Jessica Pishko, author of 'The Highest Law in the Land,' dives into the controversial constitutional sheriff movement, revealing how these elected officers wield unchecked power in their counties. She explains the ideological roots of the movement, linked to far-right ideologies and anti-LGBTQ sentiments. The discussion highlights the unique challenges in holding sheriffs accountable and their influence in immigration enforcement during the Trump era. Pishko urges a reassessment of the sheriff's role in modern governance, emphasizing its implications for democracy.
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insights INSIGHT
Sheriffs' Dual Role
Sheriffs are the elected law enforcement officers for counties, overseeing both policing and jail operations.
This dual role gives them significant power within their jurisdictions, especially in suburban and rural areas.
insights INSIGHT
Sheriffs' Entrenched Power
Removing a sheriff is difficult, unlike firing a police chief.
Recalls are rare and often require specific violations, not general dissatisfaction with their performance.
insights INSIGHT
Sheriffs' Unchecked Authority
Some sheriffs see themselves as answering to no one, claiming to be like kings.
This self-perception, coupled with the difficulty of removal, poses a threat to democracy.
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In this book, Jessica Pishko delves into the history and current state of sheriffs in the U.S., exposing how some sheriffs have become aligned with far-right movements, including white nationalists and militia groups. Pishko's research blends investigative reporting, historical analysis, and legal insight to reveal how these 'constitutional sheriffs' claim absolute authority over their jurisdictions, often evading accountability and promoting ideologies opposed to civil rights and democratic principles.
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Brad is joined by first-time guest Jessica Pishko, author of the book 'The Highest Law in the Land.' The discussion centers around the constitutional sheriff movement, highlighting how sheriffs, despite being elected law enforcement officers, often act as unaccountable power brokers within the counties they serve. The conversation covers the sheriffs' role in both law enforcement and detention, their hard-to-remove positions, and the influence of far-right ideologies, particularly the constitutional sheriffs led by Richard Mack. This episode also touches upon the involvement of the Claremont Institute with sheriffs, propagandist roles, and the significant racial and political implications of their actions and ends with a call to reassess the necessity and role of county sheriffs in modern American governance.
Straight White American Jesus 