Strict Scrutiny

SCOTUS may be between argument sessions, but the legal news isn’t slowing down.

<div> <p>Melissa, Kate, and Leah break down the various legal cases arising from ICE’s occupation of Minnesota, including a bid to end DHS’s Operation Metro Surge and a case from citizens seeking to block the abusive use of tear gas and pepper spray. Then, the hosts welcome Crooked’s Tommy Vietor to talk about all things foreign policy: Trump's blatant disdain for international law, the so-called “DonRoe Doctrine,” the President’s wildly incoherent and pointless tariffs, and why Trump’s claim that he’s ended eight wars is beyond laughable. Finally, a deeply concerning FBI raid on the Fulton County elections office supervised by Hawaii's least favorite daughter, Tulsi Gabbard.</p><p>Favorite things:</p></div><ul> <li> <strong>Leah</strong>: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKSoxG1K7w">Streets Of Minneapolis</a>, Bruce Springsteen; <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/tanehisi-coates-homeland-ice-minneapolis-trump">The Blood-and-Soil Nationalism That Killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good</a>, Ta-Nehisi Coates (Vanity Fair); <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/the-neighbors-defending-minnesota-from-ice/685769/?gift=Je3D9AQS-C17lUTOnl2W8L893jn-xkg4gA0ahaD_Ltw&amp;utm_source=copy-link&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=share">Minnesota Proved MAGA Wrong</a>, Adam Serwer (The Atlantic); <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7uLeIlC1LE">Chris Hayes’ reporting from MN</a> </li> <li> <strong>Kate</strong>: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/opinion/minneapolis-shooting-ice-accountability.html">This May Be the Only Path to Accountability for the Minneapolis Shootings</a>, Barry Friedman and Stephen I. Vladeck (NYT); <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/amicus/2026/01/in-minneapolis-and-beyond-ice-is-acting-with-impunity-thanks-to-scotus">Who Gave ICE Permission to Trample the Constitution?</a> Amicus (Slate); <a href="https://jvnhair.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopxXSxPMca2Ny5TxthUpQQW4HR4Q0usotCyIkabQqNQT8XdpilF">JVN Hair</a>; <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/migrations-a-novel-charlotte-mcconaghy/b7436673a5608e72?ean=9781250204035&amp;next=t">Migrations</a>, Charlotte McConaghy</li> <li> <strong>Melissa</strong>: <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81662954?source=35&amp;fromWatch=true">His and Hers</a>, <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81928842">Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model</a> (Netflix); <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/king-of-the-north-martin-luther-king-jr-s-life-of-struggle-outside-the-south-jeanne-theoharis/f812d5f86346d8dc?ean=9781620979310&amp;next=t">King of the North</a> </li> <li><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/king-of-the-north-martin-luther-king-jr-s-life-of-struggle-outside-the-south-jeanne-theoharis/f812d5f86346d8dc?ean=9781620979310&amp;next=t">Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life of Struggle Outside the South</a>, Jeanne Theoharis </p></li> </ul><div><p>Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2026! </p></div><ul> <li>3/6/26 – San Francisco</li> <li><p>3/7/26 – Los Angeles</p></li> </ul><div>Learn more:<a href="http://crooked.com/events"> http://crooked.com/events<br><br></a>Preorder Melissa’s book, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-constitution-annotated-for-the-contemporary-reader-melissa-murray/8e7f0dfa472fc3ca?ean=9781668221938&amp;next=t&amp;">The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader<br><br></a>Buy Leah's book,<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lawless/Leah-Litman/9781668054628"> Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes<br><br></a>Follow us on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/strictscrutinypodcast/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.threads.net/@strictscrutinypodcast"> Threads</a>, and<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strictscrutiny.bsky.social"> Bluesky</a> </div>

First, Leah and Melissa explain the legal battles around the ICE occupation in Minnesota and what might come after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Then, Leah, Kate, and Melissa run through the latest legal news, including Jack Smith’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, before diving into this week’s blockbuster oral argument, Trump v. Cook, on whether Trump has the power to fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board. They also cover the week’s other oral arguments, including a Second Amendment case where Sam Alito came out as woke…for guns. Finally, with apologies to the Fifth Circuit, a new nominee for America’s worst circuit court. Preorder Melissa’s new book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader, out May 12, 2026.

<p></p><p>Melissa, Leah, and Kate kick off by discussing the functional suspension of the Constitution in Minneapolis and Trump’s targeting of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Then they dissect the arguments in a pair of cases that came before the Court last week about whether state laws barring trans girls and women from their schools’ sports teams violate the Constitution or Title IX. Finally, they break down new opinions from SCOTUS involving criminal law, the Fourth Amendment, and mail-in ballots.</p><p>Favorite things:</p><ul> <li> <strong>Kate:</strong> <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/ice-recruitment-minneapolis-shooting.html">You’ve heard about who ICE is recruiting. The truth is far worse. I’m the proof.</a>, Laura Jedeed (Slate); <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/remarkably-bright-creatures-a-novel-shelby-van-pelt/80d8bf54665f88a8?ean=9780063204164&amp;next=t">Remarkably Bright Creatures</a>, Shelby Van Pelt; <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-god-of-the-woods-a-novel-liz-moore/c3cbf4f80cbe4a47?ean=9780593418925&amp;next=t">God of the Woods</a>, Liz Moore; <a href="https://publictheater.org/productions/season/2526/ulysses/">Ulysses at the Public Theater</a> </li> <li> <strong>Leah</strong>: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/opinion/ice-shooting-germany-bystanders-history.html?unlocked_article_code=1.E1A.ejP9.OkkqzNj9Z1i2">They Were Ordinary Germans. We Are Ordinary Americans.</a>, Shalom Auslander (NYT); <a href="https://www.stevevladeck.com/p/what-to-know-about-the-insurrection">What to know about the Insurrection Act</a>, Steve Vladeck &amp; Allison Gill (One First); <a href="https://contrarian.substack.com/p/can-trump-actually-use-the-insurrection">Can Trump Actually Use the Insurrection Act?</a> Steve Vladeck and Jennifer Rubin (The Contrarian)</li> <li> <strong>Melissa</strong>: <a href="https://nuremberg-film.com/home/">Nuremberg</a>; <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ncmd.103845/gov.uscourts.ncmd.103845.2.0.pdf">Ammel vs. Sinema</a>; <a href="https://www.threads.com/@tweettina08/post/DTTol1XkVRR?xmt=AQF086rEjy0gbfXUtGyTRnyBupxNU6ld07VRQ69Dyi7r75SlsPIbHiRzAY0BTcJI1u2CDWM&amp;slof=1">This guy</a> </li> </ul><p></p><p>Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! </p><ul> <li>3/6/26 – San Francisco</li> <li>3/7/26 – Los Angeles</li> </ul><p></p><p>Learn more: <a href="http://crooked.com/events">http://crooked.com/events</a></p><p>Order your copy of Leah's book, <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lawless/Leah-Litman/9781668054628">Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes</a></p><p>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/strictscrutinypodcast/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@strictscrutinypodcast">Threads</a>, and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strictscrutiny.bsky.social">Bluesky</a></p>

