Matthew S. Schwartz

About

I'm a reporter with Bloomberg Law in Washington, D.C., where I host and produce UnCommon Law, a narrative audio program now in its eleventh season. My reporting has won the ABA Silver Gavel Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, the National Headliner Award, two Jesse H. Neal Awards, and more.

Before Bloomberg, I produced stories for NPR's All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Morning Edition and Hidden Brain. I also reported hundreds of spots for NPR's hourly newscast. At WAMU 88.5, I co-created Unprecedented, a podcast about the ordinary people behind landmark First Amendment cases at the Supreme Court, with appearances by NPR's Nina Totenberg. I also co-founded Booksmart Studios, the first podcast studio launched in partnership with Substack, where I served as executive producer.

In a past life, I was a telecommunications attorney representing major carriers, broadcasters and cable companies. I hold a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan. In a past life, I was a telecommunications reporter covering the intersection of technology and policy. Go Blue!

Matthew Schwartz accepting the Edward R. Murrow Award from David Muir

Accepting the Edward R. Murrow Award from ABC's David Muir

Bloomberg Law

UnCommon Law

ABA Silver Gavel Award Winner

Each season of UnCommon Law takes listeners inside a different corner of the legal system through deeply reported, scripted episodes with original interviews, archival audio, and cinematic sound design.

Season 11: Justice Transformed Current Season

An investigation into the transformation of the Department of Justice. Featuring interviews with former Attorneys General, career prosecutors who resigned on principle, and legal scholars debating the limits of presidential power over federal law enforcement.

Recent Seasons

The Rise and Fall of Agency Power A fishing boat captain challenged a federal regulation he couldn't afford. The Supreme Court used his case to blow up four decades of administrative law. The story of Chevron deference, from creation to destruction. 🏆 National Headliner Award Winner · ABA Silver Gavel Finalist: Special Distinction AI and the Law, Explained AI is trained on stolen work, generates art no one can copyright, and might replace the lawyers arguing about it. Six episodes on what happens when the law meets a technology it doesn't understand. 🏆 Neal Award Winner · SPJ Dateline Finalist · ABA Silver Gavel Finalist Inside the FTC's Proposed Ban on Noncompetes The FTC proposed the most expansive rule in its history: ban every noncompete clause in America. Workers cheered. Businesses panicked. Then someone asked: can the FTC even do that? 🏆 Neal Award Winner · SPJ Dateline Award Winner · ABA Silver Gavel Finalist The End of Affirmative Action Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court said race could be a factor in admissions. Then one man made it his mission to tear that ruling down. Hear from the people fighting for its survival and for its demise. 🏆 ABA Silver Gavel Award Winner

Listen

Spotify Bloomberg Law Apple Podcasts

WAMU 88.5 / NPR

Unprecedented

Silver Gavel Finalist

Unprecedented tells the raw and emotional stories of ordinary people who, while pursuing justice all the way to the Supreme Court, defined the limits of our First Amendment rights. Co-hosted with Michael Vuolo, with special appearances by NPR's Nina Totenberg.

All Episodes

A Thousand Ways to Kill You (Elonis v. United States) A man posted violent fantasies about his estranged wife on Facebook and called them rap lyrics. The Supreme Court had to decide: when does a threat become a true threat? ABA Silver Gavel Finalist.

Bodily Harm Is Coming (Virginia v. Black) The KKK, cross-burning, and an African-American ACLU lawyer who defended their right to do it. A case about the line between intent and historical perception.

Drugs for a Deity (Morse v. Frederick) A student unfurled a 14-foot "BONG HiTS 4 JESUS" banner at an Olympic torch relay. His principal suspended him. The Supreme Court drew a new line on student speech.

The Most Moderate Protest (Tinker v. Des Moines) Two teenagers wore black armbands to school to protest Vietnam. The Supreme Court decided whether free speech extends to public school students.

Middle Finger to God (Snyder v. Phelps) When the Westboro Baptist Church picketed a Marine's funeral, his father sued. Does the First Amendment protect speech designed to inflict maximum pain?

Terry Abrahamson's Dirty Joke (Hustler v. Falwell) A vulgar magazine parody of a famous preacher. How far does the right to mock public figures extend?

Not Alone in My Own Body (NIFLA v. Becerra) California required religious pregnancy centers to post information about abortion services. The centers sued, arguing compelled speech violated the First Amendment.

Live Free...or Try (Wooley v. Maynard) A Jehovah's Witness in New Hampshire covered the "Live Free or Die" motto on his license plate and went to jail for it. The Supreme Court asked: can the government force you to speak?

Listen

WAMU NPR Apple Podcasts

More Work

WAMU 88.5

What's With Washington?

A listener-driven series exploring the quirks, history, and hidden stories of the Washington, D.C. region.

NPR

All Things Considered

Produced feature stories and reported hundreds of spots for NPR's flagship programs, reaching millions of listeners nationwide. Ranging from the serious to the silly.

WAMU 88.5 / Metro Connection

Feature Reporting

Award-winning features on the Washington region. Stories on suicide prevention, marijuana decriminalization, charter school life, and the African-American ring shout tradition. Rebroadcast nationally on WBUR's Here and Now.

Browse stories →

Slate · Detroit News · Communications Daily

Print & Digital

Written journalism spanning technology policy, culture, and law. From daily tech reporting at Communications Daily to feature writing at Slate and The Detroit News.