Justice Clarence Thomas says those who dislike him and the direction he’s led the Supreme Court should blame the snobbish law firms that didn’t offer him a job when he emerged from Yale Law School in the 1970s.
A highly educated Black lawyer would seem to be a big get for a law company, but Justice Thomas received just one job offer — and it wasn’t from any of the firms. It was from the Republican attorney general of Missouri — an odd fit for a law school graduate who’d just voted for left-wing George McGovern for president.
But that job placed him on the path to the high court.
“But for them, I’d be a tax lawyer some place,” Justice Thomas told Sen. Ted Cruz on the Texas Republican’s “Verdict” podcast. “They’re woke now, but they were fast asleep when I got out of school.”
Justice Thomas said his appearance on Mr. Cruz’s show may be his first time ever on a podcast. He timed it to the release of Mr. Cruz’s new book, “Going Further: The Incomparable Clarence Thomas,” which details the justice’s three decades on the bench and his willingness to forge jurisprudence for the court.
Justice Thomas spoke about his time at Yale, pointing out that fellow Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. was a year behind him.
He said he once asked why they weren’t friends at the time. He said Justice Alito’s response was, “Clarence, you were scary.”
Justice Thomas couldn’t disagree. “I wore bib overalls throughout law school and combat boots. It was just awful,” he said.
Justice Thomas thanked Mr. Cruz for standing up for him when he and his wife were under scrutiny by Democrats and left-wing advocates for work she did as part of the conservative movement supporting President Trump.
“It’s an opportunity to say you are one of the people who stand up at times when others seem to wither,” Justice Thomas told Mr. Cruz. “We really appreciate that.”
“Going Further” hit shelves Aug. 25.
‘Affordability’ hits Ned’s Club
Ned’s Club, a members-only club near the White House, was quite the rage when it opened last year, but some members have been dismayed by a loss of luster.
“It’s become more crowded in the year or so since it opened,” one member confided to “Seen, Heard & Whispered.”
Members were also struck by the revelation in a recent NOTUS.org piece that the private establishment offered membership discounts to members of certain “communities” that couldn’t afford the $5,000 buy-in or the additional $5,000-a-year fee.
A NOTUS food review of the high-end establishment with multiple eateries mentioned that Ned’s gives members of certain “communities” a discount.
“Ned’s Club Washington DC offers several membership rates, including a reduced federal government rate and a community rate for those under a certain income threshold,” the club told “Seen, Heard & Whispered.”
When guests arrive, they must place a sticker over their phone cameras to prevent photos from being taken inside, adding to the club’s secrecy and exclusivity.
One member said Ned’s is a perfect location with beautiful views near the White House, ideal for impressing foreign officials.
“When a foreign diplomat comes, Ned’s is a good spot to take them,” the member told “Seen, Heard & Whispered.”
Pentagon gets AI into more hands
The Department of Defense was afraid it was falling behind the curve in persuading employees to use artificial intelligence, so the Trump administration made a concerted effort to push it.
And it’s paid off.
“In the last six to eight months, we have gotten 1.7 million people using it,” Under Secretary Emil Michael said at an AI forum hosted by Breitbart News this week.
That’s up from just 70,000 employees who were using it for official business before the administration’s push.
Mr. Michael said AI makes the bureaucracy more efficient and helps gather intelligence. The Defense Department is trying to figure out how to deploy AI to locate ships, weapons and troops.
“We are using it for very basic things. It helps you see where your own assets are,” he said.
• Seen, Heard & Whispered is a weekly column taking you inside the conversations happening in Washington’s power corridors, the moves being made and the whispers that explain what’s really going on in the nation’s capital. Email tips to whispered@washingtontimes.com. Click here to receive this in your inbox every Friday morning.
