SCOTUS Just Shattered the Crown Jewel of the Civil Rights Era. Now What?

SCOTUS Just Shattered the Crown Jewel of the Civil Rights Era. Now What?

From Political Breakdown by KQED

May 5, 2026 · 30 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act and its impact on future elections.

The Supreme Court last week dealt a major blow to the Voting Rights Act, the 1965 landmark law long celebrated as the crown jewel of the civil rights era. In a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the conservative majority dismantled the remaining protections guaranteeing the equal opportunity for fair representation. Scott and Marisa discuss what the decision means for 2026 elections and beyond with Kareem Crayton, vice president of the Washington office of the Brennan Center for Justice. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Scott, Marisa

Guest: Kareem Crayton

Topics covered

  • Voting Rights Act
  • Supreme Court
  • Civil Rights
  • Elections
  • Political Analysis

Keywords

  • Voting Rights Act
  • Supreme Court
  • Civil Rights
  • Kareem Crayton
  • 2026 elections

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Brennan Center for Justice, Supreme Court, Voting Rights Act

More episodes of Political Breakdown

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Political Breakdown podcast page.