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a14 EZ RE the washington post . monday, june 30, 2025
opinion
ABCDE
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Owning the consequences of their ruling
A
CASE the Supreme Court decided on Friday easier for the president and his executive branch federal judges have overstepped their authority making it harder for plaintiffs to judge-shop.
stemmed from President Donald Trump’s officials to violate even black-letter constitutional when issuing nationwide injunctions. That concern Lawmakers could have required judges in a district
attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship, rights as the country waits for the high court to tell is reasonable. Courts should reserve nationwide to be randomly assigned to cases, for example. They
but the ruling’s implications go beyond them to stop. injunctions for only extreme cases, yet, in the past also could have curbed federal district courts’
even this big issue: The justices curbed the power of Writing for the majority, Justice Amy Coney few decades, the number of nationwide rulings ability to issue nationwide injunctions except in
lower court judges to block illegal presidential Barrett noted that people could still get nationwide from district courts has risen exponentially. Parti- extraordinary circumstances, such as when a gov-
actions, even as the sitting presi- relief from district courts by filing class-action san attorneys general and legal activists have ernment official deliberately ignores settled law.
EdiTOriaL dent tries to do things that are lawsuits, in which a class of people similarly Likewise, following Friday’s ruling, Congress could
plainly unconstitutional. Now they harmed by a policy can seek a broad ruling against re-empower federal judges to issue nationwide
need to own the consequences of their ruling. More government overreach — a ruling that would apply The Sumpre Court has significantly injunctions within tight limits.
than ever, they must be willing to act with speed and to everyone who qualified for inclusion in the class. These sorts of reforms are still worth lawmakers’
force when the president attempts to violate But class action litigation is hard. Certifying a class weakened district judges’ ability to time, as they would offer district court judges a
Americans’ rights. in court takes time and requires plaintiffs to narrow opportunity to curb true miscarriages of
The ruling inhibits federal district court judges overcome significant procedural hurdles. In fact, halt illegal presidential actions. justice while combating abuse of such authority. No
from issuing nationwide injunctions, blocking the the Supreme Court in recent decades has made it doubt, congressional Republicans today would
president from taking a certain action anywhere more difficult to obtain certification. resist such legislation. But they should consider
while the courts consider its legality. Practically Justice Samuel A. Alito in a concurring opinion how they would feel if the next Democratic
speaking, the ruling means that — pending further even warned judges against seeing Friday’s decision engaged in brazen “forum shopping,” in which they president were as eager to test legal lines as Trump
judicial process — some Americans born to undocu- as an “invitation to certify nationwide classes file suit in areas where they are most likely to is.
mented parents might see their country of citizen- without scrupulous adherence” to the rules. “Other- succeed. In some instances, they have gamed the Meanwhile, the Supreme Court must raise its
ship deny them the legal recognition the Constitu- wise,” he wrote, “the universal injunction will system so that individual judges friendly to their vigilance, halting severe abridgment of American
tion guarantees them, and risk being deported. return from the grave under the guise of ‘nation- cause oversee their cases. That has made it increas- liberties promptly and forcefully. The justices have
The bigger picture, though, is that the justices wide class relief,’ and today’s decision will be of little ingly difficult for presidents of both parties to now placed this responsibility upon themselves
have now reserved to themselves alone the ability to more than minor academic interest.” pursue their legitimate agendas, Barrett noted. alone. They cannot act as though they have changed
issue nationwide injunctions. This will make it The court based its decision on concerns that Congress should have fixed this problem by nothing.
LETTErs TO ThE EdiTOr EdiTh PriTchETT views that can easily make this the eighth mayoral
election in 60 years not won by a Democrat.
