SCOTUS delay theories, a live-case deep dive, and some summer-cocktail chaos
This preview is based only on the episode notes. The hosts and guest Elie Mystal speculate about why the Supreme Court is holding opinions so late in the term, then dig into United States v. Hemani, with side trips into live-show banter, a new cocktail, and Trump’s Reflecting Pool makeover.
This is a preview based on the published show notes, not a recap of the full audio. If you follow the Supreme Court closely—or just enjoy legal analysis with a sharper, more irreverent edge—this episode looks built for you. Leah, Melissa, and Kate are joined by Elie Mystal of *The Nation* for a live recording at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre, where they first speculate about why the Court is still “hoarding opinions” so late in the season. From there, the episode appears to center on *United States v. Hemani*. The notes suggest a mix of legal and cultural commentary, flagging drugs, the Second Amendment, and Amy Coney Barrett’s “iconic Ambien jar” as part of the discussion. If that combination sounds chaotic, that’s probably the point: the setup promises a conversation that is both doctrinal and personality-driven. The show notes also make clear this isn’t all case analysis. There’s a debut summer cocktail, plus commentary on Trump’s “flop makeover” of the Reflecting Pool, which suggests the episode keeps the podcast’s usual blend of law, politics, and comic relief. The listed “favorite things” at the end point listeners toward speeches by Barack and Michelle Obama, a Jamelle Bouie column, and *Becoming* on Netflix. Best fit for listeners who want Supreme Court talk that is current, opinionated, and live-show energetic—especially if you like your legal podcasts with a side of pop-cultural detours.
About this episode
<div> <p>Leah, Melissa, Kate, and special guest Elie Mystal of <em>The Nation</em> speculate about why the Court is hoarding opinions this late into bad decision season before diving deep on the ruling in <em>United States v. Hemani</em>, which features drugs, the Second Amendment, and Amy Coney Barrett’s iconic Ambien jar. Plus: a new summer cocktail makes its debut, and no holds are barred, especially when it comes to Trump’s flop makeover of the Reflecting Pool. This episode was recorded live at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.</p><p>Favorite things:</p></div><ul> <li> <strong>Leah</strong>:Barack Obama’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEAmx1vsuMo">speech</a> at the opening of his presidential center, </li> <li> <strong>Kate</strong>:Michelle Obama’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waUjBY1oaOE">speech</a>; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/20/opinion/us-250-obama-library-mamdani-knicks-trump.html">Obama and Mamdani Show How It’s Done</a>, Jamelle Bouie (NYT) </li> <li> <strong>Melissa</strong>: <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81122487">Becoming</a> (Netflix); her award-winning <a href="https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781668156018-the-u-s-constitution">audiobook<br></a><br></li> </ul><div> <p>Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE on November 6th in Washington, DC: <a href="http://crookedcon.com/">Crookedcon.com<br><br></a>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<br><br></a>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></div>