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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S12, E12: Getting a Drug Through the FDA: Controversies

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In the final part of this series, Aughie and Nia touch on the controversies surrounding the process of bringing a drug or medical device to market.
S12, E13: School Nutrition and Military Readiness

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the new government nutritional guidelines, mostly in terms of other reports concerning military readiness and ongoing American health issues.
S12, E14: The Federalist Papers: Introduction

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Who were the authors of the Federalist Papers? What were they written in response to? Why are they important? Aughie and Nia answer these questions in a new intermittent series of episodes.
S12, E15: Local Zoning Ordinances

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia explore how the use of zoning laws at the local level can change the use of property in a city, sometimes to suppress "undesirable" activities.
S12, E16: SCOTUS Hears Social Media Cases

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the cases heard before the U.S. Supreme Court in February 2023 regarding the responsibility of Google and Twitter for the content published on their platforms.
S12, E17: Freedom of Information Act Exemptions

Nia Rodgers

Aughie and Nia cover the Freedom of Information Act and the exemptions the government may rely on to prevent the release of information.
S12, E18: Federalist Paper 10

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss arguments made in Federalist 10 and AntiFederalist 10 regarding the factions and parties that might destroy the rights of the people, especially those holding the minority opinion.
S12, E19: The Respect for Marriage Act

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie discuss the recently enacted PL 117-228, the Respect for Marriage Act. It repeals The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and guarantees that same sex marriages performed in a state where they are legal must be recognized in all other states.
S12, E20: Music Catalogs and Copyright Law

Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Hillary Miller

Scholarly communications librarian Hillary Miller joins Aughie and Nia to discuss the copyright ownership of musical products by writers, singers, and potentially hedge funds.
S12, E21: Jack Daniels, Bad Spaniels, and the SCOTUS

Nia Rodgers, John Aughenbaugh, and Hillary Miller

Scholarly communications librarian Hillary Miller joins Nia and Aughie to debate the issues in the recent case before the Supreme Court, Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LL.
S13, E01: In the News: The Debt Ceiling Revisited

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss the provisions of the debt ceiling agreement reached in June 2023. This is a follow up episode to a January 2023 episode.
S13, E02: SCOTUS 1 Wrap Up of the 22-23 Term

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In the first of three episodes, Aughie and Nia discuss the major decisions released in June by the U.S. Supreme Court; in this episode, the cases covered are: Andy Warhol v Goldsmith, Gonzalez v. Google LLC and Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh, Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, Glacier Northwest v. Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters, Allen v. Milligan, and Jack Daniel’s Properties v. VIP Products.
S13, E03: SCOTUS 2 Wrap Up of the 22-23 Term

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In the second of three episodes, Aughie and Nia discuss the major decisions released in June by the U.S. Supreme Court; in this episode, the cases covered are: Haaland v. Brackeen, U.S. v Texas, Groff v. DeJoy, Counterman v. Colorado and Moore v. Harper.
S13, E04: SCOTUS 3 Wrap Up of the 22-23 Term

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In the third of three episodes, Aughie and Nia discuss the major decisions released in June by the U.S. Supreme Court; in this episode, the cases covered are: Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, Biden v. Nebraska, and Department of Education v. Brown.
S13, E05: SCOTUS 4 Statistics of the 22-23 Term

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia share the statistics of this SCOTUS term, including who wrote the most and least, who agreed the most and least, and much more.
S13, E06: SCOTUS 5 Preview of the 23-24 Term

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia preview some of the 21 cases that the Supreme Court has already agreed to hear for the 23-24 term.
S14, E01: Getting to Know You: Favorite West Wing Episodes

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In a short series titled Getting to Know You, Aughie and Nia discuss their favorite West Wing episodes. Other favorites upcoming will include movies, protest songs, political scandals, and books.
S14, E02: Getting to Know You: Favorite Political Movies

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In part 2 of a short series titled Getting to Know You, Nia and Aughie discuss their favorite political movies. Other favorites in the series include West Wing episodes, protest songs, political scandals, and political books.
S14, E03: Getting to Know You: Favorite Protest or Political Songs

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In part 3 of a short series titled Getting to Know You, Aughie and Nia discuss their favorite protest or political songs. Other favorites in the series include West Wing episodes, protest movies, political scandals, and political books.
S14, E04: Getting to Know You: Favorite Political Scandals

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In part 4 of a short series titled Getting to Know You, Aughie and Nia discuss their favorite political scandals. Other favorites in the series include West Wing episodes, political movies, political or protest songs, and political books.
S14, E05: Getting to Know You: Favorite Political Fiction Books

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

In the 5th and final part of a short series titled Getting to Know You, Aughie and Nia discuss their favorite political fiction books. Other favorites in the series include West Wing episodes, political movies, political or protest songs, and political scandals.
S14, E06: In The News: Government Shutdown

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia discuss the outcomes of government shutdowns.
S14, E07: National Film Registry

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia explore the purpose of the National Film Preservation Board, created by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988. They discuss the criterion used to consider films as well as some of the films that are part of the National Film Registry.
S14, E08: Architect of the Capitol

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Nia and Aughie talk about an open position in the federal government, the Architect of the Capitol. They discuss the responsibilities of the job and how to potentially change the job to attract candidates.
S14, E09: Congress and the Mountain Valley Pipeline

Nia Rodgers and John Aughenbaugh

Aughie and Nia delve into the Mountain Valley Pipeline deal during the debt ceiling debates, and the problems that Congress has made for the Courts in adjudicating any problems with the pipeline. Does the Congress have the power to direct which Court will hear a case?