FiveThirtyEight asks 'How Impactful Was This Supreme Court Term?'

This year's Supreme Court term was about as eventful as last year's, which I summarized in CNBC examines 'How The Supreme Court May Threaten Democracy', so it deserves its own examination. I'm turning to the FiveThirtyEight Politics Podcast, which asked How Impactful Was This Supreme Court Term?

The Supreme Court wrapped up its business for the term last week, closing out a docket that touched on the Voting Rights Act, affirmative action in university admissions, student loan forgiveness, business services to LGBTQ people, religious liberty and the power of state legislatures.

It was another term with high-profile cases, coursing through the heart of some of America’s cultural debates. In this installment of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast, the crew discusses whether this year’s decision could ricochet through the political environment, as last year's decisions did. They also take stock of what more we've learned about a still quite new 6-3 conservative majority.

On the one hand, I think America dodged two bullets to democracy in the decisions about the Voting Rights Act and the "Independent State Legislature Theory." On the other, the court damaged access to opportunity in its decisions on affirmative action and business services to LGBTQ people. It also harmed a generation of Americans when it decided against forgiving (some) student loan debt. FiveThirtyEight's panel thought that last would have the biggest immediate political effect, since it hits people in their pocketbooks. They just weren't sure who would get blamed, the Supreme Court and through them the Republican Party, or Joe Biden, because he was unable to keep a promise through no fault of his own. He at least did something about it instead of merely promising and not following through.

Each of the cases FiveThirtyEight mentioned deserves a post of its own, like I did when I wrote Supreme Court weakens EPA authority to enforce Clean Water Act in May. Stay tuned to see if I do.