Wade, it became clear that today's judicial branch is drastically different from the one that granted the right to abortion over 50 years ago. This shift was part of an organized conservative effort, catalyzed by former President Ronald Reagan, argues journalist and author Alex Wagner. Wagner dove into the multidecade endeavor to reshape the American judiciary system and the key figures behind it in her new book, The Steal: Four Right-Wing Hard-Liners, One Republican Presidency, and the Raid on America's Courts.
Newsweek spoke with Wagner about the left's modern-day response to conservative successes, whether the Supreme Court has a public trust issue and what the future may hold. This conversation has been edited and condensed for publication. Newsweek: Progressive candidates have had recent election and primary successes.
Do you think that's the beginning of a parallel effort to the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society on the left? Or is it fundamentally different? Alex Wagner: The thing that really struck me in researching and writing this book is the degree to which conservatives were operating on all fronts.
There was a very specific and powerful grassroots movement that blossomed on college campuses that became the Federalist Society. There were outside actors like Paul Weyrich, who created think tanks and organizations funded by conservative donors. They weren't totally grassroots, but they were outside elected politics.
But there were also key people inside the administration, including and especially Ed Meese, who would become the attorney general, who worked to bring the foot soldiers into the battle proper, if you will. So if you compare that to the progressive movement right now, I think there is absolutely the grassroots energy. There is a desire to be part of the inside game by running for office.
And there's a real push to change leadership. I think if you talk to any progressive organizer, the understanding is that the movement cannot simply live and die on the hill outside of Washington, but needs to be inside the halls of the Capitol and the White House itself. So, I think there are parallels to be drawn.
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