Strict Scrutiny is a top-rated podcast that talks about the US courts and the legal issues that shape American life.

It focuses on the latest developments in the dynamic field, particularly the U.S. Supreme Court and its fascinating legal community.

The name of this podcast derives from the legal concept of “strict scrutiny,” which is explicitly used by the Supreme Court to evaluate laws that may violate fundamental rights or discriminate against certain population groups.

After its debut in 2019 by Crooked Media, the podcast quickly moved from stability to solidity.

Also, the knowledgeable hosts bring their unique perspectives to the podcast, drawing on their experiences as lawyers, law professors, and advocates for social justice. 

Thousands of listeners tune in every week to listen to the show across Apple Podcast, Youtube, Spotify, and Stitcher.

The Creators Behind the Podcast

The Podcast was initiated in January 2019 and was developed by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor, all former top Barack Obama staffers and former co-hosts of the Keepin’ it 1600 podcast. 

It is hosted by three progressive women who are all connoisseurs in the legal field: Leah Litman, Melissa Murray, and Kate.A.Shaw.

Litman is an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, Murray is a professor of law at the New York University School of Law, and Shaw is a Professor of Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Each week, Leah, Kate, and Melissa break down the latest headlines and biggest legal questions facing the country, emphasizing what it all means for citizens and their day-to-day lives.

Themes and Topics Covered 

Strict Scrutiny podcast offers a distinct combination of both serious and relaxed content, making it appealing to a diverse audience. 

In episode 65, released on September 12th, 2022, Kate, Leah, and Melissa convene a panel that the fight for progressive causes has to include state courts and state constitutions. 

This is to get the lay of the land and identify the challenges ahead. 

The episode welcomes four guests: Miriam Seifter of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jessica Bulman-Pozen of Columbia Law School, Daniel Nichanian of Bolts, and Alicia Bannon of the Brennan Center.

An extensive interview with them makes the one-hour program very interesting and informative.

In Christmas is democracy episode 12, released on December 19th, 2022 the podcast hosts talked about the Supreme Court hearings on December 7th in the Moore v. Harper case. 

The case is about a fringe legal theory that says that when it comes to regulating elections, state legislatures can do anything they want– even violate the state constitution– and state courts can’t intervene to stop them. (source)

In episode 2, released on October 10, 2022, Melissa, Kate, and Leah discuss the arguments heard by the Supreme Court in two important cases, Sackett v. EPA and Merrill v. Milligan

The first case questions the authority of the EPA to regulate wetlands; the second case questions whether or not Congress can provide representation and political power to voters of color.

For further illumination on legal matters, the episode welcomes Sam Sankar of Earthjustice and Ross Deuel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

The choice of topics, direct interviews with notable, extraordinary civilians and celebrities, and a method of discussion that gets its point across and remains playful are the main reasons fans keep flocking to the podcast.

Reach of Strict Scrutiny Podcast

Strict Scrutiny Podcast by Crooked Media has 416k Subscribers on YouTube and 297k followers on Instagram.

Crooked Media’s YouTube page is titled “Pod Save America” about the publisher’s other popular right-wing podcast.

On YouTube, where view statistics are readily available, the average episode receives between 100k to 300k+ views per episode.

The Twitter handle for the talk show has more than 35.5k followers. 

The program ranks #1 for the “Government” podcasts in the United States of America. It ranks in the first tens in several other countries, including the Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. (source) 

In January 2023, strict scrutiny was nominated for an Ambie Award in the category “Best Politics or Opinion Podcast”.

Based on the analysis, we estimate that the podcast receives 500k listeners each time an episode goes out across podcasts Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Stitcher, and other podcast networks.

The Format of the Podcast

The Strict Scrutiny podcast is very entertaining, making it an exciting and insightful talk show.

The three commentators generally begin with an introduction to the episode’s subject and then address the legal issues and recent Supreme Court decisions on the subject.

They use real-life examples and cases to illustrate their arguments and are good at explaining complex legal concepts in an easy-to-understand way.

The presenters don’t take themselves too seriously – they often joke and make light-hearted comments, which keeps the content exciting.

Legal scholars, lawyers, and journalists are also frequent guests on the program, which adds depth to the discussion and allows for exploring different perspectives.

Strictly Scrutiny offers a good blend of serious legal research and relaxing, interactive, and accessible content, making it a great listening experience for anyone interested in the Supreme Court and legal issues.

Reception and Impact

The Strict Scrutiny podcast has a substantial number of listeners who love what the hosts have to say each week.

Viewers love the simplicity with which the presenters discuss the complex legal procedures.

They get an insight into the workings of the Apex Court leaving them more informed about their rights and duties.

Check out the comment below:

Super informative even for a layman

While there are quite a few words and some topics that pass over my head, I’m learning a lot by listening to this very smart, informative, and insightful podcast. I understand the judicial and legal system better and enjoy the hosts as they have fun while teaching. 

I imagine they’ve always been the smartest people in the room but they’re able to relate to law students and the general public and they have fun with each other. Thank you! (source)

Although many viewers share the above opinion, some criticize the show for being scripted and hyped up just to create drama and attract crowds.

Check out the comment below:

This podcast sounds good in the beginning, but then one of the hosts keeps pushing words and narrative into people’s words making them sound evil. This is very insulting, just like fox or CNN, they want to capitalize on the current political situation and dramatize it rather than having a factual account of the situation. – adamIIT (source)

Conclusion

From analyzing Supreme Court decisions to examining the impact of state constitutions on progressive causes, Leah, Kate, and Melissa guide listeners through complex legal issues with ease and humor.

Thousands of listeners tune in each week to the Strict Scrutiny Podcast!

The talk show is a great listen if you’re a legal expert or simply curious about the inner workings of the American justice system. 

Listen to it yourself via the link below:

•Apple Podcast 

•Stitcher

•Spotify

•YouTube 

For reviews on more legal talk shows like the Megyn Kelly Podcast, check out our guides here.