Best Scotus Oral Arguments Podcasts (2025)

1
Emergency Docket Summary: SCOTUS Green Lights Mass Firings at Education Dep't 16:57

1d ago16:57

16:57

This episode examines a July 14th Supreme Court emergency docket ruling that reveals fundamental tensions about executive power over federal agency firings at the Education Department and the limits of congressional authority. This episode also compares and contrasts this case (McMahon v. New York) with OPM v. AFGE, a government workforce reduction…

1
FCC Council on National Security 53:00

22h ago53:00

53:00

Early in his Chairmanship, Federal Communications Chair Chairman Brendan Carr established a new Council for National Security within the agency. The council aims to "leverage the full range of the Commission’s regulatory, investigatory, and enforcement authorities to protect American and counter foreign adversaries, particularly the threats posed b…

1
Should the Federal Government Rely on Competitive Markets to Price Electricity? 1:00:48

1d ago1:00:48

1:00:48

Over the past decade, electricity prices for consumers have risen by more than 22% on average. At the same time, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)—the international body responsible for setting reliability and security standards for the North American power grid—has issued increasingly urgent warnings about the growing risk…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research 43:56

6d ago43:56

43:56

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has traditionally regulated interstate and international communications and, as part of that, maintained a universal service fund that requires telecommunications carriers to contribute quarterly based on their revenues. In order to calculate these contribution amounts, the FCC contracts the help of the U…

1
AI Training vs. Copyright Law: Updates from the Copyright Office and the Courts 1:02:43

7d ago1:02:43

1:02:43

Whether AI training and generation is a fair use under copyright law puts two important American business sectors in opposition, and each looks to the various branches of the federal government for answers. Fundamentally, essentially all training of AI models involves copying of copyrighted materials, and many outputs from AI systems also may be su…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton 45:31

7d ago45:31

45:31

Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton concerned Texas Law H.B. 1181, and what precedent should apply in considering its impact on free speech. Passed in 2023, the law requires commercial entities, including social media platforms, "that knowingly and intentionally publish or distribute material on an Internet website... more than one-third of which…

1
Emergency Docket Summary: SCOTUS Answers the Government's Speed-Dial 23:26

7d ago23:26

23:26

This episode examines two major Supreme Court emergency docket rulings that reveal fundamental tensions about presidential power, judicial authority, and constitutional rights. Both cases demonstrate the Court's willingness to grant extraordinary relief to the government while exposing deep philosophical divisions among the justices. Cases Covered:…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: Fuld v. Palestine Liberation Organization 47:33

8d ago47:33

47:33

In Fuld v. Palestine Liberation Organization, the Court considered whether the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (PSJVTA) violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. The court heard oral argument on April 1, 2025 and on June 20, 2025 a 9-0 Court ruled the PSJVTA did not violate the Fifth amendment because the s…

1
20 Years Later: Kelo v. City of New London 59:59

8d ago59:59

59:59

In June of 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Kelo v. City of New London that the local government did not violate the Fifth Amendment's Public Use Clause when it condemned private residential lots and transferred them to commercial developers to promote local economic development as part of a comprehensive municipal development plan. Kelo was ce…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: Diamond Alternative Energy LLC v. Environmental Protection Agency 56:02

8d ago56:02

56:02

In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew California’s previously-granted waiver to implement its Advanced Clean Car Program. This program had been in effect since 2013 and required that car companies reduce carbon dioxide emissions and produce fleets that are at least 15% electric vehicles. The waiver was withdrawn due to a lack of “co…

1
Does "Board Law" Matter after Loper Bright? 1:01:49

9d ago1:01:49

1:01:49

Administrative law is in flux, nowhere more so than at the National Labor Relations Board. The Board has long made labor law (or “policy”) by issuing decisions and applying its own precedent. But in a recent oral argument at the Seventh Circuit, one member of the panel suggested that he didn’t want to hear about “Board law.” The judges, he said, co…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: Mahmoud v. Taylor 52:06

