This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson. With the nomination

of Katanjee Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, the debate about what the Constitution means

and who gets to decide that is again at the center of national debate. But as much as Americans

and an out of politics love to invoke the Constitution, a lot of them don't know what

it means. So black people, women, minorities, we have never, not for a day, been a full

and equal partner in writing or interpreting the laws under which we live. We could change

that. Legal analyst Ellie Mistal on his new book allow me to retort a black guy's

guide to the Constitution coming up on a word. With me, Jason Johnson, stay with us.

Welcome to a word, a podcast about race, impolitics and everything else. I'm your host,

Jason Johnson. President Joe Biden capped off black history month by nominating Katanjee

Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. The first black woman ever nominated. Her confirmation

hearings are sure to bring empty platitudes about judicial temperament, speech length tantrums

disguised as questions and lots of hand-ringing about the fate of the Constitution. By how many

of the political leaders who go on and on about the Constitution actually understand it

or when it's protections to apply to everyone? Not enough. According to our next guest,

Ellie Mistal is an MSNBC analyst and the Justice Correspondent for the Nation. His new book

is entitled Allow Me to Retort, a black guy's guide to the Constitution. And Ellie

Mistal joins us now. Ellie, welcome to a word. Thanks for having me. We're here to talk

about your book. But first, I do want to get your thoughts on Katanjee Brown Jackson.

There was almost a pool of legal analysts guessing who was going to get selected,

depending on the political power of Clyburn and Lindsey Graham. Were you surprised at her

selection and why do you think she won out? No, I was not surprised. Because she Brown Jackson

...