First Branch Forecast Podcast

Daniel Schuman: June 30th marks one year on the job. How are things going? Chief Michael Sullivan: Terrific. This is an incredible organization with an incredible mission, much different than other jobs that I’ve had in major municipal cities. Really focusing on what we do here, which is protecting members, protecting this place, and protecting the legislative process. And that protective mission-...

Daniel and I recorded this conversation with Soren Dayton, the Director of American Governance at the Foundation for American Innovation, and James Wallner, non-resident fellow at FAI, about their paper “ Rebuilding Congress from Within, How Factions Facilitate Deliberation and Lawmaking. ” It posits a view we share that too much of what goes on in Congress now is directed by leadership, to the de...

This transcript has been lightly edited for readability. Daniel Schuman: So, we’re here today with Brian Baird, former member of Congress from 1999 to 2011, and as far as I know, the only clinical psychologist to serve in Congress in modern times. Rep. Brian Baird: Well, actually, Ted Strickland served as well. He was a psychologist as well, but think he had a slightly different degree. Schuman: W...

Interview: Comptroller General Gene Dodaro Get full access to First Branch Forecast at firstbranchforecast.substack.com/subscribe