SCOTUS Term Recap: How the Court Became Trump's Enabler

With July upon us and bad decision season (mercifully) over, Leah, Kate and Melissa take a step back to recap this year’s SCOTUS term. They highlight some of the overarching themes, break down the biggest opinions, and look back at the moments they’ll remember forever–whether they want to or not.

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CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
00:55 Term Recap: Highlighting Key Cases
11:00 All Eyes on Amy: Justice Amy Coney Barrett's Role
15:39 Ad Break
19:17 Sotomayor and Jackson's Warning: House on Fire
21:57 Attack on the Lower Courts
27:17 Gerrymandered Judging: Bespoke Law for the GOP
29:04 What is Law? Don't Know Her
36:25 Justice Kagan Joining Conservative Decisions
42:03 Chief Justice Roberts' Role and Influence
45:44 Foreign Law Hypocrisy
49:05 Stare Decisis and Future Implications
52:20 Ad Break
57:16 Notable Moments from This Term
01:02:37 Roses and Thorns of the Term
01:07:08 Fallout from Recent Court Opinions
01:11:11 Kilmar Abrego-Garcia Describes El Salvador Prison Conditions
01:15:25 Audio Mashup of This Term's Memorable Moments
01:22:17 Grim Realities Looking Ahead
01:26:40 Our Favorite Things

OUR FAVORITE THINGS:
MELISSA: KBJ’s footnote 12 in Stanley v. City of Sanford, Florida; Seven Chaotic Months in the Life of a New Federal Judge, Emily Bazelon and Mattathias Schwartz (NYT); This Is the Real Impact of the Supreme Court’s Planned Parenthood Decision, Linda Greenhouse (NYT); When Rational Basis Review Bit (HLR)

LEAH: A New Kind of Judicial Supremacy, Steve Vladeck (One First); With the Big, Beautiful Bill, You Can Now Sponsor a Billionaire of Your Choosing, Alexandra Petri (Atlantic); Samuel Alito Takes Pride in Gay-Bashing, Elie Mystal (The Nation); A Court Without the Range, Sherrilyn Ifill (Sherrilyn’s Newsletter); ‘A Culture of Disdain’: The Supreme Court’s Actions Speak Louder Than Its Words, Kate Shaw (NYT); Andor (Disney+); Virgin, Lorde; Trump Fragrances

KATE: Trump’s Big Win in His Escalating War on the Press, Bob Bauer (Executive Functions); USAID study (The Lancet); Is the Supreme Court the Best Way to Get Justice? Alexis Coe (NYT); Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America, Irin Carmon; We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution, Jill Lepore

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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 headlines and biggest legal questions facing our country, emphasizing what it all means for our daily lives.

Whether you’re a lawyer or law student, or you’re just here for the messy legal drama, Strict Scrutiny has you covered. New episodes out every Monday… plus bonuses whenever SCOTUS takes away another one of our rights.

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