Strict Scrutiny
Strict Scrutiny
Strict Scrutiny is a podcast about the United States Supreme Court and the legal culture that surrounds it.
Hosted by three badass constitutional law professors-- Leah Litman, Kate Shaw, and Melissa Murray-- Strict Scrutiny provides in-depth, accessible, and irreverent analysis of the Supreme Court and its cases, culture, and personalities. Each week, Leah, Kate, and Melissa break down the latest headlines and biggest legal questions facing our country, emphasizing what it all means for our daily lives.
Whether you’re a lawyer or law student, or you’re just here for the messy legal drama, Strict Scrutiny has you covered. New episodes out every Monday… plus bonuses whenever SCOTUS takes away another one of our rights.
Hosted by three badass constitutional law professors-- Leah Litman, Kate Shaw, and Melissa Murray-- Strict Scrutiny provides in-depth, accessible, and irreverent analysis of the Supreme Court and its cases, culture, and personalities. Each week, Leah, Kate, and Melissa break down the latest headlines and biggest legal questions facing our country, emphasizing what it all means for our daily lives.
Whether you’re a lawyer or law student, or you’re just here for the messy legal drama, Strict Scrutiny has you covered. New episodes out every Monday… plus bonuses whenever SCOTUS takes away another one of our rights.
Episodes
Mentioned books
16 snips
Mar 31, 2026 • 33min
SCOTUS Not Cool With Colorado Ban on Conversion Therapy
Shannon Minter, Legal Director at the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, explains the Supreme Court ruling on Colorado's ban on conversion therapy. They discuss why the Court treated therapeutic talk as protected speech. They analyze the ruling's reasoning, risks to other state bans, and what legal paths states might use going forward.
15 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 1h 55min
Will SCOTUS Join the GOP War on Mail-in Ballots?
Elora Mukherjee, director of Columbia Law School's Immigrants' Rights Clinic who litigates asylum and represents detained immigrants. Ian Bassin, founder of Protect Democracy who defends democratic institutions and fights election threats. They debate Watson v. RNC and risks to mail‑in and early voting. They unpack asylum metering, the fight over birthright citizenship, and conditions at the Dilley detention center.
17 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 1h 19min
Absentee Ballots, Asylum, and Too Many A**holes to Count
They dig into a Supreme Court clash over when absentee ballots must be received to count. They debate whether stopped migrants 'arrive' in the United States for asylum law. They unpack chaotic scenes at the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office and courtroom rebukes. They flag circuit splits on protest protections, administrative overreach rulings, and a heated Senate hearing over potential conflicts of interest.
54 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 1h 33min
Make America Grift Again
Jimmy Gomez, U.S. Representative from California’s 34th District and immigration oversight advocate. He recounts efforts to force inspections of detention centers and exposes obfuscation and medical neglect. He also discusses racial profiling in local immigration stops and raises concerns about intelligence oversight and risky actions toward Iran.
45 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 1h 27min
A Court of Drugs and Guns
Rob Bonta, California Attorney General who leads state litigation against federal overreach, joins to discuss standing up to the Trump administration. Conversation covers challenges to federal tariffs, responses to federal law enforcement overreach, and state antitrust actions. Short, lively takes on coordination among state attorneys general and how public service intersects with parenthood.
30 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 2h
The Conservative Push to Weaken Our Democracy
Rebecca Ingber, international law scholar at Cardozo Law, explains legal limits on strikes and the UN Charter. Marc Elias, election-law attorney and Democracy Docket founder, breaks down coordinated attacks on voting rules and data. Chris Geidner, LawDork founder and journalist, walks through explosive legal news and court developments. They cover Iran strikes, redactions in high-profile files, Medicaid halts, and threats to voting systems.
30 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 1h 29min
SCOTUS Again Takes on the 2nd Amendment—What Could Go Wrong?
Elliot Williams, journalist and former DOJ official who wrote Five Bullets, and Steve Vladeck, legal scholar and commentator, dig into SCOTUS developments. They discuss lower-court noncompliance, ethics and stock-rule tweaks, upcoming asylum and Second Amendment arguments, and the Bernie Goetz subway shooting’s place in 1980s New York and modern gun politics.
93 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 43min
BREAKING: SCOTUS Nixes Trump’s Tariffs
A heated Supreme Court ruling on Trump's tariffs and the fractured opinions behind it. A deep dive into the Major Questions Doctrine and why some call it legally shaky. Examination of why conservative justices split and how textual analysis shaped the decision. Discussion of courtroom tensions, political fallout, and what this means for future executive action.
15 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 1h 26min
Is Sam Alito On His Way Out?
They speculate about Justice Alito possibly stepping down and who conservative successors might be. They unpack chaotic congressional testimony over Epstein files and survivors’ reactions. They cover aggressive ICE operations in Minnesota and legal fights over detainee rights. They discuss the EPA endangerment repeal, Heritage Foundation attacks on birth control, and weird political scandals making the rounds.
25 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 1h 17min
Are You There, God? It’s Me, the Constitution.
A rapid tour of federal overreach, from DHS troop deployments and administrative subpoenas to chaotic detention practices. Election drama dominates with the Fulton County raid, DOJ voter-data requests, and talk of federal takeovers. Legal fights over redistricting and Temporary Protected Status surface. Tossed in are media shakeups, NDAs at the high court, and a grab bag of trials and cultural notes.
