Court Watch with Alex Swoyer
The 'Court Watch' podcast with Washington Times legal affairs reporter Alex Swoyer breaks down the Supreme Court's major cases and top news stories about the justices, federal courts and perplexing legal battles with key insight from court watchers from both sides of the aisle.
Listen here or click the RSS icon
(
) below to subscribe. Available on Apple Podcasts, Google, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
For comments or feedback, email media@washingtontimes.com using the subject line "Court Watch podcast."
Click HERE for more about Alex Swoyer.
Click HERE for more Washington Times podcasts.
Recent Stories
Justice Alito is waiting on one 30-year-old case before he calls it quits
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. won't retire until the Supreme Court overturns a roughly 30-year-old religious liberty precedent.
Arizona Supreme Court denies prosecutor appeal against sending fake elector case back to grand jury
One of the three remaining criminal cases stemming from efforts by President Donald Trump's supporters to overturn the 2020 election results appears headed back to a grand jury in Arizona.
Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on federal regulation of telecom companies
The Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration Thursday in upholding the power of federal regulators to enforce data privacy laws on telecommunications companies.
Mollie Hemingway predicts Justice Alito won't retire before overturning religious precedent
Mollie Hemingway says Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. won't retire until the Supreme Court overturns a roughly 30-year-old religious liberty precedent.
Supreme Court OKs Alabama congressional map favoring Republicans in this year's elections
The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Alabama to use a congressional map favoring Republicans in this year's elections, blocking a lower court ruling that the redistricting plan intentionally discriminates against Black people.
Colorado counters Supreme Court with law allowing damages for 'conversion therapy'
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis struck back Monday against the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding "conversion" talk therapy, signing a bill allowing patients to sue for damages and issuing an executive order blocking state funds from being used to support such counseling.
Supreme Court under Trump has not undone civil rights
In 1954, author Darrell Huff published a pithy bestseller, "How to Lie With Statistics." Huff's most notable observation? That "correlation does not imply causation."
Supreme Court sides with death row inmate, issues criminal rulings
The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with a Black death row inmate in Mississippi who challenged his conviction, claiming the prosecutor wrongly eliminated Black jurors from the pool that found him guilty of capital murder.
Teen transgender athlete in case before Supreme Court wins girls' state track championship
Transgender athlete Becky Pepper-Jackson did very well last weekend at the West Virginia girls' state track championships - maybe too well.
U.S. Supreme Court settles long-running water dispute over dwindling Rio Grande
The U.S. Supreme Court has approved a settlement package designed to rein in groundwater pumping along one of North America's longest rivers and ensure enough water reliably makes it from New Mexico to Texas, ending a long-running dispute over management of the Rio Grande.
Alabama returns to Supreme Court for help in allowing a GOP-friendly map
Alabama officials asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to use the GOP-backed congressional map that was shot down by a lower court the day before.
Supreme Court sides with Trump in dispute over immigration judges' speech restrictions
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with President Donald Trump's administration in a lawsuit over speech restrictions for immigration judges that touched on the rights of federal workers.
Supreme Court rejects Meta's appeal in Vermont social media addiction case
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a push to avoid a lawsuit alleging that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users, a decision that comes as social media companies increasingly face legal scrutiny.
Supreme Court refuses Florida's complaint against states that issue truck licenses to migrants
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would not let Florida file a complaint challenging two other states that allowed illegal immigrants to obtain commercial driver's licenses and drive on America's roads.
Supreme Court won't intervene in discrimination suit led by Black ex-head coach Flores against NFL
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to intervene in a discrimination lawsuit led by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL, allowing the case to proceed toward trial.
Supreme Court rejects Florida's bid to sue Western states over truck licenses for immigrants
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected Florida's long shot attempt to sue California and Washington state over the issuance of commercial driver licenses to truckers who don't speak English and are not authorized to be in the United States.
Supreme Court checks dangerous abuse of donor disclosure
The Supreme Court last month delivered a decisive and unanimous victory for donor privacy and free association in First Choice Women's Resource Centers v. Davenport.
More than a dozen Supreme Court rulings to watch for this term
The Supreme Court is preparing to close out its term with mammoth rulings that could shape the contours of elections and presidential power and plow new ground on transgender rights.
Republicans are rushing to redraw districts before midterms. Here's where things stand
Republicans are rushing to redraw congressional districts to their advantage ahead of the midterm elections following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened minority protections under the federal Voting Rights Act.
Palestinian who led protests at Columbia University will ask Supreme Court to halt deportation
Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian student who led anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, vowed to take his battle against deportation to the Supreme Court after losing yet another round in the lower courts.
WATCH: TMZ hits Washington and finds politicians are just like us
TMZ is known for chasing celebrities through LAX, but now the outlet has set up shop in Washington, D.C. Reporters Jacob Wasserman and Charlie Cotton join host Alex Swoyer to talk about what it's like covering Capitol Hill the TMZ way.
Line forming for Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund, Blagojevich, Eastman among those eyeing payout
John Eastman, a prominent conservative lawyer who advised President Trump on the 2020 election, is deciding whether to file a claim under the new Anti-Weaponization Fund set up to compensate victims of the Biden administration's "lawfare."
Trump expects to lose birthright citizenship case at Supreme Court
President Trump on Thursday said he figures the Supreme Court will rule against him in his attempt to block illegal immigrants' babies from getting automatic U.S. citizenship, calling the predicted outcome "a disgrace."
Supreme Court ducks IQ level question for death row inmate
The Supreme Court backed away from deciding what level of IQ is too low for someone to deserve capital punishment, turning away a case that tried to get the justices to decide the issue.
