Congressional Dish

Congress is once again playing with fire, and this time it's the Democrats holding the match. In today's episode, I'm sounding the alarm about a looming government shutdown that could hit at midnight on September 30th. History tells us shutdowns backfire on the party that demands partisan add-ons to must-pass funding bills, yet Democrats are betting they can use that same failed strategy and escap...

Since the beginning of this Congress, there have been 24 new laws signed and dozens of confirmations shaping our government in President Trump's second term. From the Laken Riley Act's attack on immigrant rights, to the One Big Beautiful Bill's devastating effects on healthcare and the environment, to quiet but powerful confirmations of billionaires, bankers, and loyalists into positions that cont...

Part 2 of the "Big Beautiful Bill". In this episode, we examine tax cuts and tax increases for the wealthy, the corporations, and for the rest of us. We examine the winners and losers chosen by the Republicans and what it all means for you. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd321-one-big-beautiful-bill-the-money Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Cont...

The One Big Beautiful Bill is now officially law, ushering in a sweeping wave of reforms that promise to reshape the nation. In this episode, we unpack the concerning changes it brings to immigration policy, environmental protections, and health care coverage—three pillars that will directly impact millions of lives. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd320-one-big...

Drones have become a powerful tool in modern warfare—used effectively by our allies against enemy forces, and, more controversially, against unarmed captives. But is the United States ready to defend itself against drone threats? In this episode, we bring you testimony from five recent congressional hearings, featuring high-ranking military and DHS officials, as well as top experts, sounding the a...

The House version of the "Big, Beautiful Bill" includes a 10-year moratorium on state and local regulation of AI models and systems. In this episode, listen to highlights from a congressional hearing held the day before the bill passed — including discussion of this sneaky little dingleberry. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd318-ai-regulation-moratorium Please...

The House of Representatives has passed their version of the "Big, Beautiful Bill" and parts of it are extraordinarily dangerous and must be stopped. As the Senate prepares to edit the BBB, discover the hidden dangers so that you can take action against the parts that threaten you the most. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd317-elimination-essentials-in-the-big-...

The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report with previously unknown facts about the crash between a Black Hawk Army helicopter and CRJ passenger jet that killed 67 people on January 29, 2025. In this episode, listen to testimony about that report along with testimony from FAA and military officials about actions they have taken since the crash. Also included in this...

Recent Supreme Court decisions have significantly altered the balance of power in the federal government, forcing Congress to rethink how it writes laws. In this episode, learn which decisions caused the shift, what the consequences are, how Congress is responding, and what options exist to push back against this new reality. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd31...

President Trump keeps saying the United States needs to "have Greenland," but why? In this episode, listen to testimony to Congress about the idea of the United States taking ownership of Greenland, which is not being laughed out of the room. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd314-greenland Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a l...

There is a lot of public anger towards nine Democratic Party Senators for helping Republicans pass a funding bill into law in mid-March. In this episode, we examine the details of the funding law in order to understand the deceptions that lead to that anger. Americans are being played. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd313-democratic-deception

President Trump has been threatening to "take back" the Panama Canal since he regained power. In this episode, listen to testimony from officials serving on the Federal Maritime Commission who explain why the Panama Canal has become a focus of the administration and examine whether or not we need to be concerned about an impending war for control of the canal. View the show notes on the Congressio...

The Laken Riley Act is a new law that legalizes the indefinite imprisonment and deportation of possibly innocent legal immigrants. In this episode, we examine the law to see how it legalizes such injustices and we look at the profit motive behind expanding our prison population. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd311-the-laken-riley-act Please Support Congression...

67 people died this week in a mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a passenger plane in Washington DC. The investigation into this crash is still in its infancy but Congress was warned just a few weeks ago that there are many dangers lurking in our air traffic system, dangers that Congress recently made worse at Reagan Washington National Airport, where the crash took place. View th...

President Donald Trump is back in power despite his illegal attempt to remain President after losing the 2020 election. In this episode, hear expert testimony about the Supreme Court decision that stemmed from the now-defunct Federal prosecution of Donald Trump which granted the President legal immunity for many actions. What does it mean going forward? What can and can't he do? View the show note...

The 118th Congress came to an unexpectedly — though not necessarily surprisingly — chaotic end. In this episode, hear about all the drama that averted a government shutdown, learn what became law, and examine what could have become law if it weren't for Elon Musk. View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd308-a-chaotic-finale Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Li...

U.S. military whistleblowers have told Congress about secret programs related to non-human piloted aircraft and submersibles. In this episode, listen to testimony from additional whistleblowers who add more information to what we have already learned, listen to the response from the person at the Defense Department in charge of investigating these claims, and learn about a secret program called Im...

Immediately after we published the Freaky Food episode, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration testified to the Senate and provided valuable insights into why our food supply is concerning for all the reasons exposed in episode 305. In this episode, listen to testimony from two hearings with FDA officials as we finish this series looking into the hidden dangers inside our food. View...

There are dangers lurking in our food that affect your health and the health of our entire society, and you should know about them. In this episode, get the highlights from two recent Congressional events featuring expert testimony about the regulation of our food supply, as well as testimony from the man who is soon likely to be the most powerful person in our national health care system. View th...

After a brief analysis of what we currently know about the 119th Congress, we process the return of President Trump. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $Cong...

During the RNC and DNC, Jen interviewed nine members of Congress about Congress itself. What is it like to work there? Do they think Congress is dysfunctional? If so, how do they think it could be fixed? In this episode, listen to the most interesting responses from all of the interviews. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressio...

This election has featured a lot of talk about 'immigration' and 'the border' but has been short on specifics. In this episode, you'll get those specifics. Specifically, you'll learn what was in H.R. 2, a Republican bill passed by the House, and you'll learn what was in the so-called bipartisan border bill which was killed by Donald Trump's loyalists in the Senate and which Kamala Harris has promi...

We're making it easy for you to judge the job performances of your members of Congress! In this episode, Jen tells you about a list of single issue votes that were taken in the House and Senate during the 118th Congress. Most importantly, we gave you all the information you need to find your members' voting records in this episode's show notes. You can find your 2024 Congressional Election Study g...

You do not have the right to repair your own belongings because of intellectual property rights granted to corporations by Congress in 1998. In this episode, listen to the debate happening in Congress about if and how they should grant customers the right to repair and get a status update on the multiple efforts under way in the current Congress, including one with a good chance of becoming law. P...

On the ground coverage of the Democratic National Convention, which was not as joyful and unified as the party wanted it to seem. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payme...