Episodes

CD191: The “Democracies” Of Elliott Abrams

February 23, 2019 0:00

Elliott Abrams, the new U.S. Special Envoy to Venezuela, along with witnesses from the State Department and USAID, testified to Congress about the Trump administration’s efforts to replace Venezuela’s President. In this episode, hear highlights from that hearing and gain some insight into Elliott Abrams’ past regime change efforts as a member of the Reagan administration, which will help you to understand why so many people are concerned that he was picked for the Venezuela job. Read More

CD190: A Coup for Capitalism

February 10, 2019 0:00

We knew it was coming, and now it’s here: A coup is in progress in Venezuela. In this follow up episode to CD176 (Target Venezuela: Regime Change in Progress), learn additional backstory and details about the recent events in Venezuela, including the proclamation by Juan Guaido that he is now the President of Venezuela and all of the efforts being made by the Trump administration to get this regime change to stick. Read More

CD189: “First Step” Prison Reform

January 27, 2019 0:00

In the final days of the 115th Congress, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the First Step Act, which made changes to the operation of the federal prison system. In this episode, learn every detail of this new law, including the big money interests who advocated for its passage and their possible motivations for doing so. Read More

CD188: Welcome to the 116th Congress

January 14, 2019 0:00

We’ve transitioned! The 115th Congress is finally over and the 116th has begun. In this episode, get the details on the last acts of the 115th Congress, including the play by play of the shutdown drama, and learn about the new rules written by Democrats that will govern the 116th House of Representatives. Read More

CD187: Combating China

December 23, 2018 0:00

People in power tell us constantly that China is a threat but… Why? In this episode, we explore the big picture reasons why China poses a threat to those in power in the United States and what our Congress is doing to combat that threat. Spoiler alert: There’s a another U.S. military build-up involved. Read More

CD186: National Endowment for Democracy

December 10, 2018 0:00

 

The National Endowment for Democracy is a private foundation – that receives millions of our tax dollars – that pays groups to work to change the governments of other countries. In this episode, hear highlights from a hearing during which the president of this creepy organization and the presidents of two organizations that it funds – which are controlled entirely by members of the Republican and Democratic parties – will give you some insight into what kind of work they are doing manipulating information and interfering in elections in other countries around the world.

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CD185: Global Energy Outlook

November 25, 2018 0:00

It’s impossible to analyze the political calculations of world leaders without factoring in global energy. In this episode, listen along with Jen and Joe Briney as they listen to a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing examining the Global Energy Outlook, which has served to determine the foreign policy decisions of U.S. leaders throughout 2018. Read More

CD 184: Midterm Election

November 13, 2018 0:00

Divided government! The 2018 midterm elections are over and we know what the 116th Congress is going to look like: The Republican Party will continue to control the Senate and the Democratic Party will control the House of Representatives. In this episode, we discuss the likely ramifications of a divided Congress, some of the interesting results of individual Congressional races, and the opportunities available for Republicans to get their last wishes rammed into law before their complete Congressional control ends in January. Read More

CD183: Tax Cuts… For Some of US

October 28, 2018 0:00

Taxes: We all hate them but we all have to pay them. In December 2017, the Republicans in Congress rushed major changes to our tax policy into law. In this episode, host Jen Briney and her accountant friend, Alexis Claypool, explain the most significant changes to how our tax payments are going to be calculated and how these changes are likely to affect us. You will also learn about a major dingleberry that hitchhiked its way into law attached to this bill. Joe Briney joins Jen for the Thank Yous. Read More

CD182: Justice Kavanaugh

October 14, 2018 0:00

It’s done. Brett Kavanaugh is a Supreme Court Justice. Most of the media coverage of his confirmation centered on the sexual assault allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford but that’s only one part of the story. In this episode, learn about the procedural tricks employed by Senate Republicans and the George W. Bush administration to place Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court and hear highlights from over 40 hours of Brett Kavanaugh’s policy-oriented confirmation hearings that most of the country didn’t see. Read More