Civil Discourse Podcast

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  S08, E09: Midterm Elections Preview

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie discuss why people vote the way they do in non-presidential elections. Aughie explores the three most common political theories that explain voter behavior in the midterm elections.

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  S08, E10: Rats' First Amendment Rights

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Rats' First Amendment Rights: Aughie and Nia discuss the case of Scabby the Rat and the rights of unions to protest in certain conditions. Aughie explains the early history of the National Labor Review Board and its current powers and problems when dealing with labor disputes.

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  S08, E11: 2020 U.S. Census Update

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie explore more 2020 U.S. Census data. This episode focuses on the racial demographics of the U.S. currently, and projections for future demographics in 20-40 years.

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  S08, E12: Controlled Substances Act

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie and Nia discuss the Controlled Substances Act and the latest changes to Virginia marijuana laws. They also discuss the positives and negatives of enforcement of state drug laws versus national drug laws.

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  S08, E13: State Secrets Privilege

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Do You Want to Know a Secret? Nia and Aughie discuss the State Secrets Privilege in court, and the potential problems that arise from invoking that privilege. They weigh the pros and cons of protecting information versus transparency.

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  S08, E14: Fun with Patents and Trademarks

  Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Hillary Miller

  Aughie and Nia welcome back copyright librarian Hillary Miller. Hillary walks listeners through the process of applying for a patent. The discussion then moves into some of the more interesting patent and trademark cases.

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  S08, E15: Adding a State to the United States

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie discuss how territories and protectorates come to join the United States. The discussion includes the barriers to statehood and the requirements that Congress sets out for proto-states to meet. The latter part of the discussion covers the Equal Footing Doctrine.

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  S08, E16: D.C. Statehood

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie and Nia discuss the potential difficulties of adding the District of Columbia as a state to the United States. Complexities include representation, balancing federal and state needs, and the Constitutional issues.

  *Correction: Nia mistakenly says LaFayette planned the city of Washington twice; rather, L'Enfant planned the city. Apologies for the error.

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  S09, E01: Presidential Libraries Part 1: Two Folders

  Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Bill Newmann

  Professor Bill Newmann joins Aughie and Nia in the first two episodes of season 9 to discuss visiting presidential libraries. The first episode (originally recorded in 2020) covers general research visits and what types of materials a researcher can find in the Presidential libraries.

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  S09, E02: Presidential Libraries Part 2: Boxes and Boxes

  Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Bill Newmann

  Professor Bill Newmann joins Aughie and Nia in the first two episodes of season 9 to discuss visiting presidential libraries. In the second episode (originally recorded in 2020), Dr. Newmann explains in detail how get the most out of a visit to the Presidential libraries.

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  S09, E03: Vice Presidents, Part 1

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie discuss the office of Vice President of the United States. The first of two episodes discusses the evolution of the position.

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  S09, E04: Vice Presidents, Part 2

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie and Nia discuss the office of Vice President of the United States. The second of two episodes explores interesting tidbits about various vice presidents, and ends with some quotes from office holders on the importance of the position.

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  S09, E05: Robert J. (Bob) Dole Memorial

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie and Nia commemorate the career of Robert J. (Bob) Dole, (July 22, 1923 - December 5, 2021). They discuss his personal physical battles and inner strength as well as his storied political career.

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  S09, E06: What is the Serial Set?

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie extol the virtues of the United States Congressional Serial Set, especially its historical and political importance. They discuss the content of the set, and encourage listeners to explore these important American documents.

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  S09, E07: WOTUS - Waters of the United States

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie and Nia explore the history of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and the Clean Water Act. They also discuss the complicated caselaw from SCOTUS regarding "navigable waters" and the changing presidential definitions of WOTUS.

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  S09, E08: Colorado River Compact

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie discuss the factors that brought about the creation of the Colorado River Compact. They also discuss the current issues and challenges facing the Law of the River.

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  S09, E09: Dissed Amendments

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie and Nia discuss the amendments that were tardy to be included or not included in the text of the U.S. Constitution. Of James Madison's 20 proposed amendments, only 12 went forward, and only 10 made it into the Bill of Rights. Aughie speaks in detail on 5 of the original 20 that were rejected by Congress initially. Aughie also discusses amendments that were rejected by the states.

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  S09, E10: That is Not in the U.S. Constitution

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie continue their discussion of the text of the U.S. Constitution. This episode focuses on rights that are (and are not) enumerated in the text. The original text has no enumerated right to vote, privacy, or a fair trial, among others.

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  S09, E11: HIPAA

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie and Nia have a discussion of the pros and cons of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). This Act is an excellent example of the law of unintended consequences, in both good and bad ways.

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  S09, E12: Presidential and Congressional Medals

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie explore some of the various military and civilian honors and awards that may be granted by the President or Congress. Some awards are given for very specific contributions while others are given for lifetime achievements or contributions deemed worthy by individual members of Congress.

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  S09, E13: Congressional Review Act

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie thwarts Nia's plan to use the Space Force to take over all the other agencies by explaining the Congressional Review Act. The act requires that agencies submit regulatory changes to Congress for review. Also, the plural of nemesis is nemeses.

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  S09, E14: Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon Accountability

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie discuss the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon disasters in terms of accountability and settlements. They also explore the ideas around government accountability and conflict of interest between promoting industry and protecting the common good.

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  S09, E15: Independent State Legislature Doctrine

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie explains two clauses in the U.S. Constitution: Article II, Section 1 (the electors clause) and Article 1, Section 4 (the elections clause), Recent SCOTUS cases have called the meaning of "legislature" in these clauses into question.

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  S09, E16: Works Progress Administration - Labor

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Nia and Aughie discuss the Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor programs to provide jobs and income to men and women during the Great Depression. These jobs often involved physical labor building and maintaining infrastructure.

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  S09, E17: Works Progress Administration - Art

  Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

  Aughie and Nia discuss the Works Progress Administrations programs to provide work opportunities for artists, actors, musicians, and writers during the Great Depression. They also discuss some of the criticisms of the WPA programs,