and Katie Meyer of Pennsylvania to help bring us up to speed. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For the fourth time in a month, a report raises questions about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his rich friends. This time it's money going to Ginni Thomas, the justice's wife. According to the Washington Post, Leonard Leo directed pollster Kellyanne Conway to give Ginni Thomas "another $25k" and bill it to a nonprofit that Leo advised. John Yang discussed the report with Emma Brown. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are spotlighting recent ethics concerns surrounding the highest court in the land. In a Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, senators debated how to address concerns involving Supreme Court justices, including whether they should apply ethical guidelines to the court themselves. Amna Nawaz discussed the hearing with University of Virginia law professor Amanda Frost. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The fate of student debt relief promised for some 40 million Americans is in the hands of the Supreme Court. The justices heard arguments in high-stakes cases over the legality of President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. John Yang discussed the arguments with NewsHour Supreme Court Analyst Marcia Coyle and Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of The Washington Post. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It was a political earthquake last May when the draft Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked almost two months before the ruling was handed down. Chief Justice John Roberts launched an investigation but said the court has not been able to identify the leaker. Supreme Court analyst Marcia Coyle joined John Yang to discuss the report. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The start of this new year is bringing with it some new state laws. Thousands of bills were passed in state legislatures in 2022, but there are a few issues that stand out for which many states have decided to take action. Stephanie Sy has a look at some of the changes on the way. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Congress gave final approval to a bill requiring all states to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. It passed the House with nearly 40 Republicans joining Democrats in support. On the floor, arguments focused on protecting marriage rights against a conservative Supreme Court versus protecting religious freedoms. Kate Sosin, a reporter for The 19th, joins Lisa Desjardins to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The rights of same-sex couples are once again before the U.S. Supreme Court. Justices on Monday heard arguments in a case that wrestles with the blurred lines separating free speech, religious beliefs and discrimination. John Yang looks at the history of the case and speaks with Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal to discuss the legal arguments on both sides of the debate. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Supreme Court will hear two cases this week -- Creative v. Elenis and Moore v. Harper -- that have the potential to reshape anti-discrimination laws and the future of federal elections nationwide. John Yang joins Geoff Bennett to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Monday, CIA Director William Burns met with his Russian intelligence counterpart to convey the consequences if Moscow were to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, police arrested a Syrian woman suspected of carrying out the bombing in Istanbul that killed six and the U.S. Supreme Court will allow the Jan. 6 Committee to get phone records from the head of Arizona's Republican party. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases seeking to overturn decades-old precedents that have allowed colleges to factor race into admissions decisions in order to create diverse student bodies. Opponents of the practice say that any decision based on race is wrong. Angel Perez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused former President Trump's request for an independent arbiter to examine classified White House documents found at his Mar-a-Lago estate, the U.S. Labor Department turned in another tough report on inflation at the retail level and the U.S. and Saudi Arabia traded tough talk over sharp cuts in oil output. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders