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Advisory Opinions

The Dispatch
Advisory Opinions
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642 episodes

  • Advisory Opinions

    Let’s Sue the Government

    05/19/2026 | 1h 2 mins.
    Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the IRS lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump, SCOTUS’s mifepristone decision, and a unanimous verdict from the justices that no one except Sarah cares about. 

    The Agenda:

    –The 1,776 slush fund

    –David’s ‘back in the day’ lawsuit against the Obama administration

    –The Bivens brick wall

    –Trump loses on the law but wins in the politics

    –Ballroom and baby steps

    –Is Trump the Chosen One?

    –Brief explainer on the Comstock Act

    –Court rules freight brokers can face negligent hiring suits under state law

    Show Notes:

    –Federal Defender Newsletter

    –Jordan v. Darrisaw

    Advisory Opinions is a production of SCOTUSblog and The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. Click here to sign up for our new Advisory Opinions newsletter, and click here to access all of The Dispatch’s offerings, including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters. 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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  • Advisory Opinions

    SCOTUS Clears Way for Alabama to Use Congressional Map

    05/14/2026 | 57 mins.
    Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the emergency docket ruling from SCOTUS on Alabama’s congressional maps, which broke down over three-justice ideological lines, Virginia’s filing (yes, they did file) at the Supreme Court, and a very special 2-1 9th Circuit panel opinion. 

    The Agenda:

    –Remember Allen v. Milligan?

    –Central, urban bonkerstown

    –14th Amendment Equal Protection argument vs. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act

    –Virginia files gerrymandering case at SCOTUS

    –Biogradable cooler dispute, are you Team Gorsuch or Team Kavanaugh?

    –Why 5-4?

    –Would You Rather: Due Process Clause or Equal Protection Clause?

    Show Notes:

    –Remarks by Sen. A. Shane Massey on the Sine Die Resolution and Congressional Redistricting

    Advisory Opinions is a production of SCOTUSblog and The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. Click here to sign up for our new Advisory Opinions newsletter, and click here to access all of The Dispatch’s offerings, including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters. 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
  • Advisory Opinions

    The TED Talk Heard ‘Round the World

    05/12/2026 | 1h 7 mins.
    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.

    Advisory Opinions is a production of SCOTUSblog and The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. Click here to sign up for our new Advisory Opinions newsletter, and click here to access all of The Dispatch’s offerings, including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters. 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
  • Advisory Opinions

    Congress Did Something!

    05/07/2026 | 58 mins.
    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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
  • Advisory Opinions

    Justice Alito Stays Ruling on Abortion Pill by Mail

    05/05/2026 | 1h 18 mins.
    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. HawaiiOrder 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
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About 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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