Case in Point: The Legal Show on the Hottest Legal Cases in Politics and Culture

Hans is joined by Robert Greenway, military veteran and Director of the Allison Center for National Security at Heritage, to discuss the German siege of American forces in Bastogne, which occurred over Christmas in 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.The Classic Movie Review is of "Battleground," the 1949 film about the battle, directed by veteran William Wellman, and the winner of multiple academy awards

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2025

Guest is Mark Chenoweth, president and chief legal officer of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, to discuss the oral arguments at the Supreme Court on Monday, Dec. 8, in Trump v. Slaughter, an important case about the constitutional authority of the president over the so-called “independent” agencies like the Federal Trade Commission set up by Congress. For the Christmas season, classic movie review of the 1945 film, “Christmas in Connecticut,” a romantic comedy starring Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, and Sydney Greenstreet.

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2025

Guest is Yonatan Green, a Fellow at the Georgetown Center for the Constitution, author of a new book about the seizure of political power by the Israeli Supreme Court, a foreshadowing of what is happening in America with our partisan rogue judges.Classic movie review of the 1966 film, “Cast a Giant Shadow,” directed by Otto Preminger and starring Kirk Douglas as the real life American Army veteran who went to Israel to help train the fledgling Israeli Defense Force to defend the new nation in the 1948 Arab Israeli War.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2025

Cully Stimson, retired Navy Captain and Deputy Director of the Meese Legal Center, joins Hans to discuss the propaganda video by six members of Congress urging members of the military to disobey orders. Classic film review is of the World War II picture, “They Were Expendable,” the 1945 John Ford movie about a torpedo boat squadron that fought in the Battle of the Philippines against enormous odds, a film that shows the courage and sacrifice of members of our armed forces.

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025

Hans is joined by Scott Jennings, AKA, the “Black Sheep of CNN,” to discuss his new book, “A Revolution of Common Sense – How Donald Trump Stormed Washington and Fought for Western Civilization.” The movie review is of a classic film about politics in the nation’s capital, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” Frank Capra’s 1939 picture starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur.

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2025

Hans is joined by former foreign service officer and Heritage Senior Research Fellow Simon Hankinson, to discuss the tussle over the Trump administration’s requirement to list your biological sex on your passport, which has ended up at the Supreme Court. The movie review is of the 2006 film “Argo,” produced, directed, and starred in by Ben Affleck about the real life CIA operation that smuggled six American foreign service officers out of Iran during the Islamic revolution using fake passports, disguises, and a phony movie company.

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2025

Hans is joined by former Federal Election Commission Chairman Allen Dickerson to discuss the pending U.S. Supreme Court case, National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, originally also filed by then-Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, and the effect the Court’s decision on the constitutionality of the limits on coordinated party expenditures may have on the 2026 congressional elections. Our classic movie review is of “The Last Hurrah,” the 1958 political film directed by John Ford and starring Spencer Tracy, about a reelection fight between the mayor of a big city and a civic reformer.

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2025

Guest is Kim Strassel, member of the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, who also writes the weekly Potomac Watch column about goings on in the nation’s capital, to talk about lawfare, Jack Smith and other threats to the Republic.Classic movie review of “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers,” a 1946 film noir starring Van Heflin, Kirk Douglas and Barbara Stanwyck in a complex story about a corrupt DA and his equally corrupt wife.

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2025

Guest is Mark Hemingway, editor at The Federalist, to discuss the rise of new media as a counterinsurgency to biased news organizations and the rise of censorship. Classic movie review of "Adam's Rib," the 1947 film about married lawyers who end up opposing each other in court.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2025

Guest is James Campbell, chief legal counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, who was in the Supreme Court on October 7 arguing the case of Chiles v. Salazar, challenging the Colorado censorship law than bans counselors from saying anything to their clients that disagrees with the state’s Woke view of homosexuality, transgenderism, and gender dysphoria. Classic movie review of the 1942 film, “The Talk of the Town,” starring Cary Grant and Ronald Coleman, about a law professor’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2025

Hans is joined by E.J. Antoni, Heritage’s chief economist and a leading expert on the federal budget, explains the Federal Reserve, its problems and effects on our banking system and the economy, and the case over the firing of Reserve member Lisa Cook by Pres. Trump that is now before the Supreme Court. The classic movie review is of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the 1947 Frank Capra Christmas movie in which one of the essential plot elements is a bank run on the small building and loan run by Jimmy Stewart.

Transcribed - Published: 9 October 2025

This week’s guest is Ryan Mauro, a researcher and investigator for the Capital Research Center. He joins to discuss their findings on who is organizing and funding extremist groups like Antifa who are trying to undermine our democratic process by instigating violence in our streets and our political arenas. Classic movie review of “All Through the Night,” a 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart as a gambler trying to find the extremists instigating violence in New York to undermine our democratic Republic.

