Termite Terrace.

My killed SCOTUS piece

Some months ago I got the greenlight from a major publication to tell the story of the decline (and now utter) collapse of the Supreme Court in portraits of the key players as roaches, termites and rats.

After the final sketch was approved, the editor-in-chief took one look at this opus and, now, with frozen feet, said, “We don’t want to portray them as vermin.” And asked if I would do it over from scratch, but with all the characters as, well . . . human . . . as a kind demolition crew. I reasoned that it would be better to, at least, get some of my idea across (and get the additional paycheck.)

Last week, at last, the second piece ran.

Finally, I can show the original, which, I think, is more fun, and this week, especially, far more on the nose.

Below is the piece as it ran last week, the followed by a detail of the charming Leonard Leo as a smiling termite.

Tomorrow, the entire piece.

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More soon,

Steve