U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Spark Concern for Democracy

As the U.S. Supreme Court term ended, it issued a series of monumental decisions. One sharply curtailed the power of federal administrative agencies to interpret the laws they administer, overturning a precedent from 1984. Just three days later, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court granted the president almost complete immunity from any criminal prosecutions. In response to these decisions, Dr. Stephen Goldman, a psychiatrist, historian and author, joined “Next Witness…Please” to express his deep concern for the future of American democracy. Dr. Goldman brings decades of experience in academic and clinical medicine and public health. He has treated and worked with combat veterans and deeply studied the Civil War, Reconstruction, race and the impact of that war on America. His latest book, One More War to Fight: Union Veterans Battle for Equality Through Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the Lost Cause, delves into these themes. Dr. Goldman expressed his alarm over the Supreme Court’s recent trend of overturning longstanding precedents which he believes breeds uncertainty among the populace. He is particularly worried about the Supreme Court decision to overturn the Chevron precedent which allowed federal administrative agencies to interpret ambiguous laws. Now that the matters must go before judges, Dr. Goldman fears that science and scientific principles will not be fully utilized in making crucial decisions about Americans’ health and well-being. Additionally, Dr. Goldman is critical of the Supreme Court giving autocratic immunity to the president. He also voiced serious concerns about the implementation of Project 2025 and Schedule F if Donald Trump is re-elected, warning that both could severely damage American democracy. https://www.stephenagoldmanmd.com/