Podcasts about Legislature

This week on the Mark Levin Show, modern Western societies, enlightened and democratic, are experiencing "soft negative power." Gradually, our democratic institutions are being subverted by infiltration of unelected institutions like bureaucracies, independent agencies, and the judiciary. Soft negative power leads to authoritarian democracy. One branch of government absorbs and overtakes the others. Legislatures pass tyrannical laws. Soft negative power is so effective that one of the worst tyrannies of all -- Marxism -- is now deeply ingrained in the Western psyche. If you take money from one successful person and give it to five others who haven't earned it, who do you think those five people will vote for? This is why America is a republic, not a democracy. This is why the Founding Fathers put in safeguards such as a Senate, Electoral College and a Supreme Court - things Democratic Socialists despise. Sen. Lindsey Graham would have been amused yet pleased by the packed tributes from those who once labeled him a warmonger. He was a peace monger who stood firmly with America's allies. He knew Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan are forces for good against Iran, Russia, and Communist China. Graham was straightforward, his word was his bond. You may not have agreed with everything he said, but he was a man of principle. He will be missed. Later, the Iranian regime needs to be eliminated. The Iranian people want liberation and are being slaughtered for speaking out - the focus should be arming them, rooting out the IRGC, and applying aggressive military leadership rather than endless bombing or infrastructure destruction alone. Meanwhile, Zelensky and the Ukrainians are winning the war against Putin and Russia. Spain has seen a massive influx of over 80,000 illegal immigrants from Morocco and Northern Africa, with humanity as far as the eye can see breaking into the country while its socialist, radical leftist, anti-American and anti-Israel president does nothing. This mirrors the rapid destruction possible in a single government cycle, as occurred under Biden in America. Communists in the Democrat Party, Democratic Socialists of America and their allies oppose immigration enforcement and attack ICE precisely because they seek such open-border circumstances as a regular occurrence to replace the current citizenry with people from the Third World. This is revolution by immigration that will destroy the country; there is no discussion of assimilation or the true purpose of immigration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this newscast: Another man was taken into custody in Juneau for immigration enforcement purposes and held in Lemon Creek Correctional Center this week; In addition to races for governor, the U.S. House and Senate and the state Legislature, Alaskans will face a ballot initiative when they vote in the primary this August; After a legal battle that went all the way to the Alaska Supreme Court, Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg will be on the ballot for U.S. Senate. With only a few weeks to go before the primary, the candidate has now turned his focus to running his campaign; Evidence of the measles virus was found in Anchorage wastewater in July, according to state epidemiologists. The data is from a national pilot program analyzing wastewater for certain pathogens; One day after President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of the remains of four U.S. service members killed as a result of the Iran conflict, the two chambers of Congress were at odds over whether to rein in the president's military powers in the monthslong war.

The state Legislature returns to Sacramento from summer recess on Monday, and they'll face big questions about California's messy energy transition. Who should bear the cost of damaging wildfires? How should the state prioritize its shrinking climate fund? What regulations should they impose on the rapid buildout of AI data centers?  Guy discusses all that with two contributors to Politico's California Currents newsletter: California environment reporter Camille von Kaenel and California energy reporter Noah Baustin.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown's weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Putnam County would add on-demand service Cold Spring resident Carolyn Ricapito, who is 91 and relies on a walker, depends on her daughter and a home aide to get to medical appointments and shopping. She may have another option starting next year: Putnam Executive Kevin Byrne announced on Thursday (July 30) at the senior center in Cold Spring that his 2027 budget proposal will include funding to expand the county's on-demand transit service to Philipstown and Putnam Valley. Riders can book a ride the day before by app or telephone and be driven anywhere within their local zone. Fares are $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for seniors, students and disabled residents. The expansion was among the recommendations in a county-funded study of the $2.5 million Putnam Area Rapid Transit network, which includes fixed-route and paratransit services, a commuter shuttle and the Cold Spring trolley. Dan Hymowitz, director of partnerships for Via, which provides the "microtransit" service, said it should reach 20,000 rides next month in eastern Putnam. The study, conducted by a firm called LaBella, said the transit service in western Putnam should operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and connect via Route 9 to the Hudson Valley Towne Center, Walmart and other destinations in Fishkill, as well as Dutchess County's transit service. Putnam Valley would be included in a zone that would extend into parts of Philipstown and Mahopac. LaBella said it should operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Both services would cost about $250,000. "We've known for a long time that there's a gaping hole in service that exists for our residents on the western side of the county, and it needs to be addressed," Byrne said. If approved by the Legislature in the fall, the expansion will add to a nascent on-demand service introduced in May 2025 as a pilot serving Carmel, Patterson and Southeast. LaBella did not recommend any changes for the Cold Spring trolley, which provides service between Manitoga and the Cold Spring and Garrison Metro-North stations.