9d ago52:06

52:06

Mahmoud v. Taylor concerns the question of whether parents have the right to be notified and opt their children out of classroom lessons on gender and sexuality that violate their religious beliefs. In 2022, the Montgomery County, Maryland, School Board introduced storybooks for pre-K through fifth-grade classrooms covering topics like gender trans…

1
July 7th Roundup: New Certs: Transgender Rights in Schools and Religious Liberties 24:15

9d ago24:15

24:15

This episode covers four major Supreme Court cases granted certiorari in summer 2024 (July 3, 2025 Miscellaneous Order: Here), examining the Court's strategic approach to constitutional law and its rapid movement on key cultural and legal issues. Episode Roadmap Opening: The Court's Strategic Acceleration Supreme Court's unusual speed in granting c…

1
S6, Ep. 18: End of term roundup 55:51

13d ago55:51

55:51

On our season 6 finale, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman explore some of the consequential decisions from the final days of the Supreme Court term, including Mahmoud v. Taylor – which involves parents who want to opt their children out of curriculum they find in conflict with their religious beliefs – and U.S. v. Skrmetti, which focuses on access to …

1
Litigation Update: Legal Developments Surrounding Tithing and Religious Donations 1:01:38

14d ago1:01:38

1:01:38

In recent years, a flurry of lawsuits has been launched nationwide against religious organizations, raising fraud and other claims related to tithing and church donations. These challenges generally argue that church leaders falsely claimed they would only put donations to one use, but instead put them to another. These cases, which have been heard…

1
June 30th Roundup: Last Week's Opinions, End of Term Stats, Deep Dive into Trump v. Casa and New Cert Grants 42:52

16d ago42:52

42:52

This episode: Analyzes the Supreme Court's blockbuster end to the 2024-2025 term, covering the final nine opinions and examining patterns across all 61 cases decided this term. Explores the dramatic Friday release where cases "trickled out slowly" due to lengthy dissents read from the bench, dive into comprehensive term statistics, and conduct an i…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic 37:23

16d ago37:23

37:23

in July of 2018, Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina issued an executive order to end the inclusion of Planned Parenthood in the Medicaid program. The Department of Health and Human Services then informed Planned Parenthood that they were no longer qualified to provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries, which prompted lawsuits both from Plan…

1
June 27 Opinion Summaries: Five Major Decisions That Will Shape America 21:01

19d ago21:01

21:01

This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of five major Supreme Court decisions released on June 27, 2025, that collectively reshape key areas of constitutional law including judicial authority, parental rights, agency power, executive appointments, and online speech regulation. We also discuss the notable absence of a decision in Louisiana v.…

1
Opinion Summary: Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 23-1122 23:02

19d ago23:02

23:02

Opinion Summary: Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 23-1122 Link to Docket: Here. Background: This Court has repeatedly held that States may rationally restrict minors' access to sexual materials, but such restrictions must withstand strict scrutiny if they burden adults' access to constitutionally protected sp…

1
Opinion Summary: Mahmoud v. Taylor | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 24-297 28:19

19d ago28:19

28:19

Opinion Summary: Mahmoud v. Taylor | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 24-297 Link to Docket: Here. Background: Respondent Montgomery County Board of Education requires elementary school teachers to read their students storybooks celebrating gender transitions, Pride parades, and same-sex playground romance. The storybooks were chosen to disrupt "ci…

1
Opinion Summary: FCC v. Consumers' Research | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 24-354 50:54

19d ago50:54

50:54

Opinion Summary: FCC v. Consumers' Research | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 24-354 This case was consolidated with: SHLB Coalition V. Consumers' Research, Case No. 23-422. Link to Docket: Here. Background: In 47 U.S.C. 254, Congress required the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) to operate universal service subsidy programs using ma…

