Dahlia Lithwick talks to First Amendment law professor Mary Anne Franks to explore the inversion of free speech in America this past week, and to trace the ways our assumptions about the First Amendment helped to tip us into this upside-down. Dr. Franks, author of Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment, explains the contradictions inherent i ... Show More
Sep 13
Dear Justice Kavanaugh, “I’m American, Bro”
In this week’s episode of Amicus, we delve into the recent Supreme Court shadow docket order in Noem v. Vasquez-Perdomo, which in essence legalized racial profiling by roving ICE patrols, and in practice may have ushered in America’s “show your papers” era for Americans with brow ... Show More
51m 28s
Dec 2024
The Supreme Court Takes On Transgender Care for Minors
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard a major case on the rights of transgender children that could help uphold or dismantle dozens of laws across the country.Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court for The Times, explains how the questioning played out and how the justices are ... Show More
35m 16s
Nov 2024
Why Abortion Rights Won Even as Kamala Harris Lost
Last Tuesday, voters across the country approved measures to protect abortion rights, while rejecting the presidential candidate who claimed to champion those same rights.Kate Zernike, who covers the issue for The Times, explains that gap and what it tells us about the new politi ... Show More
25m 25s
Apr 2025
Children’s Books Go Before the Supreme Court
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard a case that could hand parents with religious objections a lot more control over what their kids learn in the classroom.Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court, explains how a case about children’s picture books with titles like “Pride Puppy” ... Show More
34m 10s
Dec 2023
The Supreme Court Is About to Have a Very Big Year
During its last two terms, the US Supreme Court and its six-member Republican-appointed supermajority showed its power to shape important policy issues that affect all Americans, bringing down significant and highly controversial rulings on abortion, student loan forgiveness and ... Show More
27m 9s
Jun 2025
Supreme Court Hands Trump Even More Power
In a major ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court limited the ability of judges to block President Trump’s policies nationwide, including his order to end birthright citizenship.Mr. Trump immediately cheered the ruling, while critics have decried it as a fundamental threat to the ru ... Show More
25m 52s
Aug 18
The Dubious Legality of Trump's DC Takeover
Kate and Leah recap the week's legal news, including argument calendars for the next SCOTUS term and President Trump's attempted federal takeover of Washington, DC. Then, it's our third annual State of The Uterus episode. Melissa and Leah talk with Alexis McGill Johnson, presiden ... Show More
1h 51m