'Profoundly dark': MSNBC host alarmed Supreme Court may upend key Constitutional provision

26 June

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Image via Flickr / Creative Commons

On Friday, multiple significant Supreme Court decisions are expected to be announced. And one of them may end up radically changing what constitutes U.S. citizenship.

In a Thursday segment on MSNBC's "The Weeknight," co-host Michael Steele reminded viewers that the Supreme Court will be announcing its ruling pertaining to President Donald Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship via executive order. The Court will specifically be weighing in on whether federal judges have the ability to issue nationwide injunctions while litigation plays out in the judiciary, meaning that some children born in the United States could temporarily be denied citizenship while the courts decide what to do.

"I don't think anyone should be surprised by anything this court decides tomorrow," Steele said. "This is where we are now. And I think it will be a fundamental moment for a lot of Americans, particularly if the Court decides ... to extend itself beyond the question in front of it, which is not 'is birthright citizenship constitutional?' That's not the question they're being asked to answer, but they could very well extend beyond that. If they do, we will be in a profoundly dark place."

In addition to the birthright citizenship case, the Court will also be ruling on a case involving racial gerrymandering of congressional districts in Louisiana. As the Associated Press reported, lower courts have twice struck down redistricting maps Louisiana's Republican-dominated legislature has submitted on the grounds that they unfairly disenfranchise Black voters. The Supreme Court will soon decide whether Louisiana lawmakers must once again go back to the drawing board.

"The Weeknight" co-host Symone Sanders-Townsend expressed alarm that the issues the 6-3 conservative supermajority Supreme Court will be deciding Friday are still up for debate. She noted that the decisions to be announced Friday "go to the heart of our Constitution."

"I just really think people should be disturbed and concerned because the reality is that this Court has consistently gone above and beyond its scope and what they decide on birthright citizenship, what they decide on racial gerrymandering," she said. "...So like, what? Do we not care about the Constitution anymore?

Watch the segment below, or by clicking this link.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

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