Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts · Slate Podcasts

Yes, Supreme Court Decisions Really Matter

February 28, 2026·59 min·5 clips

Verrilli says he'd have jumped off the Justice Department roof rather than file a brief that sounded like Trump wrote it.

Dahlia Lithwick interviews former Solicitor General Don Verrilli about the Supreme Court's recent tariffs ruling and its implications for executive power under Trump. They discuss how the court navigates 'not on the level' arguments, the pressures on the Solicitor General's office, and the importance of maintaining faith in the legal system despite challenges. The conversation also touches on historical legal struggles and the role of judges in upholding the rule of law.

As heard by us

A sharp court watch that treats doctrine as a test of power.

Amicus treats last week's tariff ruling as a bigger question: can the Roberts Court still put limits on President Donald Trump? Dahlia Lithwick and her guest stay close to the legal mechanics, moving through unanimity, separate opinions, and the Robert Jackson comparison, but…

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Why you'd press play

You want the real stakes behind the tariff ruling and the power struggle it set off.

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