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  • Everything You Wanted to Know About Federalism But Were Afraid to Ask

    Everything You Wanted to Know About Federalism But Were Afraid to Ask
    2025/12/08
    Steve, Mack, and Anne dig into the power dynamics of these United States. REFERENCES What about Washington, D.C.? Duignan, Brian. “What State Is Washington, D.C. In?” June 13, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/what-state-is-washington-dc-in Federalism is… Legal Information Institute. “Federalism.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/federalism We should start with the Tenth Amendment: Constitution Annotated. “Tenth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-10/ When James Madison and the first Congress under the Constitution were drafting a Bill of Rights: NCC Staff. “On This Day: James Madison Introduces the Bill of Rights.” June 8, 2023. National Constitution Center. https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/on-this-day-james-madison-introduces-the-bill-of-rights There were 12 proposed amendments: National Archives. “Bill of Rights.” Reviewed August 13, 2020. https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/bor Mel Brooks and History of the World: https://youtu.be/I48hr8HhDv0?si=i9tGvexOWMqa99Km So, in Article 1, Section 8, are the powers of Congress: Constitution Annotated. “Article I Legislative Branch: Section 8 Enumerated Powers.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-8/ Article 1, Section 9, are powers denied to Congress: Constitution Annotated. “Article I Legislative Branch: Section 9 Powers Denied Congress.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-9/ Article 1, Section 10, are powers denied to the states: Constitution Annotated. “Article I Legislative Branch: Section 10 Powers Denied States.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-10/ During the revolution, we were basically a confederation: National Archives. “Articles of Confederation (1777).” https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/articles-of-confederation The states always had power, and originally it was royal charters: Yale Law School. “Colonial Charters, Grants, and Related Documents.” https://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/statech.asp They were all British, the original 13: Ray, Michael. “In What Order Were the 13 American Colonies Established?” July 2, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/In-What-Order-Were-the-13-American-Colonies-Established Maryland—go Catholics: History.com Editors. “The Settlement of Maryland.” Updated May 28, 2025. History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-25/the-settlement-of-maryland The acts of Parliament that got everybody head up: American Battlefield Trust. “The Acts That Fueled Rebellion.” January 1, 2024. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/acts-fueled-rebellion Parliament declares Massachusetts to be in rebellion: The Falmouth Historical Society. “250 Years Ago: Parliament Declares Massachusetts to be in a State of Rebellion!” https://www.thefhs.org/250-Rebellion Part of that was going through the shared experience of the French and Indian War: Office of the Historian. “French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War, 1754–63.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/french-indian-war The Empire is the part you’re living in: Britannica Editors. “British Empire.” December 1, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Empire Like Jonathan Edwards: Schafer, Thomas A. “Jonathan Edwards.” October 1, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jonathan-Edwards They were real assholes: Mayer, Alicia. “Dominating the Unsaved: The Different Other and Cultural Imperialism in the New England Puritan Way.” April 9, 2024. Center for the Study of World Religions. https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2024/04/10/dominating-unsaved-different-other-and-cultural-imperialism-new-england-puritan-way There were Tories: Britannica Editors. “Loyalist.” January 31, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/loyalist Not even the Epstein files: Quinnipiac University. “63% Of Voters Disapprove of the Trump Administration's Handling of the Jeffrey Epstein Files, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Nearly Half of Voters Would Consider Joining A Third Party, Just Not One Created by Elon Musk.” July 16, 2025. https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3928 Or the fact that the Earth is round: Foster, Craig A. and Branch, Glenn. “Do People Really Think Earth Might Be Flat?” August 21, 2018. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/do-people-really-think-earth-might-be-flat/ Or Nazis: Roston, Aram and Urquhart, Jim. “American Nazis: The Aryan Freedom Network is Riding High in Trump Era.” Updated August 10, 2025. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/investigations/american-nazis-aryan-freedom-network-is-riding-high-trump-era-2025-08-08/ Or that contrails are just contrails: Asmelash, Leah. “The Truth Behind Those White Streaks Trailing Behind Jets in the Sky.” March 12, 2024. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/us/...
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    1 時間 8 分
  • Untethered Tangent on Populism

    Untethered Tangent on Populism
    2025/11/17
    11 分
  • What’s Going On Here?