1
Opinion Summary: Kennedy v. Braidwood Mgmt., Inc. | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 24-316 25:04

19d ago25:04

25:04

Opinion Summary: Kennedy v. Braidwood Mgmt., Inc. | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 24-316 Host Note: On 4/25/25, the Supreme Court ordered the parties to “file supplemental letter briefs addressing the following question: Whether Congress has ‘by Law’ vested the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services with the authority to appoin…

1
Opinion Summary: Trump, President of U.S. v. Casa, Inc. | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 24A884 54:16

19d ago54:16

54:16

Opinion Summary: Trump, President of U.S. v. Casa, Inc. | Date Decided: 6/27/25 | Case No. 24A884 Links to Docket: Here (Case No. 24A884); Here (Case No. 24A885); and Here (Case No. 24A886). Questions Presented: Whether the Supreme Court should stay the district courts' nationwide preliminary injunctions on the Trump administration’s 1/20/25 execut…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: EPA v. Calumet Shreveport Refining, LLC and Oklahoma v. EPA 41:55

20d ago41:55

41:55

On June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court released its decisions for two circuit splits arising under the Clean Air Act (CAA) provision regarding judicial venue: EPA v. Calumet Shreveport Refining, L.L.C. (23-1229), and Oklahoma v. EPA (23-1067). Decided 7-2 and 8-0, respectively, the outcome of these cases hinged on the Court’s interpretation of the CAA…

1
Opinion Summary: Riley v. Bondi | Date Decided: 6/26/25 | Case No. 23–1270 29:16

20d ago29:16

29:16

Opinion Summary: Riley v. Bondi | Date Decided: 6/26/25 | Case No. 23–1270 Link to Docket: Here. Background: Petitioner Pierre Riley, ineligible for cancellation of removal or discretionary relief from removal, sought deferral in withholding-only proceedings, pursuant to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment…

1
Opinion Summary: Gutierrez v. Saenz | Date Decided: 6/26/25 | Case No. 23-7809 27:52

20d ago27:52

27:52

Opinion Summary: Gutierrez v. Saenz | Date Decided: 6/26/25 | Case No. 23-7809 Link to Docket: Here. Background: In Reed v. Goertz, 598 U.S. 230 (2023), this Court held that Rodney Reed has standing to pursue a declaratory judgment that Texas's post-conviction DNA statute was unconstitutional because ''Reed suffered an injury in fact," the named de…

1
Opinion Summary: Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic | Date Decided: 6/26/25 | Case No. 23–1275 33:35

20d ago33:35

33:35

Opinion Summary: Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic | Date Decided: 6/26/25 | Case No. 23–1275 Link to Docket: Here. Background: More than 30 years ago, this Court first applied what would become known as the "Blessing factors," holding that a Medicaid Act provision created a privately enforceable right to certain reimbursement rates. Wild…

1
Opinion Summary: Hewitt v. United States | Date Decided: 6/26/25 | Case No. 23-1002 27:06

20d ago27:06

27:06

Opinion Summary: Hewitt v. United States | Date Decided: 6/26/25 | Case No. 23-1002 This case was consolidated with: Duffey V. United States, Case No. 23-1007. Link to Docket: Here. Background: The First Step Act (FSA) significantly reduced the mandatory minimum sentences for several federal drug and firearm offenses. First Step Act of 2018, Pub. L…

1
S6, Ep. 17: Christian nationalism and the Texas public sphere 52:15

20d ago52:15

52:15

What’s the difference between religious privilege and religious freedom? How does Christian nationalism spread? Why do so many ideas that start in Texas expand to other parts of the country? On this podcast, we bring you a special panel discussion on Christian nationalism in the Texas public sphere, recorded live on April 8. It features BJC Executi…

1
Supreme Court Roundup: Insights from June 18 and 20 Decisions and New Cert Grant 28:56

23d ago28:56

28:56

In today's episode, we analyze the Supreme Court's recent activities across three key areas: Last week's 11 opinions and emerging patterns Term statistics and remaining docket overview Major religious liberty case granted certiorari via June 23rd Order List Key Topics Covered Term Statistics (As of June 23, 2025) Total cases heard: 62 unique cases …

