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Strict Scrutiny

Strict Scrutiny
Supreme Court
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Reproductive Rights
Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights
Transgender Rights
First Amendment
Civil Rights
Project 2025
Birthright Citizenship
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 weeklyEpisodes418Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernment

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Latest Episodes

In their second emergency episode in two days, Leah, Melissa, and Kate break down the Court’s final day of the term and folks, it’s a doozy. We’ve got America’s preeminent “father of daughters” Coach Brett Kavanaugh’s majority opinion allowing states... more

In this emergency episode, Leah and Kate break down today’s incredibly consequential decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook, which followed the Project 2025 playbook to rewrite almost a century of precedent regarding presidential power. Th... more

Melissa, Leah, and Kate briefly recap the Court’s two major immigration decisions last week (for a deeper dive, check out last week’s emergency episode), before digging into the Second Amendment case, Wolford v. Lopez, which featured a cage match bet... more

In this emergency episode, Kate, Melissa, and Leah unpack the two major immigration opinions handed down by SCOTUS today. The brutal TL;DR, courtesy of Justice Sotomayor: “The consequences of today’s decision are predictable. More people will die.”

more

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Recent Guests

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)
Shaun Ossei-Owusu
Penn Law Presidential Professor of Law, author of Law on Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: How Low Can the DOJ Go?
Steve Vladeck
Professor of Law, Georgetown Law School; author of The Shadow Docket
Georgetown Law
Episode: SCOTUS Squabbles Go Public
Emily Amick
Public interest lawyer, co-author of Democracy in Retrograde
Former Counsel to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Episode: War Crimes, Christian Nationalism, and the 25th Amendment
Ian Bassin
Founder and executive director of Protect Democracy
Protect Democracy
Episode: Will SCOTUS Join the GOP War on Mail-in Ballots?

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 9.5k ratings
  • My cool nerds

    I listen weekly. I jump to here whenever there is a fakakte Scotus decision. But, please Melissa, the baby voices are a little annoying. And, after 4 years, I can finally tell you and Leah apart. And, Kate, I love how you maintain your composure

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    blinky02jd
    United Statesa month ago
  • Hooray for the Dorothy Roberts interview!

    I’m a ridiculous fan of Strict Scrutiny, but the interview with Dorothy Roberts just blew my mind. So beautiful and inspiring. Such heart. Thank you thank you thank you. Absolutely beautiful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chess fan1234
    United Statesa month ago
  • Left leaning only ideology

    This was sad to listen to. The ignorance they speak to their followers is dangerous. Guest speakers who race-bait are very disappointing, too.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MPB803
    United Statesa month ago
  • Frightening, informative, hopeful

    I have been listening to this podcast since Covid. While not an attorney, I find the discussions enlightning, informative, and prodding me to resist the autocratic direction of the current administration.

    I frequently share episodes with friends and family. While, I have not yet had the privilege of seeing Melissa Murray, Leah Litman, and Kate Shaw in person at one of their live events, I have purchased Leah’s book and today purchased Melissa Murray’s text on the annotated constitution.

    While ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SWKevin611
    United States2 months ago
  • They always seem to have a book to sell so there's that. Would be easier to take their continuous self-promotion if this wasn't so serious.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    jr
    2 months 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.

Spotify
#200
United States/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#62
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#1
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#1
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#2
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#1
Australia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
A Court of Drugs and Guns
Q: Can you tell us about the California AG's office actions against federal overreach and what that means for state sovereignty?
AG Rob Bonta explained California's proactive use of amicus briefs, state litigation, and coordinated multi-state actions to challenge federal policies, stressing accountability and protecting state powers as essential tools when federal actions undermine state interests.

Audience Metrics

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

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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

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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. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
4. Runaway Country with Alex Wagner
5. Offline with Jon Favreau

How many episodes of Strict Scrutiny are there?

Strict Scrutiny launched 7 years ago and published 418 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. Mary Moriarty
2. Judith Resnik
3. Barbara McQuade
4. Dorothy Roberts
5. Nancy Northup
6. Shaun Ossei-Owusu
7. Steve Vladeck
8. Emily Amick

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