Podcast appearances and mentions of josh sewell

The Congressional Budget Office just dropped a bombshell: Trump's tariff policies could reduce deficits by $2.8 trillion over 10 years. Sounds great for fiscal hawks, right? Wrong. Steve Ellis and Josh Sewell break down why this "deficit reduction" is actually a massive tax increase on American families disguised as trade policy. From 25% tariffs on cars to inflation hitting working families hardest, discover why the CBO's projections are both critically important and complete fiction. Plus: Why a $9.4 billion rescission package feels like arguing over the bar tab while your house is on fire. 

In this episode of Budget Watchdog All Federal, Steve Ellis and Josh Sewell analyze President Trump's newly released "skinny budget" for fiscal year 2026, which proposes $163 billion in cuts primarily to domestic programs while increasing funding for defense, homeland security, and border security. Get the TCS take on how these dramatic spending shifts might impact vulnerable populations, and whether these changes would meaningfully address the nation's growing debt.

In this revealing episode of Budget Watchdog All Federal, Steve Ellis, Josh Sewell, and Gabe Murphy dissect the March 2025 continuing resolution that's anything but "continuing." They expose how HR 1968 gives unprecedented flexibility to the Pentagon with a $6 billion boost and expanded transfer authority while cutting $13 billion from domestic programs. The team explains how this unusual full-year CR weakens congressional oversight by blocking challenges to presidential emergency declarations and tariff policies. Discover why this legislation represents a concerning shift in the separation of powers and what it means for taxpayers when Congress relinquishes its constitutional authority over spending. Is this CR really about keeping the government running, or is it a power grab that undermines democratic accountability?

A just-in-time CR extending current funding levels until March 14, 2025, narrowly averted a government shutdown. So what's in it? Steve Ellis and Josh Sewell take you inside the deal, including $100 billion in disaster relief, $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, and a one-year extension of the farm bill.  Get the details on the grab bag of other stuff left on the cutting room floor.

We hear you! Hit play for the merits of the Elon Musk-style commission on government efficiency. TCS stalwarts Steve Ellis and Josh Sewell emphasize the need for bipartisan support, tackling both spending and revenue issues, and going beyond just eliminating waste. 

The Congressional Budget Office just released a bomb with their latest projections for the federal budget deficit.  They're projecting a federal budget deficit of nearly $2 trillion for fiscal year 2024. That's about $400 billion more than what they projected just four months ago in February, marking a 27% increase.  TCS President Steve Ellis is joined by TCS Director of Research and Policy, Josh Sewell for the bomb damage assessment.

In this revealing episode of Budget Watchdog AF, Steve Ellis and Josh Sewell dive deep into the House Agriculture Committee's recently passed Farm Bill. With a $1.5 trillion price tag, the bill is loaded with loopholes and giveaways for special interests, while failing to prioritize those truly in need of taxpayer support.

On Jan. 19th, 2024, funding runs out for roughly 20 percent of the U.S. Government — including essential programs like some veterans assistance and food and drug safety services.  The funding for the rest of the government runs out on Feb. 2. Hit play to get up to speed on the state of play in Congress with Host Steve Ellis and special guests Josh Sewell and Mike Surrusco.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step. And Houston, we have a problem. America's fiscal health is in grave danger. Host Steve Ellis is joined by Josh Sewell and Mike Surrusco to consider the creation of a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission to address our nation's unsustainable national debt and the pending insolvency of critical government programs. 

We are on the edge of our seats waiting to see if Congress can complete a Hail Mary pass to keep the government running and give lawmakers time to pass the dozen annual spending bills.  The Senate has the ball and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is lined up in the shotgun position, hoping to connect on a last-minute six-week Continuing Resolution. TCS star players Autumn Hanna and Josh Sewell join Steve Ellis on the sidelines with expert analysis and color commentary.    

The recent credit rating downgrade of the United States government by Fitch Ratings might have been met with alarm bells and market tremors.  It was not.  Host Steve Ellis is joined by TCS Senior Policy Analyst, Josh Sewell, and TCS Director of Special Projects, Mike Surrusco,  to shed light, context, and analysis of the underlying issues that continue to simmer.

We're back with the latest evidence of the increasing costs to taxpayers from climate change.  Join Steve Ellis and Josh Sewell as they shine a spotlight on the fat stacks taxpayers are laying down on Climate in 2023.

The end of Federal Debt Limit brinksmanship is upon us. Extraordinary measures have been in effect for some time. America is now driving with the “empty light” on and about to blow past the last gas station exit. The near-term costs of a default on our national debt are calculable.  The long-term costs of a breach in the “full faith and credit of the United States,” are not. TCS Senior Policy Analyst, Josh Sewell joins the podcast to discuss the facts, process, history, and options facing American Taxpayers.

The recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank harkened back to the dark days of 2008. Meanwhile, despite losing to Pratt & Whitney more than a decade ago in the battle to supply the engine for the F-35 jet fighter, Washington is suddenly abuzz about a General Electric effort to revive their alternate engine.  TCS Senior Policy Analysts Wendy Jordan and Josh Sewell join Steve Ellis for a discussion about Moral Hazard and the old budget watchdog adage, "No matter how wasteful, no bad idea is ever truly dead in Washington, especially when there are billions of dollars on the line. You have to kill, kill, kill until it's dead, dead, dead.”

Josh Sewell joins Steve Ellis to pull back the curtain on how Taxpayers for Common Sense advises foreign governments on the importance of transparency in the stewardship of public resources.  Plus, everything you need to look for when President Biden's Fiscal 2024 Budget Request is released. 

Budget Watchdog AF takes a field trip to the corn and soybean fields of northeastern Nebraska in search of common sense on the Farm Bill.  Taxpayers for Common Sense Senior Policy Analysts Sheila Korth and Josh Sewell introduce us to the current generations of the Kinkaid family farming this land since the 1940s.  Hit play and hear what these farmers think about farm subsidies.  It will suprise you. 

What's to be expected as lawmakers in the 118th Congress work to enact the dozen spending bills that fund government before the October 1st start of fiscal year 2024? What about the expiring Farm Bill? Possible cuts to defense spending? Hit play for the Taxpayers Guide to the 118th Congress with host Steve Ellis and TCS Senior Policy Analysts Wendy Jordan and Josh Sewell.

It's 2022 and the 117th Congress rolls on.  But what's really in the realm of the possible right now?  In this episode Budget Watchdog AF gives you the lay of the land in Washington D.C.  An honest assessment of where things stand on the Biden Administration's signature social welfare legislation, Build Back Better, and the latest on the federal budget and the appropriations bills that go along with it.  Host Steve Ellis is joined by Autumn Hanna and Josh Sewell.

TCS President Steve Ellis is joined by Budget Watchdog AF's very own Josh Sewell to reveal the secrets of the awe-inspiring, disappearing debt limit trick.  Magic or optical illusion? And the real truth about infrastructure and reconciliation.  

Alright guys, I've got a banger for you this week

When it comes to climate change you don't need to be steeped in the science. What you really need to understand are the staggering financial costs. Costs that one way or another find their way back to all of us – the taxpayers.  Join Steve Ellis and Josh Sewell for a readout on an important congressional hearing this week looking into housing resilience in the face of climate change. The National Flood Insurance Program and the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program are critical, but costly tools to deal with the ever-deepening effects of climate change.

After a decade of budget caps and mock budget discipline in President Trump's budget requests, President Biden released his FY 2022 "skinny budget" request this week.  And it really lets the belt out a few – or a lot – of notches.  What's the tale of the tape? Increases across the board! Every Cabinet Department sees a percentage increase in budget authority over fiscal year 2021.  TCS Senior Policy Analysts Sheila Karpf and Josh Sewell join Steve Ellis to details what these increases amount to.

Get the skinny on HR 22: The Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2021 & a candid analysis of the COVID-19 relief package known as the American Rescue Plan as Josh Sewell, Senior Policy Analyst at Taxpayers for Common Sense, joins Budget Watchdog AF host, Steve Ellis. 

Hey this is not an episode, it's just a little reminder in these trying times. Let's try to make the most of this period.

Are you curious as to what goes on behind the scenes at Flycast Partners? We're kicking off 2020 with our newest team member to join us: Josh Sewell! It didn't take long for Josh to realize that we're a big family here at Flycast Partners and we're definitely glad to have him on board. Find out why Josh fits right in!

Joaquin Phoenix delivers one of the most powerful performances of the year, but does this film have a message and is it enjoyable to watch? Listen in as film critics Jason Evans and Josh Sewell fight about the Joker movie.

Signing of the Farm Bill on the horizon, Congress is working on a short-term funding bill, and Exxon Mobil gets a small refinery waiver. Josh Sewell of Taxpayers for Common Sense joins to discuss the Farm Bill.

Congress may pass a major farm bill re- authorization this year for the first time since 2008. Farm bill supporters claim that draft bills in the House and Senate would save taxpayers billions of dollars, but that isn't the case. The bills would eliminate so-called direct payments to farmers, but the savings would be plowed into new subsidy programs and higher guaranteed prices for certain crops. What can be done to reform costly farm subsidies that harm agricultural markets and damage the environment? Chris Edwards, Scott Faber, Andrew Moylan, and Josh Sewell will discuss the impact of farm programs on taxpayers and the environment and suggest possible reform steps. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.