Advisory Opinions

In today’s episode, Sarah takes listeners along on a wildlife rescue mission that involves a baby turtle, a surprise rain storm, and mosquito netting. But don’t worry, it has a happy ending. Our hosts then turn to the Biden administration’s proposal to tie mask mandates to civil rights law and the latest development on the “remain in Mexico” policy. Finally, Sarah and David discuss the Texas Supreme Court ruling that is bad news for Texas Democratic lawmakers trying to avoid arrest. Show Notes: -The Dispatch Live on Afghanistan -New York Times story on Biden administration’s move against mask bans -Texas federal judge's ruling on “remain-in-Mexico” -Texas Supreme Court ruling on Texas Democratic lawmakers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, our hosts are joined by Matthew Barzun, an American businessman, diplomat, and longtime political fundraiser. Sarah and David dive into his paradigm-shifting book, The Power of Giving Away Power, and what it teaches about leadership. Along the way, they also discuss everything from what Barzun learned during his time fundraising for former president Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, to the etiquette of bowing to royalty while working as an American ambassador abroad. Show Notes: -Matthew Barzun’s book, The Power of Giving Away Power: How the Best Leaders Learn to Let Go -Teddy Roosevelt’s Man in the Arena quote Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a jam-packed episode our hosts explore everything from vaccine passports on cruise ships to a shaky argument that eviction moratoriums violate the Third Amendment’s prohibition on quartering soldiers. First up on the docket, Sarah and David dive into attempts by Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and Mike Lindell’s to dismiss Dominion’s defamation lawsuit against them. Be sure to listen to the end for their analysis on whether a topless sunbathing case meets the intermediate scrutiny test. Show Notes: -Dominion defamation lawsuit -Preliminary injunction on vaccine passports in Florida -Todd Zywicki’s lawsuit against George Mason University -Third Amendment Lawyers Association amicus brief on the eviction moratorium -4th Circuit ruling upholding a ban on topless sunbathing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, David and Sarah continue their August tradition of looking outside the world of legal nerdery with Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and author of the book The Constitution of Knowledge. Rauch has been warning about the dangers to free speech for a long time. What is the state of free speech? And how much of a threat is illiberalism? Show Notes: -Rauch’s book The Constitution of Knowledge -Rauch’s book Kindly Inquisitors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, David and Sarah discuss the Biden administration’s flip-flop on extending the eviction moratorium and how it’s almost certainly an unconstitutional violation of the nondelegation doctrine. They then take on the legal implications of Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment controversy, with Sarah explaining why Cuomo’s office was a textbook case of a severe and pervasive hostile work environment. Next, our hosts review a ruling from the 7th Circuit upholding Indiana University’s vaccine mandate and discuss how Twitter posturing on vaccines doesn’t always hold up in court. Finally, David and Sarah talk Facebook and antitrust law—something that, according to Sarah, may just be made up anyways. Show Notes: -7th Circuit vaccine mandate ruling -Poland wins first 4x400 mixed relay gold of Olympics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the pod, it’s a guest for whom David has been waiting for—Avi Loeb, an astrophysics professor at Harvard University who thinks it might just be possible that aliens have visited earth. Loeb talks about his research into Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object that’s passed through our Solar System, and gives his thoughts on the recently released UFO report from the Office of National Intelligence. Loeb also tells David and Sarah about his scientific philosophy—how science is like a fishing expedition where you throw out a hook and see what happens. Show Notes: -Avi Loeb’s book Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth -On Oumuamua by Avi Loeb -Office of National Intelligence UFO report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could it be time for the Supreme Court to revisit Masterpiece Cakeshop? In today’s episode, David and Sarah discuss a ruling from the 10th Circuit requiring a web developer to create a site for a same sex wedding and what that means for the ongoing debate about compelled speech and religious liberty. They then chat about some new developments involving the lawsuit against Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks for his involvement in the January 6 riot and yet another story involving Amy Chua at Yale Law School. Show Notes: -10th Circuit Ruling on Compelled Speech -DOJ refuses to defend Rep. Mo Brooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s pod, the discussion is (almost) all about abortion jurisprudence. After a brief look at Taking Offense v. California—a California Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District case striking down a California law criminalizing long-term care workers repeatedly misgendering their residents—David and Sarah dive into Mississippi’s challenge to Roe v. Wade, which directly asks the Supreme Court to overturn the almost 50-year-old precedent. How did the Mississippi attorney general frame the argument? How likely is it that the argument succeeds? What would American governance look like in a post-Roe world? Show Notes: -Taking Offense v. California -Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, David and Sarah talk about the recent Supreme Court term with Kannon Shanmugam, a Supreme Court litigant and a partner at Paul Weiss LLP. Our hosts ask Shanmugam what it’s like to argue cases remotely, how much the Supreme Court has changed during Amy Coney Barrett’s first term, and about the court’s judicial philosophy on issues like free speech and qualified immunity. Shanmugam talks about the cases he argued this term and explains how he chooses which clients to represent pro bono. Show Notes: -Borden v. United States -BP v. Baltimore -Goldman Sachs v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System -Henry Schein v. Archer and White Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a First Amendment-themed pod today. First, David and Sarah discuss the city of Anaheim’s decision to cancel an America First rally with Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, and how it’s a textbook example of a free speech violation. They then dive into a ruling from a very divided 9th Circuit about a high school coach who was fired for praying publicly with students after football games. Next, they chat about an 8th Circuit case involving University of Iowa and its selective enforcement of free association policies for Christian groups. Finally, David and Sarah talk about the recent Texas district court ruling striking down DACA. Show Notes: -Anaheim cancels America First rally -9th Circuit prayer case -8th Circuit University of Iowa case -DACA ruling from district court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices