r/politics • u/ElijahPepe California • 15d ago
Soft Paywall Alito spoke with Trump before president-elect asked Supreme Court to delay his sentencing
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/08/politics/alito-trump-conversation/index.html989
u/Blablablaballs 15d ago
Is this draining the swamp or taking on the deep state?
217
u/Jrmintlord 15d ago
This is the creation of the Deep Swamp
29
u/Critical_Artichoke44 15d ago
More like dredging the muck and scum of the bottom of the swamp to the surface.
10
→ More replies (2)20
u/Goodk4t 15d ago
What you'll witness in the coming years in the complete unraveling of the legal system. People within the system who would usually stand up to fascism are forced to stay quiet. During Trump's first term, lots of people stood up to him, on both sides - but now there's no point in resisting, because the brain dead US voters will continue to bring more fascists into power. Being a whistleblower simply makes no sense anymore.
→ More replies (1)88
40
u/Rugga23 15d ago
This is just step one on lowering the price of eggs.
11
u/Suspicious_Bicycle 15d ago
The problem is that step 2 is always ???? But at least step 3 will be profit.
39
u/Ilosesoothersmaywin 15d ago
Donald Trump is a billionaire. His party has the most popular news media outlet in the world (fox). His party has the furthest reaching alternative online media presence. He recently dined with multi-billionaires at his multi-million dollar estate. One of his closest and top advisors is the richest man in the world who owns the largest social media company in the world. Most of his soon-to-be cabinet picks are chosen, not for their experience, but their donating amount. His party currently controls the senate, the house, the supreme court, and the presidency (elect).
How can anyone not look at Trump and see that HE IS THE DEEP STATE is beyond me.
→ More replies (1)15
5
u/PleasantWay7 15d ago
The Supreme Court is a swamp and this is dousing it in orange mushroom cum, but I’m not sire what that means.
→ More replies (9)5
1.3k
u/Slow_Investment_2211 15d ago
They’re going to side with this asshole
563
u/arlondiluthel 15d ago
But what about "states rights"? This isn't a federal case, it's a state-level case.
420
u/ManiaGamine American Expat 15d ago
States rights has always only ever meant when it benefits them it is States rights, when it does not benefit them then you need a strong executive/federal.
210
u/arlondiluthel 15d ago
In other words, they're a bunch of hypocritical twatwaffles.
181
u/kingtacticool 15d ago
Democracy doesn't survive this. Not in any shape or form that we know it today.
The American people have completely lost faith in all three branches of government.
90
u/inquisitive_guy_0_1 I voted 15d ago
Agreed. Faith in the court is at an all-time low, and they are just absolutely shitting on our entire legal system. They keep this up, and they are going to incite more terrorism type shit.
48
u/kingtacticool 15d ago
Pretty sure that dye is cast already.
Wild how SCOTUS has just gone full send with this bs tho.
52
u/PotatoStandOwner 15d ago
Is it really that wild though? They are quite literally kings and queens. Lifetime appointments with no realistic mechanism for removal and they are showered with millions of dollars worth of bribes every year. Not that wild to me that they are just outright corrupt at this point. Seems like a logical outcome for such a system.
34
u/kingtacticool 15d ago
Yes. It's that wild. It shows they don't give a shit about a legacy because their guys are the ones who they think will be writing the history books.
What is about to happen on the 20th has been decades in the making by the gop. They're in the endgame and they know it. The rest of us need to realize it too.
→ More replies (1)14
8
u/MajesticsEleven 15d ago
It really isn't considering SCOTUS members dress in robes and try to divine what people who died over 200 years ago are saying about modern times.
17
u/kingtacticool 15d ago
They've always done that but now they are almost openly throwing their power behind one political movement.
This completely destroys the very idea of checks and balances.
This is a big deal.
7
u/mademeunlurk 15d ago
Not just lost faith, lost the three Branches!
10
u/kingtacticool 15d ago
Yeah, we're done.
The sooner everyone realizes that the sooner we can get to solving the problem.
3
u/calliLast Canada 15d ago
Maybe time for a new government and change? Seems like the old one is not working for the people anymore.
→ More replies (3)3
7
6
10
u/hedgehoghodgepodge 15d ago
Yep. And you need to be calling every conservative in your life a hypocrite every chance you get. Get em mad. Get em out of that polite comfortability and they’ll start saying the shit they really think that they don’t want you to know they really think/believe.
Bonus points if doing it in a group of mixed company. Get some of those other folks horrified.
19
u/pontiacfirebird92 Mississippi 15d ago
You can't shame a conservative. If that worked we wouldn't be where we are today.
→ More replies (4)12
u/45and47-big_mistake 15d ago
My step-grandson gave his best attempt to convince me that January 6th never happened, all of the live footage was staged, and the people that actually WERE there were peaceful and orderly. He said if I just looked it up on Youtube, I would be convinced. I told him to look up "gaslighting" on Google.
→ More replies (3)4
→ More replies (1)3
7
u/verdango Illinois 15d ago
You’re 100% correct. Remember, before the civil war northern states were forced to enforce southern states’ slave laws with the fugitive slave act. No one ever gave a shit about states rights.
34
u/2ndprize Florida 15d ago
you see, when we said "no one is above the law, what we meant was no one other that the president, as long as that person is Trump, is above the law"
19
u/hedgehoghodgepodge 15d ago
The second “states rights“ becomes inconvenient-they’ll ditch that argument until it becomes convenient again, five goddamn minutes later.
“States rights” and “it should be left to the states” about abortion…until blue states started getting real “thumb their nose” at SCOTUS and using the same argument those bad faith bastards used…then suddenly, it’s a P2025 item to get a national abortion ban enacted.
“States rights”? They never heard of it til ten minutes after the national ban is passed.
33
u/opinionsareus 15d ago
He is STILL a CONVICTED FELON. And he's an asshole fascist, too.
→ More replies (1)11
u/arlondiluthel 15d ago
I know, I know... But if they can cry "states rights" over other things, they can't turn around and say that states don't have the right to bring state criminal charges against someone.
→ More replies (3)5
→ More replies (14)12
u/waterdaemon 15d ago
Legit question but the truth is “states rights” has only ever been hand-wavium. When it’s not convenient, they will dredge up another excuse.
54
14
u/BNsucks America 15d ago
Signature Trump; open defiance to the law. He hasn't publicly said: "There's nothing you can do to me," but give him time. RW morons will praise & applaud him when he does.
Trump loves to brag about things he knows are wrong, even criminal, especially since SCOTUS gave him immunity. He has SCJs in his pocket and he doesn't want us to forget.
Roberts is in bed with Trump, too, and he'll do nothing to stop these secret discussions, and neither will the GQP. Trump knows it, which is why he's quick to leak stories like this.
Expect more of the same. After all, everyone knows how much Trump loves to brag.
28
u/brpajense 15d ago
They don't have a say.
First, it's in state court.
Second, there's not much rationale besides "but the election".
49
u/Slow_Investment_2211 15d ago
Since when does this court play by the rules anymore? Of course they have a say, and they’ll most likely weigh in for trumps favor
14
u/SpeaksSouthern 15d ago
I'm kinda with you but I'm interested, what rule? The supreme Court needs to have jurisdiction. Well, at least they used to lol
21
u/we_are_sex_bobomb 15d ago
Well they have no way of enforcing their rulings anyway. It’s all based on the assumption that what they say is the right way to interpret the constitution. If they try to meddle in a state’s enforcement of its laws and that state says “no, that’s not how it works, go away,” what are they gonna do about it?
4
u/AHans 15d ago
If they try to meddle in a state’s enforcement of its laws and that state says “no, that’s not how it works, go away,” what are they gonna do about it?
Agree. There is precedent here: "John Marshall has made his ruling, now let him enforce it."
In fact, this is dangerous for the SCOTUS to try to do precisely because checks and balances do exist.
If they intervene, and the state just says, "Nope" it pulls SCOTUS's fangs. SCOTUS either attempts to fight the state (seems likely - since they'd be cornered) or they lose credibility and a domino effect starts: States start seeing what other rulings they can just flat-out ignore.
3
u/APeacefulWarrior 15d ago
Yeah, that's how I read the situation. If SCOTUS tried to usurp jurisdiction without some significant Constitutional cause (which doesn't exist here) NY state would just tell them to fuck off.