Gun activists ask Supreme Court to block Maryland's ban on firearms at 'sensitive places'
A coalition of gun-rights groups has asked the Supreme Court to step in and block a Maryland law that bars even concealed-carry permit holders from carrying firearms at "sensitive places" such as state parks, museums and mass transit.
FDR could not pack the Supreme Court, but two-time presidential loser Harris thinks she can
Back in 1937, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was riding higher than almost any other politician in American history.
Wyoming Supreme Court delivers victory for school choice
The Wyoming Supreme Court just handed families a decisive victory in the fight for school choice.
Acting AG shuts down Maxwell pardon talk at Senate hearing: 'I can commit to that'
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said he will not recommend a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking from her work with Jeffrey Epstein.
Supreme Court to weigh teachers' ability to sue over sex discrimination
The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a case involving former Georgia Tech women's basketball coach who said she was fired after complaining that her school was giving men's sports teams better treatment.
Virginia Supreme Court gerrymandering decision a rule-of-law victory
We are blessed in Virginia to reside in the larger context of a constitutional republic.
Supreme Court sends closely watched Native American voting rights decision back to lower court
The Supreme Court acted in a Voting Rights Act case brought by Native American tribes on Monday, saying a closely watched ruling needs to be reconsidered after the high court weakened the Civil Rights-era law.
Supreme Court rejects appeals from drug manufacturers over Medicare price negotiations
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals from pharmaceutical companies that object to negotiating Medicare drug prices with the federal government.
Supreme Court rejects Virginia Democrats' last-ditch bid to force new map
The U.S. Supreme Court has turned aside Virginia Democrats' long-shot attempt to overturn state courts and force the use of their preferred congressional district map in November's elections.
Supreme Court allows abortion pill to be distributed by mail
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the abortion pill to remain available by telehealth, meaning it can be prescribed remotely and delivered by mail -- even into states where abortion is restricted.
BOOK REVIEW: 'Alito: The Justice Who Reshaped the Supreme Court and Restored the Constitution'
Those of us who have been involved in cultural issues in recent decades know that each time a Supreme Court seat comes open, we must follow Bette Davis' advice: "Fasten your seat belts."
Top House Democrat says ghost of confederacy haunting Supreme Court
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries railed against the Supreme Court Wednesday over its 6-3 ruling that threw out Louisiana's racially gerrymandered congressional district, telling reporters some of the justices are haunted by the spirits of those who embraced enslaving Americans.
Appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll -- for now
President Donald Trump won't have to pay an $83 million defamation award to a longtime advice columnist until the U.S. Supreme Court gets a chance to review the case or reject an appeal, according to a court entry Tuesday.
Virginia Democrats flub petition to Supreme Court with wrong address
Days after producing a Supreme Court motion riddled with typos in their bid to reinstate a gerrymandered congressional map, Virginia Democrats filed a new motion to the high court -- this time with an even bigger mistake.
Supreme Court backs Alabama in push to erase Democrat-friendly congressional map
The Supreme Court on Monday erased a lower court ruling that had stood in the way of Alabama redrawing its congressional lines, giving another boost to Republicans eager to ditch seats that have long been safe Democratic districts.
Democrats make long-shot bid, ask high court to revive congressional map
Virginia Democrats made a Hail Mary attempt to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, asking the justices to revive the state's Democrat-friendly congressional map.
Supreme Court temporarily extends women's access to a widely used abortion pill
The Supreme Court is leaving women's access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on the drug, mifepristone, to take effect.
The First Amendment wins a Supreme Court smackdown
Some legal principles are so basic that a question based on them "all but answers itself."
Justice Gorsuch ignores the faith behind America's freedoms
In a recent interview, Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch said the United States is not a Christian nation but rather one that is "creedal."
Justice Gorsuch wants kids to know the superheroes behind the Declaration of Independence
As the nation prepares for its 250th anniversary of independence, Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wants Americans to understand just how much of an accomplishment that was.
WATCH: How a Supreme Court bombshell is redrawing the congressional map before November
From Alabama to New York, states are racing to redraw their congressional maps after a bombshell Supreme Court ruling gutted a key Voting Rights Act protection. Washington Times national politics reporter Susan Ferrechio breaks down what's happening state by state.
Virginia Supreme Court tosses state's new pro-Democrat gerrymandered map
The Virginia Supreme Court has thrown out the state's new congressional district map that skewed four seats to the Democrats, ruling it violates the state's constitution and cannot be used in the upcoming midterm elections.
Trade court strikes down Trump's second attempt at global tariffs
A federal trade court on Thursday invalidated President Trump's attempt to impose a global tariff of 10% after he faced a loss at the Supreme Court over a separate set of broad levies.
Redistricting is rampant ahead of the U.S. House midterm elections. What states are taking action?
A partisan redistricting battle among states has accelerated ahead of the November midterm elections following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the federal Voting Rights Act and opened the way for states to try to eliminate voting districts drawn for racial minorities.
Monica Crowley says Trump won 2020 in a landslide and proof is coming
A Trump ally promises evidence the 2020 election was stolen, a Supreme Court justice celebrates America's "radical" founding ideas, and a Cabinet secretary recalls playing Santa for a veteran.
Clarence Thomas becomes the second longest-serving justice in Supreme Court history
The first baby boomer on the Supreme Court hit a milestone on Thursday, becoming the second-longest serving justice in history at a time when his influence has never seemed greater.
We can't afford another 'Trust me' Supreme Court appointment
Speculation about a potential retirement by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. has intensified over the past two months.
