Major Supreme Court Rulings, What WE Can Do For Democracy, Announcement About My Podcast

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Democracy wobbles but doesn't fall. The Supreme Court just handed down a series of rulings that fundamentally reshape American civic life, creating what many are calling a "patchwork system" of justice across the country.

I outline concrete actions we can all take right now to protect our democracy. Now is NOT the time to stand in the shadows and cower. Now is the time to take action.

But there's hope amid the chaos. I share the inspiring story of a stunning upset victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary—proof that grassroots organizing can still disrupt entrenched power. 

I also make a Major announcement about my podcast.

You can email me at:

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a world gone mad.
This is a world gone mad, mad,mad, mad, mad.
It's another day in a worldgone mad and I'm Jeff Allen
Wolfe, back again to give mycommentary on the news.
So thank you for joining me.
First off, at the end of thisepisode I'll be making an

(00:21):
announcement about me andpodcasting, but first let's talk
about the madness.
Last episode I told you aboutthe Supreme Court's ruling on
several major cases and theramifications.
This episode I'm going to talkabout the remaining major cases
and the rulings the courtreleased Friday and what those

(00:45):
rulings effect will have on usand our country.
I'll give you my commentaryafter I tell you about all the
cases.
So, first off, trump versus CASAnationwide injunctions and
birthright citizenship.
The ruling was the court six tothree barred federal district

(01:06):
courts from issuing nationalinjunctions, limiting them to
only the parties before them.
It did not rule on the legalityof Trump's birthright
citizenship policy, but reversedbroader blocks on it.
The impact for Trump it's amajor procedural win, removes a
key legal barrier thatrepeatedly stalled his agenda.

(01:29):
Trump hailed it as a monumentalvictory, enabling immediate
enforcement of his policies,like restricting birthright
citizenship, except in districtswith existing tailored orders.
Now this fractured approachcreates a patchwork.
This is the impact foropponents Citizens' rights will
depend on their judicialdistrict.

(01:51):
Immigrant advocacy groups warnit betrays our most fundamental
promise and fear chaos,inconsistency and potential
statelessness for children.
The other case decided todaywas Mahmoud v Taylor opting out
from LGBTQ plus storybooks.

(02:11):
The ruling in a 6-3 vote, thecourt granted parents the right
to opt their children out out ofthe LGBTQ plus inclusive
storybook lessons in publicschools, citing the free
exercise clause.
The impact for Trump thisaligns with his cultural agenda

(02:33):
empowering parents withreligious objections, boistering
his parental rights messagingand likely appealing to his base
.
Now the impact for theopponents Critics argue it opens
the door for censorship ineducation, potentially
marginalizing LGBTQ plus themesand eroding inclusive schooling.

(02:54):
It signals a shift towardreligious exemptions in
curricular policy.
Another case Free SpeechCoalition v Paxton age
verification for porn sites.
The ruling the court upheldTexas' age verification law 6-3,

(03:28):
finding that requiring websitesto verify users are over 18
only, incidentally, burdensadult free speech rights.
The impact for Trump anotherwin that reflects the
conservative bent of the courtand dovetails with his law and
order narrative.
He applauded as a great rulingbenefiting parents.
The impact for the opponentsfree speech advocates warn it
undermines online privacy, couldchill adult access to
constitutionally protectedcontent.
There are concerns.

(03:49):
It sets a precedent for furtherinternet regulation and the
Kennedy versus BraidwoodManagement Task Force
appointments was ruled upon theruling from the court squaring
the appointments clause.
The court unanimously ruledthat members of the US
Preventative Service Task Forceare validly appointed as

(04:11):
inferior officers.
Now the impact for Trump itstabilizes a pillar of the
Affordable Care Actimplementation, a measure
Trump's administrationpreviously defended but which
had been legally challenged.
This steadies his health policylegacy.
Now impact for opponentspreserves critical preventive

(04:35):
health care mandates, includingcancer screenings and
contraception, ensuringcontinued protection from
millions.
It staves off disruptions inpublic health coverage.
And FCC v Consumers Research.
Universal Service Fund theruling the court upheld the

(04:58):
constitutionality of theUniversal Service Fund,
maintaining that Congressadequately directed the FCC's
role.
Impact for Trump allowscontinuation of subsidized
telecom services for schools,libraries and rural areas, an
infrastructure initiative thathis administration supports.
Impact for opponents great newsfor educators and low-income

(05:22):
communities dependent on thesesubsidies.
If struck down, the digitaldivide gaps could have widened
dramatically.
So what is the bottom line forAmerica today and a world gone
mad every single day?
These rulings collectivelyreshaped civic and cultural
terrain For Trump, all theserulings is a strategic triumph.

(05:49):
His agenda sees fewer nationallegal roadblocks, gains on
parental rights, protections forbroadband programs he champions
For his opponents.
Each case reflects erosion inuniversal protections,
heightened educationalcensorship and stronger
government powers with unevenimpact across states, setting
the stage for a vastly unequallegal and social fabric across

(06:13):
America.
Today's Supreme Court rulingsweren't just legal footnotes.
They were body blows to thevery concept of equal justice.
They were body blows to thevery concept of equal justice
and, make no mistake, they arevictories for Donald Trump.
His agenda no-transcript.

(06:38):
Let's be clear this is nolonger about policy
disagreements.
This is structural.
The court just limited thepower of lower federal judges to
stop Trump-style executiveorders in their tracks.
That means if Trump or someonelike him gets back in the White

(06:58):
House, policies could go intoeffect immediately.
Him gets back in the WhiteHouse, policies could go into
effect immediately, even ifthey're unconstitutional, unless
you live in the right districtand can't afford to sue.
That's not democracy.
That's authoritarianism wearinga judicial robe.
So where does that leave us?
It leaves Democrats andpro-democracy Americans with a

(07:21):
fire alarm blaring.
We can't wait for 2026 or 2028.
We have to organize now, at thestate level, at the ballot box,
in the courts and in the streetsif necessary.
We need to elect not justpresidents and senators, but
secretaries of state, attorneysgeneral and governors who will

(07:42):
fight back.
We need to pressure the Senateto expand the courts, pass
judicial ethics rules and take aserious look at Supreme Court
reform.
And we need to talk loudly,clearly, daily, because silence
is complicity.
And these rulings are a warning, not a final chapter.

(08:05):
What we do now matters morethan ever.
Our democracy didn't fall today, but it wobbled and it's up to
us to steady it together.
The wounds to our democracy area lot and all over our country.
All of us need to be engaged intriage damage control Act where

(08:28):
we can, where we need the mosthelp immediately.
Let me offer you some concreteactions to protect our democracy
and, yes, some of them you'veheard and some of them you know,
but they need to be repeatedagain for those of you that are
not listening.

(08:48):
First register and then doublecheck your voter registration.
Make sure you're on the rollsand confirm your polling place
or mail-in ballot status.
Next, you need to vote in everysingle election, not just
presidential years, butmunicipal, state, judicial
retention, school boardelections.

(09:08):
Your voice matters down ballot.
Mobilize your network text callcarpool house party.
Help five friends commit tovote.
Then five more Accountabilitydrives turnout.
Support pro-democracy candidatesand measures.
Donate to phone bank for orvolunteer with organizations and

(09:32):
campaigns that back fair maps,voting rights and court reform.
Pressure your state legislature.
Demand fair map, redistrictingautomatic voter registration,
independent election oversightand non-partisan judicial
selection.
Call your US senators andrepresentatives weekly.

(09:54):
Tell them to expand the SupremeCourt, pass federal voting
rights protections like theFreedom to Vote Act and
strengthen judicial ethics rules.
Show up where it counts.
Attend school board, citycouncil and state house hearings
.
Make your voice heard oncurriculum policy and election

(10:16):
administration and judgeconfirmations and election
administration and judgeconfirmations.
Expose and opposeultra-partisan judges.
Track local and state judicialelections.
Support ethics reforms.
Back retention votes for judgeswho refuse to weaponize the

(10:38):
bench.
Stay informed.
Inform others, share trustednews analysis, debunk
misinformation real time.
Keep this conversation going onsocial media, community forums
and at your dinner table.
And, yes, please share this, mypodcast, a World Gone Mad, with
everyone you know.

(10:59):
Keep up the pressure every day.
Democracy isn't a one and done.
It's a muscle.
Practice it, protect it.
Refuse to let go until ourcourts, our elections and our
rights are finally back inbalance.
Repeat these steps with yourneighbors, your family, your
co-workers, your family, yourco-workers, because the fight

(11:21):
for our republic is one, in thestreets, the booths and the
ballot boxes.
One vote, one voice at a time.
If you'd like to share youropinion or add more to this list
that I gave you anything I mayhave missed so I can share with
others on the next episode, thenemail me A World Gone Mad

(11:46):
podcast at gmailcom or leaveyour voice opinion on my
voicemail box 833-399-9653.
Silence is not acceptable.
Passive resistance does notwork.
Standing in the shadows anddoing nothing is harmful to
yourself and the rest of us.
Please interact and engage.