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: United States v. Skrmetti 49:19

26d ago49:19

49:19

In the last several years, numerous minors who identify as transgender have undergone surgery and other medical procedures to mirror common physical features of the opposite sex. In March 2023, Tennessee enacted Senate Bill 1, which prohibits medical procedures for the purpose of either (1) enabling a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported…

1
Opinion Summaries: June 20, 2025 Opinions 27:15

26d ago27:15

27:15

Opinion Summaries: June 20, 2025 Opinions The Supreme Court released six significant opinions on June 20, 2025, spanning tobacco regulation, terrorism jurisdiction, environmental standing, telecommunications law, disability rights, and federal sentencing. This episode provides comprehensive analysis of each decision, including voting breakdowns, ke…

1
Checks and Balances: Deregulation Based on Supreme Court Rulings 1:05:05

28d ago1:05:05

1:05:05

Among the points emphasized by the second Trump administration has been a major push for deregulation. President Trump has directed that there must be ten deregulatory actions for every one regulatory one, and put forward Presidential Memoranda and Executive Orders to that end. As some have noted, however, such deregulation can take significant tim…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: Kousisis v. United States 38:20

28d ago38:20

38:20

In Kousisis v. United States, the Supreme Court considered the question of whether a defendant who induces a victim to enter into a transaction under materially false pretenses may be convicted of federal fraud--even if the defendant did not seek to cause the victim economic loss. It heard oral argument on December 9, 2024, and on May 22, 2025, iss…

1
Courthouse Steps Decision: Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos 46:05

28d ago46:05

46:05

In Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Mexico brought suit against several U.S. gun manufacturers, including Smith & Wesson. It alleged, among other things, that they were in part liable for the killings perpetrated by Mexican cartels. Mexico argued that the gun manufacturers know the guns they sell are/may be illegally sold to…

1
Proxy Plumbing - A Primer for the Coming Policy Debate 55:50

28d ago55:50

55:50

The SEC has periodically examined the ecosystem governing public company shareholder communications and voting—the “proxy plumbing ecosystem”—and it is expected that the SEC will again review this area under soon-to-be SEC Chairman Paul Atkins’ leadership. This panel will focus on how the proxy ecosystem works, the organizations that control and ma…

1
Antitrust in the College Sports Arena 1:00:07

28d ago1:00:07

1:00:07

In 2020, several collegiate athletes filed suit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) arguing that by both denying athletes compensation and preventing them from pursuing third-party deals using their names, images, or likenesses (NIL) for profit, the NCAA was violating antitrust laws. After several years of discussion, there …

1
Opinion Summary: United States v. Skrmetti | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23-477 45:44

28d ago45:44

45:44

Opinion Summary: United States v. Skrmetti | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23-477 Link to Docket: Here. Question Presented: Whether Tennessee Senate Bill 1 (SBl), which prohibits all medical treatments intended to allow "a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor's sex" or to treat "purported discomfor…

1
Opinion Summary: Perttu v. Richards | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23–1324 16:01

28d ago16:01

16:01

Opinion Summary: Perttu v. Richards | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23–1324 Link to Docket: Here. Question Presented: In cases subject to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, do prisoners have a right to a jury trial concerning their exhaustion of administrative remedies where disputed facts regarding exhaustion are intertwined with the underlying …

1
Opinion Summary: Oklahoma v. EPA | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23–1067 12:17

28d ago12:17

12:17

Opinion Summary: Oklahoma v. EPA | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23–1067 This case was consolidated with: Pacificorp V. EPA, Case No. 23-1067. Link to Docket: Here. Background: Under the Clean Air Act, each state must adopt an implementation plan to meet national standards, which EPA then reviews for compliance with the Act. In 2023, EPA publish…

1
Opinion Summary: EPA v. Calumet Shreveport Refining, L.L.C. | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23–1229 42:30

