Advisory Opinions

Latest Episodes:

The TED Talk Heard ‘Round the World May 12, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the Virginia State Supreme Court striking down the state’s new congressional maps, Neal Katyal’s TED talk that we don’t want to talk about, and David plays a fun constitutional “Would You Rather” game.

The Agenda:
–Virginia’s gerrymandering map is unlawful
–The left can’t get mad at the right when the right tried the independent state legislator argument
–What really won the trillion-dollar Supreme Court case
–Who is Harvey?
–Shout out to the coolest AP Government teacher ever?

Show Notes:
–Supremely Cringe: Neal Katyal And ‘TED-Gate’

Order Sarah’s book here.

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Congress Did Something! May 07, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Callais-a-palooza, where Sarah Isgur and David French discuss Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court decision that struck down Lousiana's congressional map and allows Louisiana to draw a new map that will likely favor Republicans. The two read Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson's dissent, discussed whether the decision violates the Purcell principle, and answer listeners' questions about the decision.

The Agenda:
—Sarah's dad is unconstitutional
—The 32-day question
—The three Honey Badgers
—Partisan gerrymandering on steroids
—“Kavanaugh stops” and Callais
—Listener questions!

Show Notes:
—David French on Race, Rights, Trump, and Faith
—The University of Michigan Doubled Down on D.E.I. What Went Wrong?

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.

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Justice Alito Stays Ruling on Abortion Pill by Mail May 05, 2026

Show notes

Justice Samuel Alito allows medical companies to continue administering the abortion pill Mifepristone after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered for it to be dispensed only in person. Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the role of standing in judicial review and abortion access after Donald Trump’s presidency.
The Agenda:
–Court issues temporary order allowing access to abortion pill by mail
–The 5th Circuit is the outlier court
–Overturning Roe V. Wade didn’t end abortion
–Can Trump end Temporary Protected Status Program for Haitians and Syrians?
–What if this was all racially motivated?
–Justices appear mixed on whether geofence warrant violated the Fourth Amendment
–Listener questions!
Show Notes:
–Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency
–Trump v. Hawaii
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.

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Gutting the Voting Rights Act | Interview: Judge Roy K. Altman Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the decision in a racially challenged redistricting map case, weird indictments, and whether Israel is guilty of genocide.

The Agenda:
–No one consulted the chief justice on flyovers
–Reverse and Remand on First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Davenport
–Living in a post-Dobbs world
–Supreme Court strikes down redistricting map challenged as racially discriminatory
–James Comey has been indicted, again
–Indictments on Southern Poverty Law Center’s paid informants
–Israel on trial
–Why jury trials are amazing

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.

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Arguing In Front of SCOTUS | Interview: Lisa Blatt Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

The inimitable Lisa Blatt joins Sarah Isgur and David French to discuss the two business docket cases named Cox and Chevron, a message to the judges and justices who like concurrences, and advice for aspiring lawyers.

The Agenda:
–We are launching a newsletter!
–The 5th Circuit’s Ten Commandment Ruling
–Ditch the coercion test
–How to become Lisa Blatt
–Does the internet always win?
–Peak sexiness, federal removal
–Kudos to the government on its birthright citizenship oral argument
–Shut down forum shopping
–Hypothetical: A daughter from a conservative Muslim family leaves the house every morning wearing a hijab …

Show Notes:
–Stone v. Graham
–Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment
–Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (24-813)

Order Sarah’s bookhere.

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Overturning Religious Precedent Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Will the Supreme Court overturn religious precedent in the case of a Catholic preschool challenging its exclusion from a Colorado “universal preschool” program? Should the Supreme Court care about its own popularirty? And, is Ted Cruz a great option as for Supreme Court justice? Sarah Isgur and David French answer these questions and more, live at the University of Denver.
Also: We are launching a SCOTUSblog newsletter on April 28!
The Agenda:
–‘Universal’ pre-K causes court to re-re-reconsider major religious precedent
–This already happened
–Public Opinion, Credible Threats, and the Fezzik Principle
–Watch The Princess Bride
–Justice Ted Cruz?
–The Shadow Docket reporting by the New York Times
–Questions from the audience

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.

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The Chief Justice Didn’t Hate President Obama | Interview: Gov. Kevin Stitt Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French push back against the New York Times ⁠reporting⁠ on the birth of the shadow docket, discuss Justice Sotomayor’s apology after criticizing him in personal terms during a speech at the University of Kansas School of Law, and interview Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt about ⁠McGirt v. Oklahoma⁠.

The Agenda:
–The birth of the shadow docket
–Who leaked Dobbs?
–Justice Sotomayor apologizes to Justice Kavanaugh
–Justice Kagan’s screaming tantrum
–Justice Thomas’s talk on the Declaration of Independence
–We are the McGirt podcast

Order Sarah’s book here.

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There Is No Historic Defeat for Civil Rights Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur, on a whirlwind booktour, takes a break to deliver the legal goods with David French. The two discuss a Washington Post piece on civil rights data during the Trump era, Chiles v. Salazar, and free speech and AI liability in child porn.

The Agenda:
–Sarah on The View
–David’s beef with WaPo piece on civil rights data
–AI liability
–Book restrictions in Iowa
–Iowa law prevents schools from providing instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation
– Religious challenge to vaccine mandates
–Contract cases and undue influence

Show Notes:
–Federal appeals court upholds West Virginia school vaccine law
–Chiles v. Salazar (conversion therapy)

Order Sarah’s book here,

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Sotomayor vs. Kavanaugh? Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French revisit Stephen Colbert’s favorite case, take a look at a rare biting word about Justice Brett Kavanaugh from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and dive into a circuit court extravaganza.

–Sarah is on a book tour!
–Sotomayor vs. Kavanaugh
–Citizens United is not controversial
–Is there a judicial pipeline?
–The seals are ugly
–Circuit Court Extravaganza: Bathtub gin, pronouns, and sparkling sports gambling

Show Notes:
–The case establishing corporate personhood
–Home distilling ban struck down after 158 years
–Seals of the Circuit Courts (and then some!)
–Short Circuit’s newsletter this week

Order Sarah’s book here.

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Trump’s ‘War Crimes’ Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss President Donald Trump’s rhetoric over Iran, what constitutes a war crime, and what happens if a military officer fails to obey an order or regulation.

The Agenda:
–John Mulaney gives SCOTUSblog a shoutout
–Threatening war crimes
–Will President Donald Trump ever see the Hague
–Judge Scalia rolling over in his grave
–Article 92 and disobeying orders
–David answers questions

Order Sarah’s book here.

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