Elie Mystal

Alfred Knobler Fellow

Elie Mystal is an Alfred Knobler Fellow at Type Media Center, The Nation‘s Justice Correspondent—covering the courts, the criminal justice system, and politics—and the force behind the magazine’s monthly column, “Objection!”

Mystal is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, a former associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, and a lifelong New York Mets fans. One of those things is not like the others. Prior to joining Type Media Center, Mystal was the executive editor of Above the Law. He’s a frequent guest on MSNBC and Sirius XM. He will resist.

Books

Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution

Allow Me to Retort is an easily digestible argument about what rights we have, what rights Republicans are trying to take away, and how to stop them.

Highlights

What Will It Take to Stymie Right-Wing Supervillain Leonard Leo?

With the help of $1.6. billion, the man who helped engineer the conservative takeover of the courts is about to wreak serious havoc.

Could GOP States Really Stop Pregnant People From Traveling to Get Abortions?

Conservative legislatures shouldn’t be able to pass fugitive womb laws, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do it anyway- and get away with it.

When Railing Against Cancel Culture Is About Railing Against Accountability

A speech by Andrew Cuomo and an article by a college student suggest what’s really behind the lamentations about “left-wing censorship.”

Yes, Black Voters Feel Let Down by Biden

From police reform to voting rights, Black voters are still waiting for action from the administration they helped put in power.

First Texas Came for Pregnant People—Then It Came for Trans Kids

The fact that Texas got away with its assault on reproductive rights helped lay the groundwork for its amped-up attack on trans rights.

Let’s Talk About the Taking of Black Land

From Seneca Village to “urban renewal,” the government has claimed Black property-rarely with the “just compensation” promised by the Fifth amendment.

Biden Has Chosen Ketanji Brown Jackson for a Reason

There have historically been few routes to legal-world success for Black women. Is it fair to change the rules on them now?

Clarence and Ginni Thomas, the Supreme Court’s Unethical “It” Couple

How the Thomases have been able to get away with their decades long abuse of influence.

No Attack on Voting Rights Is Too Racist for This Supreme Court

The court’s decision to let Alabama’s new redistricting map remain in place opens place opens the door to a season of racist gerrymandering.