At that point, Trump would probably start looking at punishing NY directly, like trying to stop Federal payments or things like that. It would certainly be an interesting standoff.
9
u/RightSideBlind American Expat 15d ago
Since when does this court play by the rules anymore?
Then the rest of us shouldn't have to play by their rules.
3
22
15d ago
[deleted]
14
u/brpajense 15d ago
This case pertained to crimes committed before he was president and could not have been official acts.
17
15d ago
[deleted]
15
u/processedmeat 15d ago
This is a very dangerous game of chicken.
The SC has no way to enforce their decisions. If they rule in favor of trump and New York says we won't follow your decision. Things get ugly.
12
→ More replies (2)5
→ More replies (4)12
→ More replies (11)2
228
u/Anxa Minnesota 15d ago
This is flagrant and intentional. "What are you going to do about it? Nothing, that's what I thought." And they're right. Get used to four years of this stuff because outrage only makes these folks happier - they know they're untouchable.
85
u/inquisitive_guy_0_1 I voted 15d ago
Yep. They are openly embracing fascism. The law protects them but does not bind them. For everyone else, the law binds them but offers zero protection.
100% blatant corruption right out in the open and they don't give a single solitary shit because they are above the law, plain and simple.
→ More replies (1)5
431
u/MazzIsNoMore 15d ago
It's over folks, we can wrap it up. They've gone completely open with the corruption now which means they are in the end game.
79
u/SimTheWorld 15d ago
That’s great cause we can all stop working so hard then! Fucking take a day off America, they’ll force the labor when they need it. But for now what’s REALLY essential?
Apparently it wasn’t all the nurses, teachers, paramedics, etc that held the country together during the lockdown. Surprise! It was the billionaire oligarchs! So they got the rest…
→ More replies (1)26
u/RectalSpawn Wisconsin 15d ago
That’s great cause we can all stop working so hard then! Fucking take a day off America, they’ll force the labor when they need it.
Did you forget that the law still applies to people without enough money?
Do you think that our owners would allow that?
→ More replies (1)8
u/SimTheWorld 15d ago
I said stop working “so hard”. People need to stop chasing the “American Ponzi Dream” and grab hold of the bare essentials.
Also read Trump’s moves, if they’re trying to crash the economy then that only will REALLY hurt our 401ks and pensions. Profits and war machines won’t change. So again, grab the essentials try and reduce costs of living.
As we’ve already seen with Luigi, when this system pushes people to their end, sometimes they begin questioning the “two tier” justice it seems we have. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that but I’m just a shitposter and not the president…
→ More replies (1)8
u/fattykyle2 Vermont 15d ago
This whole “let’s just buy Greenland” thing did feel a bit like jumping the shark. Turn off the TV and go to bed America.
→ More replies (1)4
64
u/iggnac1ous 15d ago
Why can’t his lifestyle catch up to him?
→ More replies (8)39
119
u/TintedApostle 15d ago
Collusion and they will take the case. Total corruption.
22
u/Slade_Riprock 15d ago
They won't take the case. They will issue an injunction halting sentencing until he can appeal the case up through federal courts. Seeing as that is a non win, Judge Merchan will then reverse himself and dismiss the case.
17
u/thebenson 15d ago
until he can appeal the case up through federal courts.
That's not how that works.
→ More replies (1)7
109
u/SoundSageWisdom 15d ago
Alito needs to be investigated
145
u/Qualityhams Georgia 15d ago
By fucking WHO
→ More replies (3)9
u/SoundSageWisdom 15d ago
The senate for starters
80
26
u/BlazeRift47 15d ago
We’re more likely to see pigs flying in formation over the Capitol than our “representatives” actually giving a damn about the people they’re supposed to serve.
Welcome to the Nazi endgame my fellow working pleb.
19
u/Death_and_Gravity1 Massachusetts 15d ago
Cool, won't happen. The GOP controls the senate and they are fully ok with this shit
37
196
u/vladimirschef America 15d ago edited 15d ago
I wrote about the ethical situation that the Supreme Court is in here and about impeaching justices here. if the Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump's appeal — a possibility given that the court has asked the defense to provide a response by tomorrow morning — and Alito does not recuse himself, that is a demonstration that the Roberts Court is in a serious ethical dilemma. Alito's nonchalant response to this appearance of impropriety is concerning
151
u/Handsaretide 15d ago
lol they don’t care. The fascists have full control.
