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Welcome to The Morning Sixpack Podcast, where we cut through the noise and bring you the stories everyone will be talking about today. From major Supreme Court rulings to media battles, government ethics questions, and the growing security state around the nation’s highest court, there’s plenty to unpack. Let’s get started.
The Supreme Court ruled states may continue counting mail ballots that are postmarked by Election Day even if they arrive days later. The 5-4 decision preserves mail ballot grace periods in 14 states and rejects a Republican challenge arguing ballots must be in election officials’ hands by Election Day. The ruling leaves existing election procedures in place and settles—at least for now—one of the country’s longest-running election disputes.
The justices also refused to hear President Donald Trump’s appeal in the E. Jean Carroll case. That leaves intact the $5 million civil judgment finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The Court declined the appeal without a noted dissent, while Trump’s separate appeal of the $83.3 million defamation verdict continues through the courts.
Another Supreme Court decision left Alan Dershowitz empty-handed. The Court declined to revive his $300 million defamation lawsuit against CNN over its impeachment coverage, while Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch signaled they remain interested in reconsidering the decades-old “actual malice” standard established in New York Times v. Sullivan.
A new report reveals the Supreme Court itself is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Facing growing threats against the justices, the Court is more than doubling its police force, spending millions on armored vehicles, intelligence units and around-the-clock protection. Critics worry the increasing security also risks isolating the justices from the public they serve.
Disney’s allies are fighting back against the FCC with an unusual legal strategy. Two advocacy groups filed a procedural challenge asking regulators to immediately renew ABC’s broadcast licenses, preserving their right to sue later if the FCC attempts to revoke the licenses or negotiate a political settlement amid the agency’s review of Disney’s operations.
And finally, President Trump’s investment portfolio is drawing new attention. Trump purchased as much as $5 million in Axon Enterprise stock just weeks before ICE sought a potential $220 million Taser contract that experts say appears tailored to Axon’s products. There is no evidence Trump influenced the procurement, but ethics experts say the timing raises questions about the appearance of a conflict of interest.
That’s your Morning Sixpack. Thanks for listening. We’ll be back tomorrow with another round of the stories shaping the day—without the spin, but never without a little perspective.
