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Supreme Court
Trump Administration
Fourth Amendment
First Amendment
ICE
Civil Rights
Voting Rights Act
Donald Trump
Trans Rights
Birthright Citizenship
Law School
First Amendment Rights
Trump
Free Speech
Gaza
Jones V. North Carolina Prisoners' Labor Union
John Roberts
California
The Firm
Transgender Rights

5-4 is a podcast about how much the Supreme Court sucks. Hosted by Peter Shamshiri, Rhiannon Hamam, and Michael Liroff, it's a progressive and occasionally profane take on the ideological battles at the heart of the Court's most important landmark cases and an irreverent tour of all the ways in which the law is shaped by politics.

Subscribe to our premium episodes & much more at fivefourpod.com/su... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes430Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for 5-4

Latest Episodes

Do we have to accept the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of constitutional meaning? Legal scholars Niko Bowie and Daphne Renan say no! They join the podcast to talk about their new book, Supremacy: How Rule by the Court Replaced Government by the ... more

It’s fall and you know what that means: a chill is in the air and in Sam Alito’s heart. 

If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this episode ad-free and listen to Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack comm... more

Friend of the pod Josie Duffy Rice joins Peter and Michael to talk about her new podcast, The Backfire Effect. Her show digs into the case of Temujin Kensu, a man sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Scott Macklem. Has the wrong man been in ... more

We have to let the President build a ninety thousand square feet of ballroom.

If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this episode ad-free and listen to Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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You're Wrong AboutSarah Marshall

Recent Guests

Josie Duffy Rice
Journalist, friend of the show, host of The Backfire Effect
The Backfire Effect
Episode: The Innocence Case from Hell with Josie Duffy Rice
Kermit Roosevelt
Penn Law Professor and Constitutional Law Expert
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Episode: 250 Years of Bad Decisions: SCOTUS, the Civil War, and the End of Reconstruction
Lisa Graves
Author and expert on right-wing influence on the Supreme Court
True North Research; author of Without Precedent
Episode: “The Most Destructive Chief Justice in My Lifetime”: Dissecting John Roberts with Lisa Graves
Henry Hannon
Guest discussing the Chadha decision and its implications
Episode: Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha
Matt Cameron
Practicing immigration attorney; host of Opening Arguments
Opening Arguments
Episode: Immigration Law in 2026: Fighting the Cruelty Machine
Pam Bondi
Attorney General and dog lover from Tampa
Episode: Meet Your Attorney General, Pam Bondi [TEASER]
Leqaa Kordia
A Palestinian woman currently in ICE detention and the subject of legal protest
Episode: “What’s at Stake is Everything”: The Last Columbia Protester in ICE Detention
Amal Thabateh
Lawyer with the CLEAR Project representing Leqaa Kordia.
CLEAR Project
Episode: “What’s at Stake is Everything”: The Last Columbia Protester in ICE Detention
Sadaf Hassan
Lawyer with Muslim Advocates representing Leqaa Kordia.
Muslim Advocates
Episode: “What’s at Stake is Everything”: The Last Columbia Protester in ICE Detention

Hosts

Peter Shamshiri
Host of the show; regular presence across episodes with central role in analysis and commentary
Rhiannon Hamam
Host and interviewer; central to discussions with sharp commentary and analysis
Michael Liroff
Co-host; contributes legal expertise and engagement with complex policy topics

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 8.2k ratings
  • Important information made accessible

    5-4 details important Supreme Court cases and the context surrounding them in an engaging and informative conversational format. I appreciate that they take the time to discuss the procedural nuances and legal contexts and irregularities that are not discussed for normies and fly over my head in legal circles.

    I look forward to new episodes, but today when a new episode started playing automatically I realized the theme music caused the same dread reaction as when a relative I don't speak with o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    your wife's platonic male pal
    United States24 days ago
  • Keep Truckin’

    Great podcast. The one-star reviews are just a bunch o’ cope from some Fed. Soc. simps.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IrishLaxerG
    United Statesa month ago
  • Too many paid episodes

    Loved it, but too many paid episodes. I already pay for your other podcasts

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mr.S.Martin
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great Podcast but the Ads?

    Do we need 8 minutes of Ads right in the middle of the podcast? It’s a great show but that’s a bit crazy

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    joecooldaddy
    United States2 months ago
  • Amazing podcast! I had no idea how bad the supreme court has been throughout history until listening to these folks. I fell more knowledgeable and am entertained, my favorite kind of podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    samsquatch
    2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for its accessible legal analysis and humor.
Fans highlight the show's ability to make complex constitutional issues engaging and relevant.
Many appreciate the hosts' sharp, unapologetic critique of the Supreme Court.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#9
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#4
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#13
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#7
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#12
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#66
Italy/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

“The Most Destructive Chief Justice in My Lifetime”: Dissecting John Roberts with Lisa Graves
Q: What can be done about a Chief Justice who has shown such a pattern of decisions and influence?
Graves advocates for comprehensive reform: enforceable ethics codes, term limits for justices, disclosures for spouses and affiliates, substantial jurisdictional reforms on voting rights, and broader constitutional reforms to restrain the Court's power.
Immigration Law in 2026: Fighting the Cruelty Machine
Q: What role does federal litigation play in defending immigrants?
Federal habeas petitions and national lawsuits against underlying policies by organizations like ACLU and Northwest Immigrants' Rights Project are essential to slowing or stopping deportations and challenging systemic issues.
Immigration Law in 2026: Fighting the Cruelty Machine
Q: What are the most troubling aspects of detention policies right now?
Detention has expanded beyond convictions to include people with minor offenses or even those merely charged; there are few speedy-trial protections, and many detainees face long waits with limited access to counsel.
Rhiannon Interviews Mahmoud Khalil
Q: Is there anything from your time in detention that has stuck with you?
What stuck with me mostly is that there's so many injustices happening on US soil that many of us don't know.
Rhiannon Interviews Mahmoud Khalil
Q: What makes this cause worth fighting for?
When I feed Dean, my son, when I look at his face, I just remember the faces of the Palestinian children who don't have the luxury of being safe, of being fed.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About 5-4

What is 5-4 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, irreverent take on how Supreme Court decisions shape politics and civil rights. Across episodes, hosts dissect landmark cases, power dynamics between the executive, legislature, and judiciary, and how legal rules interact with current events. The show blends rigorous legal analysis with humor, cultural references, and progressive critique, often challenging established narratives and inviting listeners to rethink constitutional issues. Notable strengths include clear explanations of complex doctrine, outspoken viewpoints, and a consistent focus on accountability and reform.

It likely appeals to listeners who want accessible, policy-forward legal analysis with personality and bite, including lawyers, policy enthusiasts, students, a... more

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How many subscribers and views does 5-4 have?

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Which podcasts are similar to 5-4?

These podcasts share a similar audience with 5-4:

1. If Books Could Kill
2. Maintenance Phase
3. In Bed With The Right
4. You're Wrong About
5. A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein

How many episodes of 5-4 are there?

5-4 launched 7 years ago and published 430 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact 5-4?

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What guests have appeared on 5-4?

Recent guests on 5-4 include:

1. Josie Duffy Rice
2. Kermit Roosevelt
3. Lisa Graves
4. Henry Hannon
5. Matt Cameron
6. Pam Bondi
7. Leqaa Kordia
8. Amal Thabateh

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