Talking “Heightened Scrutiny” with Sam Feder and Amy Scholder
Eric Newman speaks with director Sam Feder and producer Amy Scholder about their new documentary “Heightened Scrutiny.”
By LARB Radio HourAugust 8, 2025
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Talking “Heightened Scrutiny” with Sam Feder and Amy Scholder
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Eric Newman speaks with director Sam Feder and producer Amy Scholder about their new documentary Heightened Scrutiny. The film follows ACLU attorney Chase Strangio’s journey to the Supreme Court in United States v. Skrmetti, which sought to overturn Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth. Alongside Strangio’s work on the case, interviews with journalists, activists, and others reveal how media coverage of trans issues by publications including the New York Times have fueled legislative attacks against trans people as well as a burgeoning anti-trans cultural turn fed by disinformation. Feder and Scholder’s documentary offers a sobering look at the current assault on trans rights.
LARB Contributor
The LARB Radio Hour is hosted by Eric Newman, Medaya Ocher, and Kate Wolf.
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