Civil Discourse
238 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 25 ratingsThis podcast uses government documents to illuminate the workings of the American government, and offer context around the effects of government agencies in your everyday life.
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Episodes
Writ of Certiorari
June 19, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 38.8 MBIn this episode, Nia and Aughie discuss the application for a hearing before the Supreme Court, called a writ of certiorari.
Summer of SCOTUS: SCOTUS on Zoom
June 12, 2020 21:00 - 34 minutes - 24.8 MBNia and Aughie discuss the new rules for oral arguments as the Court adjusts to meeting under social distancing guidelines. Mention is made of the problems created by using a zoom-like software to hold arguments (and the flush heard around the legal world).
SCOTUS on Zoom
June 12, 2020 21:00 - 34 minutes - 24.8 MBNia and Aughie discuss the new rules for oral arguments as the Court adjusts to meeting under social distancing guidelines
Marbury Starts Us Off
June 05, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 48.2 MBThis episode explains the case Marbury v Madison, which led to judicial review, and set the tone for the importance of the SCOTUS going forward.
Summer of SCOTUS: Marbury Starts Us Off
June 05, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 48.2 MBNia and Aughie are spending the next several weeks focusing on the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). This episode explains the case Marbury v Madison, which led to judicial review, and set the tone for the importance of the SCOTUS going forward. Learn about the maneuvering of Madison, Marshall, Adams and Jefferson as the third branch of government finds its feet.
President Adjourns Congress
April 24, 2020 16:00 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBNia and Aughie discuss the Constitutional powers granted to the President to adjourn Congress or call a session of Congress. There are very narrow circumstances under which a President may adjourn Congress. Only once has a President called Congress into session.
Russian Politics
April 17, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBNia and Aughie are joined by Dr. Judyth Twigg of the VCU Political Science department. Dr. Twigg specializes in global public health issues and all things Russia, and gives Nia and Aughie a primer on current Russian politics. Later in the episode, Dr. Twigg connects politics to the coronavirus in Russia, and makes some predictions about Russia's political future.
The Gold Standard
April 10, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBNia and Aughie discuss the gold standard, what backs American currency, and the beginnings of the national economy. They also explore the philosophical questions around debt and currency as social interaction.
The Census
April 03, 2020 16:00 - 57 minutes - 42.9 MBNia and Dr. Nina Exner discuss the Census and how the data is used. Nia and Nina discuss the difficulties of counting every American, as well as the ways in which other types of sampling data is taken and how the statistics are adjusted to give an overall picture of the American population.
501 (c) 3 - Taxes for Non-Profits
March 27, 2020 16:00 - 48 minutes - 112 MBNia is joined by guest Dr. Patricia Sobczak to discuss the rules surrounding non-profit organizations and their tax status. Dr. Sobczak also gives advice about giving money to charity.
Price to Be Paid
March 20, 2020 16:00 - 40 minutes - 44.5 MBNia and Aughie discuss civility in political discourse, as it relates to Senator Schumer's remarks regarding the Supreme Court. A plea for more civility follows the discussion of a "price to pay".
McGahn Subpeona
March 13, 2020 16:00 - 41 minutes - 44.1 MBNia and Aughie discuss the House of Representatives' appeal to have a subpoena for former White House Counsel Don McGahn enforced. They ruminate on the future of this situation and the potential affects on House subpoenas in the future.
Creating a Federal Holiday
March 06, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 82.7 MBNia and Aughie talk about how federal holidays are created. They also explore the idea of new federal holidays, and the consequences of such celebrations.
Impeachment
February 28, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBNia and Aughie explore the impeachment process regarding President Trump, and the possible outcomes of the acquittal. A discussion of the peaceful transition of powers ensues.
Space Force
February 21, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 77.2 MBNia and Aughie discuss the creation of a Space Force, as well as how agencies are created and changed in general.
Iowa Caucus
February 14, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBNia and Aughie discuss the messiness of the Iowa Democratic caucus at some length. Aughie offered a historical look at the caucus process, and the primary process in general.
Electoral College
February 07, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 79.5 MBNia and Aughie discuss strategies likely to be employed in the 2020 presidential election. They also explore two cases before the US Supreme Court involving faithless electors, and the potential punishments they might face.
War Powers
January 31, 2020 17:00 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBIn this episode, Nia wants to invade Canada when she is President, and Aughie explains why she might want to get Congressional buy-in for an invasion. We talk about the War Powers Act and the responsibilities and limits of the executive and legislative branches when it comes to military action.
The White House Christmas Tree
December 06, 2019 17:00 - 53 minutes - 39.7 MBThis episode discusses the annual tradition of the White House Christmas Tree, its origins, history, and current practices.
Turkey Pardons
November 29, 2019 17:00 - 50 minutes - 37.3 MBThis episode introduces listener's to the tradition of the president's pardoning of turkeys at Thanksgiving and uses that as a springboard for discussion about presidential powers to issue pardons.
Commerce Clause 3
November 22, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 172 MBThe final episode in this series tackles the Commerce Clause from the standpoint of the Affordable Care Act and the use of federal funds as both a carrot and a stick to induce individuals and states to behave in certain ways.
Commerce Clause 2
November 15, 2019 17:00 - 52 minutes - 121 MBThis episode continues the discussion of the Commerce Clause, including cases about farmers growing extra crops and grandmothers growing medicinal marijuana.
Commerce Clause 1
November 08, 2019 17:00 - 55 minutes - 127 MBThis episode introduces the listeners to the Commerce Clause, including when and why it was included in the Constitution, what it regulates and its importance to the oversight of commercial intercourse in the United States. It also discusses the case of Bibb versus Navajo Freight Lines which challenged Illinois’ right to control the types of mud flaps that truckers could use when driving through the state.
