Congress Archives - Public Seminar

Past Present

Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Chaos

Episode 399: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

November 7, 2023 • by Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Neil J. Young

In Episode 399, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the drama around the election of the new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson....

Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Chaos

Corporations

3 Ways Congress Could End the State Subsidy Wars

Don’t hold your breath, though

August 29, 2022 • by Pat Garofalo

Though most of the time I write about how state and city leaders and community members can combat the scourge of corporate subsidies themselves, in theory, Congress could swoop in and knock the whole thing off, stopping states from engaging in this race to the bottom. Here are three ways ...

3 Ways Congress Could End the State Subsidy Wars

Politics

We have now entered the “Hunger Games”-era of American history. Does Joe Manchin care?

Monique Judge: “This is some weird power play.”

December 21, 2021 • by John Stoehr

Monique Judge and John Stoehr discuss Joe Manchin and the fate of the Build Back Better bill....

We have now entered the “Hunger Games”-era of American history. Does Joe Manchin care?

Politics

Battle of the Budget

What happens when the Republicans filibuster a necessary measure to keep the government operating?

September 29, 2021 • by Heather Cox Richardson

On September 27, the Senate considered a bill to fund the government until December and to raise the debt ceiling. The Republicans joined together to filibuster it. Such a move is extraordinary. Not only did the Republicans vote against a measure that would keep the government operating and keep it from ...

North America

Backing Trump When He Is Out of Office Is…Expensive

As the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol begins its work, the Department of Justice invites Republican politicians who supported the insurrection to defend themselves

July 30, 2021 • by Heather Cox Richardson

The ripples of the explosive Tuesday testimony that four police officers gave before the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol continue to spread. Committee members are meeting this week to decide how they will proceed. Congress goes on recess during August, but ...

Backing Trump When He Is Out of Office Is…Expensive

Politics

Liz Cheney Is Right Where She Needs to Be

The patriots among us are getting woke

May 12, 2021 • by John Stoehr

_____ It’s done. The Republicans in the United States House of Representatives voted this morning to oust Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney as chairwoman of the House GOP conference. I’ve been writing obliquely about this pending vote, as I’ve been trying to make other points. But let me be plain. Ousting one ...

Liz Cheney Is Right Where She Needs to Be

Columnists

We Still Need to Understand the Insurrection

As disinformation continues to disrupt political life, a Congressional commission could reveal and disable the perpetrators

April 29, 2021 • by Heather Cox Richardson

_____ More than 140 military leaders, former national security officials, and elected officials from both parties have asked Congress to establish a commission to investigate what led to the January 6 insurrection, when rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol. The commission would also study how to prevent a similar coup attempt in ...

We Still Need to Understand the Insurrection

Politics

Dan Crenshaw’s Eye

As he recovers from sight-saving surgery, will the second-term Texas congressman reflect on the health insurance that other Americans don’t have?

April 12, 2021 • by Claire Potter

_____ Last week, Representative Dan Crenshaw (R, TX-2) sent out a quietly heartbreaking press release. It notified constituents and colleagues that Crenshaw would be temporarily out of commission as doctors work to save his one partially-functioning eye. OK, you may not like Crenshaw very much: I don’t. He is a Trump baby, elected ...

Indigenous Peoples

Deb Haaland Brings Experience and History to Biden’s Cabinet

Opportunities for justice abound as she takes the helm at a branch of government that has historically mishandled and cheated indigenous people

March 24, 2021 • by Michael Leroy Oberg and Joel Helfrich

_____ In 1968 the National Indian Youth Council served as one of the organizers of the Native American contingent for the Poor People’s Campaign. This multi-racial coalition marched on Washington and, in a document penned by the “Committee of 100,” presented its list of demands. With regard to Indigenous Peoples in the ...

Deb Haaland Brings Experience and History to Biden’s Cabinet

Democracy

The United States Is Picking Up Where The Great Society Left Off

The conventional wisdom that endured for decades is making way for something new

March 11, 2021 • by John Stoehr

_____ You might be tired of me talking about the American Rescue Act, which passed the House of Representatives on March 10 and is headed to the President’s desk. But while the rest of the country is talking about Joe Biden’s dog, and while the press corps is asking about the ...

The United States Is Picking Up Where The Great Society Left Off

Democracy

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Past Present Podcast, Episode 266

February 9, 2021 • by Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been stripped of her committee assignments due to her outspoken support of outlandish theories, from QAnon to school shootings to “space lasers” causing forest fires. Niki referred to Michelle Goldberg’s New York Times opinion ...

Activism

Georgia On My Mind

The Democratic Party in Georgia has come a long way since the 1965 Voting Rights Act

January 28, 2021 • by Jo Freeman

“The concept of political equality...can mean only one thing—one person, one vote." ...

Congress

Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Chaos

Episode 399: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

3 Ways Congress Could End the State Subsidy Wars

Don’t hold your breath, though

We have now entered the “Hunger Games”-era of American history. Does Joe Manchin care?

Monique Judge: “This is some weird power play.”

Battle of the Budget

What happens when the Republicans filibuster a necessary measure to keep the government operating?

Backing Trump When He Is Out of Office Is…Expensive

As the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol begins its work, the Department of Justice invites Republican politicians who supported the insurrection to defend themselves

Liz Cheney Is Right Where She Needs to Be

The patriots among us are getting woke

We Still Need to Understand the Insurrection

As disinformation continues to disrupt political life, a Congressional commission could reveal and disable the perpetrators

Deb Haaland Brings Experience and History to Biden’s Cabinet

Opportunities for justice abound as she takes the helm at a branch of government that has historically mishandled and cheated indigenous people

The United States Is Picking Up Where The Great Society Left Off

The conventional wisdom that endured for decades is making way for something new

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Past Present Podcast, Episode 266

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