Advisory Opinions

Latest Episodes:

You’re Fired, Pam Bondi Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Pam Bondi is no longer attorney general, Steve Bannon’s case is sent back to lower courts, and the Chiles decision on conversion therapy becomes nonpartisan.
The Agenda:
—Pam Bondi’s disastrous tenure
—Three Year Letterman shoutout
—SCOTUS kicks Steve Bannon’s case
—Chiles v. Salazar
—Law of War on President Donald Trump’s Easter tweet
—No more exclamation points in judicial opinions!!!

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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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Birthright Citizenship Oral Arguments Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur is joined by David French, Amanda Tyler, Akhil Amar, and SCOTUSblog’s Amy Howe to react to the oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara, Donald Trump’s challenge to birthright citizenship.
Watch the livestream here.

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In Mourning for the DOJ | Interview: Chris Christie Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joins Sarah Isgur and David French to discuss his explicit argument with the former FBI Director Robert Mueller, remember a Christmas carol session with former Attorney General John Ashcroft, and weigh in on whether or not you should go to law school.

The Agenda:
–Birthright Citizenship: Preview
–Welcome back, Gov. Christie!
–Contempt of Court, Rule 11 Sanctions, and Disbarment
–Going Full Monty on the Robert Mueller story
–The state of the Justice Department
–You should go to law school

Show Notes:
–John Ashcroft’s performance

Order Sarah’s book here.

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Mail-In Ballot Deadlines Challenged in Court Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French discuss two Supreme Court oral arguments: one on Mississippi accepting ballots five days after Election Day, one on turning away asylum seekers before they reach the border.

The Agenda:
–Watson v. Republican National Committee (election law)
–The incentives won’t change when people vote
–Sarah’s least favorite oral argument
–Zorn v. Linton

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You Can’t Preach Jesus Here | Interview: Judge Rebecca Taibleson Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

Judge Rebecca Taibleson of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals joins Sarah Isgur and David French for a conversation about her path to the federal bench. But first, the Supreme Court's unanimous Olivier v. City of Brandon decision on free speech zones, the viral Afroman jury verdict, and the Pentagon Press policy ruling.
The Agenda:
–Olivier v. City of Brandon, Mississippi
–Afroman and the Streisand Effect
–U.S. judge rules against Pentagon press restrictions
–Cauliflower and Mark Twain
–Interview with Judge Rebecca Taibleson
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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Temporary Protected Status for Immigrants End? Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

Live at the University of Pennsylvania's Carey Law School, Sarah and David are joined by Third Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas to break down the Supreme Court's temporary protected status cases. They also debate whether a federal "defender general" would level the playing field and play a round of Marvel "What if?" with landmark Supreme Court moments.

Order Sarah’s book here.

The Agenda:
–We await Gov. Chris Christie's return
–TPS Cases: Cert Before Judgment for Haiti and Syria Nationals
–Defender General: A New Office for Federal Public Defenders
–Black Robe Syndrome
–What If? Supreme Court alternative universes

Show Notes:
–"The Defender General" by Daniel Epps and William Ortman

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Judge Gets Vulgar in Transgender Spa Case Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French dive into two Ninth Circuit opinions: one involving an anti-discrimination law in Washington, another related to a first-grade girl being punished for giving her classmate a drawing inspired by what her teacher read in class.

The Agenda:
–Is the Fifth Circuit still the most conservative court?
–Judge VanDyke’s swinging opinion
–What is this case even about?
–Adrian Vermeule weighs in
–Don’t sic a kid’s drawing
–First-graders have free speech rights

Order Sarah’s book here.

Show Notes:
–The Postmodern Jurisprudence of Lawrence VanDyke

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Supreme Court Justices Spar Publicly Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

David French and Sarah Isgur break down new polling showing historic lows in trust for the Supreme Court, debate whether a public disagreement between Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson helps or hurts the institution, and dive into oral arguments on property seizures and witness testimony rights.

Show Notes
–Hometown Program last call
–Supreme Court polling and public trust
–Justices Jackson and Kavanaugh clash
–Trump vs. Supreme Court
–Takings Case: property seizure over $2,000 debt
–Appellate moments: Lisa Blatt and more

Order Sarah’s book here.

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What Are the Liberties Not in the Constitution? Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the SCOTUSblog/Advisory Opinions Extended Universe, featuring hosts from "Amarica's Constitution" (Akhil Amar and Andy Lipka) and "Divided Argument" (Will Baude and Dan Epps).

On today's episode, the group discusses substantive due process in the context of Mirabelli v. Bonta, a California law that prevented teachers from sharing information with parents about their children's gender transitions at school.

The Agenda:
–Mirabelli v. Bonta
–What is Substantive Due Process?
–Conservative Legal Movement & Substantive Due Process
–Reconciling Dobbs, Retti, and Mirabelli
–The Emergency/Interim Docket Debate

Show Notes:
–The emergency docket’s critics have it backwards

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Can Marijuana Users Be Barred from Owning Guns? Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French break down United States v. Hemani, a Second Amendment case involving an alleged user of a controlled substance in possession of a gun. They then discuss two interim docket decisions, one on elections and congressional districts, and one on parental rights and substantive due process.
The Agenda:
–Guns and drug use
–Downtown Bonkers Town
–Interim Docket: California Parental Rights
–New York Redistricting Emergency Stay
–War powers resolution debate
Show Notes:
–United States v. Hemani, Animated Explainer | SCOTUSblog + Briefly

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