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The Regulatory Transparency Project promotes a national conversation about the benefits and costs of federal, state, and local regulatory policies and explores areas for possible improvement. On RTP’s Free Lunch Podcast, leading experts discuss the pros and cons of government regulations and explai…

The Federalist Society


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 574 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from RTP's Free Lunch Podcast

    Deep Dive Episode 308 - Property & Personal Rights: A Discussion of Short-Term Rental Regulations

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 64:17


    Short-term rentals—popularized by Airbnb and Vrbo—have been given modern platforms for the customary alternative to hotels: in-home stays. Yet their rapid growth has prompted a wave of local and state regulations at odds with the practice, driven by lobbying from the hotel industry, concerns about housing affordability, neighborhood character, and other regulatory assertions. While some critics, including city officials and interest groups, support increased oversight, others—including advocates of limited government and individual rights—contend that these services represent an exercise of property rights, expand consumer choice, and note that there is limited evidence of significant impact on the housing market.This panel will explore the constitutional, statutory, historical, and policy implications of short-term rental regulation. Are local governments properly protecting community interests, or are they infringing on fundamental property rights? What legal frameworks govern this space—and what should they be?Join us for a lively discussion featuring the Hon. Paul Clement, Tony Francois, and Ron Klain, moderated by Prof. Donald Kochan, that will examine the intersection of private property, regulatory authority, and economic liberty.

    Tech Roundup Episode 27 - AI on the Senate Floor: Is it Time for a Moratorium?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 40:42


    President Trump's budget bill, having recently passed the House of Representatives, is headed for the Senate with a proposed 10-year moratorium on AI regulations at the state level. How should lawmakers approach this rapidly-developing technology without stalling US progress in the AI "arms race," while still prioritizing consumers' data privacy and online safety?Dr. Scott Babwah Brennen, Kevin Frazier, and Adam Thierer join the RTP Fourth Branch Podcast to discuss and debate the arguments of AI regulation, innovation, and preemption.

    donald trump ai house tech senate moratorium senate floor kevin frazier adam thierer telecommunications & electroni regulatory transparency projec security & privacy
    Explainer Episode 89 - State Lessons for DOGE

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 61:43


    In a little over 100 days, the Department of Government Efficiency, or "DOGE," has fundamentally remade the federal bureaucracy by slimming the workforce and ending federal contracts. So far, its major focus has not been on regulatory issues, but recent executive orders suggest that DOGE may soon set its sights on cutting back excess regulation. When it does, it should consider successful regulatory reform efforts that have been underway in the states for several years. This panel will focus on two of the most successful state regulatory reform initiatives, in Virginia and Indiana, and explore how similar reforms might be enacted federally.

    Deep Dive 307 - Confronting the Questions: A Discussion on the EPA's Proposed Revisions to Endangerment Finding

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 61:40


    Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to regulate emissions that “cause, or contribute to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” The Supreme Court held in Massachusetts v. EPA that greenhouse gases are considered pollutants under the Act, so whether they can be regulated depends on whether they endanger public health. The EPA issued the Endangerment Finding that greenhouse gas emissions cross this threshold in 2009. Any actual regulation of greenhouse gas emissions is issued by EPA separately, such as greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles. On March 12th, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the EPA would be initiating “formal reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other relevant agencies.” Join us Friday, May 9th, from 11am – 12pm EST, as our panel of legal experts discusses the various questions surrounding the proposed revisions, such as preemption, cost revision, and how these changes would be implemented. Featuring: Michael Buschbacher, Partner, Boyden Gray PLLC Richard Belzer, Independent Consultant Jonathan Adler, Johan Verheij Memorial Professor of Law and Director, Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law, Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Moderator) Laura Stanley, Gibson Dunn, LLP

    Deep Dive 306 - Weighing Regulations: The Metrics of White House Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 61:20


    Amidst the flurry of new Executive Orders that launched the second Trump Administration, many questions have arisen concerning regulatory action and executive power. Our panelists will focus on the regulatory analysis guidance of Circular A-4, the role of benefit-cost analysis in regulatory and deregulatory actions, and the 10-for-1 Executive Order. Join us on Wednesday, April 23rd, at 11:30am EST for a discussion of regulatory analysis and administrative law featuring Hon. Susan Dudley and Professor Donald Kenkel, and moderated by Hon. Paul Ray.

    Explainer Episode 88 - How Congress Can Reform Environmental Regulation and the EPA

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 56:48


    In March of 2025, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) released a major new publication, “Modernizing the EPA: A Blueprint for Congress.” This book explores numerous issues across the EPA and the statutes that it administers. The podcast discussion focuses primarily on how the EPA’s role has evolved, particularly as it relates to air regulation, including greenhouse gas regulation. In addition, the discussion highlights flaws and outdated aspects of the Clean Air Act and the need for Congress to reassert its lawmaking power. The lead author and co-editor of the book offers ideas on how Congress can refine the federal approach to environmental and climate policy. Listen in as Michael Buschbacher, Partner at Boyden Gray PLLC, interviews Daren Bakst, Director of CEI’s Center for Energy and Environment highlighting the key findings and recommendations in the publication.

    director energy partner congress environment environmental reform regulation epa modernizing explainer cei clean air act competitive enterprise institute cei administrative law & regulatio environmental & energy law regulatory transparency projec
    Tech Roundup Episode 26 - Making Sense of White House AI Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 37:34


    In this Tech Roundup Episode of RTP's Fourth Branch podcast, Kevin Frazier and Aram Gavoor sit down to discuss the recent, fast-moving developments in AI policy in the second Trump administration, as well as the importance of innovation and procurement.

    donald trump ai tech white house making sense rtp ai policy kevin frazier telecommunications & electroni regulatory transparency projec
    Deep Dive 305 - Regulatory Ferment at DOL and the NLRB

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 61:29


    In a time of rapidly shifting administrative law norms, the Department of Labor and NLRB have had busy and in some ways aggressive dockets over the last year. Our panel of experts will assess the regulatory and enforcement approach and key initiatives at DOL and NLRB during the final year of the Biden Administration; how does it grade out compared to prior years? And during the early days of the Trump Administration, how is the regulatory approach changing—or staying the same?

    Tech Roundup Episode 25 - How are the States Approaching AI?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 40:59


    As the second Trump administration kicks off an ambitious AI agenda, individual states have been busy on this front as well. Should each state have their own approach, or should states like California and Texas lead the way?Dean Ball, Sunny Gandhi, and Kevin Frazier join the Fourth Branch podcast to discuss these various efforts to cover the conversation of AI on the state level and the increasing need for public AI literacy.

    california texas donald trump ai tech states state government kevin frazier telecommunications & electroni regulatory transparency projec
    Explainer Episode 87 - Child Welfare Funding & State Use of Foster Youth Benefits

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 34:01


    An estimated 5% of foster youth qualify for Social Security benefits, but in many states, child welfare agencies use these funds to help cover the cost of care. In 2018 alone, agencies in 49 states and Washington, D.C., received at least $165 million in benefits intended for foster youth.In this episode, Shoshana Weissmann interviews Maureen Flatley, subject matter expert in child welfare and child exploitation. They discuss how these funds are managed, the policies guiding their use, and the ongoing conversations about their impact on foster youth and the child welfare system.

    washington benefits funding social security explainer child welfare foster youth shoshana weissmann federalism & separation of pow administrative law & regulatio regulatory transparency projec
    Explainer Episode 86 - Regulation & Red Tape: Lessons from Lahaina Fire Recovery & the Path Ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 44:12


    Hawaii leads the nation in high housing prices. Experts Ted Kefalas and Jonathan Helton from Grassroot Institute explain the regulatory obstacles to building sufficient housing for Hawaiians, and regulatory reform efforts that could increase the housing supply. It has been over 18 months since the fires that nearly destroyed the town of Lahaina in Maui County, Hawaii. Since that time, thousands of commercial and residential properties have been destroyed or damaged, and only 6 houses have been rebuilt. In this segment, Kefalas and Helton discuss the legal and regulatory hurdles that have prevented Hawaiians to rebuild their destroyed homes and businesses, and proposals that could help facilitate rebuilding. In the final segment, the experts discuss what lessons California could learn from Hawaii's experience to ensure that Angelinos do not experience the same slow rebuild after the Pacific Palisades Fire.

    Tech Roundup Episode 24 - DOGEing Barriers? Legal Challenges to AI in Government

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 44:13


    Artificial Intelligence has been rapidly brought to the forefront of the public conversation in recent months. President Trump has pledged to support AI innovation, while the newly-established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been working to streamline government processes through AI. Join our panel of experts, including Dhruva Krishna, Dr. Megan Ma, and Kevin Fraizer, for a discussion on the benefits and legal ramifications of incorporating AI into government.

    donald trump ai tech government artificial intelligence barriers legal challenges telecommunications & electroni regulatory transparency projec
    Explainer Episode 85 - Rebuilding California: Lessons from the Pacific Palisades Fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 47:43


    The 2025 Pacific Palisades Fire has underscored the challenges of building in California’s complex regulatory landscape. In response, Governor Newsom issued an executive order suspending CEQA and Coastal Act requirements to expedite reconstruction, raising important questions about the future of development in the state. In this podcast, experts Jeremy Talcott and Donald Kochan examine California's regulatory environment before the disaster and the broader implications of its permitting processes in the effort to rebuild. Join us for an in-depth discussion on balancing efficient recovery with long-term regulatory considerations.

    california lessons rebuilding gavin newsom explainer pacific palisades ceqa federalism & separation of pow administrative law & regulatio environmental law & property r regulatory transparency projec
    Deep Dive 305 - Does President Trump Have the Authority to Pause and Modify the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 59:37


    Since its inception, the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program has been contentiously debated. For example, several pharmaceutical manufacturers filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) challenging the program’s constitutionality. This webinar will discuss whether the Biden Administration’s implementation and interpretation of the IRA go beyond Congress’s intent or constitutional boundaries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently issued a statement that the Trump Administration is committed to “incorporating lessons learned to date from the program and considering opportunities to bring greater transparency in the Negotiation Program. CMS intends to provide opportunities for stakeholders to provide specific ideas to improve the Negotiation Program, consistent with the goals of achieving greater value for beneficiaries and taxpayers while continuing to foster innovation.” Accordingly, this webinar discusses whether the Trump Administration may pause the program and whether Congress should repeal the program. Featuring: (Moderator) John Shu, Attorney and Legal Commentator Jeff Stier, Senior Fellow, Conumer Choice Center and Taxpayers Protection Alliance Dan Troy, Managing Director, Berkeley Research Group

    Deep Dive 304: Stargate and DeepSeek: The International and Technological Implications of the AI "Arms Race"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 56:07


    On January 22, 2025, newly-elected President Trump announced a widespread project to invest $500 billion in American AI development, known as “Stargate.” A few days later, a new Chinese AI chatbot program “DeepSeek” was launched to the shock of US tech investors.What do these new developments mean for the AI dominance race? What will the changing global and trade relations signify for AI innovation and production? Join us for a discussion on these and other updates to the international AI conversation, featuring Neil Chilson from the Abundance Institute, and John Villasenor from Brookings, and moderated by Ashkhen Kazaryan from Stand Together.

    Explainer Episode 84 - How Far Do the Executive Orders Go Towards Ending DEI?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 47:34


    Linda Chavez, Chairman for the Center for Equal Opportunity, moderates a discussion between the Heritage Foundation’s Senior Legal Fellow, GianCarlo Canaparo and Dan Morenoff, Executive Director of the American Civil Rights Project. They discuss President Trump’s orders relating to civil rights enforcement and discrimination (including discrimination touted as serving “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion,” “accessibility,” and “environmental justice,” among others).

    Tech Roundup Episode 23 - Privacy and Safety: Key Arguments of the Age Verification Debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 43:33


    On January 15, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton, a case involving Texas H.B. 1181, which is a law that imposes an age-verification requirement for adult sexual content websites. While content filtering has been used in the past by parents to regulate their children’s access to adult websites, the rapid advancement of technology in the past 20 years has raised concerns about the success of content filtering. The age verification requirement poses a more effective alternative, but if implemented, it could have implications for privacy concerns and free speech rights. Jennifer Huddleston from the Cato Institute is joined by Clare Morell of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Bailey Sanchez of the Future of Privacy Forum, and Shoshana Weissmann of the R Street Policy Institute, to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of age verification laws, the policy implications of H.B. 1181, and the potential outcome of the Supreme Court case.

    Explainer Episode 83 - The Failed JetBlue-Spirit Merger: The Past and Present Approach to Mergers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 27:11


    In November 2024, Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy after a federal judge blocked their proposed merger with JetBlue Airlines earlier that year. Far from simply impacting travel plans, however, the failed merger shows the Federal Trade Commission's recent focus on efficiency. Former FTC General Counsel Alden Abbott joins the podcast to discuss the antitrust background of the case, and whether such federal interference actually benefits consumer competition.