GREEN ENERGY GOALS ARE UNACHIEVABLE That is the message from a recent article by Sarah Montalbano from the Independence Institute. I’m specifically talking about the Clean Heat Energy Plan, which requires that Colorado gas utilities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 41 percent compared to 2015 levels by 2035. The law also aims for 22 percent reductions by 2030 and, critically, four percent emissions reductions by the end of 2025. So how is it going? Xcel won’t say so directly, but the company has already whiffed its 2025 target. That’s despite spending $65.4 million in 2025 for 24,821 metric tons of program-attributed emissions reductions. It isn’t a surprise to Xcel that it’s missing the mark, given the company’s own consultants said in a 2024 filing that “achieving the 2025 goal is extremely unlikely.” The PUC approved the plan anyway, waiving the 2.5 percent cost cap on the grounds that doing so was in the public interest. But the PUC seems to have allowed them to pick our pockets to reach the “extremely unlikely” green goals set by the idiots in the Legislature and Governor’s office. So if they don’t meet the goals, do the ratepayers who have been soaked get their money back? The biggest takeaway is that the whole scheme relies on forcing YOU AND ME to give up our efficient natural gas furnaces for a new more expensive electric system. No thank you. I’ll talk to Sarah today at 1 about the whole thing. Read her story here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democracy works best when citizens are more informed and better understand the institutions that govern them. And advocacy work and movement building become more effective - and successful - when citizens are empowered to become active participants in shaping their communities, and their future.rnrnYet, the halls of the Ohio Statehouse can seem like an overly complex, insiders network-hard to break through. So, what really happens in the Ohio Statehouse? And what does lobbying and advocacy work actually look like, in action?rnrnAs we mark the nation's 250th birthday, the City Club's 2026 Outdoor Summer Series WE THE PEOPLE will dive into topics centering our communities, organizations, and the very people who help our democracy thrive.rnrnJoin us at the City Club for a discussion with those who know the secrets of the Statehouse, learn how to enact change from within, and find out how things really get done at the Ohio Statehouse.

On Monday's Mark Levin Show, modern Western societies, enlightened and democratic, are experiencing “soft negative power.” Gradually, our democratic institutions are being subverted by the infiltration of unelected institutions like bureaucracies, independent agencies, and the judiciary. Soft negative power leads to authoritarian democracy. One branch of government absorbs and overtakes the others. Legislatures pass tyrannical laws. Soft negative power is so effective that one of the worst tyrannies of all—Marxism—is now deeply ingrained in the Western psyche. If you take money from one successful person and give it to five others who haven't earned it, who do you think those five people will vote for? This is why America is a republic, not a democracy. This is why the Founding Fathers put in safeguards such as a Senate, Electoral College, and a Supreme Court—things Democratic Socialists despise. Also, Democratic Socialists are Marxists. How different is the Democratic Party from the DSA? Abolish the Electoral College? Pack the SCOTUS? Redistribute wealth? Sounds pretty communist! Megan Romer is the co-chair of the DSA, and she didn't hide anything: on Fox News Sunday, she called for abolishing the Senate, the presidency, the SCOTUS, ICE, borders, and prisons, and wants government ownership of corporations. Steve Kornacki at NBC looked at the poll numbers, and while Democrats love all this Marxism, 8 out of 10 independents want nothing to do with it. Yet Republicans aren't capitalizing on this. Moderate Democrats like John Fetterman don't fit in anymore. Will Republicans provide them a home? Then, Anthony Fauci is set to testify before Rand Paul's Senate committee. Turns out Fauci kept a diary during COVID. He patted himself on the back for all the media attention he received and all the celebrities and high officials he met. But the diary shows he lied to us about COVID's fatality rate. Fauci spouted one set of numbers in public but wrote different numbers in his diary. Look for Rand Paul to rake Fauci over the coals. But remember this the next time someone pushes Medicare for All. We now know there was no scientific basis for the six-foot rule. We now know there was no benefit to masks. If the government controls your healthcare, the government controls what kind of healthcare you get. Finally, news flash: Elon Musk is no longer a trillionaire. Poor Bernie Sanders—he just lost his talking point! SpaceX stock lost $600 billion in value. That's how money works: it's fleeting, and it's investors who determine the value of a company. But Musk is an example of the American Dream. He started with nothing and made something of himself. And so what if he's a billionaire or trillionaire? It doesn't affect you, unless you work for him. Rich people create jobs and prosperity. It's communist regimes where people starve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas-Fort Worth region is growing as fast as anywhere in the country. But the city of Dallas itself lost residents last year. The TribCast crew speaks with urban affairs reporter Joshua Fechter about the challenges and opportunities for the city.

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 412-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 43,221 on turnover of 13.4-billion N-T. The market ended marginally lower on Monday, as large-cap tech stocks rebounded from early losses, while rotational buying in the financial sector helped limit the downturn. FDA** releases findings on Central Union cooking oil contamination** The Food and Drug Administration has released the findings of an independent investigation into the cause of carcinogen contamination in seven batches of cooking oil produced by Central Union Oil Corporation. Minister Without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung says the contamination began with a shipment of Brazilian soybeans. The investigation was conducted by an expert panel convened by the Food Industry Research and Development Institute. According to Chen, it identified three main problems - those being that high-risk raw materials were not properly managed, production irregularities were not adequately addressed and the company's food safety risk management was insufficient (不足的). The Cabinet last week approved draft amendments to the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and sent them to the Legislature for review. MODA warns of increasing number of ransomware threats The Ministry of Digital Affairs is warned the number of ransomware attacks targeting local businesses is increasing, as hackers are turning to generative A-I. According to the ministry's Administration for Cyber Security, ransomware is one of the biggest cybersecurity risks facing companies and businesses need to take steps to strengthen protection. Administration director-general Tsai Fu-lung says businesses need to take four steps to ensure their data is secure - those being making regular backups and software updates, ensuring the use of strong passwords, and issuing warnings to employees about suspicious (可疑的) links. Tsai says ransomware attacks this year have targeted local companies in the paper manufacturing, biotech, and semiconductor sectors. MACRON VISITS GIRONDE AS FRENCH WILDFIRE AUTHORITIES WARN BLAZE COULD BURN FOR MONTHS French President Emmanuel Macron is travelling to the Gironde region of southwestern France, to meet emergency workers battling wildfires. The fires have burned more than 42-thousand hectares and forced some 220-thousand people from their homes. The Gironde prefecture said the situation (情況) overnight was "globally stable" — a change from previous days — but fire authorities have warned the blaze could take months to fully extinguish. Will Denselow reports from Mios, one of several towns near Bordeaux, where evacuation orders were issued on Sunday. Canada US Consulate Shooting A shooter fired at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto early Monday morning, marking the second such incident this year. Police reported no injuries but found a single shell casing and damage to the building's facade. A high-speed chase followed, but no arrests were made. The U.S. Consulate was also targeted March 10, when two suspects allegedly fired multiple shots at the building before driving away in a stolen vehicle. Two were arrested and charged wtih multiple offences. Authorities are investigating possible links to gun-for-hire networks, which have also targeted (有針對性的) synagogues and Jewish-owned bakeries in the city. Subject: C*OUTRO Return to Table of contents That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 旅遊優惠別錯過！ 可樂旅遊17瘋搶日，每月限定3天搶限量優惠！ 1號訂房折10% 7號票券折7% 17號機票折1.7% 熱愛自由行的你，肯定要每個月鎖定！ https://sofm.pse.is/9erfwt -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Chuck Todd delivers a masterclass on the single most underappreciated force in presidential politics: the primary calendar, which he argues reveals exactly what kind of nominee a party actually wants long before a single vote is cast. He explains that the Democratic decision to put South Carolina first is by design a test of Black support and viability in the South — and one that's deliberately engineered to hurt progressives, who have consistently gotten thumped in South Carolina primaries. He believes that Democrats have badly underinvested in South Carolina and Mississippi, meaning a little TLC could plausibly turn South Carolina into a genuine swing state. The calendar's practical effect, he argues, is that it sets up well for Wes Moore (if he runs) and is nearly as favorable for Pete Buttigieg, while raising the stakes for Kamala Harris to the point that if she doesn't win South Carolina, she's essentially finished. He is sharp on the flaws of the rest of the early window — Nevada isn't the test Democrats claim because the culinary union shapes everything and Arizona would better measure the Latino vote, Michigan is theoretically ideal but is getting torn apart over Israel in ways that could hurt Democrats in a general, and Virginia (now the last stop before Super Tuesday) reliably serves as a bulwark