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Advisory Opinions

The Dispatch
Supreme Court
First Amendment
Donald Trump
Birthright Citizenship
Second Amendment
Executive Power
Tiktok
Department Of Justice
Trump Administration
Free Speech
Tariffs
Congress
Originalism
Humphrey's Executor
Voting Rights Act
Federalist Society
Administrative State
Federal Trade Commission
Executive Orders
Parental Rights

Advisory Opinions is a legal podcast by The Dispatch. Hosts David French and Sarah Isgur meet twice a week to talk about the law, the courts, their collision with politics, and why it all matters.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes688Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Latest Episodes

David French interviews “Grifter Sarah” Isgur as the midterm elections conclude, before they dive into new revelations in the Alaska Senate race and discuss an update in the California noncitizen voters lawsuit.

The Agenda:

–It’s not a wave, it’s a... more

Sarah Isgur and David French zoom in on  the cases prosecutors have brought against political enemies of the Trump administration. Then, they review the latest news from Judge Ana Reyes’ court in the battle over a Washington, D.C., golf course before... more

YouTube

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss election-related legal woes from New Hampshire to Alaska, election lawsuits and where they’re headed, plus a little takedown of forum shopping.

The Agenda:

–Two Dan Sullivans

–New Hampshire’s student ID laws an... more

YouTube

Sarah Isgur and David French go through a few orders from the Supreme Court (including one that’ll have our libertarian friends jumping from the second-story window), a CNN article on Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and two dueling en banc decisions f... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nora Engstrom
Stanford Law professor and co-author of research on sealing orders
Stanford Law School
Episode: The Secrecy in Courts Dilemma
Vince Chhabria
Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Episode: The Secrecy in Courts Dilemma
Sherif Girgis
Notre Dame Law School professor; author and commentator on originalism
Notre Dame Law School
Episode: What Is Originalism? | Interview: Sherif Girgis
Elie Honig
CNN's senior political analyst, guest host on the Encore presentation
CNN
Episode: Not a MAGA Court
Andy Richter
Guest appearing in live segment
Comedian/TV host (Dancing with the Stars) appearing as a guest
Episode: Looking Ahead to the Supreme Court Term
Amy Howe
From SCOTUSblog, contributing editor for Supreme Court coverage
SCOTUSblog
Episode: Looking Ahead to the Supreme Court Term
Neil Weare
Co-director of Right to Democracy, Guam native
Right to Democracy
Episode: Insular Cases | Interview: Chief Judge Jeff Sutton and Neil Weare
Jeffrey S. Sutton
Chief Judge, Sixth Circuit
Sixth Circuit
Episode: Insular Cases | Interview: Chief Judge Jeff Sutton and Neil Weare
Will Boat
Friend of the pod
Episode: SCOTUS Majority Rules White House Ballroom Is A Go

Hosts

Sarah Isgur
Host of Advisory Opinions; The Dispatch contributor (SCOTUS coverage)
David French
Co-host and primary on-air voice; policy commentator and legal analyst

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5.6k ratings
  • Look. I’m not *anti* Star Wars, but…

    Really really like the pod and I’m learning SO much. Came here earlier this year after the too-thorough Last Branch audiobook counterintuitively left me wanting more.

    GREAT discussions and analysis! (Tbh, still not 100% clear on Missouri, but I have a toddler and a newborn, so I simply can’t spend any more mental real estate trying to get it.) As someone who didn’t study law, it’s kinda fun to nerd out with the nerds on here. HOWEVER…

    The Star Wars “draft” was a nerd bridge too far. Like, I’m no... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jrlangley1
    United Statesa month ago
  • Please Excuse my Son

    My boy gets a bit worked up at times. Write more poetry son. And maybe listen to less triggering podcasts…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Edgar Chaplin’s Ghost
    United Statesa month ago
  • More DisInfo

    French and Honig seek to rehabilitate the worst SCOTUS IN HISTORY. WHY?!? They really hate abortion huh?!?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ralph Chaplin’s Ghost
    United Statesa month ago
  • Interesting legal issues

