U.S.BONK-O-METER
Supreme Court Justice Kagan warns some conservative rulings have been 'destructive of our democracy'
Kagan spoke to law students in Washington two weeks before the midterms, calling the court's 6-3 conservative majority the source of the gerrymandering problem; the race has no referee.
Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance and Dale Bearman on this story, from The Bonk-o-Meter at 4:14 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Fox News's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance
- First reported by Fox News: “Supreme Court Justice Kagan warns some conservative rulings have been 'destructive of our democracy'”, with reporting from ABC News, Associated Press via Yahoo News and Reuters via Detroit News.
- Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 4:14 PM ET on The Bonk-o-Meter, by Gloria Vance and Dale Bearman.
- Topics: Supreme Court.
- BBN covered this story before: Supreme Court won't revive Trump transgender inmate policy (October 21).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Fox NewsSupreme Court Justice Kagan warns some conservative rulings have been 'destructive of our democracy'
- ABC NewsJustice Kagan warns Supreme Court rulings fueling polarization, undermining democracy - ABC News October 21, 2026 · facts used on air
- Associated Press via Yahoo NewsJustice Elena Kagan accuses Supreme Court’s conservative majority of undermining democracy October 21, 2026 · facts used on air
- Reuters via Detroit NewsUS high court rulings have been 'destructive to democracy,' Justice Kagan says October 21, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIt's four-fifteen Eastern, this is The Bonk-o-Meter. Justice Elena Kagan told law students at Catholic University that conservative rulings have been destructive of our democracy.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorTwo weeks before the midterms, and the most worried person in Washington is wearing a robe.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorShe also said both parties are in a race to the bottom on gerrymanders.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe Associated Press says Texas redrew first, at President Trump's urging, and California followed.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA race. Who's refereeing?

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorNobody.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe court's twenty nineteen ruling said federal courts cannot step into partisan gerrymandering disputes, so the starting gun is going off in an empty stadium.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorGloria, that's grim, and you said it better than I would have.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorRating: Full Bonkers. And Dale, you were right to ask who's refereeing. Nobody. Still nobody.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorWe're back same time tomorrow.
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From the archive: everything BBN aired on Thursday, October 22, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months


Photo: Robert Hsiao · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Rklear · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: The White House · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN