Podcast Episodes
CD200: How to End Legal Bribes
The currently legal ability of obscenely rich people to bribe lawmakers and law enforcers is the source of many - if not all - of our political problems. In this episode, get an update on the few democracy-enhancing bills that have moved in this Congress and Jen speaks to Sam Fieldman - the National Counsel at Wolf-PAC - who explains how we can constitutionally end the role of money in politics by going around Congress. Joe Briney joins Jen for the thank you's. Executive...
CD199: Surprise Medical Bills
Almost 40% of Americans WITH health insurance reported they had received a surprise medical bill in the past year from a doctor or hospital for a service they thought was covered by their insurance plan. Why is this happening? And what can we do about it? Please Support Congressional Dish - Quick Links Click here to contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to:...
CD198: Rationing the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund
The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund is being rationed due to a lack of funding and an approaching end date for the program. In this episode, learn about the shocking, growing number of 9/11 victims, understand why these victims are in danger of having to bear the financial consequences of their injuries on their own, and examine the details and status of H.R. 1327, the bill that would solve this problem for good. Jamie Kilstein joins Jen for the thank you's....
CD180: How Congress Spent Your Taxes in 2018
Every year, the President submits a budget request to Congress, but how much attention does Congress pay to those requests? In this episode, we compare the Trump administration requests to the amounts actually provided by Congress for fiscal year 2018. Please Support Congressional Dish - Quick Links Click here to contribute a lump sum or set up a monthly contribution via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments...
The 2018 Government Funding Law (the “Omnibus”)
The in-progress outline of the 2,232 government funding law for 2018 that was signed on March 23, 2018. H.R. 1625: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 DIVISION A - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Explanatory Statement DIVISION B - Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Explanatory Statement Sec. 521: Money appropriated by this Act for intelligence activities are "deemed to be specifically authorized by Congress "during fiscal year 2018 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018". Sec. 537: "None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used,...
CD167: Combating Russia (NDAA 2018) LIVE
We’re doing it live! In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at Podfest in Orlando, Florida, learn about the concerning permissions granted to the war departments in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act which are designed to antagonize Russia. Also, a special guest, Ryan DeLisle, joins Jen on her hotel patio to chat and say thank you to the listeners who keep this podcast in existence. 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: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank’s online bill pay function to mail...
HR 2810: 2018 NDAA Outline and Highlights
Links to highlighted provisions in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) H.R. 2810: National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2018 Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations Title I: Procurement Sec. 111: Authorizes the expedited purchase of up to 7,000 rifles designed to pierce body armor and "increase soldier lethality" Sec. 122: Authorizes the purchase of one polar-class heavy icebreaker Sec. 123: Authorizes the purchase of 15 Arleigh Burke class Flight III guided missile destroyers Sec. 124: Authorizes the purchase of 13 Virginia class submarines Sec. 131:: Requires the Air Force maintain at least 1,970 fighter jets Sec. 132: Prohibits the Air Force from retiring any Northrup Grumman manufactured E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft...
CD166: I Spy a Shutdown
Register for Podfest: Pay It Forward January 19th was a big day for the 115th Congress: Part of the government ran out of funding and some spying authorities also expired. In this episode, learn about FISA reauthorization law that contained a giant loophole that will allow previously inadmissible information to be used against you in court, get all the details about the 69 hour shutdown that resulted from an attempt by the Democratic Party to … do something for the Dreamers, get enraged by the dingleberries attached to the fourth temporary funding law of this fiscal year, and discover why Jen is angry with just about everyone right now. Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD165: Christmas Dingleberries CD098: The USA Freedom Act Please Support Congressional Dish Click here to...
CD165: Christmas Dingleberries
Right before Christmas, the government was temporarily funded for the fourth time this fiscal year, but this latest funding law came with a few surprises. In this episode, a feisty Jen outlines the law to expose a favor to the war industry, damage to the Affordable Care Act, a bad sign for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a giant loophole that paved the way for a new mountain of government debt, and more. You’ll also learn about an “uncontroversial” bill that reduces accountability for foreign fighters who abuse women and that showers literal gifts upon a secretive Drug War commission. But it’s not all bad news! There’s also a reason for hope. Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD161: Veterans Choice Program Please Support Congressional Dish Click here to contribute using...