Civil Discourse

Follow Civil Discourse
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

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.

Nia Rodgers and Dr. John Aughenbaugh


    • Jul 18, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 282 EPISODES
    • 8 SEASONS

    4.8 from 21 ratings Listeners of Civil Discourse that love the show mention: interesting, informative.



    Search for episodes from Civil Discourse with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Civil Discourse

    SoS 2025: Looking Forward

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 61:07


    Aughie gives listeners a preview of some of the cases that have been accepted for adjudication in the next SCOTUS term, including: Louisiana v. Calais, Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, Hamm v. Smith, Elingburg v. U.S., Chiles v. Salazar, National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, Urias-Orellana v. Bondi, and a combination of two cases, Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.J.P.

    SoS 2025: Wrapping It Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 59:26


    Aughie gives Nia a run-down on all the statistics of the most recent SCOTUS session; who talked the most and least, who wrote the most and least, who agreed the most and least, and other statistics and observations.

    SoS 2025: The 3rd Set of Cases

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 64:16


    Nia and Aughie discuss the following case rulings: Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, Mahmoud v. Taylor, and Trump v CASA.

    SoS 2025: The 2nd Set of Cases

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 63:07


    Aughie and Nia discuss the following case rulings: United States v. Skrmetti, Diamond Alternative Energy v. EPA, Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, and Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers' Research.

    SoS 2025: The 1st Set of Cases

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 65:41


    Nia and Aughie discuss the following case rulings:  Oklahoma Statewide Charter Board v. Drummond, Smith & Wesson Brands v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Commission, Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, and Martin v. United States.

    SoS 2025: JRob's Tough Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 61:45


    Aughie and Nia explore the rather difficult year Chief Justice John Roberts has had in the keeping the SCOTUS on track and productive.

    In the News: Trump and the National Guard

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2025 49:57


    Aughie and Nia discuss the legal and Constitutional guidance around Presidents and their deployment of the National Guard to a state or city.

    The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 62:05


    In the last episode of season 18, Aughie and Nia explore the long and storied history of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

    The Bureau of the Mint

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 69:24


    Nia and Aughie discuss the history and responsibilities of the Bureau of the Mint.

    Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 78:47


    Aughie and Nia learn about the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the many financial and banking boards that the Comptroller sits on or directs.

    The Children's Bureau

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 77:23


    Nia and Aughie discuss the rich and long history of the Children's Bureau, from its founding in 1912 to the modern era.

    In the News: Trump Targets Universities

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 52:38


    Aughie and Nia discuss the recent efforts of the Trump Administration to target the research efforts, curricula, and financial support of universities and colleges.

    Western Area Power Administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 54:08


    Nia and Aughe explain the history and work of the Western Area Power Administration.

    Transportation Security Administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 49:43


    Aughie and Nia explore the formation, responsibilities, and struggles of the Transportation Security Administration.

    In the News: Trump's First Seven Weeks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 79:38


     Aughie and Nia take a look at the lawsuits, firings, and impoundments during President Trump's first seven weeks in office. 

    Voice of America

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 59:35


    Nia and Aughie turn their attention to the breadth, reach, and soft power of the Voice of America.

    ATF

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 59:18


    Aughie and Nia explore the history and responsibilities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

    Unoccupied Territories

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 72:12


    In the sixth and final episode in this series, Nia and Aughie talk about the unoccupied, but still interesting, US territories.

    US Virgin Islands

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 53:19


    The US Virgin Islands are the topic of the fifth in this series, with Aughie and Nia discussing the rich history of the islands.

    American Samoa

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 52:03


    The fourth in this territorial series brings Aughie and Nia to American Samoa.

    Northern Mariana Islands

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 60:03


    In the third of this series, Aughie and Nia discuss the Northern Mariana Islands

    Puerto Rico

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 51:58


    Nia and Aughie continue their U.S. Territories series while exploring the history and culture of Puerto Rico.

    In the News: Trump's First Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 65:09


     Aughie and Nia explore some of the Executive Orders released by the Trump Administration in his first week in office. 

    Guam

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 54:16


    Nia and Aughie discuss the Constitutional grounds upon which the U.S. might acquire a territory. They go on to discuss the territory of Guam.

    In the News: Presidential Inaugurations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 76:37


    Augie and Nia discuss the Constitutional and customary rules surrounding a Presidential Inauguration.

    Pardon Me!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 74:07


    Aughie and Nia discuss the Presidential pardon power - how it arises, how it has been used, and controversial pardons past and present.

    In the News: The First Round of Trump Appointments

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 60:08


    Aughie and Nia discuss the first round of President Elect Trump's proposed appointments, and follow with a discussion of recess appointments.

    After Election 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 82:58


    Aughie and Nia discuss the immediate and potential long term ramifications of the 2024 election cycle.

    Election Certification Process

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 74:49


     Aughie and Nia outline the steps a Presidential election goes through, from voting at the booth to election certification at the U.S. Capitol. 

    Government Plagiarizers

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 52:47


    Aughie and Nia talk about famous government officials who have plagiarized writing and speeches. 

    Federalist 39

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 31:22


    Aughie and Nia discuss Federalist 39, Madison's defense of the Republic as a form of national government.

    Notable Thefts of Government Documents

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 55:43


    Aughie and Nia explore the known modern thefts of government documents and the punishments imposed on the thieves.

    SCOTUS Under Siege

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 65:38


    Aughie and Nia discuss the latest woes of the U.S. Supreme Court, including leaks, scandals, and public opinion.

    Secession, part 1: What is Political Secession?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 52:08


    AMBER and Other Alerts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 59:29


    Aughie and Nia talk about the various local and national alert systems designed to reach Americans by television, telephone, and internet.

    SCOTUS Term Limit Debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 59:22


    Nia and Aughie consider the debate concerning imposing term limits on Supreme Court Justices. Can Congress enact a law, or does there need to be a Constitutional Amendment?

    The Global Engagement Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 51:37


    Aughie scares Nia with the mission of the Global Engagement Center, located in the State Department. 

    What is the Overton Window?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 55:27


    Aughie and Nia explore Joseph Overton's concept to explain when politicians will act to create public policy. This theory is named the Overton Window.

    What is the Superfund?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 63:36


    Nia and Aughie explain the The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund Act, of 1980. They consider its goals as well as the pros and cons of the program.

    In The News: Who the Heck is Tim Walz?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 39:11


    Aughie and Nia discuss a person in civics news - Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, the Democratic vice president pick. Aughie analyzes his pros and cons as a nominee. 

    SoS 2024: Wrap Up and What's Next

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 72:10


    Aughie and Nia wrap up the statstics for the 23-24 SCOTUS session and look forward to coming cases in the 24-25 SCOTUS session.

    SoS 2024: Case review, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 59:07


    Aughie and Nia review the following rulings: Alexander v. NAACP; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) v. Consumer Financial Services Association of America; Muldrow v. City of St. Louis; O'Connor Ratcliff v. Garnier and Lindke v. Freed; Donal Trump v. Norma Anderson; FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.

    SoS 2024: Justice Oddities

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 69:30


    From eating habits to medical issues to marital involvements, Nia and Aughie discuss some of the Justices' interesting oddities.

    SoS 2024: Case review, part 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 49:18


    Aughie and Nia review the following cases: Fischer v. United States; Trump v. United States

    SoS 2024: Case review, part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 61:30


    Nia and Aughie review the following cases: Murthy v. Missouri; NetChoice, LLC v. Paxton and Moody v. NetChoice, LLC; City of Grants Pass v. Johnson; Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v Department of Commerce

    SoS 2024: Case review, part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 59:05


    Aughie and Nia review the following cases: Snyder v. U.S.; Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy; Idaho v. U.S.; Harrington v. Purdue Pharma

    SoS 2024: Case review, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 50:07


    Nia and Aughie review the following rulings: Moore V. U.S.; Garland v. Cargill; U.S. v. Rahimi

    SoS 2024: Better at Other Stuff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 62:50


    Aughie and Nia discuss the Supreme Court Justices that were overrated as Justices. Many of them were quite strong in other positions but were seen as less influential on the Court than their reputation might suggest.

    SoS 2024: Who Cares What the SCOTUS Ruled?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 56:56


    Aughie and Nia discuss instances where Presidents, Congress, the States, and the political parties have defied or ignored Supreme Court rulings.

    In the News: Biden Withdraws

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 48:15


    Nia and Aughie discuss the ramifications of President Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 Presidential Campaign.

    Claim Civil Discourse

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel