More Perfect

14,244
History #15

We’re taught the Supreme Court was designed to be above the fray of politics. But at a time when partisanship seeps into every pore of American life, are the nine justices living up to that promise? More Perfect is a guide to the current moment on the Court. We bring the highest court of the land down to earth, telling the human dramas at the Court that shape so many aspects of American life — from our religious freedom to our artistic expression, from our reproductive choices to our voice in democracy.

Recent Episodes
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Recent Reviews
  • Nicknamed from moths Cali
    What happened to my show
    I’m not sure what happened to the show, but this last season has nothing to do with the Supreme Court. They’re talking about amendments, and singing songs, which is the constitution podcast genre not the Supreme Court. Previous seasons had great in-depth conversations and interviews regarding cases for the Supreme Court. Look back at the episode, The gun show reprise as an example. Cannot recommend. Will not follow any longer.
  • podman166
    Another great NPR show
    In depth examination of various Supreme Court decisions
  • Lilmommma
    We NEED more More Perfect
    We need more. I love this show so much. Ao much history, clarity and wonderful understanding.
  • Jake41812
    Can’t wait for the return
    Best podcast
  • Pat In A Nutshell
    Season 4 a shell of the past
    I understand that it must be getting harder to find compelling content for a show that has multiple episodes, but this podcast used to be about the law, the Supreme Court and analyzing various interesting historical cases. It was not an opinion show with a reporter talking on and on about their life, or interviewing a doctor to get their thoughts on abortions. Please go back to your roots and stick to analyzing cases.
  • J.Avia
    Simply Amazing
    I love this show for it’s ability to distill the history leading up to supreme court decisions—with professionals and/or the people who were directly involved.
  • Family shared - Nik
    An important and compelling series
    For my ears, mind and heart, there’s no better use of my listening time than this show. The topics chosen are of great importance to our country and provide perspective beyond what is usually available in the media. The show should be part of any citizen’s civic education. Julia Longoria and Jad Abumrad are the best of radio and podcasting, and what they produce is consistently of the highest quality and also thought provoking.
  • itsdavie
    Couldn't be more perfect!
    A beautifully crafted series that marries education and entertainment. As one who, too often, avoids anything political in nature I leave feeling inspired to be more active and pay closer attention to the judicial system!
  • Tony leshel
    I hope this show never goes away
    This show is one of the highest quality podcasts you will find. I cannot understate the importance of shows like this. To take on huge confusing issues with such poise and reason is a breath of fresh air in the confusing partisan world today. This show handles very divisive topics and lays out the facts in such a way that is respectful I feel like no matter your party affiliation you could learn so much. Don’t ever change! P.S. Y’all should do a story on what’s happening in Oklahoma regarding the AG suing for using government money to fund private Christian schools.
  • rue sue
    Love the show - more episodes please!
    Loving the new season, especially the Clarence Thomas episode and the one that followed with the two journalists. I think this season especially is doing a great job of balancing historical cases with what is happening today. Great job and great podcast!
  • DaniYogaTT
    Yes please, more Souters!
    OMG , I loved the piece about Justice David Souter. I learned so much. What a perfect episode. The production, the discussion, the interviews were incredible. Chef’s kiss and thank you. This is a top shelf pod!
  • teish8
    Where has the original commitment to Quality gone?
    The first season was some of the most brilliant podcasting I’ve ever heard. It was a must listen. Thoughtfully written with little or no particular agenda— an exceptionally well-researched examination of cases from the Supreme Court. It is now sillier, superficial & baldly biased
  • House of Charlita
    Just so amazingly informative!
    I have learned so much about the Supreme Court, the Constitution and amendments more than I think I ever have from anywhere. What a gift this podcast is to all of us who care about making this country the ideals it claims to be, and we all know isn’t… yet. I don’t know how this doesn’t have all 5 stars! Thank you to the whole team that made it possible you are all American heroes!
  • bainbridge islander
    Whiffed badly on 2023
    Imagine being a journalist with a SCOTUS podcast, being given one of the most controversial and consequential series of decisions in modern history, and then … just pretending most of it didn’t happen. I’ve listened to almost every episode of this podcast over the years, and I kept waiting for them to really dig in to this term. They never did. Huge missed opportunity.
  • Jenniferdd
    What has happened to unbiased journalism????
    No, I do not believe anyone should have broken in the Capital building. No, I am not a right wing extremist, just a normal old middle of the road person who is smack in the middle of the right & left in terms of my political beliefs. Just so that is clear…….. I used to love everything NPR put out. I listened religiously & loved the reporting. Even when occasionally I could tell a reporter may throw out a word or hint of where their loyalties lie, I could overlook it, it didn’t affect the reporting. But now, apparently all of the journalists on all of your shows must’ve all gotten together & said, F it! We’re going to just be super transparent & blatant about our political beliefs, instead of And F the Scobelieve that you all are on some kind of left wing island of some sort? Where you believe that NO ONE who listens to your shows could possibly have any beliefs but the ones that match your own?yThat said, the lady reporter for the last reporter in the story who was subpoenaed to testify to SAY out loud and/or be even SLIGHTLY concerned about the fact that he as an unbiased is FIRST & FOREMOST, supposed to be unbiased to any one side/party. We, the people, should not know, nor be able to tell what your views are, because ALL journalists are supposed to be reporting just FACTS!! No opinions, and CERTAINLY no personal opinions. That makes you no different than anyone else. And I dare say if this had been someone with YOUR beliefs,
  • SophiasChoice
    Great podcast for any Law nerd
    So much history, analysis and storytelling-I’m addicted. Topical, educational and awesome reporting. I would recommend for anyone who like to learn about the US legal process.
