Let Me Get This Straight About Yesterday's Supreme Court Non-Decision

[onenote]

58. Supreme Court lifts stay on order requiring disbursement of USAID funds

https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/24a831_3135.pdf

It was a close one -- 5-4, with the usual gang of ultra right wingers (Alito, Gorsuch, Thomas, and Kavanaugh) in dissent. It is not a perfect result, because it requires further action by the district court, but it is a positive development compared to the alternative that some here were predicting.

It should be noted that this was a pretty quick decision, all things considered. First, while criticism was leveled here at Roberts for issuing the administrative stay, it should be noted that if he had denied the stay request, the Trump administration could have re-filed the request with a different justice -- picking a justice who would have almost certainly been one to grant the stay, maybe even grant more than an administrative stay. By granting the administrative stay, Roberts was able to ensure that the full court would address the matter, which they did in an order issued less than 48 hours after the Trump administration filed its responsive pleading.