Advisory Opinions

By The Dispatch

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.... more

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The podcast currently has 673 episodes available.

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The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Let’s Pretend We’re Justices | Interview: Chris Scalia
David French and Sarah Isgur steelman Justice John Paul Stevens and Justice Stephen Breyers’s dissents in the Heller case through a one-act play produced by ChatGPT. The two also invite Chris Scalia to play the majority opinion writer (and his late father) Justice Antonin Scalia. The Agenda: –One act, three justices –What AI got right and wrong –Justice Breyer, fully vindicated –Shul is Yiddish and Friends of the Earth is SCOTUS precedent Show Notes: –Originalism and Stare Decisis 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
August 20, 20261h 8min
Number 2: Trump’s Ballroom Blitz
Sarah Isgur and David French return, but with a little bit of a switcheroo as David takes the host’s chair. They discuss President Donald Trump’s appeal to the Supreme Court on the construction of a White House ballroom, a religious liberty case about permits and prayer services, and a bit of reality TV litigation. The Agenda: –We can all laugh about this one day –Pierre Charles L’Enfant for some reason? –President Trump’s ballroom appeal –Grand v. City of University Heights –This is not a populist podcast –The trashy stuff Show Notes: –Hulk Hogan v. Gawker –Marquette Law School Poll finds national approval of the Supreme Court at 47 percent; it’s been below 50 percent since November 2025 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
August 18, 20261h 11min
Number 3: How to Fix Congress | Interview: Rep. Jake Auchincloss
Sarah Isgur and David French invite real life Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts to discuss how to reform Congress, explain multi-member districting, and wtalk about hether the Supreme Court needs more justices. But first, forging Justice John Robert’s signature and fake arresting teenagers. The Agenda: –Bad criming –Even if a judge is in judges robes, they’re not always a judge –All the headlines are wrong (except ours) –Who wrote the Per Curiam? –Reforms to the Supreme Court –Are your kids violent? 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
August 27, 20261h 8min
Number 4: Civility vs. Collegiality | Interview: Judges Tom Griffith and David Tatel
Sarah Isgur and David French invite former D.C. Circuit judges Tom Griffith and David Tatel to discuss relationships, judicial independence, and what it means to be a “former” judge. But first, bar complaints and the White House ballroom injunction. The Agenda: –⁠The worst of the worst, District Judge edition⁠ –Someone file a bar complaint! –⁠We’re the least surprised when the White House injunction came down⁠ –Disagreeing respectfully –What’s next for judges after they retire? –Breaking news 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
August 25, 20261h 17min
Number 5: SCOTUS’s October Preview
David Lat takes over the host’s chair and is joined by Zachary Shemtob, executive editor of SCOTUSblog, and Amy Howe, co-founder of SCOTUSblog, to discuss Justice Samuel Alito’s retirement plans (not yet), President Donald Trump’s new executive order targeting birthright citizenship, and hot cases in the upcoming October term. The Agenda: –Sarah Isgur’s rebuttal –Justice Alito’s back! (He never left) –Ending birth tourism –Overcooking the Federal Reserve firing –Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder –Previewing SCOTUS’s October term –Ballroom blitz –No drag hamburgers for these kids! Show Notes: –Birthright Citizenship, Redux 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. –Trump signs new birthright citizenship order, ballroom dispute likely headed to Supreme Court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 11, 20261h 16min