    I like the range of issues chosen for deeper dives and independent, nonpartisan approach. Great discussion of a 4th circuit decision by Judge Richardson applying Loper Bright - but please include a case name or citation in the show notes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BIA26Civitas
    United Statesa month ago
  • Right-wing sanewashing

    Sarah is, unfortunately, quite effective at feigning like she is some unbiased legal commentator while at the same time explaining how every asinine administration decision or Supreme Court ruling is reasonable after all. Even when the Supreme Court rules 9-0 or 7-2 against the administration she’ll tell us how the administration definitely had a good faith argument.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Swallow1224
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are seen as high-quality and the discussions informative and thoughtful.
Some critique perceived bias or shifts in tone given hosts' affiliations and external roles.
The show is described as centrist-leaning with deep-dive legal analysis rather than entertainment.
Audio quality and ad reads are frequent points of discussion by listeners.
Listeners praise the show's rigor and insight into legal issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#30
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#91
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#170
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#173
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#177
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#98
Israel/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Constitutional Crisis Over a Golf Course
Q: Wouldn't we be a bit up in arms with our First Amendment hackles up if there were a law which held that depictions of murder that were fake, but realistic-looking, were banned?
David French suggests that photorealistic depictions of child sexual abuse may also qualify as obscenity, which is not protected by the First Amendment, unlike many fictional depictions of murder.
The Secrecy in Courts Dilemma
Q: I'm at an AmLaw 100 firm, and over my summer clerkship, I was helping draft appellate briefs and dispositive motions. But now that I'm an attorney, I've been doing doc review for the last month. Red flag? What about attorney turnover?
Sarah Isgur and David French say document review and high turnover are common in Big Law, where junior associates often start with routine work and many leave after a few years. Isgur advises saving money to preserve the option of taking a lower-paying job.
The Secrecy in Courts Dilemma
Q: Will you talk to me about how this actually works in practice in your courtroom?
Vince Chhabria says the applicable standard depends on how central the material is to the case, and explains that reviewing large filings and overbroad sealing requests can be burdensome. He supports requiring judges to scrutinize requests and narrow redactions.
What Is Originalism? | Interview: Sherif Girgis
Q: What does 'working judge originalism' propose for how judges should act?
Working judge originalism emphasizes that judges must be practical, humility-guided decision-makers who apply original meaning but consider precedent and real-world consequences, recognizing that not every case yields a clear, bright-line answer and that ideology should not override sound legal reasoning.
What Is Originalism? | Interview: Sherif Girgis
Q: How does structural constitutionalism fit into the originalist framework?
Structural constitutionalism argues that even if something isn't textually explicit, its structure can reveal originalist understandings; it allows looking at the design of the Constitution to reach outcomes that are consistent with the overall framework, not just the letter of the text.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Advisory Opinions

What is Advisory Opinions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Advisory Opinions blends rigorous legal analysis with practical storytelling about the courts, law, and their political dimensions. Episodes typically feature deep dives into current Supreme Court activity, along with data-driven takes on precedents, procedural dynamics, and notable opinions, often anchored by high-profile guests from SCOTUSblog, law schools, media, and policy circles. The show stands out for its dual-host dynamic, data-informed rigor, and willingness to tackle thorny constitutional questions with candor and nuance. Potential listeners who want clear explanations of complex legal issues, plus thoughtful debate about how law interacts with politics, will likely find it compelling.

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Which podcasts are similar to Advisory Opinions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Advisory Opinions:

1. The Dispatch Podcast
2. The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg
3. Divided Argument
4. GLoP Culture
5. Amarica's Constitution

How many episodes of Advisory Opinions are there?

Advisory Opinions launched 7 years ago and published 688 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Advisory Opinions?

Recent guests on Advisory Opinions include:

1. Nora Engstrom
2. Vince Chhabria
3. Sherif Girgis
4. Elie Honig
5. Andy Richter
6. Amy Howe
7. Neil Weare
8. Jeffrey S. Sutton

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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