
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

Jan 21, 2022 • 39min
Supreme Gossip
This episode has a little bit of everything: orders, arguments, opinions, and SCOTUS gossip. Zack and GianCarlo discuss this week's noteworthy orders, including the Court's decision not to block the release of certain documents over which former president Trump claimed executive privilege. They also look at this week's oral arguments, GianCarlo explains this week's one opinion, and Zack interviews Sixth Circuit Judge John Nalbandian. On the gossip front, your hosts explain how NPR correspondent Nina Totenberg landed in hot water by reporting some anonymously sourced Supreme Court gossip that three justices said was false. With leaks (false or otherwise) on the docket, Zack grilled GianCarlo with trivia from other famous inside scoops about the Court.Follow us on Twitter @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 14, 2022 • 45min
The Vaccine Mandate Cases
The Court is back from its Winter recess, and so are your hosts. The Court heard arguments in six cases including the challenges to the OSHA and HHS vaccination mandates, and it issued opinions in those cases less than a week later. GianCarlo and Zack explain those opinions and give you the highlights from the Court's other arguments and orders this week. GianCarlo then interviews District Judge Sarah Pitlyk, and quizzes Zack with trivia about constitutional conundrums. Follow us on Twitter @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 17, 2021 • 47min
A Surprise Episode!
Last week your hosts said that you wouldn't hear from them until the new year, but the Supreme Court had different plans. The Justices handed down their decision in the Texas Heartbeat Bill case, declined to take up a Free Exercise challenge to New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and granted several new cases. Zack and GianCarlo unpack those decisions, and then GianCarlo interviews D.C. District Judge Trevor McFadden. Tune in to hear about his fascinating career in law enforcement from police officer, to prosecutor, to DOJ lawyer, to judge. Lastly, Zack quizzes GianCarlo with trivia about the earliest SCOTUS confirmations.Follow us on Twitter @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 10, 2021 • 50min
"Vincere Aut Mori"
In the last week before the Court's Christmas break, it heard oral arguments in several interesting cases concerning immigration courts, the fiduciary duties owed by retirement plans administrators, habeas corpus proceedings, and the big school choice case, Carson v. Makin. Your hosts discuss all of those cases, and Zack offers his predictions for Carson. Zack also interviews preeminent Supreme Court litigator Charles "Chuck" Cooper about his storied career. Finally, GianCarlo tests Zack's knowledge of the Supreme Court's use of scholarly articles in opinions. Follow us on Twitter @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 3, 2021 • 43min
Will SCOTUS Overrule Roe v. Wade?
Abortion is on the docket this week as the Court hears oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which asks the Court to overrule Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Dobbs filled this week's headlines, but the Court heard several other important cases too. Your hosts discuss them all, saving the oral arguments in Dobbs for after GianCarlo's interview of renowned legal theorist and political philosopher Robert P. George. Professor George explains the history of the Court's abortion jurisprudence, its relation to our American legal and philosophical tradition, and the implications of Dobbs. He also gives his prediction of how the case will turn out and what overruling Roe and Casey would mean for the future of the pro-life movement. After that, GianCarlo summarizes the Dobbs oral arguments, and Zack peppers him with trivia about the Court's abortion cases.Follow us on Twitter @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 12, 2021 • 35min
Singing at SCOTUS
This week at oral arguments, the Court heard cases about the scope of the state secrets privilege, whether a death-row inmate may have his spiritual advisor present at his execution, and the extent to which local governments can regulate billboards. Your hosts explain those cases, and then GianCarlo interviews Fourth Circuit Judge Allison Jones Rushing. Judge Rushing talks about singing in restaurants with Judge Sentelle, singing in the Supreme Court with Justice Scalia, fly fishing with Justice Gorsuch, becoming part of Justice Thomas's clerk family, and more. Last up, GianCarlo quizzes Zack with trivia about music at the Court.Follow us on Twitter @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 5, 2021 • 41min
Abortion, Guns, and Originalism
It was a big week for oral arguments with two about the Texas' abortion law, SB 8, and another about New York's firearm restrictions. GianCarlo explains the issues in the SB 8 cases and answers the pressing question of what, if anything, do they have to do with Dobbs. Zack unpacks the oral arguments in the Second Amendment case and covers other newsworthy items, like the confirmation of our new Solicitor General, Elizabeth Prelogar. Chief Judge Bill Pryor of the Eleventh Circuit joins us again to discuss his recent speech, "Politics and the Rule of Law." Last up, in honor of S.G. Prelogar's confirmation, Zack grills GianCarlo with Solicitor General trivia. Follow us on Twitter @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.

Oct 29, 2021 • 45min
Three Cheers for Thirty Years
There were no oral arguments this week, but there were a few noteworthy orders and a great milestone: Justice Clarence Thomas's 30th year on the bench! Zack discusses the orders, which include an expedited briefing and oral argument schedule in two challenges to the Texas abortion law. Your hosts also discuss the recent symposium hosted by The Heritage Foundation and The C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State celebrating Justice Thomas's life, legacy, and jurisprudence. You can find recordings of that event here. GianCarlo also interviews Fifth Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham, who talks about his unexpected journey to a career in the law, his studies at Cambridge, and his clerkships for two legendary judges. Lastly, GianCarlo quizzes Zack with Justice Thomas themed trivia!Follow us on Twitter @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.

Oct 15, 2021 • 38min
COVID & The Constitution
Two weeks into the term, the full Court is back on the bench and hearing oral arguments in their storied courtroom. Among the arguments this week was the death-penalty appeal of the Boston Marathon bomber. Your hosts discuss how in-person oral arguments are going, and some of the newly granted cases. Zack interviews George Mason professor Todd Zywicki and they talk about his career and his recent lawsuit against the university's vaccine mandate. Lastly, Zack grills GianCarlo with some very surprising SCOTUS trivia.Follow us on Twitter @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.

Oct 1, 2021 • 1h 2min
Previewing the New Term
A new SCOTUS term is right around the corner! Your hosts, GianCarlo and Zack, are primed and ready to follow along with you this year. But before it begins, they've got a preview of this term's biggest cases delivered by two legendary Supreme Court advocates: former Solicitors General Paul Clement and Noel Francisco. Zack interviewed both of them at a Heritage event, and your hosts replay that discussion here.Follow us on Twitter @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.