Strict Scrutiny – “Our Favorite Things, 2025”

Dec 22, 2025 | Hosted by Leah Litman, Kate Shaw, Melissa Murray | Guest: Ellen Weintraub

Episode Overview

Strict Scrutiny’s annual “Favorite Things” episode returns, blending Supreme Court analysis and legal culture with irreverent gift ideas, personal recommendations, and a cathartic look back at a tumultuous year. Hosts Leah Litman, Kate Shaw, and Melissa Murray—joined by intern Jordan Thomas and special guest Ellen Weintraub (former FEC commissioner)—swap their favorite wants, needs, reads, and wears, and reflect on 2025’s legal and political chaos with humor and solidarity. The episode ends with a sobering yet hopeful discussion about court decisions threatening agency independence and campaign finance regulation.

The “Favorite Things” Roundtable

[03:34] Structure of the Favorites Exchange

• Categories: Something you want, need, wear, and read.
• Tone: Fun, irreverent, often court-related banter.
• Guest: Jordan Thomas joins the pod on-mic for the first time as “one of our favorite things.”

1. Something You Want

[05:10 – 11:32]

Leah Littman

• Cozy Earth Cuddle Bubble Blanket: “My dog and I fight over it. Seriously, Cozy Earth, if you’re listening—Stevie should be a model for you.” [05:20]
• Jones Road Tinted Moisturizer: “Feels more like moisturizer and not oily. I just love it.” [05:41]

Kate Shaw

• Aventura Electric Scooter: “Think Vespa, but off brand … fully electric. It’s kind of an amazing way to get around NYC.” [06:06]
• ‘Grüns’ Gummy Vitamins: “You get to eat a lot of vitamins in the form of gummy bears daily.” [07:11]
  • Fun moment: Melissa recounts suffering a headache post-gummy, joking about being “pushed” to try them. “She pushed them on me so hard, I thought it was Molly or something.” – Melissa [08:28]

Melissa Murray

• True Botanicals Skincare: “Low-key sure this is what is keeping Samuel Alito looking fresh faced. Or maybe it’s just hate.” [09:20]
• e.l.f. Liquid Camo Blush: “Looks like a really natural flush, like you were just embarrassed. Highly recommend.” [10:18]
• Cozy Earth Blanket: Supports Leah’s pick; her dog, Cole, also fights for it.

Jordan Thomas

• Tea Tree Leave-In Conditioner (for his afro): “Keeps it shining and healthy. For those with long, curly hair—it’s great.”
• Pink Moisturizer: “I have an afro. The only people I’d take hair advice from are Jordan Thomas and Lisa Barlo.” – Leah [11:13]
• Melissa recommends Curlmix for curly hair.

2. Something You Need

[11:33 – 21:56]

Leah Littman

• Peloton App Stretching Classes: “Peloton’s evening stretch classes with Maddie Maggiacomo are so helpful … help me relax and fall asleep.” [11:33]
• FarmHounds Dog Treats & Badlands Ranch Food: “My dog is obsessed.” [12:12]

Kate Shaw

• Personalized Bobblehead (gift from Leah): “On my shelf with John Paul Stevens, Souter, Obama, and now myself. That’s the Court I dream about.” [12:52]
• Lily Allen Tickets & Leah Littman Custom T-Shirts: “Strictrudi all along,” limited edition at live shows. [14:46]

Melissa Murray

• Caddis Readers: “Macular degeneration is real … got fashionable, progressive readers so I can read again.” [16:30]
• Blackwing Matte Pencils: “It’s like a really soft lead. I love writing with these pencils.” [17:30]
• As Ever Rosé (Meghan Markle’s wine): “Surprisingly good wine you can buy on the Internet.” [18:33]

Jordan Thomas

• Concert Tickets: “Evanescence just announced a new tour! Also Sleep Token, Spirit Box, Korn—the next year will be amazing for live shows.” [19:00]
  • Debate over whether Evanescence is “hard rock” spawns playful generational banter among hosts.
• Marathon Behind-the-Head Headphones: “For those with big hair—these don’t mess up your ‘do. I badly need a new pair.” [21:32]

3. Something to Wear

[21:56 – 29:30]

Leah Littman

• Forme Posture Bra (as worn by Taylor Swift): “Helps my back and posture, really relieves back pain.” [21:56]
• Argent Workwear: “Fun, bright, makes work dressing enjoyable.” [22:46]
• The RealReal Outlet: “Great for secondhand finds.”
• “Anything Melissa recommends, I buy and end up loving. She is my worst enabler.” [22:57]

Melissa Murray

• Quince Yak Wool Sweater: “Was a skeptic, but it’s so soft and durable. Don’t sleep on it.” [24:07]
• Uniqlo White Tee: “Great close collar, very affordable.”
• Clearly Collective Collegiate Scarves: “If you’re an alum, there’s a scarf in your school’s colors.”
• Way Soft Cashmere Beanie (Amazon): “Oversized, doesn’t mess up my pixie cut.”

Kate Shaw

• Leah Littman-designed merch & onesies: “Half the shirts I wear are designed by Leah.” [26:37]
• Cozy Earth Wide-Leg Pants: “So soft and comfortable, I wear them everywhere—even out of the house.”

Jordan Thomas

• Strict Scrutiny & Crooked gear: "It’s basically all I wear these days. Also want Crooked gear from CrookedCon." [28:12]
• Mavi Jeans: “Love dark wash jeans, they fit great.” [28:32]
• Hosts poke fun at Jordan’s “old soul”/90s taste; Jordan jokes: “Basically, I’m a 50-year-old woman.” [30:04]

4. Something to Read

[31:11 – 42:20]

Leah Littman (recommends fiction only)

• Wedding People (Alison Espach), Julianne Long’s Pennyroyal Green series, Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflower series, Sarah MacLean’s Summer Storms, V.E. Schwab’s Bury My Bones in the Midnight Soil, Liz Moore’s God of the Woods
• Book of the Month club.
• Bonus: “Conservative justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court are writing ‘fiction’—hallucinating Supreme Court quotes.”
  • Quote: “The majority nevertheless entertains yet another kick at the redistricting cat. Unlike Schrödinger’s cat, this one most assuredly has been dead for years. I dissent.” – Justice Rebecca Bradley [32:41]

Kate Shaw

• Nonfiction:
  • The Power Broker (Robert Caro) – “It’s amazing. Just so fucking long.” [33:47]
  • Who Is Government? (Michael Lewis), Character Limit (Kate Conger & Ryan Mack), The Radical Fund (John Witt; guest on show).
• Fiction:
  • Isola (Allegra Goodman), Heart the Lover (Lily King), Martyr (Kaveh Akbar), The History of Sound (Ben Shattuck): “I’m not a short story fan, but I adored every one in this collection.” [34:51]

Melissa Murray

• Nonfiction:

  • Matriarch (Tina Knowles) – “Not just a Destiny’s Child confessional; serious Black history.”
  • Black and Blues (Imani Perry): “A wonderful meditation on the blues, color, and identity.” [34:51]
  • Jane Austen’s Bookshelf (Rebecca Romney): “All the books Jane Austen and her sister used to read ... that’s my energy.” [35:44]

• Fiction:

  • Atmosphere (Taylor Jenkins Reid): “Takes place in the 1980s, just as the space shuttle program starts.”
  • The Book Club for Troublesome Women (Marie Bostwick): “Thought it was about us, but it wasn’t. Enjoyed it anyway.”
  • The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny (Karan Desai): “Shortlisted for the Booker Prize. I think it should have won.” [37:15]

Jordan Thomas

• Top pick: Lawless by Leah Littman – “Funny, accessible, brings my parents up to speed on the Court … pop culture and law perfectly blended.” [38:01]
• Others:
  • The Sirens Call (Chris Hayes) – “Phenomenal mix of digital culture and law.”
  • Bad Law (Elie Mystal): “If you liked Allow Me to Retort, this is a follow-on, and it’s very funny.”
  • Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation (Zakir Tammis): “A wonderful new look at an overlooked figure of Reconstruction.”
  • Children’s: Just Shine (Sonia Sotomayor): “Her latest children’s book teaching empathy and brilliance.”

Year-in-Review & Goals for 2026

Highlights

[44:32 – 49:26]

• Live shows and CrookedCon were major highlights for all, with shoutouts to the energetic, supportive audiences (“I loved meeting all of you.” – Leah Littman [44:32]), and the Argent team for live show wardrobe.
• Personal highlights: Sarah, Leah’s dog, Cole’s “jingle bombing,” meeting hosts’ and Jordan’s parents in person.
• Backstage shenanigans: Learning definitions (“‘Just the tip’—we’re all here to learn and it’s fine.” – Melissa [46:34])
• Kate: Pride in government workers and students who attended live shows; “ enormous relief and comfort” in working with the podcast team during dark times.
• Jordan: “Top highlight—working with the show” as intern; graduating law/business school: “Once I submit my last exam on December 22, I will forever be done with being a student.”

