Who Is John Roberts?
Who Is?
iHeartRadio + NowThis
4.1 • 803 Ratings
🗓️ 19 November 2019
⏱️ 38 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Who Is the most powerful person in America? Perhaps Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts. Appointed for life, Justice Roberts could cast the decisive vote—defining the law of the land—when it comes to issues like abortion, gun control, LGBTQ rights, and things you don’t even realize touch your everyday life. Presidents and Senate power breakers might get the press, but for the power behind the throne, look for the man in the black robe.
GUESTS:
- Amy Howe, of Howe on the Court and host of podcast SCOTUSTalk. Co-founder of SCOTUSblog
- Dahlia Lithwick, of Slate, she hosts the Amicus podcast.
- Mark Joseph Stern, of Slate, and author of “American Justice 2019: The Roberts Court Arrives”
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Is Roberts the most powerful man in controlling the future of America? |
| 0:05.4 | Yes. |
| 0:06.5 | Unquestionably. |
| 0:07.7 | John Roberts is the swing vote of the United States Supreme Court, which is the most powerful |
| 0:12.3 | court in any country and the most powerful it's ever been in history. |
| 0:15.2 | He decides what the law is. |
| 0:17.9 | The Supreme Court is super weird. |
| 0:24.4 | Nine people in robes hidden away in a secret chamber making decisions based on their interpretations of a grammatically confusing document written more than |
| 0:30.7 | 200 years ago, our Constitution. Everyone on the court is appointed for life and will likely serve longer than any congressman or senator. |
| 0:41.0 | I know in past episodes I've promised you. |
| 0:43.7 | There is no Illuminati. |
| 0:45.8 | But the United States Supreme Court is about as close as it gets. |
| 0:50.1 | And who's in charge? |
| 0:52.2 | Who is? Chief Justice John Roberts. |
| 0:58.1 | I'm Sean Morrow. |
| 0:59.9 | Welcome to Who Is from Now This, |
| 1:02.6 | a podcast where we explore the past and present |
| 1:05.4 | of the most powerful people in Washington and beyond, |
| 1:09.1 | the people molding our world and determining our destiny, |
| 1:12.8 | through interviews with folks who've known or have followed them for years. |
| 1:17.0 | This week, we're talking about Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts. |
| 1:22.3 | If you close your eyes, can you picture him? Can you hear his voice? What's he like? You might have |
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