The Republicans on the SCOTUS claim to be originalists, but that’s not what they did in this ballot case. In their per curium opinion (decision of a judge, or of a court in unanimous agreement) they selectively quote is one extremely small amount of the history of the 14th Amendment and ignores the rest. It doesn’t address the mountains of information provided in the two amicus briefs filed by historians. Their decision is solely based on outcomes. What Republican-SCOTUS does is invent a bunch of reasons why their preferred outcome is right.

Why is the Republican SCOTUS is in the bag for Trump? They have life tenure, a decent income, and constant security. They have enormous power, to the point that no law or rule is effective without their consent. They have a long to-do list of laws and rules destined for termination. Why waste any of their muscle on Trump?

The easy answer is that they’re corrupt. There’s plenty of evidence of that. Clarence Thomas? His insurrectionist-adjacent wife? And a free RV? Alito, with his giant salmon? Neil Gorsuch’s house? Brett Kavanaugh’s disappearing debts? John Roberts’ wife with her $10 million from BigLaw for legal recruiting? Their total indifference to ethics and the appearance of impropriety?

The per curium decision by the Court all but insures that Trump is not be subject to disqualification under the Insurrection Clause. The timetable for the absurd immunity claim, shows us that mischief that awaits us from their upcoming immunity decision is additional insurance that Trump will stay in the race for November 3024.