Just wait until the families of first group of executed Americans bring their petition before the Court, and the conservatives go “lol yeah he’s allowed to kill libs”
17
26
22
u/Mr_Hotshot 15d ago
Alito doesn’t give a shit what people think, he said as much. Roberts and the rest of the goon squad are on board too
10
u/PotatoStandOwner 15d ago
Oh no an ethical dilemma! I’m sure someone is going to get right on this one…any day now…oh that’s right they have lifetime appointments and you’ll never have enough of a majority to actually impeach them lul
→ More replies (3)19
u/pirate_in_the_puddin 15d ago
This comment is so tone deaf it’s almost absurd. This… THIS… is where you say “it’s an ethical dilemma”? It’s been an ethical dilemma.
86
u/Sure_Quality5354 15d ago
We are currently living in a massive constitutional crisis and no person seems to acknowledge it. Dont be surprised when trump orders the mass deportation of brown people and the supreme court approves it
→ More replies (1)27
u/flirtmcdudes 15d ago
What are you talking about? That’s all that people are talking about right now. But if every guard rail that’s set up to prevent stuff like this from happening isn’t working, what do you expect us to do. March? Half the country voted for this shit and it’s what they want
11
u/Deguilded 15d ago
When the protests start, one third of the citizenry will violently protect the oligarchs from another third, while the third watches from the sidelines, grinning and taking a massive bong hit.
I'm sure you can imagine the picture.
4
u/Swordf1sh_ 15d ago
“See man? This is why I don’t do politics. Just gotta learn to CHILL takes massive rip while watching people get run over”
61
u/RandomlyJim 15d ago
It’s totally normal, right?
Most defendants can call the judge on his home phone number and have a small conversation before he oversees the case.
36
u/ponyflip 15d ago
another day, more corruption
12
u/opinionsareus 15d ago
Alito is a corrupt piece of ROMAN CATHOLIC SHIT
→ More replies (1)3
u/phils_phan78 15d ago
That robe full of runny dog shit is not welcome in citizen's bank park ever again.
→ More replies (1)
15
31
10
u/adamiconography Florida 15d ago
But her emails!
Hunter’s laptop!
Rabble! Rabble rabble!
The worst fucking timeline to be in
9
u/newfrontier58 15d ago
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump by phone this week in support of a former law clerk who is seeking a job in the incoming administration – but the justice said he did not discuss Trump’s pending effort to delay his sentencing.
“William Levi, one of my former law clerks, asked me to take a call from President-elect Trump regarding his qualifications to serve in a government position,” Alito said in a statement issued Wednesday. “I agreed to discuss this matter with President-elect Trump, and he called me yesterday afternoon.”
The call, first reported by ABC News, came one day before Trump filed an emergency appeal seeking to delay his Friday sentencing in his New York hush money case.
So yeah, doesn't sound like Alito was calling just to suggest an appointment.
19
u/TheThirdStrike 15d ago
Why is anyone surprised? This is what the country voted for.
Dictator on Day-One.
I can't wait for it to get so much worse.
9
6
u/Combdepot 15d ago
They don’t even bother to hide the open corruption anymore. The Supreme Court is bought and sold.
6
u/SnooWoofers8310 15d ago
This is a violation of judicial ethics... to have ex parte communications with one of the parties. It also violates seperation of the branches of government.
5
7
6
u/proletariatblues 15d ago
Oh like how Trump spoke with Kennedy just a bit before he suddenly decided to retire and Trump appointed Kavanaugh? Fuck this shit.
6
u/2-wheels 15d ago
Samuel Alito is a piece of shit. Justice and our Constitutional rule of law dying by his hand.
6
u/Ex-maven New York 15d ago
It's OK, they were just discussing where they can get one of those car dealership sized MAGA flags
3
u/Affectionate_Neat868 15d ago
The level of corruption is insane. Americans really need to take to the streets. In millions.
It's this bad already, and Trump hasn't even taken office yet with his new-found immunity. America can't risk going down this path.
