This episode explores the tension between obeying military orders and the moral and legal duty to question unlawful or unethical commands. The hosts draw from history (including the legacy of the Sedition Act of 1918 and related jurisprudence) together with personal experience from a guest who has served in the military. They discuss when soldiers must obey orders — and when refusing is a legal and moral obligation. It offers a thoughtful look at how U.S. military law balances discipline with individual responsibility, especially in times of political turmoil. The episode is particularly relevant now, given contemporary debates about executive orders, civil‑military relations, and constitutional limits on power.

Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GbtWBWPIyyIKcGlpBgs4p 

American Murder: Gabby Petito is a three‑part true crime documentary on Netflix that examines the 2021 case of travel vlogger Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie. The series explores the couple’s cross‑country road trip, the warning signs in their relationship, Gabby’s disappearance, and the nationwide investigation that followed. It highlights legal aspects such as criminal investigations, missing person procedures, law enforcement coordination across jurisdictions, and the prosecution process, offering insight into how the U.S. legal system handles high-profile domestic violence and homicide cases.

The Supreme Court will hear a case involving New Jersey’s First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, a network of anti‑abortion “crisis pregnancy centers,” which are challenging a state subpoena demanding donor and internal records. The centers argue that the subpoena violates their First Amendment rights and want to raise their constitutional claims in federal court. The Court’s decision could affect how organizations can challenge state investigations and assert constitutional protections.

Link: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/anti-abortion-crisis-pregnancy-centers-case-goes-us-supreme-court-2025-12-02/ 

This episode of Strict Scrutiny breaks down the Supreme Court case Learning Resources v. Trump, which asks whether the president has the legal authority to impose broad tariffs under emergency economic powers. The hosts explain why the oral arguments gave some hope to critics of the tariffs and why the Court might limit the president’s ability to bypass Congress on trade policy. The episode also covers related legal news involving federal benefits programs and recent developments in Congress. Overall, it provides an accessible look at how this case could reshape the balance of power between the executive branch and Congress in future trade decisions.

Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7iMvnvuH8wgA5ClQgnbkYe?si=zlf1m6c7Sy2rA_lqal8lDw 

The Perfect Neighbor is a 2025 Netflix documentary by Geeta Gandbhir that uses extensive police bodycam footage to chronicle the fatal 2023 neighborhood dispute in Ocala, Florida, where white resident Susan Lorincz shot and killed Black neighbor Ajike "AJ" Owens after a conflict over children playing outside. The film reconstructs the escalating tension, Lorincz's repeated calls to police, the fatal shooting through a locked door, and the aftermath, highlighting themes of racial bias, "Stand Your Ground" laws, policing, and gun violence, ultimately leading to Lorincz's manslaughter conviction. 

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a major case on the legality of former President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order that seeks to restrict birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to noncitizen parents. Lower courts blocked the policy, ruling that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s longstanding guarantee of citizenship for nearly all children born on U.S. soil. By taking up the appeal, the Court will now decide whether a president can limit birthright citizenship through executive action or whether such a change would require a constitutional amendment or act of Congress. The decision, expected in 2026, could reshape the future of U.S. immigration and citizenship law.

Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/supreme-court-decide-legality-trump-move-limit-birthright-citizenship-2025-12-05/ 

Stay up-to-date on current events and pressing news with students Nama and Evan. The hosts bring in experts on political climate, worldwide events, and on-campus updates. Recent discussion took place with Tony Jing, founder of the Contemporary International Relations Association (CIRA). The newest episode featured topics on international relations and how those relations can be discussed from multiple perspectives. CIRA provides reasearch and connection opportunities for students interested in international affairs. The podcast is available on both SoundCloud and Spotify, with new episodes dropping each Wednesday.  

Link: https://polisci.wisc.edu/1050-bascom-podcast-2/

The longest lapse in Government funding occurred this past month, starting October 1st and ending November 12th. On November 11, 2025, the Senate passed a bill which was signed into effect by President Trump the following day. The bill being signed into law starts a flood of restorative actions. Backpay will disperse as early as Sunday, Novemeber 16, with some government-funded jobs issuing bonuses as restitution for lack of income. Although the legality of the government funding issue is resolving, the resolution highlights the tension surrounding the Affordable Care Act, which is set to expire at the end of 2025. The  economic disturbance from the 2025 shutdown is exceeding the disturbance from the last government shutdown, in 2018-19. Although statistics are not public at this time, an overall drop in sales was noted across America.

