What really won the trillion-dollar Supreme Court case | Neal Kumar Katyal
5/7/202620 min
In November 2025, Neal Kumar Katyal was asked to do what no US Supreme Court litigator had ever done: convince the justices to strike down a sitting president's signature initiative. After enlisting the help of four unlikely coaches — and one secret weapon he hasn't told anyone about until now — he walked into the courtroom ready for anything. What he discovered about winning and connecting might just change how you think about performing under pressure.
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First 90 secondsElise Hu· Host0:00
[upbeat music] You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day. I'm your host, Elise Hu. Neal Kumar Katyal has argued 52 cases before the US Supreme Court, but his recent one may matter most. He took on global tariffs.
Neal Kumar Katyal· Guest0:20
I was hired to do what no lawyer had done in 237 years.
Elise Hu· Host0:25
But he didn't just assemble a legal team to prepare for this case. He tapped into unlikely teachers to explore all sides of winning against the odds.
Neal Kumar Katyal· Guest0:33
I get to defend the Constitution of the United States. I get to, the son of immigrants, remind the country of what it's about. I get to defend my parents' vision of America.
Elise Hu· Host0:45
In this talk, Neal takes us behind the scenes of what some have called the most important Supreme Court decision in a century, and makes the case that in an age of extraordinary technology, the skill that matters most is the oldest one we have. That's coming up right after a short break. And now our TED Talk of the day.
Neal Kumar Katyal· Guest1:15
There's a mahogany podium at the Supreme Court of the United States. One person died there mid-argument of stroke. Another collapsed