The Shadow Docket, #MeToo, and the Power of Reporting (with Jodi Kantor)

In this compelling episode of Stay Tuned, Preet Bharara sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jodi Kantor to explore two pivotal themes: the secretive workings of the Supreme Court's 'shadow docket' and the enduring legacy of the MeToo movement. Kantor, renowned for her groundbreaking reporting on Harvey Weinstein that helped ignite the global MeToo movement, shares insights from her latest investigation into the origins of the shadow docket—revealing how a 2016 decision to halt President Obama’s Clean Power Plan marked a pivotal shift toward fast-tracked, opaque rulings with minimal reasoning. Drawing on previously unpublished internal court memos, Kantor and her colleague Adam Liptak expose the chief justice’s aggressive push to intervene, raising urgent questions about judicial transparency, legitimacy, and the erosion of public trust. The conversation also turns to the personal and professional impact of her work, reflecting on the courage of survivors, the dangers of secret settlements, and the ongoing cultural reckoning with power and accountability. Kantor’s new book, *How to Start*, offers a hopeful roadmap for young people navigating a fractured job market, urging them not to surrender to cynicism but to pursue meaningful work with resilience and purpose. The episode concludes with a poignant reminder that despite systemic challenges, the workplace remains a powerful arena for progress and human connection.