for moderates because it's a center-left rather than hard-left blue state — and he lays out what the ideal calendar would look like for progressives and for MAGA respectively. He's blunt that Ken Martin's leadership of the DNC has been a major problem, questioning whether Democrats really want him refereeing the nomination fight when the party's money troubles are a reflection on Martin himself. He then turns to Trump backing down on Iran yet again — halting strikes less than 12 hours after issuing fresh threats — calling the entire Iran adventure easily the dumbest thing a president has done this century, especially now that an administration once committed to non-proliferation appears to be helping the Saudis with nuclear technology. He notes Democrats nominated Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner, making the Maine Senate seat winnable again even as Trump has made the races in both Maine and Michigan harder, and closes with a run of telling contrasts: the White House openly bragging that it added tariffs to help big tech, data centers emerging as the top issue for voters in many states, Trump calling LeBron James a racist from the Oval Office while Obama quietly reached out to offer Caitlin Clark advice and comfort — a perfect encapsulation, He argues, of one leader who wants to divide and another trying to turn the temperature down. Then, sports business reporter John Ourand — who shares an origin story with Chuck Todd at Sports Business Daily — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a deep dive into the money reshaping professional and college sports. Ourand walks through the sale of the Seattle Seahawks as a signal that the era of family-owned NFL franchises is ending, explaining how team valuations have roughly doubled in just three years thanks to new tax advantages and the simple fact that NFL ownership has become the ultimate status club for the ultra-wealthy. He and Chuck dig into whether these eye-popping valuations constitute a bubble — the NFL alone signed $110 billion in media deals over two years — and whether the sports media "middle class" could be facing a real reckoning even as streamers thrive with smaller game packages. Ourand offers a fascinating look at how leagues are navigating their relationship with the networks and production companies that broadcast them (the NFL is deliberately careful not to hurt the legacy networks it depends on), and defends the enduring value of investigative sports journalism, pointing to Pablo Torre's Clippers reporting as a reminder that nobody, including executives at ESPN, wants to be remembered as the person who killed real journalism at the network. The conversation turns to how sports and politics are increasingly colliding. Ourand contrasts Michael Jordan's studied political neutrality with the modern reality of athletes and leagues getting pulled into culture war fights whether they want to or not, noting the UFC fight at the White House pulled huge ratings and that Trump's involvement in overturning a disputed red card call may have actually boosted viewership. He praises Caitlin Clark for navigating the culture wars more gracefully than almost anyone in sports today, draws a compelling parallel between Clark and Larry Bird, and argues the WNBA under commissioner Kathy Engelbert isn't doing nearly enough to capitalize on the attention Clark has generated — in part because leagues remain skittish about race and sexuality debates they'd rather avoid entirely. Ourand closes with a detailed look at the messy economics of college sports, explaining how the biggest programs are effectively subsidizing smaller ones, why a real collective bargaining structure may eventually be inevitable, and why the sport's true power brokers could soon demand a much larger share of the revenue pie for themselves. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the ratification of the 14th amendment at a time when the idea of birthright citizenship is being called into question, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 A primary calendar shows the type of nominee a party wants 03:15 The calendar dictates where candidates spend their time 04:15 The first state on the calendar is massively important 05:00 The Democratic nominee will have to survive South Carolina 05:30 Iowa has gone first for decades 07:15 First in the calendar matters more than anything else 07:45 South Carolina is a test for black support & viability in the south 08:30 South Carolina going first is designed to hurt the viability of progressives 09:15 Going first created robust state parties in Iowa & New Hampshire 10:00 Democrats have underinvested in South Carolina & Mississippi 13:15 Strong state organizations create future candidates & elected reps 14:45 With more TLC, Democrats should be able to make SC a swing state 15:45 South Carolina will determine which candidates are viable 17:15 Progressives have gotten thumped in SC primaries 18:15 Calendar