joining us, for official caroline fredrickson -- professor caroline fredrickson, kate shaw, and steve vladeck. there is a lot of ground to cover so i want to jump right into the conversation and given the news of the day, i think we need to start with the january presidential immunity cases that have not been decided yet. there's been a large push for justice alito to recuse himself from those cases given the upside down flag flying in front virginia home and the appeal to heaven home -- flag outside his new jersey home, both of which are symbols co-opted by january 6 insurrectionist. alito refused the request for recusal, saying it was his wife who raised the flags and anybody reasonable would be able to say there was no impartiality there. it feels like justice alito, is both reliant on this nonbinding code of ethics the supreme court enacted in november and also showing contempt for it by saying anybody who thinks anywise is not correct in their assessment of impartiality. he also to balk at the concept of checks and balances where as congress can conduct oversight on the court. i