In this episode of CAFE Insider, “Virus Lockdown & SCOTUS Showdown,” Preet and Anne break down the latest high-profile legal and political news making the headlines, including: 

— The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on the first abortion case to come before the Court since Trump’s appointment of two new conservative justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. The case, June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, could threaten the long-standing legal precedent established in Roe v. Wade. 

— District Court Judge Reggie Walton’s forceful criticism of Attorney General Bill Barr over his “misleading” handling of the Mueller report’s rollout — and what that means for the credibility of the Department of Justice under Barr’s leadership.

— The continued spread of COVID-19, and the challenges that the virus poses for governments and markets around the world — including the “emergency” steps that many state and local governments are taking to contain the outbreak. 

We hope you’re enjoying CAFE Insider. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne.

REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

CORONAVIRUS 

• NY Gov. Cuomo Executive Order declaring state of emergency, 3/7/20
• NYCLU statement criticizing NY emergency powers bill, 3/4/20
• “Republicans who came in contact with Trump self-quarantine,” Politico, 3/9/20
• “Trump compared coronavirus to the flu. Here’s why that’s a bad thing,” MSNBC, 3/9/20
• “Dow sinks 2,000 points in worst day since 2008,” CNBC, 3/10/20
• “Energy industry faces reckoning after oil prices crash,” Wall Street Journal, 3/10/20
• “Coronavirus in NY: Cuomo declares state of emergency,” New York Times, 3/7/20

SUPREME COURT 

• June Medical Services v. Rebekah Gee (2019), 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision
• Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt (2016), Supreme Court decision
• June Medical Services Supreme Court oral arguments, 3/4/20
• “Justices give few hints on how they will rule in abortion law,” New York Times, 3/4/20
• “Schumer on Supreme Court remarks: ‘I should not have used those words,’” Axios, 3/5/20
• “Roberts rebukes Schumer,” Washington Post, 3/4/20
•  “The controversy over Chuck Schumer’s attacks on Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, explained,” Vox, 3/5/20
• “Chief Justice Roberts defends judicial independence after Trump attacks ‘Obama Judges,’” New York Times, 11/21/18

BARR/WALTON

• Judge Reggie Walton’s opinion in EPIC v. Department of Justice (2020), District Court for the District of Columbia 
• Harry Littman tweet on Walton’s opinion, 3/6/20
• “Judge calls Barr’s handling of Mueller report ‘distorted’ and ‘misleading,’” New York Times, 3/5/20
• “Meet the Chief Justice of America’s Secret Supreme Court,” Buzzfeed, 6/7/13

BIDEN/BURISMA

• “Republicans lean into Biden probe as he surges in Democratic primary,” Politico, 3/4/2020
• “Dems push to ‘fight back hard’ against Trump’s Ukraine attack,” Politico, 3/5/2020

ANNE LAUGHING CHALLENGE

• “New York Governor reveals state hand sanitizer amid price gouging,” New York 4, 3/9/20