‘This is an exciting time Checks and balances limiting Trump’s power
Jeffrey B. Freedman, New York
to be a New Yorker’
Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump
agree on almost nothing except how to run a
Regarding the June 25 online news article political campaign. Like Trump, Mamdani knew
“Mamdani poised for major upset after Cuomo how to strike the nerve of voters. Like Trump, he
concedes NYC mayor primary. Here’s what’s next.”: keyed in on the cost of living, but his proposed
I’m proud of New York for delivering Zohran solutions are counterproductive. Trump’s tariffs will
Mamdani a commanding first-round lead in the raise consumer costs, while Mamdani’s proposed
Democratic primary for mayor on Tuesday. It rent freeze would exacerbate the housing shortage
delivered a major win for progressives. With all of as many tens of thousands of rent-stabilized units
the infighting in the Democratic Party, New York sit off the market.
just got a clear answer as to what the people want: The similarities don’t stop there. Trump thinks
change and progress. helping the 1 percent will grow the American
When will party leaders learn that young economy, but tax cuts and deregulation for the
Democrats don’t want centrists? Young voters want wealthy have not been a successful strategy to help
something — or rather someone — new, and working Americans. Mamdani thinks providing free
Mamdani offers a fresh face. bus service will make people richer, but in fact the
The Democratic National Committee must create Metropolitan Transit Authority will need funding to
space for the faces that will make people excited to replace the lost revenue. Mamdani’s answer is to tax
fight against the GOP and President Donald Trump. the rich. But those people can easily move out of
How long will Democrats pander to Republicans? It state, resulting in revenue losses for the city. Plus,
didn’t work for Kamala Harris when she got Dick those changes would have to go through the state
and Liz Cheney to endorse her for president. legislature and be signed into law by the governor.
This is an exciting time to be a New Yorker. Eric Adams lives in the real world, makes tough
Mamdani brings a breath of fresh air to the political decisions and makes sure the budget lives within
landscape of the city, a place where the current the city’s means. A good mayor will grow the
mayor was charged with bribery. economy by giving the 1 percent a carrot to invest
My neighbors almost lost hope when the and grow the city. Using a stick will only send the
disgraced former governor was leading in many city into a fiscal tailspin, hurting all.
polls. But now, the people have spoken — and once Mamdani’s campaign playbook might win him
New York City speaks, the rest of the country is soon the election, but it probably will result in a failed
to follow. Is the Democratic leadership listening? mayoralty. New York cannot afford another mayor
Zoubida Bicane, New York like John V. Lindsay.
Charles Plushnick, Brooklyn
Regarding the June 26 front-page article
“Mamdani’s rise hands party a strategy — and I commute to work in New York from New Jersey,
promises strife”: but I previously lived in Manhattan for 10 years.
A new kind of politics, such as Zohran Mamdani’s This race was about addressing New York’s
democratic socialism, is what the Democratic Party affordability crisis and identity as a progressive city.
needs to win elections. The establishment wing of I am sorry to see we’ve rejected former mayor Mike
the party wishes to make the party’s candidates Bloomberg’s practical approach to governing,
more moderate, but this is a failed strategy. which wasn’t perfect but was effective. My concern
The establishment wanted Hillary Clinton over is that Sun Belt states will lure businesses from New
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) in 2016, even York to lower-tax environments. I’m not hearing
though pre-election polling showed that Sanders anything from Zohran Mamdani about plans to
would have done better against Donald Trump than attract new employers and grow the city’s tax base. I
Clinton would have. In the end, 12 percent of people don’t want the subway to lapse into disrepair and
who voted for Sanders in the 2016 primaries voted see unemployment rise.
for Trump in the general election. What does that Eric Baun, Weehawken, New Jersey
tell us? It tells us that the working-class voters who
left the Democratic Party wanted candidates who Is Mamdani right for Democrats?
spoke to their concerns and offered genuine
solutions to fix them. Those voters did not want a I haven’t lived in New York since 1969, but I still
more centrist message of maintaining an imperfect consider myself a New Yorker. There are many
status quo. To win back working-class Trump For me, the race was about the fight between the many, seems to be radical. But ensuring that public problems for residents. Rent prices are ridiculous,
voters, Democrats need to learn from Sanders and old guard that has not been effective in getting the transportation and child care are free is not radical. and the infrastructure, including the subway
Mamdani. They must do what the party Democratic message across and the new guard that It’s actually good for business. Having affordable system, needs help. All of this is reflected in Zohran
establishment seems incapable of doing: speak to is prepared to put working New Yorkers first. I also grocery stores is not radical. One way or another, Mamdani’s rise.
