The Supreme Court

From watching this video, I learned that the Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial body in the world, as they have the authority over congress, the states, and even the president. Because there are so few members, the likelihood of someone becoming a Supreme Court Justice is very low. Through this video, I learned that the US public actually took a long time to accept the Supreme Court. Before 1801, the court had barely any political influence. But after John Marshall was named Chief Justice, the court was given much more power and influence, making it a co-equal branch of government. As a result, the people finally began to respect the Supreme Court and what they represent in our country. I find in fascinating that a court that originally was seek as weak with little power was able to turn into something so important in modern day America. 

What I found most surprising is that out of the hundreds of thousands of cases sent to the Supreme Court every year, they don't actually review very many. In fact, they only review around one hundred cases a year, which was definitely a surprise to me considering how prominent the Supreme Court is in our government. They receive each case a week prior, and lawyers will had thirty minutes to make their argument in front of the justices before they vote and make a ruling. There are also many times where not all nine justices will be present at the ruling, with a lot of arguments only being heard by four or five of them. 

A key take away I got from this video is that over the two hundred years of the Supreme Court's history, there have only been a hundred justices. This is very interesting to me because you don't truly think about how few justices there have been until you actually look back at the court's history. It also shows just how difficult it is to become a justice, since most people in politics will likely never be in that position. All in all this key point has changed the way I view the Supreme Court. I didn't know much about the court before watching, apart from the basics. But the way the video explained how the court is run and what these exclusive members do on a daily basis shows me first hand how important the Supreme Court is to our country. 

My Top 5 News Sources

1. Instagram

Instagram has become one of the primary ways to gain news information throughout the past decade. The rise of social media and it's influence on society has allowed these platforms to cater to a variety of audiences, which makes it easier for people to find news in a wide range of topics. What I like about getting news from Instagram is that just about every news corporation posts on Instagram, so you can see all of their reports on current events on one platform. It is also interesting to see people's opinions on these events through comments and likes, as it adds an interactive element to news coverage that you wouldn't normally get from news channels or newspapers. 

2. Apple News

Apple News is a quick an easy way for those with apple products, like myself, to get news information. The app on iPhones will send notifications on the latest news stories, which keeps users up to date on current events. As a college student, I don't always have the time to go on usual news cites to actively look up news stories, so having this app on my phone helps keep me informed on global events regardless of what my schedule looks like. I also like how Apple News doesn't have a political bias, which makes me feel more confident in the information I am receiving. 

3. BBC News

BBC News is a news channel within the British Broadcasting Corporation (often referred to as the BBC). It covers news from across the United Kingdom, while occasionally discussing global news as well. BBC News was founded back in 1922, and is funded by the British monarchy through a license fee. I grew up in London, so BBC News was what my and my friends' families used to get their news, especially before social media began to take off in the realm of delivering news stories. What I like about BBC News is that they a neutral stance in many issues, with the exception of news relating to the British royal family and monarchy. Particularly when discussing politics, they don't tend to lean in one particular direction, which makes their reports far less biased than other leading news channels. 

4. Spotify

While Spotify is primarily used as a music streaming platform, it also contains very informative podcasts of a wide range of topics. I love listening to podcasts on Spotify because there are endless ways to gain information about the world around me. When it comes to getting my news, I like listening to podcasts that aren't from typical news cites, but from every day people who have their own opinions on current events. This allows me to gain a new perspective on news stories that I may not have had before. 

5. TikTok

TikTok is another social media platform that has become very prominent over the last few years. There are so many people who use TikTok everyday, whether it be to learn new dances, make funny videos, or keep up to date with current news. I find myself constantly going on TikTok to look at the latest news, and what everyone's opinions are. I also find it interesting that so many news cites now have TikTok accounts because of how popular it is, despite the fact that the app isn't what would be considered a typical news source.