Cruel and Unusual, Bought and Paid For

This week, the Supreme Court blessed the torture of a condemned woman, and the court is set to kick off the new term by doing fossil fuel’s bidding. So here at Amicus, we’re not really in the mood for a razzle-dazzle “curtain raiser.” Instead, we’re taking a clear-eyed look at the ways the Roberts court is pulling the constitutional rug out from under the American people.

First, Dahlia is joined by Corinna Barrett Lain, author of Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection, to discuss the botched execution of Christa Pike. After the Supreme Court overturned a last-minute stay without explanation, Tennessee attempted to execute Pike by lethal injection—twice. She survived and was taken to hospital where doctors tried to save her life. She was unconscious and on a ventilator at the time of writing. Professor Lain explains how lethal injection’s medicalized facade hides state violence, why the court keeps green-lighting botched protocols, and what Pike’s case reveals about a system that executes the broken and the poor while sparing those who can afford good lawyers.

Then, Dahlia speaks with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island about the Supreme Court’s new term and its fossil-fuel patrons. They discuss the Suncor v. Boulder climate case, the flotilla of billionaire-funded front groups filing amicus briefs to signal the court’s captured justices. Should we be optimistic that Alito has recused himself from the case that opens the term? Sen. Whitehouse says it is unlikely that decision reflects any sort of come-to-Jesus moment. It suggests instead that, if the Democrats take power in the midterms, the Supreme Court’s internal practices must be investigated. Although his peers are longing to return to regular, orderly government, the senator says “there has to be a reset.”

Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. If you’ve been peering through the steamed up windows of the Amicus Plus smokeless cigar bar longingly, hovering over that “subscribe to Slate Plus” button. Now is the time to join. For a limited time (like, until October 16th), you can join Slate Plus for 50 percent off and get bonus episodes of Amicus, like this one. You’ll also enjoy ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts and unlimited reading on Slate.com. Visit slate.com/amicusplus and use the promo code AMICUS50 to receive the discount AND get access wherever you listen. Support what we do and help us absolutely crush it during Slate’s 30th anniversary pledge drive!

Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.