Civil Discourse Podcast

This podcast uses government documents to illuminate the workings of the American government and offer context around the effects of government agencies in your everyday life. Civil Discourse is brought to you by VCU Libraries. Opinions expressed are solely the speakers' own, and do not reflect the views or opinions of VCU, or VCU Libraries. Find more information at https://guides.library.vcu.edu/discourse.

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S05, E05: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Passing

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia celebrate the life and legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg upon her passing on September 18, 2020. The discussion includes her early work with the ACLU, her jurisprudence, and her friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia.
S05, E06: Wagging the Dog

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the concept of wagging the dog, a reference to creating a distraction in order to draw attention away from a candidate's behavior. They discuss several examples from events that could be legitimate to events designed deliberately to distract, and the potential these events have to backfire.
S05, E07: Election Certification

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss the election certification process. They also discuss possible problems with the process at each stage, and potential solutions.
S05, E08: Trump's COVID Diagnosis

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the line of succession as stated in the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. They also debunk some internet rumors surrounding the President's health and its affect on the 2020 Presidential election.
S05, E09: Replacing Members of Congress

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss the five reasons a member of Congress might need to be replaced, and the mechanisms for doing so. They also touch upon the power of special elections to steer politics in a variety of directions.
S05, E10: Referenda, Initiatives, and Recalls

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie explore those densely worded referenda, initiatives, and recalls on the bottom of state ballots. Aughie explains the differences between them, and the purposes and pitfalls of direct democracy.
S05, E11: Voting and Leadership

Nia Rodgers and Patricia Sobczak

Nia welcomes Dr. Patricia Sobczak back to the podcast to discuss the way voters assess leaders. They also discuss voting as hiring, as well as outside influencers on public opinions of leadership.
S05, E12: Presidential Personalities

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia explore the personality types of the Presidents of the United States as defined by James David Barber's typologies. These Presidential typologies include active versus passive and positive versus negative approaches to the position.
S05, E13: Presidential Skill Set, Part 1

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie explore the skill set required to be President of the United States. In this first part, they explore presidential organizational skills, the means by which a president processes information, and presidential vision.
S05, E14: 2020 Election Observations

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss their observations regarding the 2020 elections. Episode recorded Friday, November 6, 2020.
S05, E15: Presidential Skill Set, Part 2

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie explore the skill set required to be President of the United States. In this second part, they explore presidential political skills, public communications, and emotional intelligence.
S05, E16: Presidential Transitions

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss the importance of presidential transitions to the smooth running of government, especially in areas of security. They also touch on other presidential transitions, some smooth and some rocky.
S05, E17: Presidential Homes and Retreats

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the various vacation spots used by presidents to get a little R&R. From Buchanan to Trump, Presidents taking a break have often sought to leave the White House and find a "getaway spot," often camps, resorts, or beach locations.
S05, E18: Court Packing

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss efforts to pack the Supreme Court, and the unlikely nature of success in such efforts. Aughie gives multiple examples of the failure of Justices to act according to the party/President that nominated them for the Court.
S05, E19: Qualified Immunity

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie delve into the topic of qualified immunity. This discussion revolves around the complexity of the issue, from fairness to protection to reasonable conduct.
S05, E20: NORAD Tracks Santa Claus

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Disclaimer at the beginning of the episode - please DO NOT listen with young children present. Aughie and Nia talk about the origin of NORAD tracking Santa. They also discuss the funding, staffing, and marketing of the program.
S06, E01: Inaugurations Gone Wrong

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss "unusual" historical presidential inaugurations. From snubs to brawls to illness to drunk vice-presidents, inaugurations of the past have not always run smoothly.
S06, E02: Weird Investigations

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss government investigations into unusual phenomena. Included in this podcast are investigations into UFOs, Bigfoot, and the Bermuda Triangle.
S06, E03: Characters in Public Service

Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Bill Newmann

Aughie and Nia welcome back Bill Newmann, professor of political science at VCU, to discuss larger than life characters in American public service. They touch upon Presidents Johnson and Truman, as well as Governors Huey Long and Ann Richards, and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
S06, E04: Alexei Navalny

Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Judyth Twigg

Nia and Aughie welcome Judy Twigg, VCU Political Science professor, to discuss the Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. Dr. Twigg also gives a bit of the background of the current opposition positions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
S06, E05: Exemplars of Public Service

Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Bill Newmann

Aughie and Nia welcome Bill Newmann as they discuss the public service careers of Elliot Richardson and William Ruckelshaus. In addition to serving in multiple positions in government, Richardson and Ruckelshaus refused to fire Archibald Cox, the lead investigator of Watergate, at the behest of President Richard Nixon.
S06, E06: Texas v Pennsylvania in Depth

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie explore the Supreme Court ruling in Texas v. Pennsylvania, et al. Included in the discussion are the principles of standing, justiciability, arguments between the states, and the Special Master's position.
S06, E07: Vaccines Around the World

Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Judyth Twigg

Nia and Aughie welcome Judy Twigg, political scientist with a public health specialization, to discuss the worldwide vaccine response to COVID-19. The discussion ranges from joint efforts to vaccinate world populations to the concept of soft political power in terms of worldwide health care.
S06, E08: The Warren Commission

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In this first of a series on government Commissions and their reports, Aughie and Nia discuss the Warren Commission, convened in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. They explore the members, findings, and conspiracy theories surrounding the work of the Commission.
S06, E09: The Rogers Commission

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Next in a series on Commissions and their reports, Aughie and Nia explore the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, also known as the Rogers Commission. The Commission described the Challenger tragedy as "an accident rooted in history." The nine recommendations of the Commission were rooted in improving safety in the shuttle program.