is designed to make life harder for progressives 19:45 The calendar doesn’t always produce the intended candidate 22:00 20% in a crowded field could be enough to win or take 2nd 24:00 If Kamala Harris doesn’t win South Carolina she’s basically out 24:45 On paper, this is a huge boost for Wes Moore if he runs 26:00 Whoever is in 1st place this far out is a measurement of name ID 26:30 New Hampshire Dems are upset about not being first 28:30 Nevada is not the test that Democrats claim it is 29:00 The culinary union shapes the entire state’s politics in Nevada 30:00 The DNC wanted states that could produce same-night results 31:30 Nevada isn’t a good test of the latino vote, Arizona would be better 32:45 In theory, Michigan is a good state to test, but it’s getting divided over Israel 33:30 Israel could get so divisive it could hurt Dems in a general election 34:15 Virginia is now the last state of the early window before Super Tuesday 34:45 Virginia tends to serve as a bulwark for the moderate candidates 36:00 Virginia is a blue state, but it’s a center-left state 37:15 More than any candidate, the table is set for Wes Moore 37:45 The calendar is also good for Pete Buttigieg 39:15 What the best primary calendar would look like for progressives 41:00 What the best MAGA primary calendar would look like 44:00 The calendar dictates who candidates must become during campaign 45:45 Super Tuesday was created to balance out the early base voters 47:30 Legislature control also dictated the creation of this Dem primary calendar 49:15 Ken Martin’s leadership at the DNC has been major problem 50:00 Do Dems want Martin serving as the referee for the nomination fight? 50:45 Martin is clearly not in the right headspace to lead the DNC 51:45 The DNC’s money problems are a reflection on Martin, not the party 52:45 Trump bloviated & issued more threats to Iran & he’s backing down again 53:45 Less than 12 hours after making threats, he halted strikes 54:45 Trump is completely out of ideas on Iran 55:45 Iran is easily the dumbest thing a president has done this century 56:30 For years the goal was non-proliferation, now we’re helping the Saudis? 58:15 If we’re helping Saudis with nuke technology, who are we to tell others no? 59:00 Trump’s personal financial gain may have accelerated this 59:30 Dems nominate Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner 1:00:00 Maine senate is once again a very winnable race for Democrats 1:01:15 Trump has made the races in Michigan and Maine much harder 1:02:15 Trump has no idea what’s going on in American politics, can’t read a room 1:03:00 White House bragged that they added tariffs to help big tech 1:04:15 Data centers are the biggest issue for voters in many states 1:05:45 Trump calls LeBron James a racist at oval office press conference 1:06:45 Obama reached out to give Caitlin Clark advice & words of comfort 1:08:00 Trump showed he wants to divide, Obama tried to turn temperature down 1:09:15 Mrs. Todd’s suggestion for changing the White House Correspondents’ Dinner 1:17:45 John Ourand joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:19:45 Chuck & John’s shared origins at Sports Business Daily 1:22:15 Who are the new owners of the Seattle Seahawks? 1:23:00 We are ending the era of the family owned teams 1:24:00 How did NFL teams double in value in 3 years? 1:25:00 NFL ownership is a club rich people want to be in 1:25:45 There are new tax advantages to owning franchises 1:28:00 Are sports franchise valuations a bubble that could burst? 1:29:45 The NFL signed $110B in deals in 2 years 1:30:15 The middle class of sports rights might face a reckoning soon 1:30:45 The PGA Tour may have cause for concern for media rights 1:33:15 Streamers are doing just fine with limited packages of games 1:33:45 If Amazon gave up their rights, the stock price probably goes up 1:35:30 The NFL conscious of not hurting the business of legacy networks 1:37:30 Will the leagues move broadcast production in-house? 1:39:45 Leagues more likely to partner with large production companies 1:42:15 There’s still a market for investigative sports journalists 1:45:15 Nobody wants to be the executive that kills journalism at ESPN 1:46:00 Reporters at ESPN are aware of where the third rail is 1:47:00 Pablo Torre’s scoop on the Clippers was a journalist’s dream 1:49:15 How are leagues/players interacting with politics? 1:50:30 Michael Jordan stayed out of the political fray 1:52:30 The UFC fight at the White House had huge ratings 1:53:00 Trump’s involvement in overturning red card possibly boosted ratings 1:55:15 Caitlin Clark has been great at avoiding be pulled into the culture wars 1:56:00 Parallels between Larry Bird & Caitlin Clark 1:58:15 The WNBA isn’t doing enough to capitalize on Clark’s popularity 2:00:30 Leagues are afraid of race & sexuality debates 2:01:15 Is Kathy Engelbert the right commissioner for the WNBA? 2:04:30 How would collective bargaining be organized in college sports? 