The FedSoc Films Podcast

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Mark Strand, a professor of Legislative Affairs at George Washington University and the former president of the Congressional Institute, joined us to discuss how Omnibus bills came to be, the importance the Founding Fathers placed on this congressional responsibility, and what the budget approval process looks like today, as Congressional spending conti...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Andrew Lagrone, a Nebraska native and former state senator, joined us to give an inside look into Nebraska’s nonpartisan state legislature, offering his insights into how this American experiment has resulted not in a modern democratic institution but a “medieval court,” divorced from the will of the people. Thanks again for listening...

In this Part 1 episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, John Richter, a partner at the law firm King & Spalding and a former United States Attorney, joined us to break down how the notion of a “right to privacy” has impacted third-party data, how this issue has played out in the courts, and how access to digital data impacts the work of law enforcement. Thanks again for lis...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Kelly Deere, Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School, joined us to discuss how different states and governors utilized – or weaponized – emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the use-cases for when these authoritative actions are deemed necessary. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review u...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Erik Jaffe, a partner at Schaerr Jaffe, joined us for a “radical” discussion on when the government has the power to speak, when they can and cannot use it to persuade, and when in some cases, they enter the realm of propaganda. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast pla...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Laura Ebke, a Senior Fellow at the Platte Institute and former Nebraska state Senator, joined us to explore the unique political structure of the Nebraska state legislature, the future and longevity of this American experiment, and her experience navigating this one-of-a-kind political environment during her time as Senator. Thanks again for listening t...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Amy Peikoff, Chief Policy Officer at BitChute, joined us to discuss the biggest questions surrounding the concept of a “right to privacy” and possible solutions as it relates to the Third Party Doctrine. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Mark Strand, a professor of Legislative Affairs at George Washington University and the former president of the Congressional Institute, joined us to discuss his perspective on how well the Omnibus process works, some possible alternatives to improve the budget approval process, and what this core function of Congress could look like in the next 20 year...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Philip Wallach, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joined us to discuss America’s declining trust in Congress and analyze the current budget approval process, the incentive structures to change it, and how a new House speaker might affect this process. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and r...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Rick Esenberg, Founder & President of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty joined us to discuss the legal questions facing Wisconsin during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the full film Pandemic Powers: Wisconsin’s State...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Rick Esenberg, Founder & President of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty joined us to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic played out on the ground in Wisconsin and how the legislature brought an irregular case against the governor of Wisconsin to challenge executive overreach and protect the separation of powers even during a state of emergen...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, we spoke with Professor Jeffrey Bellin, a professor at William and Mary Law School and expert on criminal law and procedure. In law, even the definition of a single word can have implications for how that law is interpreted by the courts. We dive into some of the past Fourth Amendment cases and how the interpretation of certain terms affects privacy in...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, we spoke with Ira Stoll, author of “Samuel Adams: A Life” and Managing Editor of Education Next. The Sons of Liberty played a key role in fanning the flames to revolution, and Samuel Adams was a prominent figure in this history-making band of brothers. We dive into how Sam Adams was involved in the Sons of Liberty and how these revolutionary...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, we spoke with Ira Stoll, author of “Samuel Adams: A Life” and Managing Editor of Education Next. We discussed the dynamic between Samuel Adams and John Adams, two cousins who had unique impacts on American history, and the different paths they took to revolution. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and rev...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, we spoke with Alexandra Gaiser, Director of Regulatory Affairs at River Financial. We discussed the growing frontier of crypto in Wyoming and how states across the country are trekking this uncharted territory. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the full film, &a...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, we spoke with Oonagh McDonald, senior adviser to Crito Capital and author of several books including “Cryptocurrencies: Money, Trust and Regulation.” We discussed how crypto regulations are developing around the world, the international concerns of crypto regulation, and the potential impact these regulations might have on innovation in this space. Than...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, we spoke with Alexandra Gaiser, Director of Regulatory Affairs at River Financial. We discussed how federal regulators are approaching cryptocurrency and the uncertainty many have about crypto regulation, especially in the aftermath of the FTX collapse. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorit...

To kick off the all new season of the FedSoc Films Podcast, we spoke with Ira Stoll, author of “Samuel Adams: A Life” and Managing Editor of Education Next. We discuss the revolutionary life of Samuel Adams and what led him to join the fight for American independence. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Samantha interviews Noah Feldman, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, about the three lives of James Madison, first as a revolutionary thinker, then as a partisan political strategist, and finally as the fourth president of the United States. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on y...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Samantha interviews Colleen A. Sheehan, Professor of Political Science at Arizona State University, about the effervescent mind of James Madison, the father of the Constitution. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the full film, Madison and the Fight for the Const...

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Samantha interviews Dr. Sara Martin, Editor-in-Chief of the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society, about her work on the Adams Papers and what they can tell us about John Adams and the other members of the Adams family. Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform....

As one of the most radically democratic constitutions in American history, the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 sought to ensure government “by the people” rather than by a king. In this Cutting Room Floor episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, we feature three experts from our film “The Drafting of America’s First Constitutions,” which explores the development of state constitutions in revolutiona...

How did Frederick Douglass become the most photographed man of the nineteenth century? In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Samantha interviews Timothy Sandefur, vice president for litigation at the Goldwater Institute, who appears in our film Image of an American: Frederick Douglass and the Right to Vote, a short documentary about Frederick Douglass’ journey from the Thirteenth Amendment...

In 2021, we released our award-winning film, Taking Poletown: A Community’s Fight Over Economic Justice & Eminent Domain, that showcases the battle waged by the residents of Poletown to stop GM and the city of Detroit from using eminent domain to take their historic community. Now listen to the story of how this film came together. Featuring Taking Poleotown’s director, Tim Hedberg, and execut...

How important are state constitutions today? In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcast, Samantha interviews Jeffrey Sutton, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, who appears in our film The Drafting of America’s First Constitutions, a short documentary about the extraordinary decade from 1776 to 1787 which marked the most substantial period of constitution writ...