Pints and Policy

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, there will not be a new 'Pints and Policy' episode this week. 

On this week's episode Jordan and Kelly sit down with Cristobal Ramon, a senior policy analyst on BPC's Immigration Project, to learn about the Democratic presidential candidates' immigration policy proposals.

On this week’s episode, Jordan and Kelly sit down with Lesley Jantarasami, associate director of BPC’s Energy Project, to discuss the GOP's new climate plan, the Trillion Trees Act, and to better understand how reforestation may be the solution to some of our climate change challenges. 

On this week’s episode Jordan and Kelly sit down with Michael Thorning, associate director of BPC’s Congress Project to break down the results of the latest Healthy Congress Index to understand how Congress can be more effective in the coming year.

To kick off the new year, Jordan and Kelly are joined by the director of BPC's Health Project, Marilyn Serafini, who highlights the results of a new BPC - Morning Consult poll on Americans' attitudes towards the current health care system and what health care issues are prioritized by Democratic and Republican voters. 

Jordan and Kelly take a quick trip down memory lane as they talk about some of their favorite conversations from 2019. The episode features discussions on paid family leave, impeachment, and a BPC study on wait times in polling place lines.

On this week’s episode of Pints and Policy, Jordan and Kelly sit down with Theresa Cardinal Brown, BPC’s director of immigration and cross-border policy, to review year in immigration. The topics covered in the episode are the DACA Supreme Court hearing, leadership within DHS, and updates at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Jordan LaPier and Kelly Parsons sit down with Senior Policy Analyst Jinann Bitar to discuss the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and how the House’s College Affordability Act aims to increase opportunity and make higher education more affordable.

Jordan LaPier and Kelly Parsons sit down with Senior Policy Analyst Tim Harper to discuss the results of BPC’s new study on wait times in polling places and what policymakers and election officials can do to improve the voting experience.

Jordan and Kelly sit down with John Soroushian, BPC's associate director of Corporate Governance and Finance to talk about the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on the economy and public policy. 

The formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump marks the fourth time in U.S. history that a president has faced serious threats of impeachment. Jordan LaPier and Kelly Parsons sit down with John Richter, director of BPC’s Congress Project, and BPC Senior Advisor Franz Wuerfmannsdobler to give some insight into the impeachment process and share their experiences working on the Hill during Clinton’s impeachment proceedings.

Jordan LaPier and Kelly Parsons sit down with BPC Chief Medical Advisor Anand Parekh, MD to discuss the findings of the new BPC report, Ending HIV in America, as well as the barriers and potential policy solutions to end the U.S. HIV epidemic once and for all.

This week, Jordan LaPier and Kelly Parsons sit down with BPC fellow Adrienne Schweer to discuss what steps Congress is taking to implement a national paid family leave program, as well as challenges faced by both workers and employers regarding taking time off to care for family. 

In this week’s episode, Jordan LaPier and Kelly Parsons go back to school with director of BPC’s Campus Free Expression Project Jacquie Pfeffer Merrill and fellow Steven Hayward to find out how incoming college freshmen should approach the issues of free speech and expression on campus and the broader impact these issues have on our democracy.

In this week's episode, Jordan LaPier welcomes back associate director for BPC's Congress Project, Michael Thorning, to discuss the performance of the 116th Congress, the Healthy Congress Index, filibustering, and more. 

In this week's episode, Jordan LaPier welcomes back associate director for infrastructure and housing policy, Andy Winkler, to discuss all of the recent happenings in the infrastructure realm, including a Senate committee markup of a highway bill, water infrastructure, and the infrastructure plans of the 2020 Democratic candidates. 

The 2020 Elections will be here before we know it. A few weeks ago, news broke that two counties in Florida had their voter databases breached, which we didn’t previously know. That has sparked another round of questions of what’s being done to defend against similar attacks in 2020, and whether we’re prepared to run a safe and secure presidential election. Are we doing enough to secure our elections and anticipate the potential threats? Matt Weil, Director of BPC’s Elections Project discusses all the details in this episode.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Infrastructure: Everyone agrees we need to invest but who pays? And how much can we afford? With industry’s official Infrastructure Week just ahead, Jordan LaPier sits down with senior policy analyst Andy Winkler to look at the state of the national conversation. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Earlier this week the trustees for Social Security and Medicare released their latest projections on when their trust funds will dry up. They’re holding steady saying Medicare’s Hospital Insurance fund will run out by 2026 and the main Social Security fund will be empty by 2034. Jordan is joined by BPC associate director Tim Shaw to discuss why treading water for these programs isn’t enough. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.      

