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Judge Warns Supreme Court's Trump Rulings Risk Authoritarianism

10/6/2025

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Summary

Story summary

J. Michael Luttig, a conservative judge, says the Supreme Court has enabled Trump, citing a 90% ruling in his favor this year.
Conservative justices, including Roberts, appease Trump to protect authority.
The court's decisions enable Trump to undermine agencies and curb spending power.
Steven Levitsky warns overconfidence could yield dangerous precedents, echoing authoritarian regimes such as Hungary and Turkey.

History

Historical Context

The Supreme Court's 2017 ruling on President Trump's travel ban, a 5-4 decision led by Chief Justice John Roberts, marked a significant expansion of executive power. This decision echoed historical patterns in countries like Hungary and Turkey, where judicial systems have been manipulated to consolidate authority, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms in the United States.

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Story summary

J. Michael Luttig, a conservative judge, says the Supreme Court has enabled Trump, citing a 90% ruling in his favor this year.
Conservative justices, including Roberts, appease Trump to protect authority.
The court's decisions enable Trump to undermine agencies and curb spending power.
Steven Levitsky warns overconfidence could yield dangerous precedents, echoing authoritarian regimes such as Hungary and Turkey.

1 / 2