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Strict Scrutiny

Strict Scrutiny
Supreme Court
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U.S. Supreme Court

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 ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes444Founded7 years ago
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GovernmentNews

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Latest Episodes

Leah and Melissa break down the administration’s latest lawsuits, from the DOJ’s fight over Alaska’s Senate candidacy, to its efforts to force California to turn over voter information, to Trump’s golf course fiasco. They also recap the latest develo... more

YouTube

The nation is on a fast-paced slide toward full-on fascism, but what else is new? Leah, Kate, and Melissa recap Matt Gaetz’s sex trafficking civil suit, Katie Zacharia’s first—and last—week as White House Press Secretary, and the disturbing raid on C... more

The first week of the new term has come and gone, and things are heating up… literally. Kirti Datla, director of Earthjustice’s Strategic Legal Advocacy Program, joins Melissa and Leah to discuss the term’s biggest climate case: Suncor v. Commissione... more

YouTube

This Monday officially kicks off a new Supreme Court term, and the cases and controversies are already heating up. Leah, Kate, and Melissa dig into the Court’s decision to allow the administration to resume “third-country removals,” as well as its de... more

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Recent Guests

Rachel Shelden
Associate professor of history and director of Penn State's George and Anne Richards Civil War Era Center.
Penn State University
Episode: The DOJ is a Corrupt Clown Show
Alice Ollstein
Politico journalist covering reproductive justice and law, and author of Side Effects
Politico
Episode: Sex Trafficking Lawsuits, Privacy Rights, and a Court That Can’t Keep Up
Kirti Datla
Director of Earthjustice's Strategic Legal Advocacy Program
Earthjustice
Episode: Will SCOTUS Let Big Oil Off the Hook?
Bernadette Atuahene
Professor of Law, author of Plundered
University of Southern California
Episode: Will SCOTUS Let Big Oil Off the Hook?
Kelly Lytle Hernández
Professor, UCLA historian, author of Racist by Design
University of California, Los Angeles
Episode: The Supreme Court Allows Third-Country Deportations to Continue
Gabe Roth
Founder and executive director of Fix the Court
Fix the Court
Episode: We Need to Talk About Ethics Reform
Errin Haines
Presidential NABJ / Editor-at-large of The 19th
The 19th / National Association of Black Journalists
Episode: A New Term of Supreme Chaos
Mahmoud Khalil
Columbia graduate; author
No Land to Stand On (book)
Episode: A New Term of Supreme Chaos
Lev Menand
Associate Professor of Law, Columbia Law School; expert on banking and administrative law
Columbia Law School
Episode: We Need To Talk About Jurisdiction Stripping

Hosts

Kate Shaw
Constitutional law professor and host of the show
Leah Litman
Constitutional law professor; co-host
Melissa Murray
Constitutional law professor; co-host

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 9.6k ratings
  • Great show

    Fantastic show, very informative, big picture focused, and fun. It’s also nice to read all the conservative snowflakes complaining in the reviews here, of course, they have nothing substantive to argue, so they just say this is bad.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joey Geezz
    United States25 days ago
  • No future for the republic

    I believe that future historians will view the Supreme Court decision on Trump v Slaughter as the point at which the United States constitution was voided. I can only appreciate shows such as this that make the crazymaking reality of our government’s willful participation in its own destruction feel less isolating. While at times overly partisan in their discussions on the court’s less cut-and-dry decisions, the fact that they exist as a source of confirmation that other people are witness to wh... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    James Brames
    United Statesa month ago
  • Review

    Great information diminished by the whiny fake voices frequently used regularly in the podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Normwood
    United Statesa month ago
  • Disappointing

    The “legal analysis” in this show seems to be entirely policy based and partisan. As a radical centrist and a person who loves the constitution (even when it doesn’t deliver the policy goals I want), I find this show very disappointing. If you want to live in the progressive bubble and love cheerleading for team blue, this is for you. If you want good independent legal analysis, you will be disappointed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lisa GoldK
    United States2 months ago
  • I want to be onboard…

    While I largely agree with the political ideology presented in Strict Scrutiny, the podcast frequently engages in personal attacks and exaggerated statements about those who do not agree. If you’re looking for a journalistic approach to legal news, this isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a hyper-partisan take - you found a good podcast. I would self-identify as a member of the DSA but the approach still bothers me.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    TSMBergs
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audiences value the hosts' expertise and editorial voice in shaping views on court reform and democracy.
Some fans crave more balanced debate and fewer pop culture digressions.
Listeners appreciate the rigorous legal analysis and clear explanations of complex cases.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#1
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#10
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#22
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#41
Germany/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The DOJ is a Corrupt Clown Show
Q: Can you say a little bit about both of those venues in which this constitutional contestation is happening?
Shelden explains that circuit riding connected justices to the regions they represented and helped build public legitimacy for federal courts. Constitutional debate also took place beyond the Supreme Court, with Congress, presidents, state legislatures, and the public responding to the Court's decisions.
The DOJ is a Corrupt Clown Show
Q: Can you just say a word about the conventional story that you set out to dismantle? And at what point you decided you wanted to write this book to challenge or counter that narrative?
Shelden says the conventional account credits John Marshall and Marbury v. Madison with creating judicial supremacy and separating the Court from politics. She argues that Marshall remained politically engaged and that the image of an apolitical Court was constructed much later.
Sex Trafficking Lawsuits, Privacy Rights, and a Court That Can’t Keep Up
Q: You tell some horrifying stories about what actually happens when doctors try to invoke those exceptions. So can you walk us through maybe one of those stories or how this actually works on the ground?
Ollstein describes Georgia patient Avery Davis Bell, whose doctors delayed ending a nonviable pregnancy for more than 20 hours while assessing whether she met the state law's exception. The delay increased her medical risks and prolonged her recovery.
Sex Trafficking Lawsuits, Privacy Rights, and a Court That Can’t Keep Up
Q: Could you talk a little bit about how Dobbs has changed health care in this country more generally?
Ollstein says abortion restrictions affect emergency care, medical training, where doctors practice, what medications they can prescribe, what information they can share, and what research can be conducted.
Trump’s Assault on the Free Press
Q: Why focus on the Reagan era as the origin story for today's judiciary?
Because the book and Alex Wagner's discussion show how a small group built infrastructure—through ALEC, Heritage, the Federalist Society—and trained generations of lawyers who would shape the courts for decades, making today's judiciary a product of deliberate, patient strategy.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Strict Scrutiny

What is Strict Scrutiny about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, humorous take on the U.S. Supreme Court, constitutional law, and the political dynamics that shape legal culture. Across episodes, listeners get rigorous analysis of major rulings, court personalities, and how legal decisions interact with democracy, civil rights, and public policy. The show often pivots from dense jurisprudence to pop culture energy, making complex topics accessible for lawyers, students, and policy enthusiasts who want clear implications for daily life. A standout is its trio of law professors who bring deep expertise with a witty, irreverent tone, plus frequent expert guests from academia, media, and public interest law. This blend of rigorous analysis, timely commentary, and engaging guest perspectives likely a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Strict Scrutiny?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Strict Scrutiny:

1. Pod Save America
2. Pod Save the World
3. Runaway Country with Alex Wagner
4. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
5. Offline with Jon Favreau

How many episodes of Strict Scrutiny are there?

Strict Scrutiny launched 7 years ago and published 444 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 Strict Scrutiny?

Recent guests on Strict Scrutiny include:

1. Rachel Shelden
2. Alice Ollstein
3. Kirti Datla
4. Bernadette Atuahene
5. Kelly Lytle Hernández
6. Gabe Roth
7. Errin Haines
8. Mahmoud Khalil

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