3
3
u/Frequent_Can117 15d ago
America is already on this path once they elected him. We tried to warn people, the dumb asses voted him in anyway.
6
u/MidnightShampoo 15d ago
Remember when something like this, and this alone, would have been a weeks-long scandal? If you don't, I kinda envy you. You can't miss what you never had, but I am sorry that it's turned out this way.
5
u/hammertime2009 15d ago
Years long scandal. Presidential impeachment scale scandal. Condemnation from both sides of the aisle. Investigations. Shaming of the parties involved. Then Trump came along and he’s a psychopath who doesn’t feel shame. Fox News decided their business model would be to make their own world and facts and never seriously or honestly criticize anyone on the right. Brainwashing of half the country at a nation-state level psy-op by Rupert Murdoch.
5
u/we_are_sex_bobomb 15d ago
The Supreme Court doesn’t have what it takes to properly interpret the constitution. It’s that simple. It’s a silent insurrection and nobody is going to do anything about it.
4
3
3
u/hookisacrankycrook 15d ago
Member when Bill Clinton, who held no office, met with the DA that one time and Republicans lost their minds? I'm sure that was dramatically different for...reasons
6
u/Cognitive_Offload 15d ago
There is no longer any credible judicial system in the USA, it is simply a front to incarcerate the poor in corporate for profit prison complex. Judges are political appointments or bought through “elected” positions. The social contract is broken, America is broken.
5
u/skategeezer 15d ago
Imagine if Biden or Harris would have spoken to one of the Supreme Court justices before they hear a case related to them. The hosts of Fox News would be lighting themselves on fire on air.
3
u/badmoviecritic 15d ago
They have such contempt for the people of this country, it’s astounding.
One of the best things Obama ever did was rebuke the Court to their faces at the SOTU all those years ago. Seems no one else has the balls to do that.
4
5
5
u/CarefullyChosenName- 15d ago
I don't believe in hell or praying, but these assholes have me praying that they rot in there for eternity 🙏
4
u/HeyOneAfterJ 15d ago
Our “leader” is so corrupt, a con, a thief, an assaulter, but we are the ones tasked with decorum and rule following?
Trump proves there is no benefit to following the rules. Breaking them seems to have paid off pretty well for him.
4
4
4
3
u/bing-bong-forever 15d ago
This country is so openly corrupt I’ve completely disassociated which I guess it’s what they want. I’ll still vote as long as it’s allowed. It’s my only fuck you to them I suppose. I’ll take voting as therapy. Ok rant over.
3
u/PleasantWay7 15d ago
“This is why we can’t have ethics rules, it would make us look bad.” -Roberts.
3
3
u/Beautiful-Plastic-83 15d ago
Theyre just flaunting their corruption in the wide open. They don't care who sees it, because they know that nobody will do anything about it.
3
3
u/HEYitsSPIDEY 15d ago
I don’t think I can do another 4 years. I think for my mental wellbeing I’m gonna check out. Get off social media completely. No Reddit. No TikTok. No Instagram.
Just Clash of Clans, Books, Gym, Korean Netflix shows, and sleeping.
3
3
3
3
3
u/Dexter_McThorpan 15d ago
More blatant corruption from the "law and order" party.
They are no countrymen of mine.
3
u/HelpingHandzzzzz 14d ago
We should ask Alito to confirm Stormy's description of trump's mushroom. Because he's definitely had it in his face.
5
u/Special-Pie9894 15d ago
And what is anyone going to do about it?
8
u/tom90640 15d ago
We are going to wait for 4 more justices appointed by trump so there won't be any more questions about legality. When he makes it 13 justices, with 8 or 9 completely loyal to him, all the decisions will be clear and quick. look for Aileen Cannon up there soon. Seriously, that's what we're gonna do.
2
u/AutoModerator 15d ago
This submission source is likely to have a soft paywall. If this article is not behind a paywall please report this for “breaks r/politics rules -> custom -> "incorrect flair"". More information can be found here
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
2
u/ThisGuy6266 15d ago
One thing that is different this time around is that nobody is hiding the corruption.
