

Case in Point: The Legal Show on the Hottest Legal Cases in Politics and Culture
The Heritage Foundation
If the thought of a legal podcast makes you shy away and you’re tired of so-called “legal” experts talking in confusing legal jargon, you’ve come to the right place. The Heritage Foundation’s “Case in Point” talks about the hottest cases affecting politics, culture, and everyone’s daily lives in a way that lawyers and non-lawyers alike can understand.
Host Hans von Spakovsky may work in Washington, D.C., but he grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. He hasn’t lost touch with his roots and hasn’t been captured by the Beltway Insiders. He understands the heart and soul of America, the everyday fol
Host Hans von Spakovsky may work in Washington, D.C., but he grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. He hasn’t lost touch with his roots and hasn’t been captured by the Beltway Insiders. He understands the heart and soul of America, the everyday fol
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 5, 2021 • 37min
Justice Barrett Makes Her Majority Debut
This week the Court heard oral arguments in a voting rights case where Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich was both the petitioner and advocate. Zack unpacks that oral argument, and GianCarlo discusses the oral arguments in two other cases that involve challenges to patent and Social Security administrative law judges. This week also saw Justice Barrett issue her first majority opinion! GianCarlo interviews Eleventh Circuit Judge Britt Grant, and Zack quizzes GianCarlo with trivia about the justices' educational backgrounds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 26, 2021 • 46min
Back to Business
The Court is back from its working recess and so are Zack and GianCarlo. Zack kicks off the show discussing the Court's denial of two 2020 election lawsuits out of Pennsylvania. GianCarlo and Zack then discuss the three oral arguments of the week, and GianCarlo unpacks this week's one opinion, which involves the Federal Tort Claims Act's judgment bar. GianCarlo then interviews Ninth Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay. Last up, Zack proves he's got a mind for comedy as GianCarlo quizzes him about the funniest fun-facts about SCOTUS.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 5, 2021 • 41min
A Starr Joins the Show
For the first time in years, the Supreme Court issued surprise opinions during its February working recess. It issued an opinion in the Nazi art case and another in a case about railroads and retirement plans. Zack and GianCarlo discuss those as well as the newest case on the court's docket, which will decide whether a corporation can use the federal government's eminent domain power against a state government. Your hosts are joined this week by Judge Brantley Starr who discusses his journey to the bench and the influence his famous uncle had on his decision to become a lawyer. Lastly, Zack lobs some snowy-weather themed trivia at GianCarlo.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 29, 2021 • 39min
The VanDyke Show
Going into its three week "working recess," the Court was relatively quiet, issuing a few orders and one DIG. What's a DIG? GianCarlo explains that, while Zack explains Munsingwear vacatur. GianCarlo then interviews Ninth Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke who shares his unusual path to law school and reveals why GianCarlo has dubbed him the modern-day Serranus Hastings. Finally, Zack holds his own in trivia about SCOTUS nicknames!Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 22, 2021 • 31min
The Singing Judge
It was a quiet week at the court with no new grants or opinions, but we did have two interesting oral arguments. Zack and GianCarlo discuss those cases, and then GianCarlo interviews Fifth Circuit judge Jennifer Walker Elrod. She tells us about her career, her musical talent, and her continuing devotion to her undergraduate alma mater. Lastly, Zack throws some inauguration-themed trivia GianCarlo's way. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 15, 2021 • 41min
Bork, Sowell, and Maverick Walk into the Bar
We're back from the holiday break and so is SCOTUS! This week we discuss orders that the Court issued in a capital-punishment case and an abortion case. Zack and GianCarlo also discuss this week's oral arguments, which among other cases, involve a unique First Amendment issue with far-reaching implications. GianCarlo interviews Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who explains the link between Robert Bork, Thomas Sowell, and Top Gun's Maverick. Lastly, GianCarlo tries to trick Zack with trivia about where many Supreme Court justices came from.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 18, 2020 • 11min
Christmas at the Court
In this special holiday episode, Zack and GianCarlo prepare for the Court's Winter break with a review of the term so far and a preview of what's to come. Of course, no episode of SCOTUS 101 would be complete without trivia, so GianCarlo tests Zack's knowledge of the history of the Court's annual Christmas party.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 11, 2020 • 40min
The Scalia Trilogy
This week we have our first opinions in cases argued this term. Zack joins GianCarlo in discussing those cases and this week's oral arguments, which include two cases about art stolen by Nazis. Zack also updates us about the major election cases pending before the Court. GianCarlo interviews returning guests, Judge Jeffrey Sutton and Ed Whelan on their new book: The Essential Scalia: On the Constitution, the Courts, and the Rule of Law. Lastly, Zack quizzes GianCarlo with art-related trivia.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 4, 2020 • 50min
From Michigan with Style
This week Zack Smith is back, and he joins GianCarlo to discuss this week's oral arguments, which cover some touchy technology issues and whether the president can discount illegal aliens when it comes to determining the relevant population for each state's allotment of seats in the House of Representatives. GianCarlo also discusses the Court's midnight Thanksgiving order granting houses of worship a win against discriminatory COVID-19 restrictions. He also interviews Judge Raymond Kethledge who tells us about his career and shares his passion for writing. Last up, Zack is in the hot seat for technology-themed trivia!You can find Judge Kethledge's book here.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 26, 2020 • 32min
Religious Liberty v. COVID
This week the Court gave advocates a Thanksgiving break from oral arguments, but our favorite black-clad gang of nine gave us a few new cases. With Amy out this week, our colleague Zack Smith fills in to discuss those cases. GianCarlo interviews Professor Josh Blackman to discuss the status of religious-liberty challenges to COVID-19 restrictions, the confusion caused in the lower courts by the Chief's opinion in South Bay United Pentecostal Church, and what the Court is likely to do with the two new religious-liberty challenges now pending. Lastly, Zack tries to stump GianCarlo with Thanksgiving themed SCOTUS trivia.You can read Professor Blackman's two articles here and here.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.