Becoming Justice Gorsuch | 1. Man With a Plan

Becoming Justice Gorsuch | 1. Man With a Plan

From Slow Burn by Slate Podcasts

May 13, 2026 · 37 min · Season 11 · Episode 1

About this episode

The episode explores Neil Gorsuch's early life and influences that shaped his judicial philosophy.

Neil Gorsuch may not be the most well-known justice on the Supreme Court, but he might just be the key to understanding how and why the current court has come to wield so much power over our day-to-day lives. In our first episode, host Susan Matthews examines Gorsuch’s early years, what he took away from his iconoclastic mother’s rocky tenure in the Reagan administration, and how his worldview was shaped by his time on a liberal college campus and in 1980s conservative circles. Plus: the controversial court case that might have gotten Gorsuch noticed by just the right people at just the right time. Want more Slow Burn? Join Slate Plus to binge every episode of Becoming Justice Gorsuch—and every season of Slow Burn, including Becoming Justice Thomas . You’ll also enjoy ad-free listening to all of your favorite Slate podcasts. Visit slate.com/slowburnplus to get access wherever you listen.  Season 11 of Slow Burn was written and reported by Susan Matthews. It was produced by Sophie Summergrad and Joel Meyer. It was edited by Mia Lobel, Hillary Frey, and Evan Chung. Original music and sound design by Hannis Brown. Mia Lobel is the executive producer of Slate Podcasts. Our legal…

People in this episode

Host: Susan Matthews

Topics covered

  • Supreme Court
  • Neil Gorsuch
  • judicial power
  • political influence
  • legal history

Keywords

  • Neil Gorsuch
  • Supreme Court
  • judicial power
  • Reagan administration
  • liberal college
  • conservative circles

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Slate Podcasts, Slate

Books & works: Becoming Justice Gorsuch, Becoming Justice Thomas

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