Background Briefing: October 3, 2022
Questioning the Supreme Court’s Legitimacy as a New Term Begins
We begin with day one of the Supreme Court’s new term today with the expectation that more contentious rulings will be coming that could be as bad or worse than the precedent-breaking rulings in the last term. Joining us is Eric Segall, a Professor of Law at Georgia State University College of Law. He is the author of Supreme Myths: Why The Supreme Court is not a Court and its Justices are not Judges, and Originalism as Faith and he is also the host of the Supreme Myths podcast. We discuss concerns expressed by Justice Kagan that the court’s legitimacy is now in question which prompted Chief Justice Roberts to suggest such criticism was a mistake and a rebuke from Justice Alito saying that questioning the court’s integrity crosses an important line.
Oil Company Extortion in California as Consumers Pay Twice as Much Per Gallon as the Rest of the Country
Then with consumers in California paying twice as much per gallon as the rest of the country because refineries are producing less without explaining why, we look into what Governor Newsom is describing as extortion with the five refiners ripping off the public while making more money for delivering less product. Joining us is Jamie Court, the president of Consumer Watchdog, a consumer group that has been fighting corrupt corporations and crooked politicians since 1985. He has led dozens of major political campaigns to reform insurers, banks, technology companies, oil companies, utilities and political practices and Capitol Weekly named him to its “Top 100” list of unelected movers and shakers in California politics. His latest book is The Progressive’s Guide To Raising Hell: How To Win Grassroots Campaigns, Pass Ballot Box Laws And Get The Change You Voted For.
Does it Make Sense to Build High Rises on Ocean Fronts as Hurricanes Get More Powerful?
Then finally with President Biden expected to survey the damage from Hurricane Ian in Florida on Wednesday, we assess what kind of new building codes could be implemented to prevent further losses of lives and property or whether it makes sense to build highrises on the ocean fronts often eliminating wetlands and mangroves which are a natural barrier to storms that are increasingly devastating due to climate change. Joining us is Zhong-Ren Peng, a Professor and the Director International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Florida where he conducts research in adaptation planning for climate change like sea level rise and extreme weather.