    Deep Dive Episode 302 - Department of Government Efficiency: Opportunities and Challenges (Part I)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 58:06


    President-elect Trump has announced that entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new Department of Government Efficiency “to cut the federal government down to size.” In a Wall Street Journal op-ed last month, Musk and Ramaswamy promised DOGE would yield “a drastic reduction in federal regulations” that would pave the way for “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.” So far, however, there are questions about the specifics of how the new president would nullify thousands of regulations.Hon. Susan Dudley discusses what the future of DOGE may look like in an article for Forbes and a second piece in the Wall Street Journal. In addition, Prof. Nicholas Bagley discusses DOGE in his article for The Atlantic.Please join us on December 19 at 3 PM EST, as this panel will provide a practical overview of how DOGE might operate to reduce regulations, and the opportunities and challenges it will face.Featuring: Hon. Susan Dudley (Moderator), Founder, GW Regulatory Studies Center & Distinguished Professor of Practice Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration, George Washington UniversityProf. Nicholas Bagley, Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law SchoolProf. Christopher Walker, Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School

    Deep Dive Episode 303 - Department of Government Efficiency: Opportunities and Challenges (Part II)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 57:23


    President-elect Trump has announced that entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”). In a Wall Street Journal op-ed this past November, the pair explained that they have a sweeping mandate to cut the overreaching contra-constitutional federal bureaucracy “down to size” and “deliver a federal government that would make our Founders proud.” They said they will first focus on identifying executive actions that can be taken to rescind “thousands” of regulations that exceed the statutory authority of the issuing agencies. These dramatic regulatory rollbacks will support significant agency staff reductions in force and other cost-saving administrative reforms. Musk and Ramaswamy alsopromised that DOGE will cut the size and cost of government by challenging the constitutionality of the 1974 Impoundment Control Act and identifying executive actions that can be taken to materially improve the cost-effectiveness of the government’s procurement process.The panel discussion in Part One of this program, Department of Government Efficiency: Opportunities and Challenges (Part I) discussed the main challenges that DOGE will face as it attempts to fulfill its sweeping mandate within the eighteen-month time limit set for the task. These challenges include the certainty that widespread resistance to DOGE will be mounted by interests benefitting from the status quo, the complexity and length of the typically contested process required to rescind existing regulations, and the strength of the widely held conflicting belief that administrative reform efforts should be focused on improving regulation rather than simply eliminating regulation. Part II of this program will continue a discussion of the challenges that DOGE will face, and will also identify some specific executive actions that could mitigate at least some of these challenges. Featuring: Abhishek Kambli, Deputy Attorney General, Office of the Kansas Attorney GeneralJ. Kennerly Davis, Senior Attorney, Former Deputy Attorney General for Virginia(Moderator) Casey Mattox, Vice President, Legal Strategy, Stand Together

    Explainer Episode 82 - Is "Gender Dysphoria" a Protected "Disability?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 48:47


    In this episode, Rachel Morrison from the Ethics and Public Policy Center and Gregory Baylor from Alliance Defending Freedom discuss recent court and agency decisions. These experts discuss whether “gender dysphoria” is a “disability” under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Featuring: Gregory S. Baylor, Senior Counsel & Director of the Center for Religious Schools, Alliance Defending Freedom Rachel Morrison (Moderator), Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

    Explainer Episode 81 - State AG Litigation Against Federal Agencies: A Kansas Perspective

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 32:21


    State Attorneys General have been active in recent years in filing lawsuits against federal agencies. From cases like West Virginia v. EPA to Biden v. Nebraska, state AG lawsuits have prevented significant overreach by federal agencies. In the past year, the Office of the Kansas Attorney General has been one of the most active in this space. Abhishek Kambli and Erin Gaide from the Kansas AG's office discuss the litigation that their office has done this past year. They have filed lawsuits in cases such as Kansas v. Biden (later retitled Alaska v. Department of Education) that challenged the $475 billion student loan forgiveness plan called "SAVE" and Kansas v. Department of Education that challenged the new Title IX regulation that expanded the definition of sex to include gender identity. Abhishek Kambli and Erin Gaide discuss these and other cases in depth to provide a window into this unique type of litigation. Featuring: Abhishek Kambli, Deputy Attorney General, Kansas Office of the Attorney General Erin Gaide, Assistant Attorney General, Kansas Office of the Attorney General