Tell Me About the 25th Amendment
November 01, 2019 16:00 - 58 minutes - 134 MBThis podcast takes a look at the 25th Amendment, which was proposed after the death of President Kennedy and which provides the procedures for replacing the president or vice president in the event of death, removal, resignation, or incapacitation. The four sections of the amendment reviewed with examples.
Rules for the Rulemakers: The Federal Register
October 25, 2019 16:00 - 56 minutes - 129 MBThis podcast reviews the Federal Register (AKA the bible for bureaucrats) which is defined as: "…the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents." Federal agencies must register their intentions with the Federal Registry for their future intentions to comply with the 1946 Administrative Procedures Act (APA). Also, the process of review and analysis of these types...
Down With Broccoli! Executive Orders
October 18, 2019 16:00 - 54 minutes - 125 MBThis podcast reviews the process and internal working of what it takes to issue a presidential executive order and the subsequent issues including potential legal ramifications, injunctions, etc. It also includes examples of executive orders from Bush 43, Barack Obama and Donald Trump (and a fictitious executive order about banning Broccoli).
History of the Post Office
October 11, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 148 MBThis podcast discusses the creation of the post office to unify the country, to create a way to connect sellers and buyers and also to help aid in the migratory patterns of the United States. The Pony Express, the Postmaster General, the Sears catalog, the censorship of mail during war times and the railroads are all part of the story of the US Post Office and its impact on American society.
Getting on a Postage Stamp
October 04, 2019 16:00 - 35 minutes - 80.6 MBThis podcast reviews the process of getting a picture on a postage stamp. It all starts with the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee. According to the committee, you have to be dead and have had some kind of significant impact on American and have a widespread, and positive national appeal (so no serial killers allowed!). Also, copyright issues regarding stamps and their usage are discussed.
Federal Budgeting: Congress' Turn
September 27, 2019 16:00 - 59 minutes - 137 MBThis podcast continues the conversation about the federal budget process but this time focuses on Congress’ role. It follows the path of the budget from the president’s office through Congressional leadership and the budget committee (that agrees to the total amount) and appropriations committee (that figures out who gets what) and how the budget is broken up into several appropriations bills to get it passed.
Federal Budgeting: The President Starts
September 20, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 141 MBThis podcast reviews the federal budget process starting with the president (through the Office of Budget and Management, OMB), the OMB sending out memos to each federal agency for their requirements, the agencies responding and the revised budget going to Congress where it is scrutinized and perceived politically.
Eviction Part 2: the Longer Take
September 13, 2019 16:00 - 42 minutes - 97.8 MBThis podcast is a continuation of the podcast Eviction Part 1: the Short Take. It discusses cases of eviction, how the instability of housing impacts individuals and neighborhoods, section eight and how eviction is just the latest form of dispossession of people. It looks at neighborhoods in Richmond that have seen instability in some form over the last 100 years.
Eviction Part 1: the Short Take
September 13, 2019 16:00 - 13 minutes - 30.2 MBThis podcast discusses the VCU Common Book, Evicted by Matthew Desmond, and the eviction process in general. It covers both the technical definition (the legal process that leads to someone to be physically removed from the place that they rent) as well as the broader “forced moves” that are enacted by landlords without the legal process as well as the creation of the RVA Eviction Lab as a way to research the topic and bring attention to it. Guests are Donna Coghill, Kathryn Howell,...
15 Unicorns Part 2
July 17, 2019 18:15 - 28 minutes - 65.8 MBThis podcast, 15 Unicorns Part 2, is the second in a series of three about the process of becoming a cabinet secretary for the US Government. In this part, the key elements needed to be considered for the nomination are discussed. These include who they know and/or their importance to the ruling party, previous government expertise, connection to the president, and expertise in the field. In addition, the vetting process is reviewed and key benchmarks are noted. Senate Confirmation...
Getting a Bill through Congress Part 1
July 17, 2019 18:15 - 36 minutes - 84.1 MBThis podcast is the first of two that delves into how to get a bill through Congress. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 is used as an example of the process of creating a bill and what happens once it leaves the hands of the creator and moves through committee, to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) where it is scored, to the Congressional Research Service for further research, and then to the committee chair where they can move it forward or “chair it” (AKA 86 it) the bill. Pu...
Getting a Bill through Congress Part 2
July 17, 2019 18:15 - 50 minutes - 115 MBThis podcast is the second of two that delves into how to get a bill through Congress. This podcast picks up where we left off last time – at the point where the Senate majority leader has almost the unilateral discretion to decide when a bill is going to get a vote by the Senate body as a whole. The process then moves to the floor for unlimited debate, aka the filibuster, to not take a vote or make amendments to further negotiate the bill before, if approved, it goes to the house f...
Welcome to Civil Discourse
July 17, 2019 18:15 - 22 minutes - 52.1 MBhttp://guides.library.vcu.edu/discourse
15 Unicorns Part 3
July 17, 2019 18:15 - 35 minutes - 82 MBThis podcast, 15 Unicorns Part 3, is the third in a series of three about the process of becoming a cabinet secretary for the US Government. In this part, the key elements needed to be considered for the nomination are discussed. These include who they know and/or their importance to the ruling party, previous government expertise, connection to the president, and expertise in the field. In addition, the vetting process is reviewed and key benchmarks are noted. Senate Confirmation ...
15 Unicorns Part 1
July 17, 2019 18:15 - 38 minutes - 87.8 MBThis podcast, 15 Unicorns Part 1, is one in a series of three about the process of becoming a cabinet secretary for the US Government. In this part, the key elements needed to be considered for the nomination are discussed. These include who they know and/or their importance to the ruling party, previous government expertise, connection to the president, and expertise in the field. In addition, the vetting process is reviewed and key benchmarks are noted. Senate Confirmation Hearin...