The Supreme Court handed down its final decisions of the term this week, right before the Fourth of July weekend. And they were overwhelming wins for conservatives on significant issues of constitutional principle.
The Court unanimously upheld religious liberty in employment law. It also struck down affirmative action, upheld free-speech on matters of faith involving same-sex relationships, and struck down President Biden’s absurd student loan transfer program.
In so doing, it upheld the 1st amendment, the 14th amendment, and the separation of powers generally.
I feel somewhat elated about these decisions. They go at least a small way toward restoring the constitutional structure of our political life. The affirmative action decision in particular is a rejection of identity politics that will have resounding positive effects for our society. Now we can begin the real task of improving education for the poor, starting with reducing the stranglehold the teachers unions have over education policy.
Our country is not in the best shape right now, at home or abroad, but we are heading into this Independence Day with new hope. These were victories, not just for conservatives, but for the country – even if the left won’t quite admit it openly yet.
This is my first broadcast from the new office and studio in Washington, DC, where I'll be for a couple of years my neighborhood back in L.A. cleans up -- and as we follow the Trump administration from a little closer up than usual.
Topics:
- The anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump
- The escalating tariff battle with various different trading partners
- The future of the Middle East peace talks, and ongoing antisemitism
- The Jeffrey Epstein files and whether they mean anything at all
- The continued crisis of the Texas floods, and stories of heroism and survival
And more!
Special guests:
- James Rosen - Newsmax chief Washington correspondent
- Bob Price - Breitbart News Texas reporter, on the ongoing floods
- Robert Cahill - Trafalgar Polling, on a new alliance of reliable pollsters
- Rabbi Yaakov Menken - Coalition for Jewish Values - on Israel & antisemitism
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week’s portion tells the grand story of the prophet who tried to curse people of Israel and instead ended up blessing them.
I am reminded that these portions continue to be relevant anew, as this particular reading lent the title for Israel’s recent 12 Day War against Iran, “Operation Rising Lion.”
This week's portion includes the commandment of the red heifer -- one of the classic "irrational" commandments whose fulfillment is an expression of faith. It also includes the regrettable episode in which Moses strikes the rock.
I referred to this story in a wedding speech last night. Why was Moses punished for striking the rock in Numbers, when he struck the rock without incident in Exodus -- both for the purpose of providing water to the people?
The answer is that in the interim, the Jewish people had received the Torah, which is like the marriage contract between the people of Israel and God. In a marriage, you do not resolve things by breaking boundaries, but through love.
The additional reading, from Judges Chapter 11, is the story of Jephthah (Yiftach), a man whom the leaders spurn, but to whom they must turn to save the nation. The parallels to our present political circumstances are striking.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Fourth of July!
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