Advisory Opinions

The Dispatch
  • 4.8 (3.8K)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

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.

  1. 1D AGO

    The Conservative Warren Court of Today

    Harvard law professor Richard Re discusses the evolution of the Supreme Court from the Warren court to the present day, highlighting the historical context of the court's decisions, the role of swing justices, and the current dynamics of originalism and textualism in judicial interpretation.The Agenda:—What is the conservative Warren court?—Reversal in power dynamics—The swing justice era—The Roberts court has the lowest rate of overturning precedents—Common good constitutionalism reflects a generational pivot in legal thought—Textualism is now seen as the generally accepted mode of interpretation—Deference’s varied meaningsShow Notes:—Richard Re: To a Conservative Warren Court—Oral argument live blog for Tuesday, January 13—Justices Alito and Thomas dissent in the Parents Protecting Our Children case—Did Justice Kagan debilitate the administrative state?—Not Enough Respect for the Judiciary—Or Too Much?—Supreme Court Increasingly Favors the Rich, Economists Say—Does the Supreme Court Favor the Rich?—Has the Supreme Court Helped Save Democracy? 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

    1h 11m

  2. 5D AGO

    Supremacy Clause Immunity, Explained

    Sarah Isgur and David French return for a bonus episode on the Minneapolis ICE shooting and explain the concept of Supremacy Clause immunity. The Agenda:—Corrections from Thursday's episode—How to analyze police shootings—Federalism and the Supremacy Clause—Federal officer removal—Broader impacts of police violence—Bowe v. United States—Church autonomy and employment law 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

    1h 4m

  3. 6D AGO

    Prosecuting Foreign Leaders

    David French and Sarah Isgur discuss the legal arguments underpinning the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and dive into a legal challenge to mandatory diversity and inclusion training. The Agenda:—Can we and should we arrest foreign leaders?—Official acts and sovereignty—Military response vs. legal prosecution—How real is international law?—Legal argument for regime change—Trump v. United States—Compelled speech in mandatory training—Qualified immunity Show Notes:—Jack Goldsmith on Venezuela—Steve Vladeck on Venezuela—Trump v. Illinois—David Lat's top 10 stories of 2025 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

    57 min

  4. JAN 6

    The Legality of U.S. Operations in Venezuela

    David French is joined by David Lat to explore the legality of the Trump administration's arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and President Trump's recent loss at the Supreme Court over his mobilization of the National Guard. The Agenda:—Can we arrest foreign leaders?—Compliance with international law—The arrest of Manuel Antonio Noriega—Presidential authority and war powers—Trump v. Illinois—National Guard mobilization—The Court's relationship with Trump—Top legal stories of the year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min

  5. 12/25/2025

    Merry Christmas to the State Courts

    Sarah Isgur sits down for a live recording at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz, Texas Supreme Court Justice Evan A. Young, and District of Columbia Court of Appeals Judge Joshua Deahl to talk legal philosophy, the state of civil justice, and the challenges that appellate justices face in an ever-more-litigious United States. The Agenda:—Why state courts matter—Texas’ new Business Courts, explained—How judges are selected in Florida—Florida’s rulemaking power over civil procedure—Why D.C. doesn’t have a “Supreme Court”—Why state constitutions change so often—Are judges using AI?—Judicial elections and accountability 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

    1h 4m

  6. 12/23/2025

    The Right-Wing Shake-Up

    Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the resignation of Josh Blackman, former senior editor of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution, and the the entire Meese Center leaving with John Malcolm to join former Vice President Mike Pence's organization at Advancing American Freedom. The Agenda:—Heritage blows up—Thunder Basin factors and the latest interim docket order—Shadow Docket Sunlight Act—Need greater clarity on Church Autonomy doctrine—Are parodies of land acknowledgements free speech?—Listener questions and fruit of the poisonous tree doctrines Show Notes:—Smith v. Allwright—SCOTUSblog's Interim Docket Blog The Remnant 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 Jonah’s G-File newsletters—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

    1h 6m

  7. 12/18/2025

    Political Distortions

    Sarah Isgur and David French discuss striking jurors on race, Constitution deep cuts on the domestic violence clause and bill of attainder clause, and abortion distortion. The Agenda:—Transcript changes and the funniest Justice—Batson claims and cert grants—Trump v. Illinois and the domestic violence clause—Bill of attainder clause and abortion distortion—Ross Douthat's interesting interview over transgender rights—Aspiring lawyers: learn how to write! Show Notes:—Ninth Circuit Judge Bybee's statement supporting en banc review 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

    1 hr

  8. 12/16/2025

    Burkeanism and the Administrative State

    As an early Christmas present for David French, Sarah Isgur invites professors Will Baude and Julian Davis Mortenson on the podcast to answer all questions about originalism. But first, should an IQ test determine whether someone will be sentenced to death? The Agenda:—Listener emails—United States v. Ham—SCOTUS’ approach to executive power—Burkeanism and the administrative state—Debating the removal power—Judicial restraint and non-delegation doctrine Show Notes:—David French: We’re Trying to Find a Line the Supreme Court Won’t Cross 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

    1h 22m
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
3,835 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    The Dispatch
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    605
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 The Dispatch
  • Show Website
    Advisory Opinions

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