Call 202-225-3501 To Fix The Internet

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Question Everything

Episode: Call 202-225-3501 To Fix The Internet

Host: Brian Reed
Guest: Rep. Jake Auchincloss
Date: November 25, 2025

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Overview

This episode of Question Everything tackles the heated debate over Section 230—the pivotal law that has shaped internet accountability since 1996. Host Brian Reed sits down with Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), one of the few lawmakers pushing for reform, to discuss why and how listeners can take tangible action right now to influence upcoming legislation focusing on children’s online safety. The episode centers on the urgent call to have Section 230 reform considered at an imminent Congressional hearing, providing listeners with concrete steps to make their voices heard.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Section 230 Matters (01:32–02:47)

• Background for New Listeners: Brian Reed summarizes the root issue: Section 230 grants internet platforms special immunity from legal responsibility for third-party content, creating a unique landscape with little accountability.
• Journalism's Role: Reed frames the reform as a journalistic mission, stemming from the podcast’s aim to counteract misinformation and restore trust.

2. Meet the Reform Advocate—Rep. Jake Auchincloss (00:29–01:17, 02:48–03:08)

• About Auchincloss:
  • Democratic Congressman from near Boston; ex-Marine; parent of three young children.
  • Actively promoting a Section 230 reform bill with a focus on protecting kids online.
• The Challenge:
  • “It's difficult for me to convey how hard that is, how ferociously the tech lobby lobby's against them.” — Rep. Auchincloss (01:17)

3. Actionable Listener Call to Action (02:48–04:51)

• Urgency:
  • Upcoming Energy and Commerce Committee hearing addressing kids’ online safety, algorithms, and privacy.
  • Auchincloss’s Section 230 proposal isn’t on the agenda yet.
• Specific Steps for Listeners:
  • Call Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Chair of the committee, at 202-225-3501.
  • “If every single one of your listeners would call the office of Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and say that they want Section 230 reform, that would help a lot.” — Rep. Auchincloss (02:48)
  • Reed repeats the ask multiple times for emphasis, providing details and reiterating urgency.

4. Inside the Legislative Process (04:02–04:35)

• Guthrie’s Role:
  • Committee chairs have near-unilateral authority over hearing agendas.
  • “The chairman of a committee, almost unilaterally...can decide the composition of a legislative hearing and a legislative markup.” — Rep. Auchincloss (04:26)
• Auchincloss’s Approach:
  • Focuses on gradually limiting Section 230, starting with clear harms like deepfakes, revenge porn, and cyberstalking, with a bipartisan bill called the Intimate Privacy Protection Act.

5. The Bill: Intimate Privacy Protection Act (05:00–06:05)

• What It Does:
  • Does not repeal Section 230 outright.
  • Aims to remove immunity for platforms failing to protect against deepfakes, revenge porn, and cyberstalking.
  • “If passed as is, it would require platforms to show a duty of care to protect people from these harms. And if they didn't, they'd lose the immunity of Section 230.” — Brian Reed (05:00)
• Bipartisan Support:
  • Backed by two Republican co-sponsors; signal of a rare cross-party consensus.

6. Why Now?—The New Technology Concern (06:05–06:31)

• AI & Deepfakes:
  • “We need to build bipartisan momentum to make changes. And I think focusing on a new technology, AI and the ability to do deep fakes, which everybody understands, like, whoa, this is different.” — Rep. Auchincloss (06:05)
  • The public’s broad recognition of AI risks presents a unique legislative opportunity.

7. Personal Motivations & Parental Urgency (06:31–08:04)

• Parenting & Policy:
  • Auchincloss describes how becoming a parent and learning about child brain development galvanized his concern.
  • “As a dad, I feel like I'm in a race against time here. I got a couple more years before these things swamp my kids and I feel powerless against these tech companies. But then as a member of Congress...I don't feel powerless.” — Rep. Auchincloss (07:20)
• Host Relatability:
  • Reed shares his own experience as a parent managing screen time and online exposure.

