Sorkin-character-come-to-life Sarah Isgur joins us to talk courts, law, and culture war. Sarah co-hosts the (much beloved) Advisory Opinions podcast, has managed multiple political campaigns and worked as DOJ spokesperson during the early days of the Trump administration. We talk about political bravery and cowardice; about the illusion of progress and the “vanity of the present”; and about Sarah’s second-guessing her logic for joining the Trump administration. Then at last we get good and wonky, exploring the Supreme Court's 3:3:3 make-up, what it means for the court’s legitimacy, and how everything is made dumber by the culture war.
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On the agenda:
-Real-life Aaron Sorkin character [0:00-6:11]
-Justices: they're people, too [6:51 - 13:46]
-A Political Awakening Rooted in Chaos and Recounts [14:01 - 20:25]
-The World of Campaigning [20:26 - 24:01]
-When Trump Won [24:02 - 31:23]
-Polling Problems [31:24 - 35:12]
-Joining, and leaving, the Trump Administration [35:13 - 45:13]
-The 3:3:3 Court (In Scalia and Kennedy's wakes) [45:14 - 1:01:29]
-The Dilemmas facing the Swinging Three [1:01:30 - 1:10:48]
-The Culture War in the Court [1:10:49 - 1:26:36]
-Blindspots on each side [1:26:37 - 1:33:04]
Uncertain Things is hosted and produced by Adaam James Levin-Areddy and Vanessa M. Quirk. For more doomsday ruminations, subscribe to: uncertain.substack.com.
Can the Supreme Court Survive the Culture War? (w/ Sarah Isgur)