[verum ago]

There are 6 conservatives. Why was it 5-4?

The following is a direct quote from the decision itself:

Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., and Kavanaugh, J., filed concurring opinions. Roberts, C. J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgement. Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., filed a dissenting opinion.

That's 6-3, not 5-4. I would, however, dispute your assertion that there are 6 conservatives on the Court. Specifically, I'd dispute that assertion for Roberts, given his record.

[NorthMountain]

C.J. Roberts is a cipher.

J. Thomas and J. Alito have been waiting many years for this day.

Pres. Trump finally gave them the support they needed in the form of JJ. Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett.

And the late Mr. Justice Scalia is smiling from his place in Heaven.

Any doubts anyone might have about the value of the Trump Presidency should, IMO, be eliminated by this particular SCOTUS session.

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

Roberts, C. J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgement.

It's my understanding that Roberts assigns the opinion, and could have written the majority opinion himself. Yet, choosing Alito to write the majority opinion is sort of how Roberts is trying to have it both ways, agreeing, but not fully agreeing. He obviously knows that a concurring opinion has no additional legal authority.

All I can say is God bless each of these six brave justices who have faced vicious opposition to do what was right. And while Mitch McConnell is not the most popular person around here, and for good reason, he did right by America by keeping Garland off the Court. I don't believe Roberts would have joined the majority if his vote really mattered.

[Mr Rogers]

It was 5-4 to overturn Roe. Roberts specifically REJECTED overturning Roe. He didn’t say Roe was constitutional, just that the Court had previously said it was and...the Court could uphold Mississippi’s law WITHOUT overturning Roe.

The Great Squish didn’t technically support Roe, but he very clearly said the Court was WRONG to overturn it!