
Case in Point: The Legal Show on the Hottest Legal Cases in Politics and Culture
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
Latest episodes

Oct 31, 2024 • 38min
#004: Unlocking the ABCs: The Power of Agencies, Ballots, and Colleges in Today's World
Will Trachman, General Counsel at the Mountain States Legal Foundation and expert in election law, dives into crucial topics surrounding citizens' rights in ballot initiatives and free speech. He discusses a Supreme Court case focused on citizen petition requirements, revealing the complexities of election law. Their conversation moves to the challenges of DEI initiatives in education and the essential role of parental advocacy in shaping policies. Personal anecdotes add humor, showcasing the quirks of the legal world.

Oct 24, 2024 • 38min
#003: Parents on Offense
On this week's episode of Case in Point, host Sarah Parshall Perry is joined by Caroline Moore, Vice President of Parents Defending Education (PDE). They discuss PDE's "indoctrination map," an epidemic of school gender secrecy policies, the power of an active parent, and more.

Oct 17, 2024 • 30min
#002: What’s Sex Got to Do with It? (Everything)
In this engaging conversation, Kim Hermann, Executive Director of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, discusses her advocacy for sex-based protections in education. She tackles critical issues like Title IX implications and the redefinition of sex in discrimination laws. Kim sheds light on high-profile legal battles involving student rights, parental control, and the potential impacts of upcoming Supreme Court decisions. With insights into the clash between gender identity policies and women's rights, her passion for equity in educational spaces shines through.

Oct 11, 2024 • 1h 3min
#001: On Your Mark, Supreme Court Term BEGINS
Join legal experts Zack Smith, former SCOTUS 101 host, David Thompson, managing partner at Cooper & Kirk, and Aaron Hawley, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, as they dissect hot-button Supreme Court cases. They dive into the controversial debates surrounding puberty blockers for children, the legal intricacies of ghost guns, and emerging age verification laws. The conversation also covers implications of marijuana legislation, and the evolving dynamics of the Supreme Court, making for a thought-provoking discussion on pivotal legal issues.

Oct 3, 2024 • 6min
Goodbye SCOTUS 101, hello Case In Point!
On this episode of SCOTUS 101, Zack Smith and Giancarlo Canaparo welcome fellow Heritage Senior Legal Fellow Sarah Parshall Perry who introduces a brand-new legal podcast platform, Case In Point. The lawyers catch each other up on some goings-on in their careers, have a good laugh about the suitability (or lack thereof) of some hosts’ faces for video podcasts, and Zack and Giancarlo hand the reins to Sarah for an introduction of Case in Point, where she identifies some of the most controversial cases headed to court this year: Gender “affirming” medicine, women’s sports, porn (yes, porn), and more. Bon Voyage, SCOTUS 101, Bienvenue, Case in Point!

Jul 1, 2024 • 28min
The Case is Submitted
The term is over, and what an ending it was! Presidents are entitled to broad immunity for official acts, Chevron deference is no more, the Seventh Amendment applies against the administrative state, nobody gets to sue over social media censorship, and the 8th Amendment does not prohibit anti-camping laws. These are the holdings of just a few of the blockbuster cases released in the last few days of this term. After your hosts discuss those cases, GianCarlo gets one last chance to stump Zack in trivia, and then they follow the Court into the summer recess. Over the summer, your hosts arrange interviews with judges, lawyers, and experts, so please let them know if there are any people you'd like them to interview or legal issues you'd like them to cover in depth next term. Follow us on X @scotus101 and @tzsmith. And please 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.

Jun 22, 2024 • 46min
Guns, Drugs, and Taxes
It's almost the end of the term and the Court is now giving us some of the term's biggest cases. Bump stocks, abortion drugs, and taxes on unrealized gains are the just a few of the hot cases this week. After your hosts explore those cases, Zack interviews Judge Kathryn Mizelle of the Middle District of Florida about her meteoric rise to the bench and her many clerkships. Tune in next week for what is likely to be the final week of the term!Follow us on X @scotus101 and @tzsmith. And please 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.

May 31, 2024 • 37min
Lawfare Before the Bar
The end of the terms is a month away, and the opinions are coming fast. This week, your hosts discuss the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau case, a racial redistricting case, and the National Rifle Association's free-speech victory. After that, Zack interviews John Eastman about the lawfare used against him and other lawyers who have represented former President Donald Trump. Last up, inspired by the New York Times' latest conniption fit over flags, GianCarlo quizzes Zack about flags at the Court. Follow us on X @scotus101 and @tzsmith. And please 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.

Apr 26, 2024 • 47min
Tent Cities, Immunity, and Natural Law
It's the end of oral arguments, and this week the Court heard two big ones. Your hosts discuss Grants Pass, where the Court will decide whether it's "cruel and unusual punishment" to enforce anti-camping laws, and they discuss the Trump immunity case, which has big implications not only for the presidential election but for the office of the presidency forever. After that, Zack interviews legendary legal philosopher Hadley Arkes about his latest book, Mere Natural Law, and then Zack shows off his criminal-law expertise in 8th Amendment trivia.Follow us on X @scotus101 and @tzsmith. And please 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.

Apr 19, 2024 • 48min
Aristotle's Ethics and Harlan's Great Dissent
This week the Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging a January 6th prosecution, had a spirited debate about nationwide injunctions, and issued major opinions on property rights and employment discrimination. Your hosts discuss all those developments, and then GianCarlo interviews Professor Andre Archie about his fascinating new book The Virtue of Color-Blindness, which defends color-blindness with the ideas of the great Greek philosophers. Lastly, Zack quizzes GianCarlo about veterans litigating in the Court.You can find GianCarlo's review of Archie's book here, and you can find his analysis of the Muldrow decision here.Follow us on X @scotus101 and @tzsmith. And please 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.