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2025

Guest is Robert Alt, president and CEO of the Buckeye Institute, Ohio’s premier think tank, discussing Buckeye’s lawsuit against the IRS and the dangers posed to the privacy of the public by IRS regulations and mishandling of taxpayer information.  He also discusses his experience as a mountain climber and his recent ascent of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas.  Classic movie review of “Lost Horizon,”  the 1937 Frank Capra film about a hidden city in the Himalayas.

Transcribed - Published: 25 September 2025

My guest is Cully Stimson, Deputy Director of the Heritage Legal Center, and an experienced state, federal, and military criminal prosecutor. He joins me to discuss the practicalities of a murder case, including gathering evidence, forensic analysis, and the criminal prosecution. The classic movie review is of “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962), about the planned assassination of a presidential candidate.

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2025

Guest is Josh Blackman, law professor at the South Texas College of Law and one of the best known constitutional experts in the nation, to talk about the launch of the 3rd edition of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution, as well as the judicial warfare we are seeing in the courts. Classic movie review of “1776,” the 1972 musical film about the Second Continental Congress and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

Transcribed - Published: 11 September 2025

Guest is former Assistant U.S. Attorney Zack Smith, current Heritage Senior Legal Fellow, to discuss the legality, necessity, and results of Pres. Trump’s actions to remedy the crime problem in Washington, D.C. Classic film review of “The Untouchables,” the 1987 movie about federal agents sent to clean up Chicago’s crime problems in the 1930s.

Transcribed - Published: 4 September 2025

Guest is immigration expert Dr. Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies, to discuss his recent report showing that since January, the alien population in the U.S. has dropped by 2.2 million, including 1.6 million illegal aliens. Classic movie review of the 1948 film noir, “To the Ends of the Earth,” about a federal operation to smash a smuggling ring.

Transcribed - Published: 28 August 2025

Guest is Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt whose new book, “The Last Line of Defense – How to Beat the Left in Court,”is about his fierce fights as the state’s attorney general against mask and Covid vaccine mandates, the student loan forgiveness scam, and the censorship machine put in place by the Biden administration and Silicon Valley. Classic Movie Review of “The Far Horizons,” the 1955 movie about the Lewis & Clark Expedition that started in St. Louis, Missouri.

Transcribed - Published: 21 August 2025

Hans von Spakovsky and his Heritage colleague, Cully Stimson, switch rolls, with Cully hosting the show and Hans answering questions about the ongoing redistricting battle in the Lone Star State. Classic movie review of “The Alamo,” the 1960 film directed, produced, funded, and starred in by John Wayne.

Transcribed - Published: 14 August 2025

Guest is Mike Gonzalez, Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former journalist, to discuss the cut off of funding to NPR and PBS, and the bias of its news coverage. Classic Movie Review of “Absence of Malice” (1981), a film about unethical reporters and government lawyers.

Transcribed - Published: 7 August 2025

Guest is Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who discusses a recent court win against opponents of election reform, changes in the state’s election laws that have just become effective, and how the business climate has changed in the past six months. Classic movie review of “The Best Man,” the 1964 movie about a presidential nomination fight at a political party convention.

Transcribed - Published: 31 July 2025

Guest is Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, to discuss the lawsuits he filed against California over its electric truck mandate, GM over misuse of customer vehicle information, and Temu for siphoning phone data from customers for the Chinese Communist Party. Classic movie review of “Smokey and the Bandit.”

Transcribed - Published: 24 July 2025

Guest is South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who discusses the legal battles the state has waged against the federal government, starting with his successful fight to defend a voter ID law.Classic movie review of the 1959 “Anatomy of a Murder,” one of the most realistic legal movies produced by Hollywood.

Transcribed - Published: 17 July 2025

On this week's episode of Case in Point, we host a lively roundtable discussion between Host Sarah Parshall Perry, and fellow legal fellows GianCarlo Canaparo and Jack Fitzhenry. What went down at the Supreme Court this week in two huge cases on use of online tech platforms?In one case concerning TikTok restrictions and national security, and in another on restricting minors' access to online porn in Texas, the Justices wrestled bigly with constitutional questions. Listen in as the trio breaks it down. We cover that, breaking legal news and more on this week's episode of Case in Point.  

Transcribed - Published: 17 July 2025

Guest Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, discusses winning the Salvatori Prize for American Citizenship, the creation of its satires and parodies that expose corruption, and the censorship it faces over its work. Movie review of “Deadline – U.S.A,” the 1942 classic film noir starring Humphrey Bogart as a crusading newspaper editor who works on a story exposing a gangster’s crimes at the risk of his life.