    Deep Dive 302: Is FTC Administrative Litigation Constitutional?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 61:29


    Axon and Jarkesy have renewed scrutiny of the constitutionality and fairness of FTC’s administrative litigation. For example, the President cannot remove Administrative Law Judges nor FTC Commissioners, and FTC Commissioners both vote to issue the complaint and decide its merits in proceedings. Parties before the DOJ-Antitrust Division, on the other hand, go directly before an Article III judge, and avoid administrative litigation altogether. This panel, featuring the former FTC Acting Chairman, Commission advisors, and administrative law experts, discussed these and other constitutional challenges to FTC’s administrative litigation. If the courts ultimately uphold constitutionality, is Congressional reform warranted? Should FTC’s administrative tribunal be abolished altogether? Or are internal process reforms sufficient to afford fairer process? Keith Klovers' article, "Three Options for Reforming Part 3 Administrative Litigation at the Federal Trade Commission," as referenced in the discussion.

    Explainer Episode 80 - Immigration Enforcement, Business Compliance, and the Equal Access to Justice Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 30:59


    In this episode, Randel K. Johnson and Andrew Kilberg discuss the relationship between immigration enforcement and employment policy, with a focus on the unique challenges faced by both small and large businesses in maintaining compliance. Additionally, the experts examine the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), considering potential legislative reforms to better align incentives for small businesses while preserving accountability in immigration matters.Featuring:Randel Keith Johnson, Distinguished Immigration Scholar, Cornell Law SchoolAndrew Kilberg, Partner, Gibson Dunn

    partner compliance explainer access to justice equal access immigration enforcement gibson dunn justice act administrative law & regulatio labor & employment law regulatory transparency projec
    Explainer Episode 79- Don't Chase Rabbit Trails: The SEC Now and in the Next Administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 51:48


    In this episode, financial experts look back on recent SEC regulation, enforcement, and litigation, as well as their predictions for the next SEC leadership under a second Trump administration. C. Wallace DeWitt, Securities lawyerBrian Knight, Director of Innovation and Governance and Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason UniversityJennifer Schulp, Director of Financial Regulation Studies, Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives

    Deep Dive 301 - Exploring Tradeoffs: The Nexus Between Antitrust and Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 60:03


    Antitrust efforts have become prevalent in the courts and legislative bodies, both in the United States and abroad. A recent example is the U.S. Department of Justice's case against Google for alleged anticompetitive behavior in its search business. Though cybersecurity and national security concerns are traditionally not included in antitrust efforts, the implications of such priorities should be carefully considered. Join a panel of leading security and antitrust experts for a discussion on recent antitrust actions, how security is directly and indirectly implicated, and considerations for the future.

    Explainer Episode 78 - An Overview of Electric Industry Regulation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 54:56


    J. Kennerly Davis presents an overview of electric industry regulation. Davis discusses how regulation has changed in a fundamental way over the last 140 years, and what that change has meant for electric customers large and small.

    Deep Dive 300 - A Debate on Separation of Powers: Was SEC v. Jarkesy Rightly Decided?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 60:07


    The Regulatory Transparency Project and the Federalism & Separation of Powers practice group hosted a virtual debate over the recent Supreme Court decision in SEC v. Jarkesy. The panel featured Matthew Wiener, from Penn Carey Law, and Josh Robbins, of the Pacific Legal Foundation. Michael Buschbacher, from Boyden & Gray PLLC, moderated the debate.

    Explainer Episode 77 - State Regulatory Reform and Overcoming Regulatory Inertia

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 34:19


    Tanner Jones and Jonathan Wolfson from the Cicero Institute discuss their co-authored paper titled "Restoring Legislative Authority: A Balanced Approach to Agency Deference." They explore the implications of the Chevron deference decision and the Loper Bright case. The conversation addresses the impact of these decisions on administrative law, regulation, and specifically on the states.

    Deep Dive 299 - How Does AI Affect Rulemaking?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 60:07


    A panel of experts will engage in a legal discussion about the implications of using AI in rulemaking, as AI technologies inadvertently influence the process of creating and implementing regulations. The panel will also consider how rulemaking and AI influence the legal and political realms.Featuring: Speakers: Catherine Sharkey, Segal Family Professor of Regulatory Law and Policy, New York University School of LawJohn Nay, Founder & CEO, Norm AiJ. Kennerly Davis, Former Senior Attorney, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP(Moderator) Daniel Flores, Senior Counsel, Committee on Oversight and Accountability, U.S. House of Representatives

    Deep Dive 298: What Should The Next Administration Do About AI?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 59:32


    This virtual event explored the potential trajectories of AI policy under the upcoming shift in presidential administrations. Our expert panel, featuring Ash Kazaryan, Adam Kovacevich, and Neil Chilson, examined the critical issues surrounding AI and offered insights on what policymakers need to know as they navigate rapidly evolving AI technologies. This discussion, moderated by Adam Thierer, provides a balanced range of perspectives on how future administrations can effectively approach AI governance.

    ai deep dive administration adam thierer regulatory transparency projec
    Deep Dive 297 - Climate Disclosure Litigation: Examining Legal Battles Against California and the SEC

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 66:26


    A panel of distinguished legal scholars and practitioners will provide an overview of the current landscape of litigation surrounding climate disclosure regulations. Experts will discuss the legal challenges facing both the SEC's climate disclosure rule and California's SB 253 and 261. Panelists will address the legal questions raised during litigation over climate disclosure regimes, as well as the regimes' implications for corporate governance, consumers, and investors.Featuring:Victor B. Flatt, Coleman P. Burke Chair in Environmental Law, School of Law, Case Western Reserve UniversityStephen W. Hall, Legal Director and Securities Specialist, Better MarketsTrent McCotter, Partner, Boyden Gray PLLC[Moderator] Marc Marie, Policy Fellow, Regulatory Policy, Americans for Prosperity

    Explainer Episode 76 - Examining State AGs' Use of Outside Counsel

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 49:27


    In this episode, Ketan Bhirud and Luke Wake take a closer look at the role of the use of outside legal counsel by state attorneys general. Outside counsel can provide valuable expertise and resources, but what are the implications of relying on external firms for state legal matters? What are the advantages and potential pitfalls of these partnerships? How might they shape state legal practice and ultimately impact the public?

    examining counsel explainer state ags administrative law & regulatio regulatory transparency projec
    Explainer Episode 75 - Defining the term Equity From a Legal and Historical Standpoint

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 40:36


    In this episode, experts GianCarlo Canaparo and Mike Gonzalez provide a legal and historical interpretation of the term "equity." This discussion, moderated by Linda Chavez, highlights how the definition of equity extends beyond civil rights protection and how the evolving definition of the term "equity" affects the legal realm. Featuring: GianCarlo Canaparo, Senior Legal Fellow, Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, The Heritage Foundation Mike Gonzalez, Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum Senior Fellow, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, The Heritage Foundation (Moderator) Linda Chavez, Chairman, Center for Equal Opportunity

    Explainer Episode 74 - Incorporation by Reference and Voluntary Standards

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 30:38


    Regulatory experts, Rosario Palmieri and Karen Harned, discuss industry self-regulation, soft law, and voluntary standards. Thousands of products, services, and systems use voluntary, consensus standards to govern product performance and safety, worker safety, financial services, and food safety. This is a layer of self-regulation that usually lies beneath the administrative state or in parts of the economy where private markets have developed mechanisms to ensure that businesses and consumers' expectations are met in exchanges. Emerging technologies and industries are often first governed by these types of private standards by voluntary agreement. Federal agencies, when deciding to regulate, are required to first rely on industry-created voluntary consensus standards whenever possible. The discussion includes understanding the costs and benefits of relying on private, often copyrighted, standards as a source of law that is incorporated by reference into the U.S. Code and Code of Federal Regulations.

    Deep Dive 296 - Will the Congressional Review Act Be Revived in 2025?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 64:10


    Federal regulators were busy in April 2024, with agencies publishing a record-breaking 66 significant new regulations; more than half of which had price tags higher than $200 million. This burst of regulatory activity can be attributed to a once obscure law known as the Congressional Review Act (CRA). If the November election brings Republican control of the White House and Congress, rules issued this summer or fall may be subject to review and disapproval in 2025. This panel will review how both parties have used the CRA to signal displeasure with a president’s policies and to overturn regulations. It will also explore Congress’s options under the Act. Featuring: Steven Balla, Associate Professor of Political Science, Public Policy and Public Administration, and International Affairs, George Washington University Todd F. Gaziano, President, Center for Individual Rights Anthony Papian, Staff Director at United States Senate, Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management Susan Dudley, Founder, GW Regulatory Studies Center & Distinguished Professor of Practice, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration, George Washington University