(12:10):
Okay, let me switch gears andinstead of my uplifting,
inspiring story that I normallyshare with you at the end of
each episode, here's something Ido want to share with you
Uplifting, inspiring, but alittle different look at it, and
this relates to our democracyin our country, something that

(12:31):
gives us a glimmer of hope for apossible change in a new
direction.
Some of you may have alreadyknown this, most may not.
So here we go A new progressivebeacon Zoran Mamdani's upset
win in New York City.
Now Zoran Mamdani.
For those of you that don'tknow is a 33-year-old Democratic

(12:52):
Socialist and member of the NewYork State Assembly.
He pulled off a stunning upsetthis week by defeating political
heavyweight Andrew Cuomo, whowas trying to make a comeback in
the Democratic primary for NewYork City mayor, once seen as a
long shot.
In trailing by 25 points in thepolls, mamdani surged ahead

(13:18):
through genuine grassrootsenergy, rejecting the idea that
Democrats need to move to thecenter to win.
This wasn't just an electoralsurprise.
It was a movement.
Over 1,500 young organizersfrom New York City's Democratic
Socialists, working FamiliesParty and student group TRIEJ,
organized in more than 20languages, energized diverse

(13:41):
neighborhoods, especially thosefeeling overlooked, by focusing
on affordability, green energyand public education.
Despite facing $25 million inopposition spending and
Islamophobic attacks, mamdaniremained undaunted.
His campaign stayed disciplinedand dignified, standing firm

(14:05):
under pressure and rallyingsupport through inclusive moral
clarity.
This election signals somethingenormous a rejection of passive
establishment politics.
Nearly 62% of Democrats now saythey want new leadership and
this win offers a clear path,powered by authentic

(14:26):
representation and relentlessorganizing.
Even if New York isn't yourdistrict, the message is
universal Ordinary people candisrupt entrenched power with a
clear agenda and the work toback it up.
It's a proof of concept Focusedideas plus grassroots
discipline equals real change.

(14:48):
This one is proof thatdemocracy still works if we show
up, organize, speak out and notjust hope.
Real change isn't handed downby judges or experts.
It's built by people who refuseto wait.

(15:08):
My last comment I would like tomake before I close this episode
.
I wrote several hundred of youin an instant message today,
this episode.
I wrote several hundred of youin an instant message today, a
personal message, and I want tothank those of you that
responded who said I shouldstill continue to send you
notifications and links to mypodcast episodes.
Thank you, your support isappreciated.

(15:29):
I'm pleased to report that onlya handful of you that I wrote
to said stop, don't bothersending your notifications and
links anymore.
It's not bad a handful.
We're in this together,everyone, and I'm trying to do
my part to inform you what'shappening several times a week
and giving my honest commentary,with no BS and no bullshit, no

(15:53):
spin, no made-up fake news, asDonald wants to call it.
All right.
I promised a major announcementabout me and podcasting at the
end of this episode and here itis.
There will be a new podcastcoming your way from me that
I've just started to work onthis past week.

(16:13):
It will have absolutely nothingto do with politics Guaranteed
Completely opposite from thispodcast and I'm estimating
hopefully in the fall, sometime,when I will release the new
podcast.
And the only other thing I willtease you, the Wolfpack

(16:34):
listeners, with, is the name ofthe new podcast, my new podcast.
It's going to be called theGetaway Place.
The Getaway Place will be yourweekly escape from the noise,
rush and repetition of dailylife.
Take a journey with your mindand indulge your senses.

(16:56):
I promise mystery, interestingstories and something that lets
you get outside of your body andyour soul and explore with me
some unusual things that I thinkyou will find interesting.
I hope you'll enjoy this newepisode, or rather podcast.

(17:19):
I'm looking forward to it.
I'll be back Monday withanother episode of A World Gone
Mad.
I'm Jeff Fallon Wolfe.
I always ask to hear from youand hopefully I will have a
great weekend and, as always,stay hopeful.
There is chaos in the world,can't you see?

(17:41):
And, as always, stay hopeful.
This is a world gone mad.