28d ago42:30

42:30

Opinion Summary: EPA v. Calumet Shreveport Refining, L.L.C. | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23–1229 Link to Docket: Here. Question Presented: Holding: EPA's denials of small refinery exemption petitions are locally or regionally applicable actions that fall within the "nationwide scope or effect" exception, requiring venue in the D.C. Circuit. R…

1
Opinion Summary: NRC v. Texas | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23–1300 35:02

28d ago35:02

35:02

Opinion Summary: NRC v. Texas | Date Decided: 6/18/25 | Case No. 23–1300 This case was consolidated with: Interim Storage Partners, LLC V. Texas, Case No. 23-1312. Link to Docket: Here. Questions Presented: Whether the Hobbs Act, 28 U.S.C. 2341 et seq., which authorizes a "party aggrieved" by an agency's "final order" to petition for review in a co…

1
Supreme Court Roundup: June 12th Insights and New Cert Grants 17:49

1M ago17:49

17:49

In this episode, we analyze the Supreme Court's recent activities across three key areas: Six near unanimous decisions released on June 12th, 2025 Two major cases granted certiorari via June 16th, 2025 Order In this episode, we analyze the Supreme Court's recent activities across three key areas: Term statistics and remaining docket overview Six de…

1
Opinion Summary: A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24–249 30:18

1M ago30:18

30:18

Opinion Summary: A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24–249 Link to Docket: Here. Background: Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Rehabilitation Act) require public entities and organizations that receive federal funding to provide reasonable accommodations for…

1
Opinion Summary: Soto v. United States | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24-320 12:44

1M ago12:44

12:44

Opinion Summary: Soto v. United States | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24-320 Link to Docket: Here. Question Presented: Holding: Result: Voting Breakdown: Link to Opinion: Here. Oral Advocates: For Petitioner: For Respondent: Website Link to Oral Argument: Here. Apple Podcast Link to Oral Argument: Here.…

1
Opinion Summary: Martin v. United States | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24–362 27:47

1M ago27:47

27:47

Opinion Summary: Martin v. United States | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24–362 Link to Docket: Here. Background: Petitioners are the innocent victims of a wrong-house raid conducted by an FBI SWAT team in Atlanta, Georgia. Seeking a remedy for torts committed against them, Petitioners brought a cause of action against the United States under th…

1
Opinion Summary: Parrish v. United States | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24–275 17:47

1M ago17:47

17:47

Opinion Summary: Parrish v. United States | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24–275 Link to Docket: Here. Background: Ordinarily, litigants must file a notice of appeal within 30 or 60 days of an adverse judgment. 28 U.S.C. § 2107(a)-(b). Under 28 U.S.C. § 2107(c) and Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6), however, district courts can reopen an expired appeal pe…

1
Opinion Summary: Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Zuch | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24–416 28:30

1M ago28:30

28:30

Opinion Summary: Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Zuch | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 24–416 Link to Docket: Here. Question Presented: Whether a proceeding under 26 U.S.C. 6330 for a pre-deprivation determination about a levy proposed by the Internal Revenue Service to collect unpaid taxes becomes moot when there is no longer a live dispute …

1
Opinion Summary: Rivers v. Guerrero | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 23-1345 12:08

1M ago12:08

12:08

Opinion Summary: Rivers v. Guerrero | Date Decided: 6/12/25 | Case No. 23-1345 Link to Docket: Here. Background: Under the federal habeas statute, a prisoner "always gets one chance to bring a federal habeas challenge to his conviction," Banister v. Davis, 590 U.S. 504, 509 (2020). After that, the stringent gatekeeping requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 2…

1
S6, Ep. 16: What’s going on with the Supreme Court, a new travel ban, and the military in L.A.? 37:58

1M ago37:58

37:58

With decisions from the Supreme Court, a new travel ban, and a federally militarized presence in Los Angeles, there are many activities in our world that deserve attention. Amanda and Holly discuss several current events in this episode, including the revival of one of the ugliest policies of the first Trump administration. Plus, they review the un…

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