RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast

What are the effects of AI on the already contentious debate concerning age verification technology? An illustrious panel of experts sit down to discuss the issues surrounding these breakthrough innovations and the effect on children in a technological world. Featuring: Graham Dufault, General Counsel, ACT | The App Association Jennifer Huddleston, Senior Fellow in Technology Policy, Cato Institut...

Join tech and legal experts Prof. Kevin Frazier (University of Texas School of Law), Neil Chilson (Abundance Institute), and Charlie Bullock (Institute for Law & AI) for a breakdown of AI legal policy and regulatory developments in 2025 at the state, federal and executive levels, and the future of AI policy in 2026.

What waters are considered “waters of the United States” or WOTUS under the Clean Water Act (CWA)? This question is critical because it determines which waters are regulated under the statute. The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have struggled to develop a definition that can pass legal muster, in large part because they have tried to regulate waters that go beyond the...

Startups often struggle to balance financial constraints with the pursuit of innovation, raising questions about how they can effectively advocate for themselves within the tech industry. In Washington, D.C. and abroad, various organizations promote the growth of smaller innovators, yet many "little tech" firms still face challenges meeting regulatory requirements. How do regulatory frameworks aff...

Over the past 30 years, the United States has experienced rapid technological change. Yet in recent years, innovation appears to have plateaued. The iPhone of four years ago is nearly identical to today’s model, and the internet has changed little over the same period. Little tech companies play a significant role in generating new ideas and technological development. In this episode, expert...

“Starting small, but aspiring to grow” defines the little tech agenda. Big Tech companies often depend on smaller innovators for key components of manufacturing and new technologies. With this dependence on little tech, what are the “gaps” in its agenda? The U.S. has technological capital waiting to be unlocked by small innovators. What steps can be taken to address this ga...

What priorities should shape U.S. innovation policy at the national level? Historically, the federal government has adopted a "light touch" approach, with legislation often focused on reducing barriers so that smaller entrepreneurs can prioritize innovation over regulatory compliance. Big tech companies often hold a competitive advantage including resources, capital, and political influence that s...

Over the past 25 years, the rapid growth of Big Tech has raised questions about competition, innovation, and the ability of smaller startups to thrive. At the same time, regulatory approaches can create uncertainty that affects entrepreneurs in different ways. With Congress hesitant to act decisively, the debate continues: how can policymakers strike a balance that encourages innovation, ensures f...

Smaller, advanced technology entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the U.S. innovation landscape through what some have called the “Little Tech Agenda.” But what exactly is this agenda, and how might it influence policy debates moving forward? America has long celebrated small-scale innovators, yet questions remain about how regulatory frameworks can support entrepreneurship w...

On July 1st, 2025, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) released three proposed regulatory changes, two of which would have significant implications for federal contractor’s legal obligations surrounding affirmative action and disability inclusion. In this episode, experts discuss the history of both the OFCCP and the now revoked Executive order 11246, the scope of the...

America’s new AI Action Plan — announced by the White House in July and framed by three pillars of accelerating innovation, building national AI infrastructure, and projecting U.S. leadership abroad — promises more than 90 separate federal actions, from fast-tracking approvals for medical-AI tools to revising international export controls on advanced chips. Supporters...

On June 27th, the Supreme Court ruled in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton that Texas’s age-verification law did not violate the First Amendment's Free Speech Clause. Justice Thomas wrote the Court’s opinion, holding that States had a right to protect children from obscenity, even if that meant incidentally burdening adults’ own access to that content. Many are celebrat...

On January 17, the Biden-Harris Administration added 15 new drugs, including Ozempic, to the list of drugs covered by the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Now there are a total of 25 drugs that are covered by the IRA’s requirement that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pays only a “fair price” for selected d...

On April 9th, President Trump signed E.O. 14267, Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers, which “commences the process for eliminating anti-competitive regulations to revitalize the American economy.” The order instructs the agency heads to review all regulations that may stifle economic competition or impose restraints on the free market. Many applaud the order, arguing that it...

On March 20, President Trump signed E.O. 14242, Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities, which directs the Secretary of Education to take steps to “facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, a...

Join us Monday, June 9th, at 12:00pm EST for a timely discussion examining how artificial intelligence is fundamentally upending existing data protection laws and reshaping the debate over privacy protections. The rise of AI has created a tension between unlocking AI’s transformative potential and protecting personal data. As AI systems require vast amounts of data to function effectively, t...

On April 23, President Trump signed E.O. 14281, Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy, declaring that “disparate-impact liability is wholly inconsistent with the Constitution and threatens the commitment to merit and equality of opportunity that forms the foundation of the American Dream.” In this episode, experts explore the origins, evolution, and controversy surrounding...

Shortly after taking office, President Trump reportedly removed two Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) commissioners and the general counsel. While this has effectively left the five-member Commission without a quorum, some legal experts have questioned the limits of presidential power to remove officials from agencies like the EEOC. Now operating under Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, the E...

Short-term rentals—popularized by Airbnb and Vrbo—have been given modern platforms for the customary alternative to hotels: in-home stays. Yet their rapid growth has prompted a wave of local and state regulations at odds with the practice, driven by lobbying from the hotel industry, concerns about housing affordability, neighborhood character, and other regulatory assertions. While som...

President Trump's budget bill, having recently passed the House of Representatives, is headed for the Senate with a proposed 10-year moratorium on AI regulations at the state level. How should lawmakers approach this rapidly-developing technology without stalling US progress in the AI "arms race," while still prioritizing consumers' data privacy and online safety? Dr. Scott Babwah Brennen, Kevin F...

In a little over 100 days, the Department of Government Efficiency, or "DOGE," has fundamentally remade the federal bureaucracy by slimming the workforce and ending federal contracts. So far, its major focus has not been on regulatory issues, but recent executive orders suggest that DOGE may soon set its sights on cutting back excess regulation. When it does, it should consider successful regulato...

Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to regulate emissions that “cause, or contribute to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” The Supreme Court held in Massachusetts v. EPA that greenhouse gases are considered pollutants under the Act, so whether they can be regulated depends on wheth...

Amidst the flurry of new Executive Orders that launched the second Trump Administration, many questions have arisen concerning regulatory action and executive power. Our panelists will focus on the regulatory analysis guidance of Circular A-4, the role of benefit-cost analysis in regulatory and deregulatory actions, and the 10-for-1 Executive Order. Join us on Wednesday, April 23rd, at 11:30am EST...

In March of 2025, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) released a major new publication, “Modernizing the EPA: A Blueprint for Congress.” This book explores numerous issues across the EPA and the statutes that it administers. The podcast discussion focuses primarily on how the EPA’s role has evolved, particularly as it relates to air regulation, including greenhouse gas reg...

In this Tech Roundup Episode of RTP's Fourth Branch podcast, Kevin Frazier and Aram Gavoor sit down to discuss the recent, fast-moving developments in AI policy in the second Trump administration, as well as the importance of innovation and procurement.