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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S11, E10: The Department of Commerce

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie tackle the next department, the Department of Commerce. Originally formed as the Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903, It later separated into two departments.. Aughie covers the vast parts and pieces of the organization of the Department as well as focusing on the power-grabbing of various Secretaries of Commerce.
S11, E11: The Department of Labor

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss the Department of Labor as the next in the series. The Bureau of Labor was initially part of the Department of Interior, then its own Bureau but not part of the Cabinet, and then part of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and then in 1913 it becomes its own Department with a Cabinet Secretary as the head. From this convoluted start to the present, the Department of Labor has had to balance union and labor rights with employer desires to maximize profits. Aughie explains this tension within the mandate of the department.
S11, E12: In the News: Ye and Hate Speech

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss government intervention, Supreme Court rulings, and hate speech. in light of recent anti-semitic comments made by Ye West.
S11, E13: The Department of HEW/HHS

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia move on to the next department in the series, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, later the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). From Head Start to Medicare, HHS touches American lives from cradle to grave. Aughie covers the sprawling nature of the department, and then Nia and Aughie spend a fair bit of the episode discussing controversies and politics surrounding HHS.
S11, E14: In the News: SCOTUS and Affirmative Action

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the recent Supreme Court hearings involving two cases from the Students for Fair Admissions versus Harvard (one case) and SFFA versus UNC (second case). The universities in these cases, heard together, argued that race may be considered in admissions to increase diversity of the student body. The SFFA argued that preference granted to one race for admissions by necessity brings inequity for other races.
S11, E15: Department of Housing and Urban Development

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In 1965, we got the next department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as part of President Johnson's Great Society. Nia and Aughie discuss the needs of the nation to find ways toward homeownership, fair housing, and assistance to the working poor to mitigate the costs associated with housing. They also discuss the secretaries and the criticisms of the department.
S11, E16: In the News: Elections

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss the statistics and implications of the 2022 midterm elections.
S11, E17: Department of Transportation (DoT)

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

The next department in the series is also part of the Great Society, the Department of Transportation (DoT). Aughie explains how the many subagencies of the department work together in various ways to support public transportation, from the Federal Aviation Administration to the Federal Highway Administration. Aughie also reminds listeners that this department is a particularly good example of cooperative federalism. Discussion ends with secretaries and criticisms of the department.
S11, E18: Department of Energy

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie move on to the lucky 13th department, the Department of Energy, formed in 1977. While it might seem like a recent department, Energy can trace its beginning agencies back to the Manhattan Project in World War II. The energy crisis of the 1970s also strongly influenced the bipartisan support for the creation of the DoE. Aughie covers the department's prominent secretaries and some criticisms leveled at the department.
S11, E19: In the News: Kyrsten Sinema

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie explore the recent decision by Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona to change her party affiliation from Democrat to Independent.
S11, E20: Department of Education

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

As with previous departments, the Department of Education was re-created recently, but goes back to 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first Department of Education. That original agency's main purpose was to collect information about the nation's schools. Thought to be potentially too powerful, the department was demoted to Office of Education until 1979, when it was re-established as a department. Aughie covers a few controversies and secretaries along with the organization of the department.
S11, E21: In the News: Railroad Strike Averted

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss the recent Congressional decision to avert a railroad strike.
S11, E22: Department of Veteran Affairs

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Taking care of American military veterans began in the colonial era, after the Revolutionary War. In 1811, the federal government authorized housing and medical facilities. After each major war, Veterans' benefits were expanded, from establishing state level homes to the GI Bill after World War II. Eventually these programs were placed in a Veterans Bureau. The Veterans Bureau was elevated to a Department in 1989 by President Ronald Reagan. Aughie and Nia explore the history and controversies surrounding Veterans Affairs.
S11, E23: Department of Homeland Security

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In response to the terrorist attacks on the United states on September 11, 2001, the last department (in the series thus far) was created - the Department of Homeland Security. DHS is made up of 22 agencies gathered together to address a wide array of issues, from cybersecurity to border security to transportation safety. Aughie and Nia discuss the controversies and complications surrounding the Department of Homeland Security from inception to current administrative practices.
S12, E01: In The News: Presidential Records Act

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia start the new season with a discussion of recent Presidential records issues. Both President Trump and President Biden have been entangled with the National Archives in potential violations of the Presidential Records Act of 1978.
S12, E02: In the News: The Debt Ceiling

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the debt ceiling and the current issues being faced in Congress with raising the debt ceiling. Aughie also discusses historical approaches to the U.S. debt.
S12, E03: In the News: SCOTUS Dobbs Leak Report

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia catch up on the results of the SCOTUS investigation of the leak of the Dobbs opinion draft in 2022. The Marshall of the Court released a 20 page report this week detailing the investigation and results.
S12, E04: In the News: Presidential Records 2

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the continuing issue of Presidential and Vice-Presidential classified documents being found in inappropriate locations. They further discuss the need for regulations to be simplified and the classification scheme to be applied more carefully.
S12, E05: Government Numbers

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia start the regular season of episodes with a discussion of how the government used to assign Social Security Numbers and currently assigns Employer Identification Numbers. They also talk about the legislative and social history of these important nine-digit numbers.
S12, E06: Zip Codes

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie explore the history and assignment of zip codes by the U.S. federal government. They also discuss the largely failed implementation of the "extra four digits."
S12, E07: In the News: Objects in the Sky

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia briefly touch on the objects in American or Canadian airspace that have been brought down by the U.S. military.
S12, E08: In the News: Slow SCOTUS

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie explore the reasons why the U.S. Supreme Court has released only two opinions since October when their session began.
S12, E09: Getting a Drug Through the FDA: The Application Process

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In this first of a three part series, Aughie walks Nia through the application process for obtaining permission to produce a new drug or medical device.
S12, E10: Getting a Drug Through the FDA: Generic

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

The second in a three part series, Nia and Aughie explore how generics come to market.
S12, E11: In The News: Russia, START, and War

Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Judyth Twigg

Professor Judy Twigg joins Aughie and Nia for a short discussion of Russia's suspension of the START Treaty. They also briefly touch on the prosecution of Russia's war with Ukraine.