Counting Down the Supreme Court Term

The Supreme Court's final days of the 2025 term are shaping up to be a high-stakes drama, with 20 cases still pending and the Court's most consequential decisions hanging in the balance. Sarah Isger and David French dissect the remaining cases, from the deeply personal Landor v. Louisiana, where a Rastafarian prisoner's religious rights were violated in a brutal head-shaving incident, to the seismic implications of Trump v. Cook and Trump v. Slaughter, which could redefine presidential power over independent agencies. The hosts debate whether the Court will uphold the unitary executive theory, potentially dismantling decades of checks on presidential authority. They also explore the controversial gun ban for drug users in U.S. v. Hamani, where the Court may apply the 'bad man stays in jail' doctrine to justify restrictions on dangerous individuals. Meanwhile, the transgender athlete case, though less talked about in public discourse, could still deliver a 7-2 decision with Justice Kagan crafting a narrow ruling that preserves constitutional protections for marginalized groups. With the Court’s term nearing its end, the hosts warn that even minor delays could signal deep internal divisions — and that the real story may be the silence between the lines. The episode reveals a Court in transition, balancing tradition with bold legal innovation.