

5-4
Prologue Projects
5-4 is a podcast about how much the Supreme Court sucks. Hosted by Peter Shamshiri, Rhiannon Hamam, and Michael Liroff, it's a progressive and occasionally profane take on the ideological battles at the heart of the Court's most important landmark cases and an irreverent tour of all the ways in which the law is shaped by politics.Subscribe to our premium episodes & much more at fivefourpod.com/support5-4 is a production of Prologue Projects.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 7, 2021 • 40min
Town of Greece v. Galloway
Let us now bow our heads in observance of this episode about why the Supreme Court thinks it's OK for a government to have prayer before public meetings, but NOT OK for the town to manage who gives that prayer or what they pray about. Amen.Follow Peter (@The_Law_Boy), Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) and Michael (@_FleerUltra) on Twitter.Learn more about how you can help get the Judiciary Act passed at https://demandjustice.org/podcast.If you're not a Patreon member, you're not hearing every episode! To get exclusive Patreon-only episodes, discounts on merch, access to our Slack community, and more, join at patreon.com/fivefourpod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Nov 23, 2021 • 5min
The Failed Nomination of Robert Bork [TEASER]
Robert Bork, a Regan nominee to the Supreme Court, showed the depth of his reactionary views during his confirmation hearings, and as a result, was voted down. That kicked off three decades of conservative whining and moaning and retribution, which continues to haunt us today. This is why we drink.The full version of this premium episode is available exclusively to our Patreon supporters. To join, visit www.patreon.com/fivefourpod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Nov 16, 2021 • 43min
Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency
What's the return on investment on not having an asthma attack? If you can't count it, it doesn't count, according to the majority in this 5-4 ruling, which turned back EPA rules on mercury emissions from power plants. As a result, the power industry won't be burdened by those costly regulations, so you can breathe easy. LOL.Follow Peter (@The_Law_Boy), Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) and Michael (@_FleerUltra) on Twitter.Learn more about how you can help get the Judiciary Act passed at https://demandjustice.org/podcast.If you're not a Patreon member, you're not hearing every episode! To get exclusive Patreon-only episodes, discounts on merch, access to our Slack community, and more, join at patreon.com/fivefourpod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Nov 9, 2021 • 49min
"This Is A Captured Institution" - An Interview with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joins us to talk dark money, judicial nominations, and whether the Democrats have any hope of getting things done without filibuster reform.Follow Peter (@The_Law_Boy), Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) and Michael (@_FleerUltra) on Twitter.ERRATUM: At 17:10 Senator Whitehouse refers to a study of 78 Roberts court era decisions. He incorrectly states that 72 of the cases advance Republican and/or corporate interests. The number is 73 cases, or 92 percent.FURTHER READING:"A Conservative Activist's Behind-the-Scenes Campaign to Remake the Nation's Courts" - Washington Post"Inside the Koch-Backed Effort to Block the Largest Election-Reform Bill in Half a Century" - The New Yorker"One unnamed donor gave $17 million to the Leo-affiliated Judicial Crisis Network to block the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland and to support Gorsuch; then a donor — perhaps the same one — gave another $17 million to prop up Kavanaugh."Learn more about how you can help get the Judiciary Act passed at https://demandjustice.org/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Nov 2, 2021 • 51min
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld
A foreign "prisoner of war" can communicate with their family. An American "traitor" can argue their case in court. An American "enemy combatant" can do neither, according to the Supreme Court, creating a third category of prisoner with very few legal rights. America immediately post-9/11 was very chill and normal.Follow Peter (@The_Law_Boy), Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) and Michael (@_FleerUltra) on Twitter.Learn more about Expand the Court Lobby Day at https://demandjustice.org/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Oct 26, 2021 • 43min
Younger v. Harris
Oof, this is a tough one: Protect the Constitutional rights of actual people, or clutch the vague concept of "federalism" in my grubby little hands like Gollum with that ring. TBH probably gonna go with my precious. Follow Peter (@The_Law_Boy), Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) and Michael (@_FleerUltra) on Twitter.Learn more about Expand the Court Lobby Day at https://demandjustice.org/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Oct 19, 2021 • 5min
The Justices Are Getting Defensive [TEASER]
When a Supreme Court Justice tells you he's totally legitimate and not part of a secret cabal 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩.The full version of this premium episode is available exclusively to our Patreon supporters. To join, visit www.patreon.com/fivefourpod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Oct 12, 2021 • 58min
2021-2022 Supreme Court Term Preview
The 2022 Supreme Court term is shaping up to be pretty gnarly. We brought on The Nation's justice correspondent, Elie Mystal, to walk us through the cases he's watching.Patreon subscribers get ad-free case episodes, premium episodes, invitations to exclusive events, merch discounts, and more. Jealous? Join at patreon.com/fivefourpod.Follow Elie on Twitter @elieNYC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Oct 5, 2021 • 55min
Nieves v. Bartlett
This case originates out of an incident at opposite Burning Man, a ski race in Alaska called Arctic Man. The ruling is about opposite free speech, wherein the justices vote to protect cops' First Amendment right to accidentally say the quiet part out loud when they're doing a retaliatory arrest. Patreon subscribers get ad-free case episodes, premium episodes, invitations to exclusive events, merch discounts, and more. Jealous? Join at patreon.com/fivefourpod.Follow Peter (@The_Law_Boy), Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon), and Michael (@_FleerUltra) on Twitter.Learn more about Expand the Court Lobby Day here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/lobby-day-2/?source=djo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Sep 21, 2021 • 46min
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl
A treaty or law not honored by the United States? It's more likely than you think! In a rare child custody case, the Supreme Court rules on the Indian Child Welfare Act, and finds that when you squint your eyes and look at the law kinda sideways in the dark, Congress must not have meant for the law to actually keep Native families together. Land back.Listen to This Land with Rebecca Nagle, so that Rachel can get that $50. And for more about Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, check out this episode of More Perfect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands