President Trump on Wednesday released a list naming several people he’d consider nominating for the Supreme Court if reelected. It was a smart move. Many evangelical and core conservative voters support Trump’s judicial picks even if they don’t approve of Trump’s rhetoric or actions on most other issues. But this list has also become necessary as voters realize just how influential the judicial branch has become.

Like it or not, the courts have become a political powerhouse. They weigh in on almost every policy debate, and sometimes, they use these debates to create new policy (see, for example, the Supreme Court’s recent Bostock decision). More importantly, though, the courts determine the ideological trajectory of the nation. By releasing his list of potential Supreme Court picks, Trump is sharing his vision for America’s political future and allowing voters to decide whether it is something they could support.