What's happened
President Biden has proposed significant reforms to the Supreme Court, including term limits and an enforceable code of ethics. This initiative comes amid declining public trust in the court and as Vice President Kamala Harris emerges as the presumptive Democratic nominee for the upcoming election.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, Biden's reforms are seen as a response to a court perceived as politically biased, with Devon Ombres stating that the current court has gone "beyond the pale". The New York Times highlights Senate Democrats' renewed focus on judicial reform, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasizing the need for ethical changes. Meanwhile, The Economist notes that the proposals are unlikely to gain traction in a Republican-controlled House, with Mike Johnson's comments underscoring the partisan divide. This sentiment is echoed across multiple sources, indicating a significant challenge for Biden's agenda.
How we got here
Calls for reforming the Supreme Court have intensified due to perceived ethical breaches and a conservative majority. Biden's recent proposals mark a significant shift from his previous stance, reflecting growing urgency among Democrats to address these issues ahead of the election.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
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The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States of America. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all federal and state court cases that involve a point of federal law, and original jurisdict
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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James Michael Johnson is an American attorney, politician, and former talk radio host serving as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with its main rival, the Republican Party.