MSNBC contributor and The Nation's justice correspondent, Elie Mystal, sparked controversy with a tweet suggesting someone should take Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to "see the Titanic," referencing the missing tourist submersible. Mystal later defended his comment as a "joke" after facing criticism for seemingly wishing death upon the Justice.

The tweet came in response to ongoing discussions about Alito and the Supreme Court. Senator Ted Cruz condemned Mystal's remark as "outrageous" and part of a broader effort to undermine the court's integrity. Other commentators, including Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan and Daily Caller's Nicole Silverio, also criticized Mystal's words, with Silverio questioning whether MSNBC condoned such rhetoric from its contributors. Columnist David Marcus simply stated, "Just casually wishing death on a Supreme Court Justice."

This incident follows Alito's recent Wall Street Journal op-ed responding to allegations made by ProPublica. Alito defended himself against claims of conflicts of interest and improper reporting of gifts, asserting that neither charge was valid. He criticized ProPublica for its reporting methods and tight deadlines.

Mystal has previously drawn attention for his strong criticisms of the Constitution, referring to it as "trash" and criticizing its origins. This latest controversy adds to his history of provocative statements regarding the Supreme Court and American legal system.