Understanding Congress

Are We Being Too Hard on Congress (with Kevin R. Kosar)

The topic of this episode is, “Are we being too hard on Congress?” Hating Congress has become a national pastime. If you asked the average American what they think of Co

How Can the Average American Influence a Member of Congress? (with Brad Fitch)

The topic of this episode is, “How can the average American influence a member of Congress?” A lot of Americans feel no connection to the US Congress. If you asked them,

Who Were the House Appropriations Committee Surveys and Investigations Staff and What Did They Do? (with Matthew Dull)

The topic of this episode is, “Who were the House Appropriations Committee Surveys and Investigations Staff and what did they do?” More than a decade ago, a friend and l

Does the Congressional Baseball Game Increase Collaboration in Congress? (with SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor)

The topic of this episode is, “Does the Congressional Baseball Game increase collaboration in Congress?” Each June, members of our national legislature play ball. Democr

What Is the Status of Congressional Modernization? (with Rep. Stephanie Bice)

The topic of this episode is, “What’s the status of congressional modernization?" My guest is Representative Stephanie Bice, who is the chairperson of the Subcommittee o

Does Congress Need a Congressional Capacity and Technology Office? (with Aubrey Wilson)

The topic of this episode is, “Does Congress need a Congressional Capacity and Technology Office?” Congress has a reputation for being behind the times when it comes to

Why Should We Care About Congress’s Power of the Purse? (with Shalanda Young)

The topic of this episode is, “Why should we care about Congress's power of the purse?” Well, we are just getting through the FY2026 budget process, which Congress was s

What's Wrong With Congress? (with Kevin R. Kosar)

The topic of this episode is, “What’s wrong with Congress?” I can’t recall the last time I met someone who said, “Congress is doing great. The first branch of government

What Is the Primary Problem? (with Nick Troiano)

The topic of this episode is, “What is the primary problem?” Every two years, we have congressional elections, which feature both primary elections and general elections

What Are Congressional Norms and Why Do They Matter? (with Brian Alexander)

The topic of this episode is, “What are congressional norms and why do they matter?” To many Americans, the United States Congress appears to be a rather nasty place. Th

Should Congress Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution? (with Kurt Couchman)

The topic of this episode is, “Should Congress pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution?” The federal government experienced a shutdown in autumn 20025, whic

What Are Budget Rescissions and Pocket Rescissions? (with Philip Wallach)

The topic of this episode is, what are budget rescissions and pocket rescissions? Rescissions have been in the news recently. This past July President Donald J. Trump se

Was James Madison the First Majority Leader? (with Jay Cost)

The topic of this episode is, “Was James Madison the first majority leader?” Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have a majority leader. At the time of the

Does Congress’s Power to Declare War Mean Anything? (With Gary Schmitt)

The topic of this episode is, “Does Congress's power to declare war mean anything?” In June of 2025, President Donald J. Trump directed US aircraft to drop 30,000 pound

Why Are Legislators on Social Media? (with Annelise Russell)

The topic of this episode is, Why are legislators on social media?” We’ve all seen it, and if you haven’t, well, you will soon enough. Social media posts by members of C

Is Congress Getting Anything Done? (with Gabe Fleisher)

The topic of this episode is, “Is Congress getting anything done?” The 119th Congress convened in early January. Months have gone by, and there are lots of things happen

Special Book Edition: Congressional Deliberation: Major Debates, Speeches, and Writings, 1774-2023 (with Jordan Cash)

The topic of this episode is a recent book that is titled, Congressional Deliberation: Major Debates, Speeches, and Writings 1774-2023 (Hackett 2024). The book is edited

What Does a Member of the House of Representatives Do All Day? (with Fmr. Rep. Derek Kilmer)

The topic of this episode is, “What does a member of the House of Representatives do all day?” It is not easy for the average voter to imagine how a member of Congress s

Would Term Limits Fix Congress? (with Casey Burgat)

The topic of this episode is, “Can term limits fix Congress?” Many Americans, including possibly you, dear listener, look at Congress and think, “These people stink. The

What Is the Lost History of Congress’s Offices of Legislative Counsel? (with Beau Baumann)

The topic of this episode is, “What is the lost history of Congress’s Offices of Legislative Counsel?” My guest is Beau Baumann, a doctoral candidate in law at Yale Univ