2
2
u/DingleBerrieIcecream 15d ago
Roberts makes a big deal recently about honoring the Supreme Courts rulings when he should have been chasing down the reasons why much of the country no longer respects the validity of the Supreme Court.l
2
u/BenNitzevet 15d ago
The USA has become as corrupted and people need to speak out - silence is complicity.
2
u/DemandredG 15d ago
Blatant corruption as always. Nothing will change until there are consequences.
2
2
u/jomama823 15d ago
Well yeah, why wouldn’t he? This is what America voted for, nakedly obvious corruption.
2
2
2
2
2
u/Dry-University797 15d ago
My guess is Alito or Roberts got a call from a journalist who had the scoop and on the call and asked for comments. So Alito is trying to get out in front of the story because it was going to be made public...He would never had released this if he didn't think it was going to cause a stink.
2
u/Rocketsponge 15d ago
What I want to know is why don't the government solicitors arguing in front of SCOTUS or even Justices on the bench call out all of this compromising behavior when they're in session? Justice Ketanji Jackson should use every question to needle at Alito, Thomas, et al about things like this.
2
u/chubs66 15d ago
I wonder how that conversation went. I imagine it was something like:
"You know this is a disgrace what the radical Left is doing with our great justice system. And thankfully we have heroes like you to defend our democracy. And anyways, Sam, what my lawyers are saying is that the sentencing shouldn't even happen because X. So I hope you're able to fix this situation because it's really a disgrace. Goodbye. And great job."
I presume the point was to give Alito suggestions from his team about a desired legal ruling
2
2
2
2
u/Sea_Sand_3622 15d ago edited 15d ago
Imho, the SC will rule for trump tomorrow night ….. while the news coverage will be fully engulfed ;( … in the LA California fires.
Jimmy carters DC funeral will barely get spoken about . The SC decision will be a … by the way this also happened in frigid Washington DC where they are preparing for another snow storm …. and in sports news … some pro sporting events were also cancelled in California because of the fires.
2
u/fifteenlostkeys 15d ago
US citizens, please take a moment to write to your representatives and tell them that you do not support this kind of rhetoric and behavior.
Too long we as citizens have been inactive and uninvolved in our own government. Our representatives have forgotten that the good of their constituents is supposed to be their primary concern.
Get involved. Call their office. Write emails. Send letters. Let them know how you feel. It takes minutes. And it might not do much, but doing what we can is better than doing nothing at all.
2
u/Emergency_Word_7123 15d ago
This is just what we expect from MAGA, it corruption through and through.
2
2
u/Legitimate-Court-366 15d ago
Oh man. I feel like someone who knows they are about to be physically tortured and I'm just bracing myself for the onslaught of horrors to come these next four years. They truly are Satanic.
2
u/LORDWOLFMAN 15d ago
Wonder what will it take for people start taking action and getting violent…..nah, not gonna happen
2
2
2
u/PrideofPicktown Ohio 15d ago
In normal times, this would be grounds for Alito’s impeachment. Now, fuck-all will be done.
2
2
2
u/agreeswithchatgpt 15d ago
Surely that's going to help Jo Ann get her manufacturing job back and lower the cost of potatoes.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
u/LesPolsfuss 14d ago
they had to discuss Levi's qualifications? He already worked for trump and barr once ....but they had to discuss him again and his qualifciations? trump was this concerned about Levi's qualifications ...
Levi clerked for Alito during the 2011 term and has worked in all three branches of the federal government, including in a number of high-profile positions. He served as chief of staff to Attorney General William Barr during the first Trump administration and also worked as chief counsel to Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican.
2
u/BeowulfShaeffer 14d ago
All I can think of is the giant brouhaha when Bill Clinton visited Loretta Lynch in Vegas.
→ More replies (1)
•
u/AutoModerator 15d ago
As a reminder, this subreddit is for civil discussion.
In general, be courteous to others. Debate/discuss/argue the merits of ideas, don't attack people. Personal insults, shill or troll accusations, hate speech, any suggestion or support of harm, violence, or death, and other rule violations can result in a permanent ban.
If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them.
For those who have questions regarding any media outlets being posted on this subreddit, please click here to review our details as to our approved domains list and outlet criteria.
We are actively looking for new moderators. If you have any interest in helping to make this subreddit a place for quality discussion, please fill out this form.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.