Podcast
Advisory Opinions
Hosted by The Dispatch · EN
Advisory Opinions is a legal podcast by The Dispatch. Hosts David French and Sarah Isgur meet twice a week to talk about the law, the courts, their collision with politics, and why it all matters.
146episodes
Episodes
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Alito's Preemptive Strike (Against ProPublica)
Jun 23, 2023Tap to summarizeSarah Isgur and Guest-host David French return from the Advisory Opinions live event for some Supreme Court bingo. Plus:-Opinion lightning round-Justice Alito's Op-Ed in the WSJ-Transgender care for minors at the District Courts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Did Hunter Biden Get A Sweetheart Deal...?
Jun 20, 2023Tap to summarizeDid Hunter Biden receive a sweetheart deal from the DOJ? How are other people treated under similar circumstances? And what’s with DOJ’s timing? In this live recording among the young scholars at American Enterprise Institue, Sarah Isgur and David French ponder these questions and:-Donald Trump’s “with hunt” versus Biden investigations -Indictments as instruments of intimidation -David and Sarah’s favorite dessert-Mr. Smith Loses-David’s no opinion of Keetan-Interesting bankruptcy case-Fights over ice cream-Is Justice Gorsuch the greatest champion of Native American sovereignty among the Supreme Court?-Will Harvard lose?-Questions from Young ScholarsShow Notes:-Advisory Opinion's live recording to be published on YouTube Wednesday (Subscribe today)-Hunter Biden reaches deal to plead guilty in tax, gun case-Madison Cawthorn Again Brought a Loaded Gun to the Airport, Officials Say-'Jersey Shore' star Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino sentenced 8 months on tax evasion charges-Smith v United States -Polansky v Executive Health Resources-Indian Child Welfare Act Case Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Indictment Watch: Trump Charged in Classified Docs Probe
Jun 10, 2023Tap to summarizeIn an emergency pod, Sarah Isgur and David French review the indictment against Donald Trump which was unsealed on Friday: what is and isn't in the indictment, and how does this case compare with those of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.Show Notes:-Trump Classified Docs Indictment, Annotated Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Lower Your Expectations
Jun 6, 2023Tap to summarizeSCOTUS refuses to serve up the good stuff with the latest round of opinions released. Sarah and David discuss the chipping away of labor rights and subjective beliefs over violating the False Claims Act. Also on the docket:-Aliens upon us?-Whistleblowers in Sarah’s DMs-Are Diversity Statements illegal?-Angry cheerleader’s legacy-Hunter Biden’s messy 2nd amendment issue-Joe’s Hail Mary campaign throw, according to The MessengerShow Notes:-Virginia Tech speech police questioned by skeptical Fourth Circuit-Angry Cheerleader case-Advisory Opinions, Angry Cheerleader Gets A Supreme Court Win Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Defamation Vibes
Feb 14, 2023Tap to summarizeRon DeSantis wants to make open and slacken up national libel laws and, as always, it gets complicated. Sarah and (host emeritus) David try to help out. Also: Meta gets sanctioned!Show Notes:-Advisory Opinions: The Problem with "History & Tradition"-Fl. Gov. DeSantis floats legislation that would make it easier to sue news outlets-Reuters: Sarah Palin's legal fight with NYT-4th Circuit panel grants Stein injunction against criminal charges-Reuters: Meta, law firm Gibson Dunn sanctioned in Facebook privacy case-DOJ says end of health emergency will terminate Title 42 policy and moot Supreme Court case-David French for NYT: Men Need More Purpose Than Respect Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Rod Rosenstein Talks Special Counsels
Jan 24, 2023Tap to summarizeIf somebody understands the challenges of appointing special counsels, it's Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. He joins Advisory Opinions to talk (and reminisce) about DOJ drama. Also: Sarah and David have some tepid SCOTUS updates.Show Notes:-NYT: Investigators Seize More Classified Documents From Biden's Home-The Dispatch Podcast: The Biden Files Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Live From George Mason
Oct 12, 2022Tap to summarizeRecording live at George Mason University, David and Sarah open with a critical WAP correction to last week’s show, followed by updates on The Onion amicus brief and the never-ending Yale drama. Plus: Amy Coney Barrett takes on Common Good Constitutionalism and the Fifth Circuit decides a “zero-pence case” on religious coercion.Show Notes:-Fifth Circuit decision on Freedom From Religion v. Wayne Mack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Praying Football Coach Wins at Supreme Court
Jun 28, 2022Tap to summarizeThe Supreme Court has been making waves with two recent religious liberty cases, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Carson v. Makin. Sarah and David delve into the Kennedy opinion, involving a high school football coach who was fired for praying on the field. The case overruled the Lemon test, used in First Amendment cases for decades, but there’s still much to be decided in the future. Plus: More on the political fallout from the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health ruling. Show Notes:-Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist.-Advisory Opinions: Supreme Court Hears Football Coach Prayer Case-French Press: Roe is Reversed, and the Right Isn’t Ready-Advisory Opinions: Supreme Court Overturns Roe and Casey-Wall Street Journal: The Law Firm That Got Tired of Winning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Eastman Memo: It's Real and It's Not Spectacular
Sep 23, 2021Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode, Sarah and David discuss a number of situations where events have proven their predictions true, starting with a challenge to the Texas abortion law and ending with a complaint over critical race theory. In between, our hosts also dissect the legal arguments underpinning the push to get Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 presidential election and discuss a new bill that would reign in presidential powers. Show Notes: -Alan Braid, Texas abortion doctor, sued over ban -John Eastman memo -Reuters story on critical race theory -Williamson County critical race theory complaint -New York Times story on Protecting Our Democracy Act -House analysis of the Protecting Our Democracy Act provisions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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DOJ Lawmaker Subpoenas Explained
Jun 14, 2021Tap to summarizeIn today’s jam-packed episode, David and Sarah discuss the Supreme Court’s invitation to the Biden administration to weigh in on a pending challenge to Harvard’s affirmative action policy. Our hosts also untangle two criminal cases that united the justices unanimously in favor of the government, one on felons possessing firearms and another on sentence reduction. Then, Sarah shares insight from her own time at the Department of Justice into why a New York Times story that the Trump-era Justice Department seized the data of congressional Democrats might be overblown. They also explain why the DoJ appears to be siding with former President Donald Trump in a defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll. Finally, they discuss why a recent Twitter thread on critical race theory that inspired a “hate tsunami” online should inspire you to go attend your local school board meetings. Show Notes: -Greer v. United States -Terry v. United States -The New York Times’ June 10 initial subpoena story -The New York Times’ June 13 follow-up story about Don McGahn’s records -The New York Times’ June 11 follow-up story about DoJ opening an investigation into the subpoenas -Explanation of Assistant U.S. attorney -David’s Twitter thread -David’s debate with Christopher Rufo on Bari Weiss’ podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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