"A Process Girl Living in an Outcomes World"

In this episode of the CSPI Podcast, host Richard interviews Sarah Isker, author of 'Last Branch Standing,' a compelling exploration of the Supreme Court's role as a counter-majoritarian institution in an increasingly outcomes-driven political landscape. Isker, a former public affairs head at the DOJ during the Trump administration, reflects on her journey from a Texas-born wildlife rehabilitator’s daughter to a Harvard Law graduate and government servant. She candidly discusses her complex relationship with Donald Trump—initially a critic, then a reluctant participant in his administration—highlighting the tension between principle and duty. The conversation pivots to her book’s central thesis: the Supreme Court is not a policy-making body but a guardian of process, tasked with determining who decides, especially when Congress and the presidency fail to do their jobs. Isker argues that the court’s legitimacy stems from its insulation from populism and its adherence to constitutional fidelity, contrasting it with the chaotic, emotionally charged dynamics of modern politics. She critiques the decline of institutional incentives in Congress, the distortions of campaign finance reform, and the rise of ideologically driven movements like common good constitutionalism, which she sees as a dangerous fusion of authoritarianism and performative virtue. Despite current pessimism, Isker expresses cautious optimism, pointing to generational shifts in media consumption, the waning appeal of outrage culture, and the emergence of a more thoughtful conservatism rooted in intellectual humility and joy rather than anger.