    What’s Going On Here?
    2025/11/03
    Get out your dictionaries, folks! It’s time to figure out what’s happening in the U.S. of A. In this listener-suggested episode of Civics, we look at -archies, -acracies, and -isms. REFERENCES Oligarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligarchy Many of them had a council of elders: Hodkinson, Stephen. “Gerousia.” December 22, 2015. Oxford Classical Dictionary. https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-2832 For Aristotle in his Politics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Aristotle: Politics.” https://iep.utm.edu/aristotle-politics/ Aristocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocracy The Soviet Union after Stalin: Little, Becky. “Soviet Union Leaders: A Timeline.” History.com https://www.history.com/articles/soviet-union-leaders-order Totalitarian: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totalitarian You had the Politburo: Editors of Encyclopedia Brittanica. “Politburo.” March 8, 2023. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Politburo Khrushchev: Gibney, Frank B. “Nikita Krushchev.” Updated October 27, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nikita-Sergeyevich-Khrushchev The Cuban Missile Crisis: Office of the Historian. “The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis Gerontocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerontocracy In Ancient Rome, the Senate is derived from senex which means “old man”: Merriam-Webster. “Senate: Word History.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/senate#word-history The song that Anne was attempting to sing: https://youtu.be/ZKCiC-H2Xbg?si=bUP1DxKiJ4C0bIFv We do have a bunch of old senators: DeSilver, Drew. “Age and Generation in the 119th Congress: Somewhat Younger, With Fewer Boomers and more Gen Xers.” January 16, 2025. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/16/age-and-generation-in-the-119th-congress-somewhat-younger-with-fewer-boomers-and-more-gen-xers/ Senators were originally appointed by the state legislatures: National Archives. “17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913).” Reviewed February 8, 2022. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/17th-amendment Project 2025, they are substantially entrenched in the White House right now: Wardwell, Faith. “The Key Project 2025 Authors Now Staffing the Trump Administration.” March 12, 2025. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/key-project-2025-authors-now-staffing-trump-administration-rcna195107 Sending troops into cities: Reuters. “Trump Tells U.S. Troops He is Ready to Send ‘More Than the National Guard’ Into Cities.” October 28, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-tells-us-troops-he-is-ready-send-more-than-national-guard-into-cities-2025-10-28/ Sparta was an example of an oligarchy because the ephors were the ones that really had the power: Editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica. “Ephor.” December 18, 2011. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ephor Anarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anarchy Monarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarchy What Plato described in the Republic as a philosopher king: Lane, Melissa. “Philosopher King.” February 5, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosopher-king Tyrant: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyrant Franklin Roosevelt: The White House. “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/franklin-d-roosevelt/ With almost 25% unemployment: Romer, Christina D. and Pells, Richard H. “Great Depression.” Updated October 26, 2025. Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Depression And the Dust Bowl: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Dust Bowl.” Updated October 2, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Dust-Bowl The first 100 days where a lot of legislation gets passed: Freidel, Frank. “The First Term of Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Updated October 31, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franklin-D-Roosevelt/The-first-term Lincoln: The White House. “Abraham Lincoln.” https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/abraham-lincoln/ But Lincoln had a nation-wide insurrection going on: Weber, Jennifer L. and Hassler, Warren W. “American Civil War.” Updated October 12, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Civil-War Populist: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populist Tariffs are not helping the economy: Clarke, Jennifer. “What Tariffs has Trump Announced and Why?” October 30, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn93e12rypgo Autocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autocracy Even in Britain…: Kellner, Peter and Harford Thomas, William. “England: Government and Society.” Updated November 1, ...
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    1 時間 31 分
  • Untethered Tangent on the Budget Process

    Untethered Tangent on the Budget Process
    2025/10/20
    6 分
  • What is Congress Supposed To Do?

    What is Congress Supposed To Do?
    2025/10/06
    Mack, Steve, and Anne get into what one branch of the government isn’t doing right now. REFERENCES Congress is defined in Article I of the Constitution: Constitution Annotated. “Article I.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-1/ They didn’t want a king: Pereira, Ivan. “Nation’s Founders Pushed Against ‘Elected King’ When Framing Presidential Powers.” July 2, 2024. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nations-founders-pushed-elected-king-framing-presidential-powers/story?id=111621798 You know how Aristotle called for “balanced government”: Smith, Steven. “9. The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle’s Politics, VII” [YouTube video]. Yale Courses. https://youtu.be/mKLkb4LDi5M?si=NLTY5uPD9omUdXGZ The Senate, originally, chosen by the state legislatures: United States Senate. “Landmark Legislation: The Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution.” https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/seventeenth-amendment.htm The Seventeenth Amendment: Constitution Annotated. “Seventeenth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-17/ Part of the Progressive Era: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “The Progressive Era Key Facts.” September 28, 2020. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/summary/The-Progressive-Era-Key-Facts “No appropriations shall be made but by law”: Constitution Annotated. “ArtI.S9.C7.1 Overview of Appropriations Clause.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C7-1/ALDE_00001095/ There’s Project 2025, too: Wendling, Mike. “Project 2025: The Right-Wing Wish List for Trump’s Second Term.” February 13, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c977njnvq2do During Nixon’s administration, Nixon tried what is called “impoundment”: Kogan, Richard, “FAQs on Impoundment: Presidential Actions Are Constrained by Long-Standing Constitutional Restrictions.” November 21, 2024. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/faqs-on-impoundment-presidential-actions-are-constrained-by-long-standing The Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional: Justia. “Train v. City of New York, 420 U.S. 35 (1975).” https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/420/35/ It could be a veto override: United States House of Representatives. “Presidential Vetoes.” Updated January 23, 2025. https://history.house.gov/Institution/Presidential-Vetoes/Presidential-Vetoes/ USAID: Faguy, Ana. “USAID Officially Closes, Attracting Condemnation From Obama and Bush.” July 2, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c307zq8ppj6o That was part of the DOGE-ness: Clarke, Jennifer. “What is DOGE and Why Has Musk Left?” May 20, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23vkd57471o Project 2025 had it: Mathiasen, Karen. “Project 2025 and Development Policy: I Read It So You Don’t Have To.” July 20, 2024. https://www.cgdev.org/blog/project-2025-and-development-policy-i-read-it-so-you-dont-have Some people have not liked USAID for years: Kakissis, Joanna; Bartlett, Kate; Peralta, Eyder; and Hadid, Diaa. “How the Gutting of USAID is Reverberating Around the World: Worry, Despair, Praise.” February 11, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/02/11/g-s1-47661/trump-musk-usaid-ukraine-south-africa-mexico-colombia-india-afghanistan-hiv Aid has stopped going to these places: Mednick, Sam; McMakin, Wilson; and Pronczuk, Monika. “USAID Cuts are Already Hitting Countries Around the World: Here are 20 Projects That Have Closed.” AP News. https://apnews.com/article/usaid-cuts-hunger-sickness-288b1d3f80d85ad749a6d758a778a5b2 Food has spoiled: Hartner, Fred. “‘The Impact has Been Devastating’: How USAID Freez Sent Shockwaves Through Ethiopia." February 21, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2025/feb/21/the-impact-has-been-devastating-how-usaid-freeze-sent-shockwaves-through-ethiopia Supplies have been destroyed: Kent, Lauren. “US to Burn $9.7 Million Worth of USAID-Purchased Contraceptives Rather Than Deliver Them to Women Overseas.” July 29, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/29/europe/usaid-contraceptives-burn-belgium-france-intl Furloughed the people: Tanis, Fatma. “USAID Terminates Nearly All Its Remaining Employees.” March 28, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/03/28/g-s1-56968/usaid-terminates-nearly-all-its-remaining-employees People were going to the courts to say, “Hey, this is illegal.”: Wagner, Erich. “Judge Certifies Class in Lawsuit on Behalf of Ex-USAID Workers, Contractors." August 19, 2025. Government Executive. https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/08/judge-certifies-class-lawsuit-behalf-ex-usaid-workers-contractors/407551/ Being wined and dined by monarchy: Reals, Tucker; Ott, Haley; and Watson, Kathryn. “Trump Attends Banquet Dinner With King Charles During Second State Visit ...
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    1 時間 17 分
  • Untethered Tangent on Term Limits and Qualifications

    Untethered Tangent on Term Limits and Qualifications
    2025/09/15
    11 分
  • Should the Justice Department be Independent?

    Should the Justice Department be Independent?
    2025/09/01
    Mack, Steve, and Anne debate Constitutional law and look to fix the problems of our country in our first episode of season 3. References What is independent? Merriam-Webster. “Independent.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/independent What is justice? https://youtu.be/wEBlaMOmKV4?si=difVAzt3cTdBuLvG So, we have three branches: USA.gov. “Branches of the U.S. Government.” https://www.usa.gov/branches-of-government The power of the executive is vested in one person: Legal Information Institute. “Executive Power.” Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/executive_power At the Constitutional Convention: Office of the Historian. “Constitutional Convention and Ratification, 1787–1789.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/convention-and-ratification William Paterson’s New Jersey plan: Metych, Michele. “New Jersey Plan.” December 21, 2024. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/New-Jersey-Plan The Garden State: NJ.gov. “Nickname.” https://www.nj.gov/nj/about/facts/nickname.shtml Under the Virginia plan: Metych, Michele. “Virginia Plan.” March 7, 2023. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Virginia-plan They weren’t there: Kratz, Jessie. “‘Rogue Island’: The last state to ratify the Constitution.” May 18, 2015. National Archives. https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2015/05/18/rogue-island-the-last-state-to-ratify-the-constitution/ A plural executive: Center for the Study of the American Constitution. “The Debate Over the President and the Executive Branch.” University of Wisconsin-Madison. https://csac.history.wisc.edu/document-collections/constitutional-debates/executive-branch/ The Romans had two consuls: The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Consul.” April 30, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/consul-ancient-Roman-official Which version of the Roman again: National Geographic Society. “Rome’s Transition From Republic to Empire.” October 18, 2024. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/romes-transition-republic-empire/ Texas has a plural executive: Regalado, Daniel M. “The Texas Plural Executive and Bureaucracy in Texas.” https://oercommons.org/courseware/lesson/108182/student/?section=13 In case you didn’t get why we all laughed at the Attorney General of Texas: Scherer, Jasper. “Ken Paxton Agrees to Community Service, Paying Restitution to Avoid Trial in Securities Fraud Case.” March 26, 2024. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/25/ken-paxton-plea-deal-securities-fraud-felony/ The Agricultural Commissioner, you know, Sid Miller: Texas Department of Agriculture. “Commissioner Sid Miller.” https://texasagriculture.gov/About/Commissioner-Miller Nixon was not above the idea of having the IRS go after enemies: Thorndike, Joseph J. “Tax History: Nixon Aide Tried to Weaponize the IRS by Pressuring the Commissioner.” March 13, 2023. Tax Notes. https://www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-project/tax-history-nixon-aide-tried-weaponize-irs-pressuring-commissioner/2023/03/10/7g45r There’s also the issue of J. Edgar Hoover: Talbot, Margaret. “J. Edgar Hoover, Public Enemy No. 1.” November 14, 2022. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/11/21/j-edgar-hoover-public-enemy-no-1 Kissinger—copresident may be too strong a term, but it’s not far off: Skidmore, David. “Henry Kissinger and the Seductions of Power” [Commentary]. December 2, 2023. Iowa Capital Dispatch. https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/12/02/henry-kissinger-and-the-seductions-of-power/ In the organic statute: Ballotpedia. “Organic Statute.” https://ballotpedia.org/Organic_statute Congress passed a law saying an FBI Director will be nominated for one 10-year term: FBI. “Directors, Then and Now.” https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors Which is where the word comes from: Merriam-Webster. “Dictator: Etymology.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictator#word-history The President’s emergency powers: Brennan Center for Justice. “A Guide to Emergency Powers and Their Use.” Updated July 1, 2025. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/guide-emergency-powers-and-their-use Trump fired Jim Comey: BBC News. “FBI Chief James Comey Fired by Trump.” May 10, 2017. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39866170 Christopher Wray turned out to not be the FBI Director Trump thought he was going to be: Yousif, Nadine. “FBI Director Christopher Wray to Resign Before Trump Takes Office.” December 11, 2024. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce902z8lp81o There are more government agencies that are more independent than that: Lehigh University. “U.S. Government Information: Independent Agencies.” Updated July 15, 2025. https://libraryguides.lehigh.edu/c.php?g=369881&p=2499296 Members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve serve 14-year terms. A term begins every 2 years on February 1 of even numbered ...
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    1 時間 20 分
  • Untethered Tangent on Schoolhouse Rock

    Untethered Tangent on Schoolhouse Rock
    2025/08/18
    7 分