<p></p><p>Leah, Kate, and Melissa preview January’s major SCOTUS cases, including disputes over trans kids' participation in team sports, a concealed-carry ban in Hawaii, and Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The hosts are then joined by Georgetown Law Professor Marty Lederman to break down the administration’s flimsy legal case for the regime-change operation in Venezuela, as well as the Court’s shadow docket ruling on the federalization and deployment of the National Guard in Chicago. Finally, some news: the horrific murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis, the Court’s opinion in an important habeas case, and an unhinged tweet from Trump’s Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.</p><p>Favorite things:</p><ul> <li>Leah: <a href="https://www.lawdork.com/p/jan-crawfords-attack-on-scotus-corruption">Jan Crawford’s attack on SCOTUS “corruption” narrative was its own substantive-free narrative</a>, Chris Geidner (Law Dork); <a href="https://sherrilyn.substack.com/p/the-year-america-broke-open">The Year America Broke Open</a>, Sherrilyn Ifill (Sherrilyn’s Newsletter); <a href="https://documents.courts.state.wy.us/Opinions/S-24-0326%20State%20v.%20Johnson%20Final.pdf"><i>State v. Johnson</i></a> (Wyoming Supreme Court); <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/heated-rivalry-now-streaming-on-crave-and-hbo-max-rachel-reid/d865861eb560a9c3?ean=9781335534637&amp;next=t">Heated Rivalry</a> by Rachel Reid and on <a href="https://www.hbomax.com/shows/heated-rivalry/50cd4e99-04ee-427b-a3b4-da721ed05d9c">HBO Max</a> (<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/game-changers-collection-male-male-sports-romance-stories-rachel-reid/c9f277df496c5b7a?ean=9780369700506&amp;next=t">Game Changers series</a>); <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/events/rally-for-americas-workforce-pawa-to-the-people/">Rally for America's Workforce: PAWA to the People</a> on  Wednesday, 1/14/26 at 12:00pm at Upper Senate Park in DC</li> <li>Kate: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/audition-a-novel-katie-kitamura/90b09bc324cc7647?ean=9780593852323&amp;next=t">Audition</a>, Katie Kitamura; <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-marriage-at-sea-a-true-story-of-love-obsession-and-shipwreck-sophie-elmhirst/d8e3bde42254074f?ean=9780593854280&amp;next=t">A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck</a>, Sophie Elmhirst; <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-wager-a-tale-of-shipwreck-mutiny-and-murder-david-grann/b1f2a00fc56cba78?ean=9780307742490&amp;next=t">The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder</a>, David Grann; <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-broker-robert-moses-and-the-fall-of-new-york-robert-a-caro/d422fb89e9efb810?ean=9780394720241&amp;next=t">The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York</a>, Robert Caro; FOTP Steve Vladeck’s <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/impeachment-holding-rogue-judges-accountable-01-07-2026">Senate Judiciary Committee testimony</a> </li> <li> <p>Melissa: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-heir-apparent-rebecca-armitage/58109203abd14f80?ean=9781538776308&amp;next=t">The Heir Apparent</a>, Rebecca Armitage; <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-gabrielle-zevin/2338d0ae999f188c?ean=9780593466490&amp;next=t">Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow</a>, Gabrielle Zevin; Ziwe’s interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w07rZf8Lbw">Vince Staples</a></p><p> </p></li> </ul><p>Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2026! </p><ul> <li>3/6/26 – San Francisco</li> <li>3/7/26 – Los Angeles</li> </ul><p></p><p>Learn more:<a href="http://crooked.com/events"> http://crooked.com/events</a></p><p>Buy Leah's book,<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lawless/Leah-Litman/9781668054628"> Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes</a></p><p>Follow us on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/strictscrutinypodcast/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.threads.net/@strictscrutinypodcast"> Threads</a>, and<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strictscrutiny.bsky.social"> Bluesky</a></p><p></p><p>Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! </p><ul> <li>3/6/26 – San Francisco</li> <li>3/7/26 – Los Angeles</li> </ul><p></p><p>Learn more: <a href="http://crooked.com/events">http://crooked.com/events</a></p><p>Order your copy of Leah's book, <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lawless/Leah-Litman/9781668054628">Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes</a></p><p>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/strictscrutinypodcast/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@strictscrutinypodcast">Threads</a>, and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strictscrutiny.bsky.social">Bluesky</a></p>