Rephonic
Artwork for Strict Scrutiny

Strict Scrutiny

Strict Scrutiny
Supreme Court
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Reproductive Rights
Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights
Transgender Rights
Birthright Citizenship
First Amendment
Civil Rights
Project 2025
Elon Musk
14th Amendment
LGBTQ Rights
Abortion Rights
Second Amendment
Planned Parenthood
Mifepristone
U.S. Supreme Court
Tiktok

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 weeklyEpisodes424Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Strict Scrutiny

Latest Episodes

Melissa and Justice Correspondent for The Nation Elie Mystal sift through the results of last week’s primaries, including good news from Missouri and Kansas, with a detour on why Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed needs to shape up on Court ref... more

Huge news for lawyers: You can now listen to Strict Scrutiny for CLE credits in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, and Oregon! More info at crooked.com/strict_cle

Kate and Leah have go... more

Huge news for lawyers: You can now listen to Strict Scrutiny for CLE! More info at crooked.com/strict_cle

Friend of the Pod Emily Amick of Emily in Your Phone joins Leah to break down the week’s legal news, and the various and sundry ways due proces... more

Kate brings you a triptych of legal happenings this week. First, the latest news with friend of the pod Katie Phang, including a look at Todd Blanche’s Senate confirmation hearing, which certainly confirmed one thing: once you’re Trump’s personal law... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Katie Phang
Friend of the show, independent journalist, trial lawyer, host of the Katie Phang channel
Katie Phang channel / YouTube
Episode: How Bad Is Trump's Attorney General Pick?
Amanda Litman
Founder of Run for Something
Run for Something
Episode: How Bad Is Trump's Attorney General Pick?
Micah Kubic
Director of the State Chapter, ACLU Kansas
ACLU Kansas
Episode: How Bad Is Trump's Attorney General Pick?
Emily Wales
President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains
Planned Parenthood Great Plains
Episode: How Bad Is Trump's Attorney General Pick?
Mary Moriarty
Hennepin County Attorney; founding participant of FAFO
Hennepin County Attorney's Office; FAFO
Episode: The Malicious Incompetence of Trump's DOJ
Judith Resnik
Arthur Lyman Professor of Law at Yale Law School; author of Impermissible Punishments, How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy
Yale Law School
Episode: Affirmative Action for Mediocre Men
Barbara McQuade
Former U.S. Attorney and author
University of Michigan (professor) / Former U.S. Attorney
Episode: Ballrooms, ‘Bama and (Very) Bad Behavior
Dorothy Roberts
George A. Weiss University Professor of Law and Sociology, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Trump's Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Grift
Nancy Northup
President and CEO, Center for Reproductive Rights
Center for Reproductive Rights
Episode: The Constitution (Melissa's Version)

Hosts

Melissa Murray
Host of Strict Scrutiny; Crooked Media / Strict Scrutiny
Leah Litman
Host of Strict Scrutiny; law professor
Kate Shaw
Host of Strict Scrutiny; Crooked Media / Yale Law School / Columbia Law School

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 9.6k ratings
  • Informative, frustrating at times.

    A well researched podcast with hosts that clearly have a thirst for knowledge. The hosts fawning over celebrities like Taylor Swift and repeating “lol” diminishes the credibility a bit, and the four minute advertisements are exhausting.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jennnbl1
    United States7 days ago
  • Partisan hacks

    Far left bias

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    loudes13
    United Statesa month ago
  • T-shirt please

    Yes I would love to purchase that T-shirt!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bettie Davis Eyes
    United Statesa month ago
  • Kristy

    I never miss this podcast. These gals are so darn brilliant with such quick wits. Their personalities mesh well. SCOTUS is the biggest threat to democracy in my lifetime. Thanks for all you do to raise awareness!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Surgeon/Dog mom in Boulder
    United Statesa month ago
  • Legal Awareness for the Pleebs

    Best people on the air to explain the legal, political, and social implications of the Supreme Court and their nefarious bedfellows. Love you ladies! Stay strong and know you ARE ESSENTIAL to our democracy!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Inkonmysleeve
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics view coverage as biased, but most praise the depth and clarity.
Highly informed hosts offering nuanced takes on the Court and rights.
Explicit focus on democracy and civil rights, appealing to policy-minded audiences.
Thoughtful legal analysis with engaging banter, though some listeners feel ads interrupt the content.
Guest roster often includes top legal scholars and advocates, adding credibility and insight.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#222
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#1
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#1
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#6
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#3
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#10
Germany/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Bad Is Trump's Attorney General Pick?
Q: What did the Williams opinion say about the legitimacy of the case and the conduct of the lawyers involved?
The opinion found there was no live controversy, that the filing of the suit was improper, and it criticized the lawyers for manipulating the judicial process, with referrals to their bars and possible penalties for the lawyers involved.
Affirmative Action for Mediocre Men
Q: What is the Milligan takeaway regarding how the Court views intentional discrimination in constitutionally framed cases?
Milligan imports the Callais standard into the constitutional context, making it harder to prove that maps were intentionally discriminatory unless you can show a feasible alternative with the same outcomes that would still protect minority rights.
Affirmative Action for Mediocre Men
Q: Why does Callais matter for evaluating section 2 claims in voting rights cases?
Callais reframed how courts assess discrimination by focusing on whether the state could have drawn a map with the same partisan outcome but with more minority opportunity, thus raising the bar for proving intentional discrimination.
BREAKING: SCOTUS Deals Another Blow to Multiracial Democracy
Q: So can you talk about what effect the decision is going to have on maps, districting, and democracy in general?
Marc Elias explains that the decision cynically allows partisan, rather than rights-based, redistricting, effectively gutting protections for minority voters and reshaping how districts are drawn in a way that entrenches partisan advantage.
How Low Can the DOJ Go?
Q: Why did you choose to focus the book on ordinary professionals rather than villains, and what does that reveal about the legal system?
The author explains the framing rests on the idea that most influence comes from everyday legal actors, not sensational figures, to show how systemic patterns reproduce inequality and how change can be pursued through broad institutional critique rather than chasing headlines.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Strict Scrutiny

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

- This program delivers sharp, accessible legal analysis focused on the U.S. Supreme Court, constitutional law, and related political and civil rights issues. Episodes commonly dissect high-profile court decisions, discuss voting rights, abortion, immigration, and the mechanics of governance, often pairing rigorous analysis with culture and wit. A standout trait is the hosts' ability to connect intricate legal doctrines to everyday implications, while inviting expert guests to illuminate complex topics. The cadence blends scholarly rigor with irreverent commentary, sponsor reads, and timely civics education, making it appealing for legally minded listeners who want context, critique, and entertainment.

- Notable for its guest-driven examina... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Strict Scrutiny?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Strict Scrutiny. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Strict Scrutiny and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Strict Scrutiny get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Strict Scrutiny, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Strict Scrutiny?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Strict Scrutiny, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Strict Scrutiny have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Strict Scrutiny has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 424 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 Strict Scrutiny?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Strict Scrutiny?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Strict Scrutiny from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Strict Scrutiny?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Strict Scrutiny. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Strict Scrutiny?

Recent guests on Strict Scrutiny include:

1. Katie Phang
2. Amanda Litman
3. Micah Kubic
4. Emily Wales
5. Mary Moriarty
6. Judith Resnik
7. Barbara McQuade
8. Dorothy Roberts

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days