  • NeuroMD1994
    Glad this podcast is back in session!
    I am not in a career focused on these issues but find the coverage fascinating. This podcast reviews how the cases are brought before SCOTUS and then what questions are asked and answered. Getting into the way the Justices question the attorneys and some of the thoughts behind decisions and then ramifications, is an interesting experience. So well done and compelling. I love this podcast!
  • won't send with one star
    Too cute for a serious topic
    Season 4 episode 10. Dred Scott case is unlistenable Too cute for a serious topic.
  • Haleynw
    Formerly favorite podcast
    It hurts me to write this because I was SO excited that this podcast was coming back but it’s just…not that good anymore. There’s absolutely no need for reprises every other week (if you didn’t make enough episodes why did you start up again?) and the new episodes aren’t as in depth. I’ll still listen when I have nothing else to listen to, but I’m really hoping there’s some improvement. And no more reprises.
  • eX_L
    there’s nothing else like this show
    A lot of smart people on the airwaves nowadays, but the investigative reporting wrapped in storytelling is primo! most people whose eyes roll in their head whenever they hear about the supreme court and law will immediately be drawn in. keep up the great work guys.
  • Old John Hall
    Micah Loewinger = total nerd
    Would be 5 ⭐️ except for the fact that they continue to give the mic to this nerd named Micah Loewinger. He’s a huge dork, probably a virgin, absolutely unlistenable, just saying. Same goes for his work with ‘On the Media’; I used to love that show but now this nerd ruins it week by week. Sad 😞
  • rezdog
    In regards
    This latest episode reminds me of a very prescient truism. Your slip is showing. Need one say more. In your mind this is only one isn’t it?
  • Hazel-Sun
    So thoughtful but also entertaining
    I appreciate everything about this podcast—the cases chosen, the various perspectives, the fact checks, and the laughs. True journalistic work and educational.
  • Loganfool
    Dates
    I don’t care about your episode or your chapter or whatever I care about the date.
  • Colorado cam
    Dissappointing
    It is clear by the titles and graphics this is a podcast that is communicating an agenda and is not operating as they did with the first fabulous series. Very dissappointing for both the listeners and radio lab who launched the event. I will go back to listening to Oyez and reading the rulings directly from the Supreme Court.
  • newsjunqui
    Court’s Reporters
    Just an outstanding, informative podcast! Kudos to everyone involved for shining the light on the justices’ questionable conduct. Keep up the good work. It is valuable & greatly appreciated.
  • Linkylouhou
    Happy it’s back!
    Thank you for bringing back this show. It’s one of my favorites! It gives such a unique view of inside the court, fascinating.
  • Joblo Nobody
    We really waited four years just for replays
    Show is great. Can’t believe we waited four years just for reprises though. As if we hadn’t listened to them a million times already in their absence.
  • You can't have this name
    Lost all credibility with Clarence X episode.
    What the heck was that fluff piece? How do you blatantly disregard ALL of the worst parts of this man? Who paid you for that show? Shame on you.
  • Maekar_I
    Wish new host would leave her politics out
    The first three seasons are amazing (especially 1 & 2; I wasn’t a huge fan of the songs but it wasn’t awful) but this new season is so disappointing. When Jad Abumrad was doing this show I never once felt like he had an agenda. He kept his own personal feeling out of it entirely. This new host can’t keep her personal politics out of the stories and it may ruin the show, or at least alienate 1/2 of its potential listeners. I’m not even right-wing and it is irritating when you expect to listen to a show that claims to be “reporting” on the past and current SCOTUS cases and stories but has a very obvious left-wing host that tells the “facts” through their own political biases and paints any conservative ruling or judge as the “bad guy(s)”. Again, she may ruing this show.
  • Prudy88
    Amazing podcast
    I listened to this in law school and it was such a great way to learn about certain case law in a different way!
  • jaderavenwest
    Reprise
    This show was so good and still is but , just like the podcast it was born from, just does repeats. I stopped listening to radio lab after it was my favorite since the repeats and now more perfect is doing the same. Makes no sense. Sad.
  • williejake
    The viability
    It’s not “pregnant person” It’s woman
  • Mictaka8
    Becoming Less Perfect
    Just finished listening to The Viability Line. Yikes. What happened to this once awesome podcast? The interviews in this episode dripped with disdain and prejudgment. I felt terrible for the interviewees. The narrative was so heavy-handed and anti-sympathetic that I can’t confidently trust anything it was trying to teach me. I’m disappointed to have ever heard a show like this from More Perfect. It’s a really bad apple. If I expressed all of the missed opportunities and failures of this episode, this comment would be too long to read. I hope this is a short series, because I think I’ll pass on it.
  • seanroacharts
    This is the show I’ve been waiting for.
    I love logical arguments, and I’m fascinated by the highest court in the land. Finally,, a podcast that’s looking at what the Supreme Court is deciding, while also looking at some of its underpinnings. Can’t recommend more highly. Do I wish there were some alternative arguments, yes. Do I feel like most of those would be absurdists that don’t deserve airtime, probably also yes.
  • FreddieFreddie
    The episodes on Thomas were atrocious
    The man had a vision to uphold black nationalism. But had a change of ways to achieve the same? The show implied that that is the case. But it never bothered to explain why every action by the man even just this very same week keeps chipping away his people’s powers. The answer is very simple. This man has been held random by some blackmail for three decades. Occam’s razor.
  • Hetty
    Just so happy y'all are back
    One of the best pods for pols and SCOTUS nerds alike. Mandatory listening, not focused on just the court itself but upon its impact on real humans. Absolutely essential.
  • StupidStarz
    Propaganda
    What started as an informative podcast about the history, function, and landmark rulings of the Supreme Court has devolved into a propaganda series presenting opinion as fact, trying to control the narratives around the Court and telling people what to think. To call this journalism is an insult to the word. In summary, every decision of the Supreme Court that agrees with the opinion of the podcasters is right regardless of the law, and every decision of the Supreme Court that disagrees with the opinion of the podcasters is wrong regardless of the law. Saved you a listen.
  • kylerollins
    Used to be good but way to left leaning
    I used to like listening to this but I can no longer stand the obvious bias and all the jabs they take at anyone who isn’t leaning hard left…
  • Sullie88
    So happy More Perfect is back!
    I was genuinely thrilled when I saw that More Perfect was back, and the team behind it is just as stellar as ever. I could not recommend this podcast more. If you enjoy Law, politics, or history (and especially if more than one of those topics interests you) you simply must check it out!!
  • Jeopardy super fan
    Great episode on Clarence Thomas
    Season four, episode two, about affirmative action has to be the most unbiased reporting I’ve ever heard from a podcast. They interview people from each side of the issue, and the narrator explains that perspective in further detail without making one side sound wrong or ridiculous. Well done.
  • regisnyder
    Season 4: Episode 4
    I don’t recall listening to this episode previously aired back in 2016, but it was very fascinating to listen to the complexities of SCOTUS sending this “case” back to the state for the People to decide when in fact, that is the issue — everyone’s vote isn’t equally counted! But also how that case impacted them.
  • DivaSedona
    Very good pod
    Hooray to hear Tobin’s name at credits of this wonderful episode! This show is always hopeful or at least educational. And I loved Tobin on that npr queer show I’m sad is gone so yAy to hear they (sorry I forget preferred pronouns pod was canceled a bit ago) contributed to this awesome other pod that’s been on hiatus
  • Jmpower11
    Clarence Thomas
    Frankly, I only got half way through the episode before being full up to there with what CT was before he was a bought and paid for shyster with way too much power. Women aren’t safe around him. He is even dangerous to women he will never meet. Do better.
  • Normal American 1776
    Unbelievably Politically Biased
    Sad to watch extreme leftists play the long game by rewriting the past and twisting the facts about the present to destroy the Constitution and our future.
  • Faux0Security
    Repeats.
    Why fun repeats ? If I eat to hear old content it is available. Annoying
  • Boopis
    Leftist Bias
    Far left drivel for the progressive Democrats to use as justification to pack the court in 2025 if… they gain enough votes in 2024. Under a leftist court, the U.S. Constitution will be rendered meaningless because, to them, written words have little meaning and original intent has no relevance. Then the radicals will further consolidate the power to usher in a toxic identity group form of Marxist chaos. Poverty, suffering, inequality, and injustice for the masses. Riches and privileges for the ruling elite. Tyranny of the state. And they just need useless idiots to listen to this podcast and vote in the budding tyrants. Future Lenins, Stalins, and Maos. Just once. Once is enough because they know how to preserve power through corruption, lies and violence.
  • KricketR
    Used to be amazing
    Are used to love this podcast. I recommended it to everyone. I knew as my very favorite podcast. Overtime it has continued to just get more and more and more liberal. I understand who makes the podcast and I expected a little bit more liberal than where I stand, but I just can’t take it anymore.
  • volleyhart14
    Excellent
    Not only one of my absolute favorites but deeply important to doing one’s civic duty. These hosts shine a light on important stories whose legal path have shaped our country. The context helps us to read past headlines to difficult, complex issues. This podcast is democracy in action and a reminder that quality journalism is essential to a free society. Thank you thank you thank you for bringing back More Perfect!
  • Freedomgcam
    Update: how times change…
    I had given this podcast a 5 star review before the pandemic. It used to be a historical account of cases which were very interesting. Now, the progressive left took over and it is just a tool to actively destroy the super court. Disgusted .
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