    Deep Dive 294 - West Virginia v. EPA, Two Years Later: Updates on the Major Questions Doctrine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 52:43


    Experts will examine the major questions doctrine, its role in regulatory litigation, and its place in administrative law in light of recent developments.Please register and join us for a live webinar on August 14, 2024 at 11 am EST.Featuring: Paul Ray, Director, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, The Heritage FoundationElliot Gaiser, Ohio Solicitor General(Moderator) Susan Dudley, Founder, GW Regulatory Studies Center & Distinguished Professor of Practice, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration, George Washington University

    Explainer Episode 73 - Changing Presidential Candidates

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 26:50


    Kathryn Ciano Mauler and Eric Wang join the podcast to discuss the FEC rules behind campaign funds, particularly in the transfer of said funds between candidates. Their discussion breaks down the questions surrounding the recent changes to the 2024 ballot, and how that will affect each campaign's fundraising efforts, especially in a post-Chevron legal landscape.

    chevron presidential candidates explainer fec campaign finance election law administrative law & regulatio regulatory transparency projec
    Explainer Episode 71 - Regulatory Modernization in Idaho and Virginia: What lessons can be learned?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 35:28


    Alex J. Adams, Director of Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare is joined by Reeve T. Bull, Director of the Virginia Office of Regulatory Management. Director Adams and Director Bull detail the importance of regulatory reform efforts in Idaho and Virginia, respectively, and discuss the impact that regulatory reform can have on employment opportunities, business development, and the cost of living. What is zero-based regulation ("ZBR")? What did Idaho's zero-based regulation executive order do? What has been the impact of Idaho's use of incorporation of regulation into law? What is cost-benefit analysis? How did Virginia's Executive Order 19 use cost-benefit analysis for regulatory reform? Why did Virginia's Office of Regulatory Management apply cost-benefit analysis to regulations and guidance documents?

    Explainer Episode 72 - Parental Rights & Student Privacy in Education

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 48:03


    Legal experts Jonathan Butcher and Jon Riches discuss the debate between parental rights and children’s privacy in education under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”). Moderated by Luke Wake, their discussion examines the debates over the role of student privacy, parental rights, and the role that the government is playing in education.

    Explainer Episode 70 - Litigation Update III: The Supreme Court takes the Vape case--Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 26:33


    On July 2, 2024, the US Supreme Court granted certiorari in the case, Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC. In Explainer Episode 70, expert Jeff Stier discusses the FDA's regulatory action prohibiting specific vape flavors from being sold by these two companies, and the legal issues that the Supreme Court will review in the October 2024 term. What are the implications of the FDA prohibiting the sale of these vape flavors? What regulatory process did the FDA use to make this determination? Why did the FDA decide to allow certain vape flavors, and not others? What are the effects on the FDA's decision in this case on smokers? In promoting public health? On consumers? On the companies?

    Utah v. Su: Are DOL (and SEC) regulations that encourage ESG investing lawful?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 61:48


    The panelists will discuss Biden Administration policies and regulations at the DOL and SEC addressing investing based on environmental, social, and governance (or “ESG”) factors; whether they are consistent with statutory law; and whether the agencies followed appropriate administrative processes in promulgating these ever-evolving policies. Moderator: Gregory Jacob, Partner, O'Melveny & Myers LLPSpeakers:Paul Atkins, Chief Executive Officer, Patomak Global Partners LLCElliot Gaiser, Associate, Boyden Gray & Associates PLLCSharon Rose, Partner, Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP

    Explainer 69 - Discussing the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 58:35


    In this episode of the Fourth Branch Explainer podcast, Prof. Eugene Volokh, from UCLA Law School, and Prof. David Bernstein, from the Antonin Scalia Law School, discuss the features, implications, and possibilities of the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act.

    Explainer 68 - Discussing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 24:46


    The Regulatory Transparency Project’s Fourth Branch Podcast presents Explainer Episode 68. In this Fourth Branch Explainer podcast, Rachel N. Morrison from the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) discusses the implications of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Regulations recently released. Listen in as Morrison discusses the pros and cons of new rules.

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