"Woke" and SCOTUS Watch

LOL: Briahna Joy Gray BREAKS the brain of Rising guest Bethany Mandel by asking her to define "wokeness" pic.twitter.com/uwRSSH0LaM

— The Vanguard (@vanguard_pod) March 14, 2023

This video, as she herself realized at the time, went "viral" because a conservative writer (who wrote a lot on the subject) could not define "woke."  I'll say a basic thing and then shoehorn it.

Liberal-minded sorts are often not big fans of Gray ("stated that she voted for Jill Stein in the 2016 presidential election"), but she set things up perfectly here.  She calmly noted the term "woke" is widely used but has a somewhat unclear definition.  So, she asked her guest what it means.

"Woke" is a general epithet (we even have "anti-woke" legislation) for conservatives these days.  Still, that is an excellent approach when having a conversation, including with a guest on a show.  Do not just let the person use buzzwords.  Get a clear sense of how they are using them.  This helps the conversation, is fair to both sides, and informs the listeners.  

Mandel's Wikipedia page includes a citation to her efforts in editing children's books to provide a conservative gloss on historical figures. One such book is about Amy Coney Barrett, who replaced Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  This a way to flow into today's Supreme Court event (non-court session available live via the website) honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

A bill was submitted yet again to require televising SCOTUS sessions.  The bill has bipartisan support, the minority chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee (Chuck Grassley) a long supporter, if not really doing much to do the heavy lifting required for its passage.  Basically, it's nice he supports it but doesn't make him too much better than other Republicans generally.

["Allowing cameras access to Supreme Court would be a victory for transparency and would help the American people grow in confidence and understanding of the judiciary," Grassley said.]

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born on 3/15/33 in Brooklyn, which is also where my mom was born a few years later.  She too is named "Joan," though apparently too many Joans at school was not an issue, so she retained her first name until the current day.  "Ruth" is actually the name of my maternal grandmother (an Irish Catholic).  She is the one grandparent I met.

Ginsburg would have been happy that the solicitor general is again a woman (as was Elana Kagan) and one that is an even more skilled advocate.  The SG, who SCOTUS today also granted argue time in two cases involving Native Americans,  started things off.

[Prelogar said that Ginsburg was surely the smallest in stature.  Ah.  Little known, except for a single opinion and for being under five feet tall, Alfred Moore very well might have been.]

It was a nice event though a bit bittersweet.  The complexity of her life, not just about a few recent years of a Jewish grandmother type being the "Notorious RBG," was discussed.  This includes her concern for the proper use of language, which is particularly seen in her deliberate speaking style.  It is also shown in her editing skills.  A prime tool for a lawyer, professor, and judge.  

The Supreme Court, perhaps with some Irish cheer, had a conference today.  Orders (Monday) and opinions (Tuesday) are scheduled along with the start of two weeks of oral arguments next week.  Welcome back.