8. Final Call & How to Stay Involved (08:04–08:56)

• Reed's Closing Message:
  • Encourages even the undecided to call for a debate, not just a decision.
  • “Even if you haven't decided fully where you stand on section 230 yet...you might still think this is at least worth a debate in Congress, then that's worth a call too.” — Brian Reed (08:04)
• Further Engagement:
  • Listeners are directed to the show’s Substack (everything.substack.com) for the full hour-long interview and more resources.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Hill’s Reluctance:
  “It’s difficult for me to convey how hard that is, how ferociously the tech lobby lobby’s against them.”
  — Rep. Jake Auchincloss, (01:17)

• The Big Ask:
  “If every single one of your listeners would call the office of Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and say that they want Section 230 reform, that would help a lot.”
  — Rep. Jake Auchincloss, (02:48)

• Congressional Power Dynamics:
  “The chairman of a committee, almost unilaterally...can decide the composition of a legislative hearing and a legislative markup.”
  — Rep. Jake Auchincloss, (04:26)

• AI as Catalyst:
  “The idea that you can just all of a sudden generate totally synthetic, high quality, seemingly real videos, pictures, voice, et cetera, you're in a whole new world.”
  — Rep. Jake Auchincloss, (06:05)

• A Parent’s Perspective:
  “As a dad, I feel like I'm in a race against time here. ...I feel powerless against these tech companies. But then as a member of Congress...I don't feel powerless.”
  — Rep. Jake Auchincloss, (07:20)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:29: Introduction of Rep. Jake Auchincloss & the struggle to engage lawmakers
• 01:17: Auchincloss details lobbyist opposition
• 02:48: Representative gives concrete action—call Brett Guthrie
• 03:08: Why Guthrie, what the hearing will address
• 04:26: Committee chair authority over agenda
• 05:00: Reed explains the Intimate Privacy Protection Act
• 06:05: Auchincloss frames AI as a turning point for reform
• 07:20: Auchincloss and Reed share their parenting concerns
• 08:04: Final encouragement to take action and stay informed

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Summary

In this urgent episode, Question Everything moves from diagnosing issues with internet accountability to giving listeners a direct opportunity to shape law. Rep. Auchincloss and Brian Reed explain the stakes, lay out concrete actions, and personalize the issue for American families threatened by unchecked tech power. The episode closes with a strong encouragement for active civic engagement and further exploration via the podcast’s newsletter.

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Transcript

[A]

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you an urgent Section 230 update. A specific action item that every one of you can do today to help change this law that drives the Internet. I know a bunch of you have been writing me asking how you can help. Well, I just learned about an easy, targeted, impactful task for you straight from the mouth of a U.S. congressman.

Future.

The congressman is Jake Auchinclass. He's a Democratic representative from near Boston, a former Marine. After weeks and weeks of effort from my producer and me trying to meet with lawmakers who are pushing Section 230 reform, including a trip to the Capitol where we tried to corner some of them.

Senator Hawley? He vanished, which was not very fruitful. Senator Graham, did you talk about Section 230 repeal? I feel like such a chump, chasing them like we're at.

Finally we got one. A real live, hot blooded lawmaker, Jake Auchinklaas, who has proposed a bill in the House that would reform section 230, claw back some of the immunity the law gives to tech platforms. He's particularly focused on the safety of kids online. He's a dad.

[B]

The most important thing to me is to crack the door open on section 230 reform. It's difficult for me to convey how hard that is, how ferociously the tech lobby lobby's against them.

[A]

I know we have some new listeners here. Some of you may have found our show after our recent Apple podcasts Best of Designation, which was very nice. So just to welcome you all and to bring you up to speed quickly, I'm Brian Reed. You're listening to Question Everything from KCRW and Placement Theory. This is a show that started out trying to find ways to fight all the lies and distrust and division that are overwhelming journalism and all of us. And one of the solutions we've narrowed in on is changing a law called Section 230 from 1996, which gives companies on the Internet a special protection from lawsuits for things that other people post and do on their platforms. Same for users who repost things. I think changing Section 230 could help bring more accountability to the Internet. You can go back and listen to our episode. I believed Sandy Hook was a hoax. It's in your feed. Which is where I started to make my case. And what was so exciting about my conversation with Representative Auchincloss was we talked for an hour and then at the very end of it, I asked him if there was anything I could do to help with his bill to change section 230. Instead of giving me just like broad encouragements to keep raising awareness or whatever. He laid out clear, concrete marching orders for all of us.

[B]

Well, if every single one of your listeners would call the office of Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and say that they want Section 230 reform, that would help a lot. Brett Guthrie is the chairman of Energy and Commerce. So he is the most powerful person on the congressional committee that regulates these tech companies.

[A]

Representative Auchincloss is also on this committee and he tells me they have a hearing coming up. It's not publicly listed yet, but it could be as soon as early next week, right after the holiday weekend. That's what's urgent about this. They're going to unveil and discuss a slate of bills having to do with kids online safety, dealing with the effects of algorithms on kids, mental health, privacy of teenagers, things like that. And right now, Auchincloss's proposal to reform section 230 has not made it onto the agenda, but Representative Auchincloss would like it to get on there and maybe, just maybe if a bunch of question everything listeners were to call the head of the committee, Congressman Brett Guthrie at 202-225-3501. That's 202-225-3501. Congressman Brett Guthrie might put the Section 230 bill on there.

[B]

He's a, he's a reasonable man, Brett. He's, I talk to him frequently about tech issues. I think he has a, an increasing awareness and an increasing sense of urgency about the need for us to legislate for again, children is really the focus for children's well being.

[A]

But he's the one, is he the one who's responsible for Section 230 not being on the agenda for this legislative hearing?

[B]

Yeah. So the chairman of a committee, almost unilaterally, there's always give and take in Congress, but almost unilaterally can decide the composition of a legislative hearing and a legislative markup.

[A]

I know you have to go in a minute, but this is really helpful, actionable advice. Like Brett Guthrie, Kentucky. Call him. Say section 230 reform specifically is a priority. Can you make it a priority on the Commerce Committee?

[B]

100%. Do it.

[A]

That number again for Congressman Brett Guthrie, 202-225-3501. Call Representative Guthrie and ask him to put Section 230 reform on the agenda for the upcoming online kids safety bill hearing at the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This information, plus info for how to email Congressman Guthrie, if you prefer doing it that way, is in the show notes and we'll also share it on our substack question. Everything.substack.com we'll also link to Representative Auchincloss proposal so you can read it yourself. Auchincloss bill would not repeal section 230. His bill is called the Intimate Privacy Protection act and it's aimed primarily at stopping revenge porn, cyberstalking and deepfakes. If passed as is, it would require platforms to show a duty of care to protect people from these harms. And if they didn't, they'd lose the immunity of Section 230. It's important what Auchincloss's bill is trying to address. It may not be exactly how I would have gone about Section 230 reform, but this is a bipartisan proposal with two Republican co sponsors. And Auchincloss says even if it's not the dream proposal, it could still change. This is early days and he just wants to break the seal on reforming 230.

[B]

We need to build bipartisan momentum to make changes. And I think focusing on a new technology, AI and the ability to do deep fakes, which everybody understands, like, whoa, this is different. The idea that you can just all of a sudden generate totally synthetic, high quality, seemingly real videos, pictures, voice, et cetera, you're in a whole new world. And so it's the right place to start. Okay. And to focus in.

[A]

I'm curious, how did you, I guess first learn about section 230? Do you even remember like when did you first kind of tune into it?

[B]

I came to the realization partly through reading about the psychology and cognition of brain development and the effects of social media. But then personally just becoming a dad. I've got a five year old, a four year old, a two and a half year old, the second youngest dad in the Democratic caucus now. Wow.

[A]

Bless you. I have a five year old. But that's, that's where it stops. So.

[B]

And probably they're already kind of after your phone. Right.

[A]

We had a whole conversation yesterday. She was like, I want to watch TV on your phone. And you know, I was like, I had until like yesterday convinced her that there's no TV on my phone, that it's only on my mother in law's phone. But now she's starting to like see.

[B]

The cracks in that, that facade is crumbling.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, as a dad, I feel like I'm in a race against time here. I got a couple more years before these things swamp my kids and I feel powerless against these tech companies. But then as a member of Congress on the committee of jurisdiction. I don't feel powerless. And in fact, I feel empowered because I know how many of my fellow parents, how many students in my district, how many Americans more broadly can see, even if they don't know the terminology around Section 230, can see that these are the most wealthy, powerful corporations in the history of the world, that they hold themselves above accountability to the American public, and that they have to be humbled.

[A]

If you agree, call Brett Guthrie on the House Energy and Commerce committee right now, 202-225-3501. And even if you haven't decided fully where you stand on section 230 yet, I get it. But you might still think this is at least worth a debate in Congress, then that's worth a call too.

The hearing on these online bills could happen as soon as Tuesday of next week. So start making your opinion known, telling GUTHRIE you want Section 230 reform included. And again, check out and subscribe to our substack? Everything.substack.com where we're going to share my whole hour long interview with Representative Jake Auchincloss. I enjoyed talking to him. You can hear more about his justification and thinking behind the way he's drafted this bill and his response to the criticisms of Section 230 reform that I put to him.

Have a great holiday.