This weekend’s bombshell New York Times’ report on Donald Trump is an important deep dive into how business interests sought and received favors from President Trump after spending big money at his properties, and making large donations to Trump’s political machine.

The Times says that this is “the swamp that Trump built” — but the insinuation is a bit off. Yes, Trump certainly built his own egregiously rancid bog that needs to be drained in this election. However, he built it inside a giant wetland of graft that was constructed by a series of court rulings and enforcement policies that have effectively legalized corruption.

These rulings are particularly relevant right now, as the US Senate this week considers the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Barrett depicts herself as an Antonin Scalia acolyte who insists she believes judges should just call balls and strikes, and never legislate from the bench.