— Will Ferrell had serious doubts while filming this now-classic comedy. Looking at one specific part of the costume, we get it.
SCOTUS
Order in the Court
What’s going on: While the executive and legislative branches often cross paths on Capitol Hill, the judicial branch tends to make itself scarce. So when Supreme Court justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified before lawmakers yesterday, it was a big deal. The reason for their visit? Money. SCOTUS is asking for a $20 million budget boost, with the majority going toward beefing up security. Barrett and Kagan argue the added protection is badly needed after a series of disturbing close calls, suspicious packages, and swatting hoaxes against members on the bench. Their testimonies underline a dangerous trend: Political violence is on the rise, threatening all kinds of public figures and their families. And, evidence shows when lawmakers are targeted by violence, it can influence how they vote.
A dangerous precedent: Despite the Court’s immense power, the American public has long viewed it as a trusted, impartial institution. In recent years, and especially since the 2022 Dobbs decision, public opinion has remained low, and threats to the Court have spiked dramatically. So have calls to impose term limits and expand the court. That may be because Americans feel more polarized and threatened, and divisive SCOTUS rulings emphasize the court’s power. The bottom line? High-profile government figures should be able to safely conduct their work –– which is what many Americans want, too. But as with virtually every other political issue, we can’t seem to agree on a solution.