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2025

Hans' guest is Prof Jonathan Turley, constitutional scholar, law professor, and well-known legal analyst on Fox News, to talk about censorship, attacks on the First Amendment, and his new book, “The Indispensable Right – Free Speech in an Age of Rage.” The classic movie review is of the 1940 screwball comedy about the newspaper business, “His Girl Friday.”

Transcribed - Published: 3 July 2025

Special guest May Mailman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Policy Analyst, talks about the formulation of policy at the White House and the lawfare against the president being waged by outlaw judges.A film review is provided of a movie about a similar confrontation, the classic 1952 western, “High Noon.”

Transcribed - Published: 28 June 2025

Guest is Matthew Rice, the Solicitor General of Tennessee, who argued U.S. v. Skrmetti before the Supreme Court, to discuss the implications of the decision protecting children from surgical mutilation and abusive drug treatments.Review of the three horror movies made by Hollywood based on the 1896 book by H.G. Wells, “The Island of Dr. Moreau.”

Transcribed - Published: 26 June 2025

Hans' guest is Bill Whittle, political writer and commentator, cohost of the Right Angle, and producer of multiple documentaries on important topics like the Russian Revolution and the Apollo program. Bill talks about the revolution that seems to be going on right now in Washington. Instead of the usual classic movie review, a recommendation on a new museum in Washington worth visiting.

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2025

Special guest Christian Adams, President of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, discusses dire threats made in Pennsylvania against Trump voters in the 2024 election and refusal of law enforcement to take any action.

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2025

Guest Ken Marcus of the Louis Brandeis Center for Human Rights discuss the plague of anti-Semitism that has arisen at American universities, the private lawsuits filed to stop it, and the actions taken by the Trump administration to remedy the infestation.A classic movie review of “The Mortal Storm,” the 1940 movie about the similar harassment of a Jewish professor and his family in a university town in Nazi Germany in 1933.

Transcribed - Published: 5 June 2025

Guest Sarah Parshall Perry discusses a lawsuit just filed in Colorado against the state’s new draconian censorship and government propaganda law. A classic movie review is provided of the film version of George Orwell’s book on government censorship and thought control, “1984.”

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2025

Professor John Eastman discusses the oral arguments made on May 15 in the birthright citizenship cases before the Supreme Court and the problem of nationwide injunctions.A classic film review relevant to arrogant judges is provided of the 1940 movie, “The Westerner.”

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

Special Guest Lora Ries, one of the country’s leading experts on illegal immigration and DHS operations, discusses the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, the rules governing deportation, and the work being done by the Trump administration to stop illegal immigration.  There is a classic film review of two movies relevant to illegal aliens: “Illegal Entry” and “Panic in the Streets.

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

Attorney Eric Baxter of the Becket Fund, who represents parents in their lawsuit against the Montgomery County, Maryland School Board for indoctrinating their kindergartners and elementary school kids with unacceptable sexual propaganda, talks about what happened when he argued the case before the Supreme Court.

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

This week’s special guest is former Speaker of the House, historian, and author Newt Gingrich. We discuss his recent testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on “Judicial Overreach” as well as his historical perspective on the battles we are seeing in the nation’s courts.  With a classic movie review of “Seven Days in May,” the 1964 Frankenheimer film about a secret plan to take over the government and depose the president during the Cold War.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Hans von Spakovsky talks with lawyer and  Navy veteran Cully Stimson about the “abominable” decision of a federal judge barring the Defense Department from revising its military standards on gender dysphoria.He also provides a classic movie review of “Judgment at Nuremberg,” the 1961 movie about the military and the courts and the prosecution after the end of WWII of Nazi leaders for crimes against humanity.Cully's Daily Signal article: https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/03/25/judge-reyes-abominable-transgender-opinion/

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

Case in Point Host Sarah Parshall Perry talks with fellow Senior Legal Fellow Hans Von Spakovsky about deportation orders under the Alien Enemies Act, oral arguments in Medina v. Planned Parenthood, and some wild judicial decisions that strain a plain reading of the law. Plus, some big changes ahead for Case in Point. All that and more on this week's episode!

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

On this week's episode of Case in Point, host Sarah Parshall Perry is joined by Nate Kellum of First Liberty Institute to discuss their Supreme Court petition for review in Olivier v. City of Brandon.Can a claimant get relief from the future enforcement of an ordinance, if already charged with violating that same ordinance? Sarah and Nate talk religious freedom, free speech, and civil procedure.Plus, the Supreme Court Justices have been busy, so Sarah covers legal news, oral arguments, and more on this week's episode of Case in Point.

Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2025

On this week's episode of Case in Point, host Sarah Parshall Perry is joined by Kate Anderson, Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, and Director of their Center for Parental Rights. They talk religious freedom, free speech, state v. federal claims, and whether objecting teachers who won't toe the line on gender identity are protected by law. Plus, the Supreme Court Justices have been busy, so Sarah covers legal news, oral arguments, and more on this week's episode of Case in Point.

