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PODCAST

Advisory Opinions

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.

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All Episodes

65:07

Liberal Justices, Conservative Outcomes

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/06/10

Sarah Isgur and David French break down the legal merits of the Trump administration’s mobilization of the National Guard and the latest opinions from the liberal side of the Supreme Court.The Agenda:—Federalization of National Guard troops—Liberal justices, conservative outcomes—AI’s bad legal analysis—Reverse employment discrimination—Suing gun manufacturers—Catholic charities—Class-action lawsuit and kiosks Show Notes:—Mitch Landrieu on The Dispatch Podcast Advisory Opinions is a production

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78:57

Tariff-ic Meltdowns

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/06/03

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the legal back and forth regarding President Donald Trump’s tariffs before turning to his attacks on the Federalist Society.The Agenda:—Court of international trade blocks Trump’s tariffs—Appeals court reinstates tariffs—Major questions, explained—Jack Goldsmith on IEEPA—Trump goes after Leonard Leo—What is the difference between a lie and criminal fraud?—Granting and revoking immigration statuses—Blue Book reform Advisory Opinions is a production of The

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76:03

You’re Wrong About Originalism

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/05/22

Sarah Isgur and David French are joined by William Baude, professor at the University of Chicago Law School, to discuss the scandalizing origins of originalism. But first, a recap of SCOTUS cases.The Agenda:—Narrowing the Fourth Amendment— Where is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?—AARP v. Trump is an unfortunate case name—Facebook post raises eyebrows for Maine lawmakers—Correcting the color of our briefs—Dissents, dissental, disgrantle—Move over Robert Bork Advisory Opinions is a production of The

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108:54

A Charge on Gettysburg

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/05/20

Sarah Isgur and David French invite Judge Kevin Newsom of the 11th Circuit to discuss his time clerking for Justice David Souter and the strong humility that defines the late justice’s legacy. Then, Sarah and David recap their annual Legal Eagles trip to Gettysburg.The Agenda:—Justice David Souter’s independent mind and the significance of his judicial philosophy—6th Circuit Judge Chad Readler breaks down Legal Eagles trip to Gettysburg—The Constitution and the Civil War with 6th Circuit Chief

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58:09

The Clash of Culture and Employment Rights

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/05/13

Sarah Isgur and David French are coming to you from Gettsyburg with two free speech cases. Is posting aborted fetuses a religious practice?The Agenda:—Join us May 15th for a special live Advisory Opinions—Substantial disruption and school dress codes—Free speech, employment rights, and religious discrimination—Do we need a third founding? Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative

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66:49

Actual Animus

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/05/08

David French returns from his other job to discuss President Trump’s transgender military policy with Sarah Isgur. Does the Supreme Court hate transgender people? (Hint: No.)The Agenda:—Transgender military policy reflects ongoing debates about authority and judicial deference—Demonstrating animus—Making David blush—You can't be an erotic dancer if you're under 21 in Florida—Weak and strong originalism and the role of precedent Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital

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69:02

Right-on-Right Violence

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/05/06

The Advisory Opinions extended universe kicks off as SCOTUSblog's Amy Howe and David Lat join Sarah Isgur to discuss the St. Isidore of Seville religious charter school case and the debate over school choice.The Agenda:—A ‘public’ public school or a ‘private’ public school?—Justice Amy Coney Barrett's recusal—Will Chief Justice John Roberts be the swing vote?—Will birthright citizenship end?—May 15: Mark it on your calendar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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63:14

Are Religious Charter Schools Legal?

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/05/01

Sarah Isgur and David French explain the upcoming Supreme Court decision regarding the public chartering of religious schools and how it might implicate the establishment clause.The Agenda:—Justice Gorsuch is the new Justice Kennedy—More on SCOTUS lie-gate—Magic and Larry Bird (Lisa Blatt and Roman Martinez)—Lisa Blatt’s apology—FBI knocks down the wrong door—Chartering religious schools—What is a charter school?—The establishment clause question Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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87:09

The Arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/04/29

Sarah Isgur and David French are joined by Amy Howe and David Lat, of The Dispatch’s extended legal universe, to debate whether the Supreme Court should be more transparent.Sarah and David then separate fact from the fiction in the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan. (Also: should there be cameras in the Supreme Court?) The Agenda:—Cameras at SCOTUS?—SCOTUS oral argument goes off the rails—Calling other lawyers the “L” word—The arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan—Immunity doctrine is a mess—Louis Vuitton

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72:25

Judge v. (Unethical) Lawyer

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/04/22

Sarah Isgur and David French react to Donald Trump’s latest legal battles and talk to friend of the pod Judge Amul Thapar about his new wellness Substack.\The Agenda: —Birthright citizenship oral argument —Trump's use of Alien Enemies Act blocked —The FAFO bucket —Criminal contempt proceedings against the Trump administration —'An opinion for the ages' —Judges Thapar’s wellness advice Show Notes: —Justice Alito's dissent on Alien Enemies Act —William Baude on the birthright citizenship oral