the working class, understand their issues and think it was about who was willing to stand up to the taxpayers end up footing the bill. As a The public wants change. Mamdani, a state
pledge to fix them. In moderating stances, the administration in Washington. We already businessman, I can assure you that increasing taxes assembly member and democratic socialist,
Democrats could win back some independent know that some law firms have caved. That was not on the top 1 percent, or aligning corporate tax rates promises pollyannaish solutions such as free bus
voters and gain a few extra percentage points. But a good look for a democratic society. with the city’s neighboring jurisdictions, is not rides, government-run grocery stores, rent control
wouldn’t it be better to speak to a broad coalition of I put Brad Lander second on my ballot. He really radical, either. and free child care. But where is the money to
the working class, attract significantly more voters impressed me in the last week of the campaign What Mamdani is proposing is not just common deliver these things?
and win elections? when he attempted to escort a defendant from his sense; it actually makes good business sense. The I can only hope that the Democratic Party doesn’t
Winning elections these days requires candidates appearance at an immigration court and was policies that he’s proposing will make New York not conclude that the way to win elections is to promise
to be daring, brave and hold a vision for a brighter detained by federal agents. I feel strongly that the only a great city, but also one the majority of New socialism and make unfunded promises of
future. The establishment wing of the party offers a federal government’s pursuit of undocumented Yorkers can actually afford. That’s why he won. programs nationwide. Where are the middle-of-the-
moderate vision that is too cautious and focused on immigrants is rooted in racism and xenophobia. Andy Shallal, Washington road Democrats who can recognize and articulate
maintaining a status quo that does not work for Congratulations to Mamdani. I hope he wins the The writer is founder and CEO what most of our citizens need and make sensible
millions of Americans. It is, for all intents and general election and becomes a great mayor. We of Busboys and Poets. proposals to accomplish these things? Mamdani’s
purposes, stuck in the past. Democrats need a new could use him. victory must be ignored by all of the Democrats who
hope and a new kind of politics to win again. Grace Wilson, New York Is Mamdani right for New York? try to take back our government.
Edward Lyons, Bethesda Barry H. Epstein, Silver Spring
The June 27 editorial, “Mamdani’s extreme ideas I am a lifelong New York resident. The first
I filled out my primary ballot during early voting for New York City,” showed how out of touch The mayoral race I remember happened when I was 7.
and ranked three candidates for mayor, with Zohran Post is with young voters. Zohran Mamdani’s win Columnist Murray Kempton wrote about John Letter submissions
Mamdani first. I think he is the best choice for New was not just a rebuke of former New York governor V. Lindsay in 1965: “He is fresh and everyone else is Letters can be sent to letters@washpost.com.
York; he is very bright and very articulate, and he Andrew M. Cuomo — it was also a rebuke of the tired.” This sounds a little like Zohran Mamdani. Submissions must be exclusive to The Post and should
has a fresh vision. He reminds me of John Democratic Party, which has not kept up with the But Mamdani’s status as the likely Democratic include the writer’s address and day and evening
F. Kennedy in how articulate he is and how willing pace of change that newer, younger voters are candidate does not make him a shoo-in to win the telephone numbers. Letters are subject to editing and
he is to listen to different viewpoints and come up demanding. general election. Though New York has been a abridgment. Please do not send letters as attachments.
with new solutions. It was my first time with ranked- The fact that Mamdani is demanding more Democratic stronghold, the party has lost seven of Because of the volume of material we receive, we are
choice voting. I found the process interesting and access to basic things that everyone needs to the past 15 mayoral races, starting with Lindsay’s unable to acknowledge submissions; writers whose letters
am curious to see the final results on July 1. survive, in a city that has become out of reach to so 1965 win. Mamdani has a number of controversial are under consideration for publication will be contacted.
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