Civil Discourse

Nia 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.

Nia 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. 

Nia 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.

Nia 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".

Nia 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.

Nia and Aughie talk about how federal holidays are created. They also explore the idea of new federal holidays, and the consequences of such celebrations.

Nia 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.

Nia and Aughie discuss the creation of a Space Force, as well as how agencies are created and changed in general.

Nia 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.

Nia 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.

In 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.

This episode discusses the annual tradition of the White House Christmas Tree, its origins, history, and current practices.

This 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.

The 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.

This episode continues the discussion of the Commerce Clause, including cases about farmers growing extra crops and grandmothers growing medicinal marijuana. 

This 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 t...

This 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.

This 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 Admin...

This 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).

This 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.

This 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.

This 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 g...

This 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.

This 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.

This 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...