Strict Scrutiny Our Favorite Things, 2025
Ellen Weintraub, former Federal Election Commission chair, joins to share her insights on agency independence and campaign finance. She critiques current Supreme Court arguments that threaten independent agencies, warning of dire regulatory consequences. Ellen also discusses the complexities of campaign finance, emphasizing misunderstandings in the courts. Amidst her serious topics, she shares her favorite books and travel tips, blending expertise with a personal touch.
01:15:29
Stretching For Sleep And Pet Care
- Use Peloton evening stretch classes, especially Maddie Magiacomo's, to relax and improve sleep with hip openers.
- For dogs, try Farmhounds treats and Badlands Ranch food as highly recommended pet options.
Personalized Bobbleheads And Action Figures
- Kate showed off personalized bobbleheads and action-figure family dolls as cherished desk decorations.
- She uses these custom items to create a playful shelf alongside famous jurists and presidents.
Readable Vision And Writing Tools
- Try Caddis readers for fashionable reading glasses with progressive options if you need magnification.
- Use Blackwing Matte pencils for writing and drafting with a soft, pleasurable lead.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Holiday tradition and favorite things explained
02:54 • 56sec
Leah and Kate share wanted items
03:50 • 6min
Melissa and Jordan on beauty and hair picks
10:18 • 1min
Needs: wellness, pets, and bobbleheads
11:33 • 4min
Ad break
15:29 • 1min
Reading glasses, pencils, and rosé
16:59 • 2min
Jordan's concert and headphone wishes
19:15 • 3min
Clothing picks: posture bras and sustainable workwear
22:11 • 4min
Casual wardrobe: yak wool, Uniqlo tees, and beanies
26:35 • 2min
Jordan doubles down on merch and jeans
28:28 • 2min
Fiction picks and a rant about Wisconsin justices
30:31 • 3min
Nonfiction favorites from hosts
33:50 • 4min
Jordan endorses Lawless and other books
37:57 • 5min
Ad break
42:43 • 2min
Year highlights, live shows, and personal milestones
44:51 • 6min
New year goals and resisting the administration
50:54 • 4min
Ad break
55:10 • 3min
Interview: Ellen Weintraub on agency independence
58:11 • 6min
Weintraub on campaign finance realities
01:04:33 • 3min
Firing experience and agency decapitation
01:07:10 • 5min
Ellen's favorite books and travel advice
01:12:10 • 4min
Outro
01:16:04 • 2min
#3802
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
Who Is Government?
Michael Lewis
#3220
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter
Ryan Mac
Kate Conger
Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter chronicles the tumultuous takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk, detailing the financial, social, and political consequences of his actions.
The book, based on over 150 hours of interviews and extensive research, paints a vivid picture of Musk's volatile leadership, the mass layoffs, policy changes, and the resurgence of hate speech and misinformation on the platform.
It also explores the broader implications of Musk's actions on public discourse, democracy, and the intersection of tech, wealth, and far-right politics.
#705
• Mentioned in 47 episodes
Lawless
The Miseducation of America’s Elites
Ilya Shapiro
In 'Lawless: The Miseducation of America’s Elites,' Ilya Shapiro examines the transformation of higher education and legal education in the United States.
He argues that prestigious law schools have been overtaken by radical student movements and biased faculty, leading to a decline in critical thinking, logical argumentation, and respect for opposing views.
Shapiro draws from his personal experiences, including a controversial tweet that led to calls for his firing from Georgetown Law, to illustrate the institutional weaknesses and ideological capture of America’s law schools.
The book warns that this trend has significant implications for the future of the legal profession, government, and society as a whole.
#6760
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
The Wedding People
Alison Esbach
#10200
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Bad Law
10 bad laws that are ruining the country
Ellie Mystal
#12853
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
V.E. Schwab
#6650
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
The Radical Fund
How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America
John Fabian Witt
string
#3946
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
God of the Woods
Liz Moore
#10471
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
This Is Happiness
Niall Williams
This novel by Niall Williams is a poignant and enchanting portrayal of life in the small village of Faha.
The story revolves around Noel Crowe, a 17-year-old former seminary student, and his encounters with Christy, an electrical worker with a long-lost love.
The narrative delves into the community's idiosyncrasies, traditions, and the profound changes brought about by the introduction of electricity.