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60:04

The Collision Is Coming

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/04/17

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the ongoing saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s illegal deportation and what’s next for the man currently in a notorious El Salvadoran prison.The Agenda: —SCOTUS order: effectuate vs. facilitate —Emergency docket scorecard —Turnover at the solicitor general's office —MAGA's legal strategies backfiring —Tariff lawsuit in California challenges executive power —Papa Musk Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics,

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43:04

🚨 Trump (Kind Of) Wins On Alien Enemies Act

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/04/08

Sarah Isgur and David French review the Supreme Court’s emergency decision on the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act.The Agenda: —Due process matters —The clean hands problem —More forum shopping —What is “reasonable notice”? —Firing probationary workers —Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts are the new swing votes 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

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91:08

Justice Barrett's RICO Revolution

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/04/08

Sarah Isgur and David French explain how the tariff power may make its way to the Supreme Court as a “major question” and debate the ethics of arguing in front of your children. The Agenda: —IEEPA, explained —SCOTUS on USAID freeze —Make vaping great again —The most OCD employee —Natural law is real —In defense of legal activism —How to argue in front of your children Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a

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62:25

Evangelizing vs. Proselytizing

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/04/03

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss Wisconsin's unemployment tax case, which touches on the intersection of religious liberty and legal standards. When is an institution operating primarily for religious purposes?The Agenda: —We don’t cover internet beefs —Trump v. All —Can Catholic Charities keep its tax-exempt status? —Wisconsin Supreme Court races are vicious and cruel —Generalists vs. specialists —Evolution of activist legal organizations —Answering listener questions about Trump running for a

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73:34

Aliens and Enemies

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/04/01

Sarah Isgur and David French review the Trump administration’s latest executive order targeting law firms, the legal challenge against the White House’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, and the problems surrounding universal injunctions.The Agenda: —David’s dangerous brush with nature —Trump’s non-strategic executive orders against law firms —Can the courts review a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act? —Is immigration an “invasion”? —OPM ain’t got no standing —Sued for cracking, then

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87:58

Second Amendment v. Ghost Gun Ban

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/03/27

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the the ban on ghost guns. Is it really about the Second Amendment?Sarah and David are then joined by Gregg Costa—partner at Gibson Dunn and former Fifth Circuit judge—to explain the issue with universal injunctions and forum shopping. The Agenda: —I ain’t afraid of no ghost (gun) —A big week for Justice Neil Gorsuch —Mens rea and regulation —False vs. misleading —$660 million, baby —Judiciary is politicized —Administrative

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75:25

Betrayal of the Law Firms

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/03/25

Sarah Isgur and David French give us an update on the Paul Weiss legal drama and the frontal attacks on the law firm from the Trump administration. Plus, video dissents and a bill tackling injunctions.The Agenda: —The deal —The Texas Lawbook responds to Trump administration —Skadden Arps and the backlash —Paul, Weiss chair's Sunday afternoon memo —Dinesh D'Souza, for some reason —The Dissenting Judge —The end of universal injunctions? Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital

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115:42

Is Trump Going to War Against the Rule of Law?

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/03/18

In this less-than-cheerful episode, Sarah Isgur and David French discuss threats to the judiciary external and internal, exploring the Trump administration’s legal maneuvers against law firms and drawing parallels to historical events like the Alien and Sedition Acts.The Agenda: —SCOTUS Update: All B cases —A judge’s gamesmanship on birthright citizenship —Leave Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s sister alone —Paul, Weiss and Trump’s threats to the rule of law —Venezuelans are being deported —Defying

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61:44

Humphrey’s Executor

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/03/13

Live from the University of Michigan, Sarah Isgur and David French are joined by law professors Josh Chafetz, Aaron Nielson, Jennifer Mascott, and other special guests, to explain Humphrey's Executor and the executive power of removal. The Agenda: —Myers v. United States —Humphrey's Executor v. United States —Peekaboo —The “illimitable power of removal” —Was Madison right about “liquidation”? —Congressional accountability —Civil service reform —Justice Barrett Advisory Opinions is a production

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78:33

Can Trump Deport Hamas-Supporting Students?

Advisory Opinions ·

2025/03/11

Between President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting Perkins Coie and interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin sending letters to Georgetown Law, it has been quite the week for weaponized government. Sarah Isgur and David French dive into these two headliners, as well as a First Amendment debate involving green card holders.The Agenda: —More Sarah lore: Combative hula-hooping —Perkins Coie and President Trump's executive orders —FIRE's response to the Trump administration's threat to deport

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146 results

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