Pipeline to Power: The 40-Year Plan to Capture the Supreme Court

by Vicky Ward

Pipeline to Power: The 40-Year Plan to Capture the Supreme Court explores the origins of what has become arguably the most powerful purveyor of political and judicial influence in the United States today.

Forty years ago, following the appointment of their professors to the federal bench, a tiny group of conservative law students at Yale Law School worried that their ideas might disappear from intellectual discourse in this bastion of liberal thought. They set out to fill that void. But they ended up achieving way more than that.

Over the next few decades, the Federalist Society became an integral tool in the larger conservative movement, with political, judicial, and social repercussions ending in the conservative capture of the Supreme Court and the election of Donald Trump to the presidency. To tell this story, top New York Times best-selling author and investigative journalist Vicky Ward (CNN, Vanity Fair) follows four current YLS students–two conservatives, two not–who take us into a world filled with secret clubs, secret retreats, secret parties, and secret channels to clerkships to the top courts. It’s the world of the Federalist Society and its fractious 40-year relationship with Yale Law School, showing us that what happens at YLS affects all of us, and we don’t even know it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Audiobook, American History

Audiobook

Published September 21, 2023

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this gripping short book, Vicky Ward explores the conservative push that has helped form the Federalist Society, a group that has been used by Republicans presidents to fill judicial vacancies over the last four decades. Ward seeks to better understand the roots of the Federalist Society and how it has helped shape the US Supreme Court, an impact that will likely last for decades. Impactful, yet brief, Ward delivers a gripping collection of arguments that readers should understand as America enters its Second Dystopia.

In her book, Vicky Ward sets out to explore the powerful conservative foundation of the political and judicial branches of the United States. Her focus on the Federalist Society helps to explain the push and how they subtly found key candidates who would shape the future of the US Supreme Court for decades. Ward explores the originis of the group, oddly coming from the progressive Yale University Law School, and how it helped connect conservative thinkers with those who sought to exact change from within.

Ward explores how the struggle for conservative viewpoint at Yale helped develop a small group that could ensure significant change. The Federalist Society helped shape many within the conservative base and sought to ensure that like-minded judges found their way onto federal benches and helped clear that pathway for potential Supreme Court nominations. Ward takes many of the interviews she made and tries to ensure the narrative is clear. The Federalist Society helped shape many key legal precedents with their nominees, but also sought to block many of the liberal nominees as best they could. Using money and power, the Federalist Society sought to exact change in their own subtle way.

Ward sought to show how the Society was able to shape legal views and proved essential in moving forward. Disregarding the Federalist Society could only lead to disaster, which is why Republican presidents made sure to follow lists provided to them. How a group that remains in the shadows is able to shape American legal decisions baffles many, though Ward makes it clear that it was done with patience and determination. With the return of Trump as president in 2025, the Federalist Society is surely drooling once again, able to manipulate a man who is as clueless as many of his predecessors about the impact of the Federalist Society on American society. There is no doubt that America is in for a significantly bumpy ride over the next number of years. Ward delivers a jaw-dropping look without bemoaning the point for too long.

While there is surely a significantly impactful foundation to this book, Vicky Ward delivers an eye-opening experience for the attentive reader. While America is undergoing a foundational change, both politically and judicially, there is more to the story than simply elections and Supreme Court nominations. Ward seeks to explore these throughout this short book, highlighting great views in chapters (called episodes) that hash out many of the views and provides the reader with a clear pathway to understanding. Backed up with great interviews and strong arguments, Ward made sure to provide intel for the reader to better understand what has happened and projects what is sure to come during the Second Dystopia, which one can hope will end on January 20, 2029. Only time will tell!

Kudos, Madam Ward, for this great book that taught me so much!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Kent Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed glimpse into a plan assume control of the highest court. Through influence and power, the federalist society has placed conservative judges on lower courts and implemented a plan to hand pick candidates to clerk for federalist judges and afterwards, take judge positions. The society has quietly assumed power over the federal court system, with a “good ole system” to handpick and advance nominees.

[Biggest Little Book Talker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An investigate journalism piece turned into audible original.
It starts off with a detailed explanation of the federalist society that started out of Yale and the impact that they have had on the judicial system. It is a detailed insert on the supposed plan to “take over” the Supreme Court.
Very interesting, I wish it was more detailed. I left with several questions and will plan on looking for the answers outside of this book.

[Lily Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful production from Audible. Strong investigative journalism that makes me have a much better understanding of the Federalist Society and it’s relationship with Yale and American politics through firsthand accounts. Will be enjoying more from Vicky Ward.

[KR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of and insight on FedSoc

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Triggering listening to the interviews with Slughorn himself.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and illuminating micro-dive into the Federalist Society. The short episodic format filled with interviews makes it accessible for people who may be less inclined to read about political history. And more Americans need to understand how the radical right has been manipulating systems for decades to push their agenda.

I've known about the Federalist Society and their influence for years, but I have not heard their origin story, especially from the mouths of some of their founders.

Vicky Ward's interest in the Federalist Society began with the free speech debacle at Yale Law School. Talk about a cluster. You've got the most prestigious university in the country intertwined with this shadow network pushing their agenda through hush hush deals, while also lining the pockets of their chosen ones with money and power.

No wonder deans and professors and students keep apologizing or not apologizing for whatever. None of them strike me as sincere. They're just self-serving parties.

I've read Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, which is a terrifying look at how the Koch Brothers and their libertarian self-interested cronies pooled their money to control ideas being taught in universities, "research" being spread by think tanks, and ultimately the lawyers being appointed to benches across America and elected into every level of government.

If you're interested in reading Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, I think this audiobook would be an informative prequel.

Also I'm planning on reading Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America, but that may be in 2024. I'm considering listening to this audiobook again before diving into that history of the radical right.

[Jeff Birk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Very eye-opening but I shouldn't be surprised of the role money plays in our world, even in the realm of influencing the selection of SCOTUS justices. It was good to learn more about Yale Law School, Originalism, The Federalist Society (FEDSOC), Edwin Meese, and Leonard Leo and all their roles to tip the scale in favor of establishing a conservative-leaning supreme court over the past few decades. "Dark money" certainly had its place here and does in all of politics to one extent or another. I've always been fascinated to learn about the inner workings of government, whether good or bad.

[Russell D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must listen or anyone who wants to understand how we landed in the current political landscape we’re currently in. There is a refusal by people in this country to take responsibility for how their ideology has created a climate where we can’t hold conversations the degenerate into shouting matches. Listen with an open mind, then actively seek out materials that espouse a view diametrically opposed to your belief system. Putting yourself in the shoes of others reminds us we’re in this thing together.

[Benjamen Ober · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basic editorial lens: “How dare those evil conservatives establish alternative social networks and organize outside of the bounds of leftist-approved (I.e. captured) institutions? Don’t they understand that their role is controlled opposition, complete with toothless token resistance to the inexorable advance of progress?”

[Kent Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of the Federalist Society (and not quite as salacious as the title makes out).

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible
Interesting. Had not heard of this society.

[Barbara Scaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frustrating after learning the reasons for the way things play out....

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit too short but very interesting.

[Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sounded like a podcast turned into a book.
Interesting story

[Karen Rutledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth a listen regardless of your politics. Conspiracy theories yes but what can you expect when you are talking about government.

[Christy Zielinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wildly informative and well researched piece that details the corruption in the Supreme Court and how it came to be.

[Penny Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing investigative journalism about the Federalist Society’s bid to take over the Supreme Court. Important information on how America got to be the train wreck she is now.