It emphasizes the importance of living in the present, recognizing the beauty and joy in everyday moments, and the role of stories in shaping our lives.
The book is characterized by its lyrical prose, meandering narrative, and a deep appreciation for the human experience.
#18810
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Isola
Isabel Abedi
#158
• Mentioned in 135 episodes
The Power Broker
Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
Robert Caro
This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time.
It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks.
The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected.
It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power.
The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics.
#4294
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Heart the Lover
Lily King
#17979
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Charles Sumner, Conscience of a Nation
Zaakir Tameez
#823
• Mentioned in 43 episodes
The Sirens' Call
How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource
Chris Hayes
In The Sirens' Call, Chris Hayes delves into the impact of the attention economy on our lives, politics, and society.
He argues that the constant assault from attention-seeking technologies and media has fundamentally altered our ability to focus and has significant implications for our mental health, social structures, and political landscape.
Hayes draws on a wide range of sources, including philosophers, media theorists, and psychologists, to provide a holistic framework for understanding and reclaiming control over our attention in a world dominated by 'attentional warlordism'.
#13814
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The History of Sound
Ben Shattuck
#23689
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Jane Austen's Bookshelf
A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend
Rebecca Romney
#16371
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Atmosphere
A Love Story
Taylor Jenkins Reid
No description available.
#5130
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
Kiran Desai
#16902
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Black in Blues
How a Color Tells the Story of My People
Imani Perry
In this book, Imani Perry explores the intricate relationship between the color blue and Blackness, delving into historical, cultural, and personal aspects.
She examines the dyed indigo cloths of West Africa, the characterization of dark-skinned people as 'Blue Black,' the American art form of blues music, and her own personal experiences.
The book is a poignant, spellbinding, and original examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology.
#4966
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Matriarch
Tina Knowles
No description available.
#12915
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Summer Storms
Sarah McLean
#28686
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Black Wolf
Louise Penny
#24833
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
Author Name Not Mentioned
#9530
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Martyr!
a Novel
Kaveh Akbar
#22583
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Judi Dench: Shakespeare, The Man Who Pays the Rent
Brendan O'Hare
#37955
Just Shine! How to Be a Better You
Sonia Sotomayor
#92964
The Book Club for Troublesome Women
Marie Bostwick
It’s that time of year when Leah, Melissa, and Kate put on their influencer hats and recommend the things that made their days a little brighter in 2025. This year, they’re joined by two special guests: rockstar Strict Scrutiny intern Jordan Thomas to share some of his picks, and former Chair of the Federal Election Commission Ellen Weintraub to discuss two of democracy’s favorite things—independent agencies and the regulation of money in politics.
Favorite things:
- WANT
-
NEED
- Leah: Peloton stretching classes, Farmhounds dog treats; Badlands Ranch dog food
- Kate: custom bobbleheads & action figures, Lilly Allen’s tour, Strict Scrutiny’s upcoming West Coast tour
- Melissa: Caddis readers, Blackwing Matte pencils, As Ever Rosé
-
Jordan: 2026 Evanescence and Korn tours, these headphones
- WEAR
-
READ
- Leah: The Wedding People, Alison Espach; Julie Anne Long’s Pennyroyal Green series; Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflowers series; These Summer Storms, Sarah MacLean; Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, V. E. Schwab; The God of the Woods, Liz Moore; Book of the Month
- Kate: The Power Broker, Robert Caro; Who Is Government? Michael Lewis; Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter, Kate Conger & Ryan Mac; The Radical Fund, John Fabian Witt; Isola, Allegra Goodman; Heart the Lover, Lily King; Martyr! Kaveh Akbar; The History of Sound, Ben Shattuck
- Melissa: Matriarch, Tina Knowles; Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, Imani Perry; Jane Austen's Bookshelf, Rebecca Romney; Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid; The Book Club for Troublesome Women, Marie Bostwick; The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Kiran Desai
- Jordan: Lawless, Leah Litman; The Sirens' Call, Chris Hayes; Bad Law, Elie Mystal; Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation, Zaakir Tameez; Just Shine! How to Be a Better You, Sonia Sotomayor
- Ellen: Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell Mysteries; Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson; The Black Wolf, Louise Penny; Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, Judi Dench; This Is Happiness, Niall Williams; Elizabeth Strout; Amor Towles
Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
- 3/6/26 – San Francisco
- 3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/events
Order your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes