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Supreme Court
Trump Administration
Fourth Amendment
First Amendment
ICE
Civil Rights
Voting Rights Act
Donald Trump
Trans Rights
Birthright Citizenship
First Amendment Rights
Trump
Law School
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes414Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for 5-4

Latest Episodes

It’s not racist to think, act, and talk like a racist.

If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support.

5-4... more

The Supreme Court backs West Virginia in banning it's only openly trans student athlete from the girls cross country team.

If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, get acces... more

Peter, Rhiannon, and Michael take a hard look at media coverage of this Supreme Court term. 

Thank you to our wonderful subscribers. 

5 to 4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Allison Rodgers . Leon Neyfakh provides edi... more

Birthright citizenship, widely considered settled law before Trump tried to overturn it via executive order last year, escaped this term unscathed by one single vote. Peter, Rhiannon, and Michael explore the various mental illnesses, brainworms, and ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Mahmoud Khalil
Palestinian Columbia University student and activist
Columbia University
Episode: Rhiannon Interviews Mahmoud Khalil

Hosts

Peter Shamshiri
Host of multiple iterations and premium-branded content; central figure across show branding.
Rhiannon Hamam
Co-host with sharp legal critique and engaging delivery; frequent on-air presence.
Michael Liroff
Co-host known for forensic-style breakdowns and counterpoints to arguments.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 8.1k ratings
  • Roberts as Deceptive as Trump

    I have followed 5-4 for years. The episode with Lisa Graves on Chief Justice Roberts, which is different from the usual wonderful episodes, must be heard. Graves explains, with evidence, why it’s important to understand that Roberts is no umpire. He is as deceptive as Trump, and he is more cunning.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tracy C 2026
    United Statesa month ago
  • stupendous

    splendid

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    isthisusernametakenyayitisnt
    United Statesa month ago
  • Refreshing fun and terribly depressing/important

    Such an important and fantastic podcast. You’ll laugh out loud, want to become a lawyer while simultaneously hating the law… highly recommend 10/10

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Greenloverfit
    United Statesa month ago
  • 5-4 does an astounding job putting specific court cases into larger historical context, sociocultural context, and the personal political context of specific Justices. It's a perfect example of a well-produced "just people at a microphone" style podcast, clearly very well-researched and planned out.

    Podchaser
    5
    Sage Anastasia
    a month ago
  • Big Fan

    Love this pod. Listen every week. Even though I’m Canadian, I am an American news/politics addict and work in America. I have found this pod entertaining and informative - keep it up!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LiamD123
    Canadaa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners push back on perceived overt partisanship and ad loads in premium episodes.
Overall sentiment leans positive about educational value and entertainment when ads are not intrusive.
Fans note the hosts' depth on constitutional topics and engaging banter as standout elements.
Listeners praise the show for crisp, accessible legal analysis wrapped in humor.
Critics mention inconsistencies in subscriber content and occasional polarizing takes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#2
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#2
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#4
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#8
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#21
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
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Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About 5-4

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

The show provides a brisk, irreverent take on the Supreme Court and its intersection with politics, offering deep dives into landmark decisions, constitutional structure, and power dynamics between branches. Episodes frequently feature legal experts, political commentators, and insiders from production teams, pairing sharp analysis with humor and provocations. It's likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy critical, opinionated legal storytelling, with a skew toward progressive perspectives, candid discourse, and a willingness to challenge established narratives. Noteworthy traits include sustained engagement with timely court actions, a cadence that blends scholarship with accessible banter, and a premium-content angle that integrates sponso... 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. In Bed With The Right
3. Maintenance Phase
4. You're Wrong About
5. Know Your Enemy

How many episodes of 5-4 are there?

5-4 launched 7 years ago and published 414 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on 5-4?

Recent guests on 5-4 include:

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

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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