2:07:45 The biggest college programs are subsidizing the smaller ones 2:10:15 Could big programs demand a bigger share of the revenue? 2:15:30 Where you can find John’s work 2:17:00 ToddCast Time Machine - July 28th, 1968 2:17:30 This was the day William Seward certified the 14th Amendment 2:18:15 Some states tried to rescind their certification 2:18:45 Congress declared the amendment ratified 2:19:30 “Who gets to be an American?” was a question the founders left open 2:20:15 Birthright citizenship was an open question at the time 2:20:45 Dred Scott was one of the worst SCOTUS decisions of all time 2:21:30 States tried to reassemble the structures of slavery after the war 2:22:00 Abolishing slavery and securing freedom were two different things 2:22:45 Citizenship couldn’t rest on a law, it had to be in the constitution 2:23:30 Trump vs. Barbara ended with SCOTUS upholding birthright citizenship 2:24:30 The case of Won Kim Ark became foundation of this summer’s ruling 2:25:30 Congress addressed Native American citizenship in 1924 via statute 2:27:30 Someone from anywhere could become an American 2:28:15 Every generation has found new ways to fall short of the American promise 2:29:15 Certification of the 14th amendment is what makes America different 2:30:00 Ask Chuck 2:30:15 Have you seen anything to suggest Trump has a religious faith? 2:33:30 Goal of NDAA integrating more between the U.S. & Israeli militaries? 2:38:30 If a president were convicted and removed via impeachment… What happens next? 2:42:00 Recommendations for political books? 2:47:00 Has the kind of voter fraud cited by Republicans ever changed an outcome?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd delivers a masterclass on the single most underappreciated force in presidential politics: the primary calendar, which he argues reveals exactly what kind of nominee a party actually wants long before a single vote is cast. He explains that the Democratic decision to put South Carolina first is by design a test of Black support and viability in the South — and one that's deliberately engineered to hurt progressives, who have consistently gotten thumped in South Carolina primaries. He believes that Democrats have badly underinvested in South Carolina and Mississippi, meaning a little TLC could plausibly turn South Carolina into a genuine swing state. The calendar's practical effect, he argues, is that it sets up well for Wes Moore (if he runs) and is nearly as favorable for Pete Buttigieg, while raising the stakes for Kamala Harris to the point that if she doesn't win South Carolina, she's essentially finished. He is sharp on the flaws of the rest of the early window — Nevada isn't the test Democrats claim because the culinary union shapes everything and Arizona would better measure the Latino vote, Michigan is theoretically ideal but is getting torn apart over Israel in ways that could hurt Democrats in a general, and Virginia (now the last stop before Super Tuesday) reliably serves as a bulwark for moderates because it's a center-left rather than hard-left blue state — and he lays out what the ideal calendar would look like for progressives and for MAGA respectively. He's blunt that Ken Martin's leadership of the DNC has been a major problem, questioning whether Democrats really want him refereeing the nomination fight when the party's money troubles are a reflection on Martin himself. He then turns to Trump backing down on Iran yet again — halting strikes less than 12 hours after issuing fresh threats — calling the entire Iran adventure easily the dumbest thing a president has done this century, especially now that an administration once committed to non-proliferation appears to be helping the Saudis with nuclear technology. He notes Democrats nominated Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner, making the Maine Senate seat winnable again even as Trump has made the races in both Maine and Michigan harder, and closes with a run of telling contrasts: the White House openly bragging that it added tariffs to help big tech, data centers emerging as the top issue for voters in many states, Trump calling LeBron James a racist from the Oval Office while Obama quietly reached out to offer Caitlin Clark advice and comfort — a perfect encapsulation, He argues, of one leader who wants to divide and another trying to turn the temperature down. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the ratification of the 14th amendment at a time when the idea of birthright citizenship is being called into question, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:30 A primary calendar shows the type of nominee a party wants 03:15 The calendar dictates where candidates spend their time 04:15 The first state on the calendar is massively important 05:00 The Democratic nominee will have to survive South Carolina 05:30 Iowa has gone first for decades 07:15 First in the calendar matters more than anything else 07:45 South Carolina is a test for black support & viability in the south 08:30 South Carolina going first is designed to hurt the viability of progressives 09:15 Going first created robust state parties in Iowa & New Hampshire 10:00 Democrats have underinvested in South Carolina & Mississippi 13:15 Strong state organizations create future candidates & elected reps 14:45 With more TLC, Democrats should be able to make SC a swing state 15:45 South Carolina will determine which candidates are viable 17:15 Progressives have gotten thumped in SC primaries 18:15 Calendar is designed to make life harder for progressives 19:45 The calendar doesn’t always produce the intended candidate 22:00 20% in a crowded field could be enough to win or take 2nd 24:00 If Kamala Harris doesn’t win South Carolina she’s basically out 24:45 On paper, this is a huge boost for Wes Moore if he runs 26:00 Whoever is in 1st place this far out is a measurement of name ID 26:30 New Hampshire Dems are upset about not being first 28:30 Nevada is not the test that Democrats claim it is 29:00 The culinary union shapes the entire state’s politics in Nevada 30:00 The DNC wanted states that could produce same-night results 31:30 Nevada isn’t a good test of the latino vote, Arizona would be better 32:45 In theory, Michigan is a good state to test, but it’s getting divided over Israel 33:30 Israel could get so divisive it could hurt Dems in a general election 34:15 Virginia is now the last state of the early window before Super Tuesday 34:45 Virginia tends to serve as a bulwark for the moderate candidates 36:00 Virginia is a blue state, but it’s a center-left state 37:15 More than any candidate, the table is set for Wes Moore 37:45 The calendar is also good for Pete Buttigieg 39:15 What the best primary calendar would look like for progressives 41:00 What the best MAGA primary calendar would look like 44:00 The calendar dictates who candidates must become during campaign 45:45 Super Tuesday was created to balance out the early base voters 47:30 Legislature control also dictated the creation of this Dem primary calendar 49:15 Ken Martin’s leadership at the DNC has been major problem 50:00 Do Dems want Martin serving as the referee for the nomination fight? 50:45 Martin is clearly not in the right headspace to lead the DNC 51:45 The DNC’s money problems are a reflection on Martin, not the party 52:45 Trump bloviated & issued more threats to Iran & he’s backing down again 53:45 Less than 12 hours after making threats, he halted strikes 54:45 Trump is completely out of ideas on Iran 55:45 Iran is easily the dumbest thing a president has done this century 56:30 For years the goal was non-proliferation, now we’re helping the Saudis? 58:15 If we’re helping Saudis with nuke technology, who are we to tell others no? 59:00 Trump’s personal financial gain may have accelerated this 59:30 Dems nominate Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner 1:00:00 Maine senate is once again a very winnable race for Democrats 1:01:15 Trump has made the races in Michigan and Maine much harder 1:02:15 Trump has no idea what’s going on in American politics, can’t read a room 1:03:00 White House bragged that they added tariffs to help big tech 1:04:15 Data centers are the biggest issue for voters in many states 1:05:45 Trump calls LeBron James a racist at oval office press conference 1:06:45 Obama reached out to give Caitlin Clark advice & words of comfort 1:08:00 Trump showed he wants to divide, Obama tried to turn temperature down 1:09:15 Mrs. Todd’s suggestion for changing the White House Correspondents’ Dinner 1:16:00 ToddCast Time Machine - July 28th, 1968 1:16:30 This was the day William Seward certified the 14th Amendment 1:17:15 Some states tried to rescind their certification 1:17:45 Congress declared the amendment ratified 1:18:30 “Who gets to be an American?” was a question the founders left open 1:19:15 Birthright citizenship was an open question at the time 1:19:45 Dred Scott was one of the worst SCOTUS decisions of all time 1:20:30 States tried to reassemble the structures of slavery after the war 1:21:00 Abolishing slavery and securing freedom were two different things 1:21:45 Citizenship couldn’t rest on a law, it had to be in the constitution 1:22:30 Trump vs. Barbara ended with SCOTUS upholding birthright citizenship 1:23:30 The case of Won Kim Ark became foundation of this summer’s ruling 1:24:30 Congress addressed Native American citizenship in 1924 via statute 1:26:30 Someone from anywhere could become an American 1:27:15 Every generation has found new ways to fall short of the American promise 1:28:15 Certification of the 14th amendment is what makes America different 1:29:00 Ask Chuck 1:29:15 Have you seen anything to suggest Trump has a religious faith? 1:32:30 Goal of NDAA integrating more between the U.S. & Israeli militaries? 1:37:30 If a president were convicted and removed via impeachment… What happens next? 1:41:00 Recommendations for political books? 