Goals & Hopes for 2026

[50:35 – 54:38]

• Leah: “I want to review Sam Alito’s book.” “I want to read uncensored versions of Elena Kagan’s dissents.” “If there’s a CrookedCon next year, I hope it feels as energizing as this year.”
• Kate: Wants Justice Kagan to “write a fiction book—not a legal memoir. She’d slay in that genre.”
• Melissa (sober mood): “My goal is literally just surviving this craptastic administration. As a person of color, it’s become harder to imagine you’re insulated from the crap they’re doing ... it feels really unsafe and that lack of safety feels uncertain.” [51:40]
• Jordan: “More resistance, more energy … the chaos and exhaustion is the point, but we have to keep raising our voices.” Praises lower-court judges (“bulwarks of constitutionalism”). Highlights Judge William Young’s opinion upholding free speech for detained non-citizens: “Alone, all I have is my sense of duty, but together … we have the Constitution.” [54:38]

SCOTUS Year-End Review: SCOTUS vs. Agencies & Campaign Finance

Special Guest: Ellen Weintraub
[57:49 – 73:38]

• Regret and Alarm:

  • Ellen: “It was not a particularly uplifting week for me.” The Slaughter and NRSC arguments are “about the power of big money in our government and whether government will take real steps to push back.” [58:40]
  • “Yes, agencies are supposed to counterbalance billion dollar industries—that’s the point!”

• Campaign Finance Realities:

  • “The Justices ... don’t know much about how campaign finance works,” noting their belief that large donations circumventing limits are “speculative” is just untrue. “It is completely untethered to reality.” [61:37]

• Agency Decapitation:

  • “It’s a death by decapitation of various agencies, including the FEC ... down to two commissioners, no quorum … If the President can just fire people willy-nilly, the agency can’t enforce, can’t interpret, can’t do its jobs.” [67:48]
  • “All of the Republican commissioners left this year. One joined the administration, one went private, one ran for Congress, then I was fired.”

• Firing Story:

  • “I got an email: ‘You are removed, effective immediately. Thank you for your service.’ The letter was dated a week earlier and CC’d to staff. They deactivated my badge, email, databases immediately.” [67:28]

• Broader Implications:

  • “Unfettered presidential control over independent agencies will mean a loss of expertise and independence. Why would anyone build a career in public service if there’s no job security?” [64:56]
  • Melissa: “The point about dismantling by decapitation … they’re not going to enforce the law because there’s not even going to be an FEC.” [70:20]

Ellen Weintraub’s Favorite Things (Rec Lists)

[71:47 – 73:41]

• For Leah:
  • Veronica Speedwell series (Deanna Raybourn) – “Just very diverting.”
  • Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
  • Latest Louise Penny – The Black Wolf
  • Judi Dench memoir – The Man Who Pays the Rent (audio)
  • Neil Williams – This is Happiness
  • Anything by Amor Towles, Elizabeth Strout
• Recommendation: “Get out in the fresh air—went on a safari with my daughter, very special.” [73:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He pushed them on me so hard, I thought it was Molly or something.” – Melissa on Kate giving her gummy vitamins [08:28]
• “All I have is my sense of duty; together we have the Constitution.” – Quoting Judge William Young [54:24]
• “Cozy Earth, if you're listening—Stevie should be a model for you.” – Leah [05:22]
• “My goal is literally just surviving this craptastic administration.” – Melissa [51:40]
• “The Justices ... don’t know much about how campaign finance works ... It is completely untethered to reality.” – Ellen Weintraub [61:37]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:34] – Roundtable format explained/Introductions
• [05:10] – “Something You Want” segment (gifts, beauty, and cozy picks)
• [11:32] – “Something You Need” (gadgets, tickets, health and reading aids)
• [16:30] – Melissa’s practical needs: readers, pencils, Meghan Markle’s rosé
• [21:56] – “Something to Wear” (fashion, podcast merch, 90s nostalgia)
• [31:11] – “Something to Read” (fiction, nonfiction, infamous state court dissents)
• [44:32] – Year in review/highlights (CrookedCon, live shows, dog/cat chaos)
• [50:35] – Goals for 2026 (Kagan fiction wish, survival, resistance)
• [57:49] – Ellen Weintraub on SCOTUS, agency independence, and the FEC
• [71:47] – Ellen’s favorite things book recommendations

Closing

The hosts preview 2026’s live shows in San Francisco (Mar 6) and LA (Mar 7), joke about defying dress codes (“we might do the whole show in our pajamas just to spite Sean Duffy” [74:31]), and remind listeners to get tickets on Crooked’s website.

Summary Takeaways

• Irreverent, personal, insightful: The team keeps legal commentary relatable—and often hilarious—by framing it through the lens of gift guides, beauty/skincare, fashion choices, pet care, and self-care.
• Defiant optimism: Despite grim legal and political realities (especially for people of color and advocates of agency independence), the hosts and guests emphasize resistance, care for each other, and the continuing power of institutional and popular pushback.
• Insider expertise: The pod delivers both the joys of favorite socks and the consequences of agency decapitation with equal vigor.

Recommended for: Supreme Court watchers, law students, and anyone who wants legal insight interspersed with book and blush recommendations, curly hair advice, and heartfelt community-building in hard times.