A ‘quirk’ in the Supreme Court rules makes Clarence Thomas more dangerous than ever

Appearing on MSNBC’s “Way Too Early” to discuss what Americans can expect from the next Supreme Court session in October after a series of conservative — and highly controversial rulings \– Axios founder Mike Allen told host Jonathan Lemire that longtime Justice Clarence Thomas will be the effective leader of the court as Chief Justice is shunted to the side by the conservative majority.

Discussing a post-July 4th article at Axios that notes that the court with its five far-right justices who no longer need the more moderate Roberts vote will run roughshod over the executive branch, Allen explained that Thomas will have undue influence over the ruling due to his seniority.

“We heard about voting rights coming under the Supreme Court scrutiny,” host Lemire began. “You can broaden that to the executive branch and federal power. Why this matters is that, when the Supreme Court constrains federal power, it can be difficult or impossible to do.”

“The federal government is likely to be able to do fewer things than it can now,” Lemire went on. “As it should always be pointed out, five of the Supreme Court justices currently on the bench were appointed by Republican presidents who lost the popular vote. One, though, Clarence Thomas, he was appointed by [president] George H.W. Bush who, of course, did win the popular vote in 1988. Axios writes he is now at the peak of his powers; now the, quote, ‘main character at the Supreme Court.’ Tell us why.”