Renowned constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky exposes how the U.S. Constitution now fuels gridlock, polarization, and inequality. Chemerinsky breaks down the hidden ways the Constitution empowers a few at the expense of many: the Electoral College, the unrepresentative Senate, lifetime judicial appointments, and an almost impossible amendment process. These are not just historical quirks;  they are active roadblocks to meaningful reform and true self-governance. But this isn’t just a critique. Chemerinsky challenges readers to rethink the rules of American democracy and envision bold solutions to safeguard citizens' right to govern themselves. It’s a provocative, urgent, and deeply insightful read for anyone interested in law, policy, or the future of the United States.

• California files lawsuit to block tariffs on foreign trading partners

• Trump accused of abusing powers to inflict financial harm on California and U.S. 

• Trump admin already facing three similar lawsuits in NY court of international trade florida by small businesses and montana by members of Blackfeet nation

• 10% tariff on goods from all countries 

• Most tariffs paused for 90 days 

• Imposed 145% tariff on China, minimal exceptions save for electronics 

• China retaliation 125% tariff on US goods 

• EU plans to retaliate, currently paused

• Constitution gives authority to impose tariffs to Congress, but Trump cites Internaitonal Emergency Economic Powers Act, which still doesn’t allow president to tax all goods on a whim 

  • Special powers to combat unusual or extraordinary threats to US

  • Trump claims US net trade deficit relative to rest of world is national emergency

• Devastating impacts on economy creating chaos in stock and bond markets

• Billions in market capitalization wiped out 

• No notice or process, could push country into recession 

• White House says Newsom should focus on addressing crime, homelessness, high prices in California instead of trying to block tariffs

David Jenyns, business systems expert and author of “Systemology,” talks about the importance of systemizing business processes in the field of law. Like any other business, documenting legal workflows makes corporate systems more efficient and creative. He began as a digital SEO agency owner, and is now a systems expert. Here, he outlines the seven steps of Systemology framework. Listen to learn the importance of documenting processes in any business, especially legal services, how systemization can enhance creativity in law, the role of implementing a systems culture, addressing common misconceptions, and practical tips for getting started with the systemizing processes. 

Follows the story of a defense lawyer in Los Angeles who undergoes career changes and challenges in criminal court. See a dramatized example of how a criminal defense lawyer gathers evidence for a high-profile murder case, and how to interact with clients in such a field. 

The Trump Administration is openly targeting Biglaw firms across the nation for representing clients and causes in opposition to Trump and his allies’ political agendas. Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss are three firms that have been targeted. These orders are likely to be unconstitutional and consist of taking away security clearances, terminating government contracts with firms and limiting Attorney’s ability to access government buildings. Biglaw has not spoken out about the orders likely in the interest of self-protection, but hundreds are anonymously signing an open letter, which calls Biglaw to defend affected colleagues in the legal profession by condemning the rapid and increased purge of partisan actors whom the president feels have personally wronged him. The letter states that its signatories are united in condemnation of the administration’s intimidation acts. 

JurisPrep associate walks through LSAT fast facts about what your LSAT score means. While your score is a raw number, it is also a rank. If you score 175 or higher, you are in the top 1% of test-takers. 165+ puts you in the top 10%. 155+ is average, and anything 145 and below is the bottom 25%. Higher scores don’t just look nicer on applications- they also help you get scholarships and can be used as leverage to negotiate for more money.

Insurance coverage is not always guaranteed. Nothing can circumvent the fact that if an insurance money simply cannot cover costs, then homeowners are still going to be paying for damages out-of-pocket. There is not much that can be done to reduce the fire risk in California, and because of that insurance for fire-related events is risky, and it is argued that losses will have to be shouldered by homeowners. Where sources of compensation come from though may vary, either from the federal government or other stock holding companies. There are benefits to either approach, but no one way can completely account for every risk and protect every homeowner. Insuring against risks covered by homeowners insurance varies with the degree of risk in a given place at a given time. Homeowner’s insurance is required, but residents of California have an increased risk of destruction from fires. As a result, insurance companies and individuals are being harmed because of high prices and inability to cover the extent of damages. State regulation finds it difficult to keep up with this evolving issue, and differing views on the matter don’t speed the process up either. The state can be a last resort for funding, but lawmakers often find themselves at a standstill and working slower than the immediate relief homeowners require. As of now, there is no clear way forward to remedy the aftermath of what happened in the Palisades to better respond at least economically in the future, or prevent similar events from happening.