Podcast
Civil Discourse
Hosted by Nia Rodgers and Dr. John Aughenbaugh · EN
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.
35episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
SoS 2026: Birthrights and Firing People
1w ago01:00:03Tap to summarizeAughie and Nia discuss the Supreme Court opinions in Trump V Barbara, Trump v. Cook, and Trump V Slaughter. In Trump v Barbara, the justices were asked to decide whether Trump's Executive Order banning birthright citizenship was legal. In Trump v Cook, the Court decided whether Trump was allowed to fire a Federal Reserve Board Governor. In the final case of this episode, the Justices addressed whether Trump could fire a Federal Trade Commissioner.
Transcribe →SoS 2026: Ballots, Election Money, and Transgender Athletes
1w ago00:58:25Tap to summarizeAughie and Nia discuss the Supreme Court decisions in Watson v RNC, National Republican Senatorial Committee v Federal Election Commission and West Virginia v BJP combined with Little v Hecox. In the first case, the Justices were asked to define "elections" in terms of mail in voting ballot acceptance. In the second, they addressed the national political parties coordinating spending with candidates. In the final two cases, combined into one decision, the Justices wrestled with questions surrounding allowing transgender female athletes to compete on women's teams.
Transcribe →SoS 2026: Guns, Drugs, and Locations
2w ago00:55:19Tap to summarizeNia and Aughie discuss the decisions in Wolford v Lopez, U.S. v Hemani, and Abouammo v United States. The first case related to state gun bans, the second to the right of habitual drug users to own a gun, and the third applied to cases being filed outside the jurisdiction in which they occurred.
Transcribe →SoS 2026: Immigration, Refuge, and Corporate Liability
2w ago01:02:28Tap to summarizeAughie and Nia discuss the opinions in Noes v Al Otro Lado, Mullin v Doe, and Cisco Systems v Doe. The first case allows the federal government to stop immigrants before arriving on American soil to ask for asylum. The second case allows the government to cancel Temporary Protection Status visas. The third case does not allow Cisco to be sued because the Chinese government used its software to locate and torture Chinese dissidents.
Transcribe →SoS 2026: Attacks on SCOTUS
3w ago00:54:07Tap to summarizeAughie and Nia discuss recent attacks, verbal and physical, on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Transcribe →SoS 2026: Streisand Effect
3w ago00:57:12Tap to summarizeWhile waiting for more opinions from the SCOTUS, Aughie and Nia talk about the Streisand Effect in politics.
Transcribe →SoS 2026: Batson Challenges
Jun 1200:50:22Tap to summarizeAughie and Nia explore the importance of Batson challenges in jury trials.
Transcribe →SoS 2026: Disposition of Justices' Papers
Jun 500:59:01Tap to summarizeAughie explains what happens to the personal papers of the Supreme Court Justices after they retire or pass away.
Transcribe →SoS 2026: Louisiana v Callais
May 2901:02:14Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →In the News: Redistricting Followup
May 2200:48:44Tap to summarizeIn the News, Aughie and Nia follow up on the post election results of the redistricting question in Virginia.
Transcribe →