Strict Scrutiny

Joel Anderson , host of Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas , joins Melissa and Kate to analyze the justice's trajectory from his childhood in Georgia to his contentious confirmation hearings. Plus, Joel spills behind-the-scenes tea about reporting the series-- including how he found himself in the living room of Justice Thomas's mother. Follow @CrookedMedia on Instagram and Twitter for more origin...

We're kicking off the Strict Scrutiny Summer Reading List with a wild ride through the history of the Federalist Society. Amanda Hollis-Brusky , author of Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution and Separate But Faithful: The Christian Right's Radical Struggle to Transform Law & Legal Culture , joins Melissa and Leah to guide the journey. Follow @...

Melissa, Leah, and Kate recap the last Supreme Court term, as the justices speed off on their summer vacations (in a luxury yacht? on a private jet? in an RV in Walmart parking lot? Who's to say!). They highlight recurring themes throughout the justices' opinions, relive some of the best moments in oral arguments, recap the Court's scandals, and preview the cases that scare them next term. US term...

The Supreme Court ended its term today with a double whammy, issuing opinions in the 303 Creative case and the student debt relief cases. In the former, the majority creates "a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class." And in the latter, the majority invalidate's the Biden administration's student debt relief program because, well, they had feelings about it. Listen to...

Today the Supreme Court delivered its opinion in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College , declaring admissions programs that consider race to be in violation of the 14th Amendment. Melissa, Kate, and Leah break down the Chief Justice's opinion, Justice Thomas's galling concurrence, and the brilliant dissents by Justice Jackson and Justice Sotomayor. Listen t...

The Supreme Court handed down its decision in Moore v. Harper today, saying that state legislatures can’t actually make up whatever rules they want around federal elections, without oversight from anyone. But is this a victory for our democracy, or should we still be freaked out? Kate, Leah, and Melissa break down the opinion and the questions it leaves open. We'll be around all week pushing out e...

Leah and Kate delve in to the latest chapter of Supreme Court justices going on secret fancy vacations with billionaires, this time starring Samuel Alito . And then it's opinion-palooza, recapping the opinions we got last week while we wait with bated breath for the horrors the last week of the term will bring. Follow @CrookedMedia on Instagram and Twitter for more original content, host takeovers...

Last week the Supreme Court made an historic ruling upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act. Rebecca Nagle, host of Crooked Media’s This Land podcast, takes us inside the courtroom in this special bonus episode to break down the decision, how we got here, and what it all means. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!  3/6/26 – San Francisco 3/7/26 – Los Angeles Learn mor...

The Supreme Court released its opinion in Haaland vs. Brackeen , a case that challenged the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act. In a surprising 7-2 vote, the Court upheld ICWA. Rebecca Nagle , host of This Land , joins Leah, Kate, and Melissa to unpack the opinion and what it means for indigenous families. Listen to two previous episodes with Rebecca Nagle: " Go Down Clutching the C...

Former President Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 counts in the case against him for allegedly mishandling classified documents. He was arraigned on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Miami, and then he spoke to supporters from his golf club in New Jersey. In this bonus episode, Leah and Kate talk about what to expect for the timeline of the case, reenact part of the indictment by the Department o...

Finally, some good news! The Supreme Court's ruling in Allen v. Milligan preserves section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Janai Nelson , President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, joins Kate, Melissa, and Leah to break down the opinion for a live show at Howard University School of Law. Listen to this past episode where the hosts recap the oral arguments for Allen v. Milligan Rea...

Melissa, Leah, and Kate talk to Jenny Hunter, a labor lawyer and union consultant, about the recent SCOTUS opinion in Glacier Northwest v. Teamsters which has implications for union labor laws and the right to strike. They also discuss Justice Alito’s ignoring the Court's newly self-imposed sort-of-not-really enforced ethics rules, and a PBS Frontline documentary about Clarence and Ginni Thomas (t...

Sam Sankar of Earthjustice joins Leah and guest host Steven Mazie of The Economist to cover the Supreme Court's opinion in  Sackett v. EPA. Millions of acres of wetlands risk losing federal environmental protections-- threatening the future of the nation's clean water. And of course, Leah and Steve catch up on the latest Harlan Crow news. Plus, Jessica Valenti gives an update on life after Dobbs ....