Tax day is just around the corner and for lots of Americans this weekend is going to be a final scramble to get their returns in order and filed. But they’re likely to find the process as confusing and cumbersome as ever. Jordan is joined by BPC research analyst Kody Carmody to discuss a new report from BPC on the complexity of American taxes. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

BPC released a new report on tracking federal funding given to states to fight the opioid epidemic over the last two years. Jordan LaPier and Joann Donnellan sit down with Tim Swope and Dr. Ananad Parekh to go over the findings of the report.

Evidence isn’t just for court rooms anymore, it’s becoming an essential part of good policymaking. There’s a revolution underway for people who care about how and why laws are made. That revolution is using data to guide decision-making. BPC’s Nick Hart joins Jordan to explain how bigger and better data can help lawmakers make better laws. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

The border security deal is here. Jordan discusses with BPC policy analyst Cris Ramón what’s in the deal and what will happen with the rest of immigration policy.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Recent reports on the pace of climate change and calls from the left for a Green New Deal have thrust issues of energy—where it comes from, how we use it, and the changes that lie ahead—into the center of the national conversation. The solution likely requires not just commitment but advances in next generation energy technology. But there’s another important angle to this story: who’s investing in all these new technologies, and is America keeping up with the competition? Jordan is joined by BPC’s Addison Stark to answer all of these questions.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

It’s a new year with a newly sworn in Congress and the House has some new rules. There’s also a recently formed Select Committee on the Organization of Congress that will take a look at how Congress organizes itself. Jordan is joined by BPC Senior Policy Analyst Michael Thorning to discuss all of this and more. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.  

The memorial services for George H.W. Bush, the nation’s 41st president, caught the nation’s attention this week. It’s been a time to reflect on his legacy. But beyond saying goodbye to a person, there was a sense that we were bidding farewell to a bygone political era that was marked by partnership instead of partisanship. BPC’s Bill Hoagland sits down with Jordan to discuss his own recollections of the president. Bill was the the lead Republican staffer for the Senate Budget Committee during Bush’s presidency. . 

Jordan talks with BPC President Jason Grumet about how the results of the midterm elections will affect the policy agenda in 2019 and beyond, and how BPC fits into a new political dynamic. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

The migrant caravan, what is it, who’s in it, and what does it tell us about our immigration system. Jordan sits down with policy analyst Cris Ramon to get in to all of that. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

The primaries are finally wrapped up, election day is just mere weeks away and some key states saw deadlines for voter registration this week. As we mark one year of Pints and Policy, Jordan sits down with Matt Weil to discuss voter turnout and BPC’s work to help register voters. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

This week’s podcast ditches the pints and gets serious as Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast. We discuss the ways local officials prepare their communities for these disasters and communicate to residents about the dangers ahead, as well as the hard choices those residents face when asked to evacuate. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

The U.S. is practically the only developed country that does not guaranty access to paid family leave. After 25 years since the Family Medical Leave act was implemented, is it time to take the next step? Jordan LaPier sits down with BPC Senior Policy Analyst to discuss. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Turkey expert Nick Danforth joins Jordan to explain how three threads of the story of ongoing turmoil in Turkey—currency troubles, U.S. sanctions, and the charges against an American pastor under house arrest—are woven together to create a vexing situation with no easy solutions. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

With less than 100 days to go until the midterm elections, how ready are we to run a safe and secure election? Matt Weil from BPC’s Democracy Project joins Jordan LaPier and Ashley Swearingen to explore the latest.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Theresa Cardinal Brown, director of immigration and cross-border policy, and Laura Hall, senior manager at BPC Action, join host Jordan LaPier to unpack the results of a national survey conducted by Luntz Global for BPC and BPC Action on Americans’ attitudes on immigration. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Senior Policy Analyst Tim Shaw returns to the program to break down the recent Social Security Trustees’ Report and explain why, when it comes to Social Security’s long-term health, no news is bad news. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

A growing body of research shows that housing insecurity helps drive poorer health outcomes. BPC’s Jake Varn and Andy Winkler discuss a new report that recommends ways federal agencies can better coordinate to bridge the gap between health policy and housing policy. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Host Jordan LaPier talks with senior policy analyst Tim Swope about the scope of the nation’s opioid crisis, how it’s affecting people and communities, and what Congress and the Trump administration are doing to solve it. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Policy analyst Jessica Michek joins host Jordan LaPier to explain the role of Congress in authorizing military action in the context of the ongoing fight against ISIS and the recent airstrikes in Syria. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

This week the Congressional Budget Office released new projections that federal budget deficits are expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2020. What does this mean and how did we get here? Jordan LaPier discusses all this and more with BPC senior policy analyst Tim Shaw. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

A recent Trump administration report pointed to federal prison data to suggest that immigrants commit crimes at higher rates than native-born Americans. BPC policy analyst Cris Ramon joins Jordan to unpack the report, fill in some of the gaps, and provide a surprising history of how we got here. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

As the nation’s largest food program SNAP provides food assistance to more than 40 million Americans each month. The program is up for reauthorization this year in the 2018 Farm Bill which provides the opportunity to change SNAP. Jordan LaPier unpacks newly released BPC recommendations that aim to leverage SNAP for better health with senior policy analyst Hannah Martin.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

In recent months both North Carolina and Pennsylvania have been ordered to redraw congressional maps due to the issue of gerrymandering. The Supreme Court of the United States is also set to make decisions on cases of gerrymandering in Wisconsin and Maryland this year. But what exactly constitutes gerrymandering? And is this as big of a problem as we think it is? Jordan LaPier discusses all of this and more with BPC Associate Director Matt Weil.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

The nation’s infrastructure is in dire need of updates and repairs. A draft version of the Trump administration’s infrastructure plan was leaked this week. BPC senior policy analyst Andy Winkler sits down with Jordan LaPier to unravel what’s in the president’s plan to rebuild the country’s infrastructure and discusses other important issues related to this topic. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

The next federal funding deadline is a week away. Are we headed for a government shutdown? What exactly happens in a government shutdown? Jordan Lapier discusses all this and more with BPC Action’s Senior Manager, Laura Hall.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

This year has been a rollercoaster ride in policy – we’ve had ongoing investigations around the 2016 election, failed health care debates, the retraction of protections for thousands of DREAMers, we’ve had budget deals and tax reform talks, and we’ve seen the debt limit come back into play. Ashley Swearingen and Rachael Gresson sit down with BPC’s VP of Communications, Robert Traynham to unpack all that happened in 2017 and look ahead to what bipartisan moments are feasible in 2018.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

The case of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian businessman charged in the Southern District of New York with evading international financial sanctions on Iran has become one of the most important stories in US-Turkish relations. Ashley Swearingen sits down with BPC policy analyst Jessica Michek to breakdown the Zarrab case and discuss what lies ahead for the U.S. and Turkey.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

One of the Trump administration’s goals has been to decrease immigration in the U.S. yet the immigrant population adds value to the U.S. economy. With 62 percent of foreign-born individuals employed in the U.S., is it really possible to limit immigration and have a healthy economy? BPC’s Ashley Swearingen and Rachael Gresson sit down with Senior Policy Analyst Kenny Megan to discuss how immigration impacts the economy and the American workforce. You can learn more about how immigrants are affecting the economy in a country with changing demographics by reading our report, America’s Demographic Challenge and our report on immigration’s effect on employment and wage: Immigration’s Effect on Employment and Wages. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play. Want to listen to more podcasts focused on immigration? You can find all episodes here.

Congressional Republicans introduced their much anticipated tax reform legislation on Thursday. Ashley Swearingen sits down with BPC senior policy analyst Tim Shaw to discuss the issues with the current tax code and break down some of the key provisions in the latest legislation.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

Thus far this year, Congress has not reauthorized the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP offers health care coverage to 9 million children across the country annually. Jordan LaPier and BPC Senior Policy Analyst Marisa Salemme discuss what CHIP does and the uncertain future of the program.

Puerto Rico will be rebuilding for decades to come from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The destruction and aftermath demonstrate that, as a country, we must develop a better way to prepare for, respond to, and pay for natural disasters. Jordan LaPier and BPC Policy Analyst Jake Varn discuss how America can build better, smarter, and a more resilient infrastructure to save lives and reduce damages in future disasters. 

Last month, Senator John McCain urged the Senate to return to “regular order.” What exactly does this mean? And how well is the legislative process working in the 115th Congress? Jordan LaPier and BPC Senior Policy Analyst Michael Thorning explore these questions and more. Learn more about this issue at www.bipartisanpolicy.org/congress.  About Pints and Policy  The Bipartisan Policy Center takes a laid-back look at “the week that was” in policy news. Host Jordan LaPier has a beer with BPC experts and helps you get smart on key issues for the week ahead.