Two Balls, One Court

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6/18 Decision Release Livestream: Major Ruling on Trans Care for Minors Jun 18, 2025

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It's that time of year again... welcome to Decision Season 2025.

In one of the most consequential rulings of the term, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Justice Sotomayor’s dissent pulls no punches: “By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the Court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent.”Plus, a preview of the other blockbuster cases yet to be released later this month, and Dave Ball discovers the wild world of emojis in the SCOTUSblog live chat.

39. ‘You’re Losing Constantly!’: SCOTUS Grills Trump’s Legal Team Over Birthright Citizenship May 22, 2025

Show notes

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship. But they’re facing an uphill battle, since — as the court’s liberals happily remind them — they’ve lost every case on this issue so far.

For background, Trump signed an executive order banning birthright citizenship in the United States. But there’s one major problem: the first sentence of the 14th amendment says all people born in the United States are automatically citizens. The White House has defended the policy, saying the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 allows the suspension of habeas corpus rights during an invasion. Trump’s odds were looking slim in court, given we’re not under an invasion of any kind. But that all changed over the weekend, when an antique Mexican naval vessel accidentally crashed into the Brooklyn bridge.

38. Time's up TikTok? Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban as Trump Fights to Save It Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

The Supreme Court has upheld Congress's law banning TikTok, but there's more developing on the app's future practically every hour. Despite Donald Trump signing an executive order to ban TikTok during his first term, on the first day of his second term, he floated a "50% joint venture" between TikTok and the U.S. government. Congress has no idea how to feel about the national security concerns on both sides of the aisle. Luckily, Dave Ball is just learning the app exists.

37. Trans Rights on Trial: SCOTUS Hears Tennessee’s Transgender Healthcare Ban for Youth Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

In United States v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court takes on a pivotal case challenging Tennessee’s law that bans transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming healthcare, including hormone therapy and puberty blockers. Critics argue the law violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, as these same treatments remain available to non-transgender youth for other medical reasons. But the Court’s conservative majority stands poised to roll back access to this care. The question is, how far.

36. "Pick 'em young": Trump talks Supreme Court on Joe Rogan Podcast Nov 02, 2024

Show notes

On this episode, John teaches Dave about the magical world of the Joe Rogan podcast, we discuss the state of the race just a few days out from Election Day, and Dave explains how the Supreme Court is getting out so many election rulings using its aptly named "shadow docket."

35. Trump Receives 'Absolute Immunity,' Biden Gets Older, I Keep Stayin the Same Age Jul 06, 2024

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In a move that had most MSNBC hosts trying to jump out of a window, Biden revealed a few umm geriatric tendencies in Thursday's debate, and the Supreme Court gave Donald Trump 'absolute immunity' for much of his presidential acts. This episode, we dig into what that actually means for our democracy and his other court cases.

We also discuss the Chevron case being overturned, which gifted the Federalist society yet another of their largest goals before Project 2025 can be implemented.

Thankfully, Dave Ball had a few optimistic takes around health and safety standards going down at his favorite donut shop.

34. Decision Season, Part 1: Waiting for the Big Dog Jun 29, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back listeners!

We're back from a brief hiatus since John started his new job at Inside with Jen Psaki on MSNBC (throw them a follow on social media if you haven't already!)

This episode, we get into all the blockbuster cases released so far -- South Carolina's gerrymandering case, gun bans for domestic abusers, and abortion pills -- but still no decision from the court yet on Trump's "presidential immunity" claim (and two other cases no one cares about).

We'll be recording LIVE for the Trump immunity release, so make sure to tune in for that as well!

33. Trump's Ballot Eligibility Taken on by Heartthrob Colorado Attorney Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

There's no cameras allowed in the courtroom. But if there were, let's just say... there wouldn't have been a lot of other news coverage this week.

It's the case we've all been waiting for: whether Donald Trump can be disqualified from running for President.

32. Orange You Off The Ballot? SCOTUS To Hear Trump Ballot Bans Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

In historic rulings, state supreme courts in both Colorado and Maine have barred Trump from being on the ballot. Will the Supreme Court intervene? And how will they rule on former President Trump's federal election subversion case? All that and more, this episode.

Bribes, Ethics, and the Future of SCOTUS Sep 24, 2023

Show notes

We’re back to explore the recent corruption headlines thumping Justice Thomas, his wife, and a major new headliner: Justice Alito! We dive into the billionaire trips, the “non-profit,” and Justice Alito’s “ethic schmethics” response to Congress. We also have updates on the praying football coach after his Supreme Court win (spoiler alert: he lost his football games). Finally, Dave Ball wraps us up with an overview of two upcoming SCOTUS cases: assessing the gun rights of domestic abusers and discrimination in employment transfers. So buckle up, leave a review, and come leave mean comments on TikTok @twoballsonecourt.

This episode was brought to you by "Count Cashula -- The Bribery Vampire," and other Supreme Court mascots generated by ChatGPT.

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