Melissa, Kate, and Leah recap the Supreme Court's recent opinions about the Internet and intellectual property. As we predicted, the Internet isn't going to end with a bang-- and not even a whimper. Plus, we give you the "highlights" of the oral arguments in the Texas mifepristone case... which are even wilder (and more terrifying) than we could have imagined. Sign up to see the Strict Scrutiny li...

Melissa, Kate, and Leah cover the gift that keeps on giving-- a.k.a. billionaire Harlan Crow, who can't seem to stop giving undisclosed gifts to Justice Clarence Thomas. They continue the discussion on the deluge of stories about questionable ethics at the Supreme Court following a report that said Leonard Leo arranged for Ginni Thomas to be paid tens of thousands of dollars for "consulting work"....

It's our first ever listener mailbag episode of Strict Scrutiny! You asked, we answered-- is court expansion possible? Is law school worth it? Who are our fancy billionaire friends? Can we stop being such hysterical harpies? Which Taylor Swift song is the best? Plus, we recap Justice Alito's "interview" with the Wall Street Journal so you don't have to read it.  Follow @CrookedMedia on Instagram a...

The stories about federal judges doing shady things just keep coming. Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court , joins Melissa, Kate, and Leah to discuss proposals for making the judiciary more transparent and accountable. Plus, the hosts recap oral arguments-- including one on whether the government can take your money and keep the change. • Follow @CrookedMedia on Instagram and Twitter for...

Kate and Leah explain the Supreme Court's decision to stay the ban on mifepristone-- meaning the medication remains available on the same terms it has been. Then, they recap oral arguments in cases about religious accommodations at work, obstruction of justice in immigration cases, and whether threats are protected by the First Amendment. (Spoiler alert: it's a real race to the top for Villain of...

Kate and Leah talk to ProPublica's Justin Elliott about the latest findings in Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow's friendship. First luxury vacations, then undisclosed real estate deals. Then, if you're wondering about the latest in the mifepristone cases, the hosts breakdown the latest news and what it all means for abortion care nationwide. Kate and Leah also preview two court cases that will be a...

Melissa, Kate, and Leah explain the ruling out of Texas that could strip mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortions, of its FDA approval. Plus, they react to the explosive ProPublica reporting on Justice Clarence Thomas's luxury vacations sponsored by a billionaire Republican donor, and chat with CNN's Joan Biskupic about her new book, Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court's...

It’s a Strict Scrutiny and Pod Save America crossover! Jon, Jon, and Tommy get together with Leah  and Kate  to talk about Donald Trump’s arraignment in Manhattan criminal court, and the legal jeopardy he faces now that he’s been charged with 34 felony counts. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!  3/6/26 – San Francisco 3/7/26 – Los Angeles Learn more: http://crooked...

Kate and Leah host Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky in a live show at the University of Wisconsin Law School. On April 4th, Wisconsin voters will decide who will fill an open state Supreme Court seat, which could give liberals a majority on the high court for the first time since 2008. What issues are on the table? Abortion and voter rights, to name a few. The host...

Strict Scrutiny takes Hawaii! Senator Mazie Hirono joins Kate, Leah, and Melissa for a live show at the University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law. We catch up on the latest in anti-abortion legislation, recap the Supreme Court's arguments from last week (including the Jack Daniels'/poop jokes case), and discuss a first-of-its-kind opinion out of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Follow @CrookedMedia o...

Melissa, Leah, and Kate preview three Supreme Court cases up for argument this week. The cases focus on water rights on Indian reservations, the constitutionality of a federal law that prohibits people from encouraging unlawful immigration, and Jack Daniels (yes, the alcohol company) suing a dog toy company over a poop-related joke. Plus, a new venture from Leonard Leo provides some insight into w...

First things first: WE WON AN AMBIE !  Leah, Kate, and Melissa gather to raise a glass and celebrate this huge honor. Then, Kate and Melissa talk with Joanna Schwartz about her new book, Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable . Plus, a quick overview of what we expect from the Supreme Court before it ends its term in late June. Order Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable at Bookshop.org...