Advisory Opinions

Let’s Pretend We’re Justices | Interview: Chris Scalia

David French and Sarah Isgur steelman Justice John Paul Stevens and Justice Stephen Breyers’s dissents in the Heller case through a one-act play produced by ChatGPT. The two also invite Chris Scalia to play the majority opinion writer (and his late father) Justice Antonin Scalia. The Agenda: –One act, three justices –What AI got right and wrong –Justice Breyer, fully vindicated –Shul is Yiddish and Friends of the Earth is SCOTUS precedent Show Notes: –Originalism and Stare Decisis Order Sarah’s book here. Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump’s Ballroom Blitz

Sarah Isgur and David French return, but with a little bit of a switcheroo as David takes the host’s chair. They discuss President Donald Trump’s appeal to the Supreme Court on the construction of a White House ballroom, a religious liberty case about permits and prayer services, and a bit of reality TV litigation. The Agenda: –We can all laugh about this one day –Pierre Charles L’Enfant for some reason? –President Trump’s ballroom appeal –Grand v. City of University Heights –This is not a populist podcast –The trashy stuff Show Notes: –Hulk Hogan v. Gawker–Marquette Law School Poll finds national approval of the Supreme Court at 47 percent; it’s been below 50 percent since November 2025 Order Sarah’s book here. Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Is Not A Vibes-Only Podcast

David Lat and Zachary Shemtob return as guest hosts and are joined by Adam Feldman, author of the blog Empirical SCOTUS and the Substack Legalytics, to discuss  an update on birthright citizenship, some new polling about SCOTUS,  and Luigi Mangione, who will soon be tried for the murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson. The Agenda: –Where in the world are Sarah and David? –The Delusions of John Roberts –Is Chief Justice Roberts moderating from the front? –Early and late Scalia –Challenge brought to Trump’s new birthright citizenship order –Previewing the November cases –St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy (25-581) –Nielsen v. Watanabe (25-417) –Are Republicans falling out of love with the Supreme Court? –Overruling the 3-3-3 court hypothesis –SCOTUS shortlist –Mangione plea discussion expected in federal case Friday Order Sarah’s book here. Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SCOTUS’s October Preview

David Lat takes over the host’s chair and is joined by Zachary Shemtob, executive editor of SCOTUSblog, and Amy Howe, co-founder of SCOTUSblog, to discuss Justice Samuel Alito’s retirement plans (not yet), President Donald Trump’s new executive order targeting birthright citizenship, and hot cases in the upcoming October term. The Agenda: –Sarah Isgur’s rebuttal –Justice Alito’s back! (He never left) –Ending birth tourism –Overcooking the Federal Reserve firing –Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder –Previewing SCOTUS’s October term –Ballroom blitz –No drag hamburgers for these kids! Show Notes: –Birthright Citizenship, Redux Order Sarah’s book here. Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. –Trump signs new birthright citizenship order, ballroom dispute likely headed to Supreme Court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fauci Pleads the Fifth | Interview: Elie Honig

Sarah Isgur and David French are joined by CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig to discuss  Anthony Fauci’s invocation of the Fifth Amendment. Is it okay? Is it not okay? How does this relate to the pardon power? Then it’s on to a constitutional game show where  each member of this three-person team picks two constitutional amendments they would magically ratify and one amendment they would veto. The Agenda: –Anthony Fauci can take the Fifth –Did Fauci even have such a right? –Wiping your phone is an obstruction of justice –Amending the Constitution! –Impeachment reform, resizing Congress, and emergency powers –Presidential eligibility, redefining Article II, and repealing the 17th Amendment –We will see a 28th Amendment Show Notes: –Elie Honig: When You Come at the King –How to Investigate a President (with Elie Honig) - CAFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices