A fast preview of a high-stakes SCOTUS episode on presidential power
Based on the show notes, this emergency episode has Leah and Kate unpacking two major Supreme Court decisions that they say reshape long-standing limits on presidential power. It also previews a discussion of a closely watched absentee-ballot case and how narrowly the Court avoided a broader ruling.
This is a **preview based only on the published show notes**, not a recap of the full audio. If you’re trying to decide whether to listen, this episode looks aimed at anyone following the Supreme Court’s role in expanding executive authority. The notes say Leah and Kate break down the decisions in *Trump v. Slaughter* and *Trump v. Cook*, describing them as highly consequential and as following the Project 2025 playbook to rewrite nearly a century of precedent on presidential power. That framing suggests a conversation focused less on narrow legal technicalities and more on the broader constitutional stakes: what changed, why it matters, and how these rulings fit into a larger vision of the presidency. If you want analysis centered on institutional power and precedent, this appears to be the core draw. The episode also covers *Watson v. RNC*, specifically how close the Court came to ruling that states cannot count absentee ballots cast by election day but received afterward. From the notes alone, that portion sounds especially relevant for listeners interested in election law and the practical consequences of Supreme Court decisions for voting rules. Overall, expect an urgent, issue-driven episode about the Court, executive power, and election administration. If those topics are already on your radar, the show notes make this sound like a timely listen.
About this episode
<div> <p>In this emergency episode, Leah and Kate break down today’s incredibly consequential decisions in <em>Trump </em>v.<em> Slaughter </em>and<em> Trump </em>v.<em> Cook</em>, which followed the Project 2025 playbook to rewrite almost a century of precedent regarding presidential power. They also discuss how close the Court came to ruling that states can’t count absentee ballots that are cast by election day but received after election day in <em>Watson v. RNC</em>.</p><p>Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE on November 6th in Washington, DC: <a href="http://Crookedcon.com">Crookedcon.com</a></p><p>Buy Melissa’s book,<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-constitution-annotated-for-the-contemporary-reader-melissa-murray/8e7f0dfa472fc3ca?ean=9781668221938&next=t&">The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader</a></p><p>Buy Leah’s book, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/lawless-how-the-supreme-court-runs-on-conservative-grievance-fringe-theories-and-bad-vibes-leah-litman/5b562d6fcb316d6e?ean=9781668054642&next=t">Lawless</a>, now out in paperback</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>For a transcript of an episode of Strict Scrutiny, please email <a href="mailto:transcripts@crooked.com">transcripts@crooked.com</a>.</p></div>