Supreme Court

 

• What did you learn about the Supreme Court that you didn't already know?

• I learned many new things about the Supreme Court from watching these videos. Starting with part 1, I learned that Justices serve extremely long terms, typically 16 years or more, and also, that cases reach the Supreme Court through written petitions, with the justices addressing a wide range of issues from wrongful convictions to presidential issues. The court gets around 7,000 petitions annually but only look into around 100. The more interesting part of the video to me was learning about the role of the Supreme Court and its Justices. The video gave many examples of early Supreme Court cases vs the Government, such as the Dred Scott decision by Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney. This case weakened the court's authority by saying Congress couldn't ban slavery. This resulted in the Civil War and new amendments being created to protect African Americans. Post civil war amendments abolished slavery, defined what citizenship was, and gave voting rights.

• What is the most important take-away point about the Supreme Court?

• My biggest takeaway about the Supreme Court from Justice Breyer’s talk is that it’s actually pretty transparent despite what people might think. He points out that the Court is open in a lot of ways, especially through its public hearings and how it handles verbal arguments. Even though the justices can't just jump into issues on their own and have to wait for cases to come to them, the way they operate makes their process pretty clear. For example they hold public debates, which helps show that the Court isn't all secretive and hidden from the public eye.

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  What was the most surprising thing you learned?

• What really surprised me was learning about how the Supreme Court's role has evolved over time. For instance, back in the early 1800s, John Marshall’s decision to strike down congressional acts as unconstitutional was a huge move that established the Court as a major branch of government. This historical shift was eye opening because it shows how the Supreme Court has grown into such a powerful and influential part of the U.S. government. 

• How did the video change the way you thought of the Supreme Court?

• The video definitely shifted how I view the Supreme Court. I used to think of it as this secretive institution, but learning about its processes made me change my mind. For example, I was surprised to see how public and detailed their verbal arguments are, and how much effort goes into their decision-making. The idea that justices have these intense discussions and make decisions based on both historical and current issues really changed my perspective. This shows that the Court actively adapts to changes in society. Overall, it made me see the Court as a much more adapting and influential part of our government.

What are my top 5 sources of news?

Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has evolved far beyond its original purpose of sharing photos with friends. It has become a reliable global news source. Personally, I get a significant amount of my news from Instagram because of its ability to deliver real-time, easily shareable updates. I also appreciate the way news is presented on Instagram. Content is typically concise and engaging, as creators focus on making short, visually appealing posts to keep their audience interested.

One source I follow closely is @TheNewYorkTimes NYTIMES. They offer up to date breaking news through a variety of formats, including short videos, articles, and animations, creating an engaging news experience for their audience. 

I’ve been watching NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt for years, not out of choice, but because my parents always have it on while I’m home from school. Even though it’s on in the background, I do pick up some information from the broadcasts. The show primarily covers government and politics, breaking news, and the economy/business.

I often joke with my parents that only "old people" watch TV news, but I've grown to appreciate it. What I like about NBC is that I trust the content to be reliable, which means I don't need to search for additional information after watching. In contrast, when I come across news stories on social media, I often have to click through multiple links to get a fuller picture of the topic.

I don't rely on TikTok as a primary news source, but it's hard to avoid the political content that often goes viral on the platform. Many of the political videos I encounter feature individuals from opposing parties engaging in confrontational Q&A sessions at each other’s rallies, often with the goal of discrediting or embarrassing the other side. Despite this, TikTok does offer a glimpse into diverse opinions and trending stories, and the comment sections provide a space for discussion. Though these conversations frequently stem into heated debates rather than constructive conversations.

Example Video

Another aspect of TikTok’s news content that interests me is my own passion for content creation. As someone who produces social media content professionally, I appreciate the skill and effort that go into crafting high-quality videos. This appreciation for well-made content enhances my engagement with TikTok’s news-related posts.

From reviewing previous students' posts, it’s clear that word of mouth is a prevalent theme across many blogs. I can relate to this, as I also rely heavily on friends and family for my news. My parents often discuss current events at the dinner table and make a point to keep me informed about what's happening in the world. Living in America, it's easy to become focused on domestic issues and overlook significant global events that don't directly impact us. I believe staying informed about international news is crucial for a well-rounded perspective. Additionally, I have the unique experience of growing up in a politically divided household, which allowed me to develop my own political views independently, free from parental bias.

I saved X (formerly known as Twitter) for last because I'm relatively new to the platform. I started using X after it rebranded from Twitter, and I've found that it provides a significant amount of political and global news compared to other social media sites. This is likely due to the platform's algorithm, which tailors content based on your interests. Since my initial searches were focused on political news, my feed is now predominantly filled with political updates.

Many reputable news organizations and journalists use X to share their content. For instance, maggieNYT is renowned for her in-depth reporting on U.S. politics, particularly regarding the Trump campaign. While X is an excellent resource for political news, it shares a common trait with TikTok in that interactions between opposing viewpoints can often be heated and less civil.