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2025

On this week's episode of Case in Point, host Sarah Parshall Perry talks SCOTUS updates, cert petitions, and the push for the national popular vote interstate compact with Michael Maibach, Distinguished Fellow on American Federalism at the Save Our States. What is the national popular vote compact? Is it - as some have said - a threat to democracy? And how close is it to ratification? All that and more on this week's episode of Case in Point.

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2025

On this week's edition of Case in Point, we address one of President Trump's most controversial executive orders, titled "Protecting The Meaning And Value of American Citizenship" with Heritage Senior Legal Fellow Amy Swearer. The Order moves to end birthright citizenship practice -- something which guarantees that U.S.-born children are citizens regardless of their parents’ status. The next day, attorneys general from 22 states sued to block the Executive Order by asserting that the President is attempting to eliminate "a well-established and longstanding Constitutional principle" by executive fiat. But is he? What is the history of the language of the "citizenship clause" in the 14th Amendment? And what does it reveal? What happens next in the litigation? All that and more on this week's edition of "Case in Point"  https://static.heritage.org/legal-and-judicial/birthright-citizenship/Law%20Review%20Final%20Print.pdf

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2025

On this week's episode of Case in Point, we preview two big cases set to be argued within the week. Two very different online platforms have brought First Amendment free speech challenges against the government for laws regulating their operation. The implications for both could shake the foundation of some of the country's biggest platforms. In his year end report on federal courts, Chief Justice John Roberts may have tipped his hand as to how he'll rule in one of the cases....or did he? Then we discuss the need for the Supreme Court to revisit its rulings on obscenity and speech with Giancarlo Canaparo. Porn makes an appearance at the high court in a few days - is the government's interest simply in protecting kids from harmful material, or are there other considerations in play? That and more on this week's episode of Case in Point.  

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2025

On this week's episode of Case in Point, Sarah Parshall Perry talks with Ian Prior, Senior advisor to America First Legal about the power of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), AFL's investigations using the FOIA tool to unearth government corruption, and what it's like to fight for the safety, privacy, and free speech rights of school children at the grassroots level. That, and a rundown of three new, high profile cert. grants from the Supreme Court on this week's episode of Case in Point.  

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2024

On this week's episode of Case in Point, we cover the first (already?!) Supreme Court opinion of the October, 2024 term, and talk with Keisha Russell of First Liberty, the nation's largest public interest law firm dedicated exclusively to the defense of religious freedom in the courts. Keisha discusses First Liberty's defense of a historic church, and a religious charitable organization, plus gives us a preview of her upcoming book, "Uncommon Courage." What can Americans do in a culture increasingly hostile to religious expression? That and more on this week's episode of Case in Point.

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2024

On this special episode of Case in Point, Sarah Parshall Perry is joined by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, the named respondent in the biggest case of the Supreme Court's term: United States v. Skrmetti. The Attorney General talks about the law at the heart of the case, SB 1, talks about the dangers of "gender affirming" care for minors, gives us his impressions from oral arguments, and discusses what's next for his very busy office.  

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

On this week's episode of Case in Point, Sarah is joined by Andy Bath, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at the Thomas More Legal Society. What do free speech rights have to do with pro-life advocacy? What is the F.A.C.E. Act, and how has it been employed by the Biden-Harris Administration? Will the Supreme Court take up abortion again this term? They'll answer these questions and more on Case in Point.

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2024

Lame ducks - and presidents: what will they do next? Description: On this week’s episode, we sit down with judicial expert and Senate veteran Tom Jipping to talk post-election plans for a Congress and President in their waning days of service. What will congressional Democrats attempt to pass? What does the Constitution permit? And what about those last-minute judicial nominations from President Biden? Can new judges be appointed before President-elect Trump takes the oath of office at the end of January? We’ve got those answers and more on Case in Point! 

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2024

This week on Case in Point, and only hours after one of the most significant Republican sweeps in a generation, we sit down with Hans Von Spakovsky, Senior Manager of Heritage's Election Law Reform Initiative. Hans offers his thoughts on the landmark 2024 election, the likelihood of future litigation on political races, the Supreme Court's election-related emergency docket orders, and why election integrity should matter to every American.

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2024

On this episode of Case in Point, host Sarah Parshall Perry sits down with Will Trachman, General Counsel at Mountain States Legal Foundation, to reminisce about their time working in a presidential administration. Will also talks about their case pending at the Supreme Court that concerns what citizen petitions are required to include before an issue is included on the ballot during an election. Plus, we talk dumb judicial opinions, DEI dismantling, and whether American public education is salveagable.

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2024