1:46:00 Has the kind of voter fraud cited by Republicans ever changed an outcome?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton says he believes the federal government will come through for Haverhill to fix infrastructure and, with his help, continue to make good on health and education.Moulton, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for Senate against incumbent. Edward J. Markey, expressed his confidence and answered questions during a live interview Friday on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. Following Haverhill's force main sewer failure, Moulton and 5th District Congresswoman Lori Trahan, proposed raising the ceiling on federal money to upgrade Haverhill's wastewater infrastructure from $40 million to $50 million. Moulton said he is confident the federal government would come to the rescue.“Haverhill residents can't take care of this on your own. You need help. This is exactly what you should expect the federal government to do,” Moulton said, adding this situation is proof Congress “can get things down” even in a “divided environment.”Moulton, 47, is pitching himself as the young progressive choice against Markey, who is 80.On a question about what he would do as a senator to ensure Haverhill gets its fair share of federal help for healthcare, schools and other social programs, Moulton touted his success in bringing $2 billion in federal funding to the city of Lynn.“Well, you know I've already delivered $2 billion to the City of Lynn. Imagine what $2 billion would do for Haverhill. That's the kind of hard work that I've been putting in in Washington for 10 years. So, I know how the system works,” Moulton argued.Moulton added, in his opinion more money must be earmarked for vocational education because the jobs are waiting and students are clamoring for seats in vocational programs.“A lot of kids, for example, want to go to vocational school right now because they know that being an electrician or plumber is not a job that will get automated out of existence by AI. But we're not giving enough opportunities for kids to get a vocational education,” he observed.Asked whether terminology he used in 2024 to describe transgender individuals was insensitive when he said he doesn't want his daughters “getting run over by on the playing field by a male or formerly male athlete,” Moulton said the quotation was taken out of context.“I have a 100% voting record on this issue. And I recognize that a lot of transgender people are getting attacked right now by this administration. But in fairness you cut off half my quote. What I said is that as a Democrat we're not even allowed to discuss these issues and that's wrong,” Moulton fired back.Moulton said he thinks it is healthier for the party to raise contentious issues and not be afraid to debate them, that in those discussions, support emerges.“We ought to lead that discussion as Democrats. We should not cede that territory to the Republicans which is what we have been doing for far too long,” Moulton argued.Moulton was first elected to the House of Representatives from the 6th Congressional District in 2015 and is in his sixth term. Markey was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1976 following a stint in the state Legislature. He was elected as one of Massachusetts's two senators in 2013. He is in his third term.Moulton faces Markey in the Tuesday, Sept. 1, state primary. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mail in ballots may be requested by calling the Haverhill city clerk's office at 978-374-2312. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Tuesday, Aug. 25.  In-person early voting at Haverhill City Hall begins Saturday, Aug. 22, and runs through Friday, Aug. 28. The full schedule is available on the city website at HaverhillMA.gov.WHAV is reaching out to all candidates to outline their positions in advance of their respective, contested elections.Support the show

State pilot focuses on 'forever' chemicals About 20 percent of private wells tested in Putnam County under a state pilot program exceed guidelines for a family of chemicals linked with cancers and other health problems, officials said on Wednesday (July 22). Public Health Director Rian Rodriguez and Brian Stevens, an associate public health sanitarian, told the Legislature's Health Committee that 540 well owners have applied to have their water tested for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under a $1.5 million, five-year program funded by the state. Of the 480 wells tested so far, just over 20 percent have PFAS levels that exceed the state guidelines of 10 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOs, the two most common versions of the chemicals. Those owners can each request up to $5,000 to install a filtration system on the main water line entering their home or business. The state will also subsidize up to $1,000 for filters installed on faucets or other outlets and up to $10,000 to connect a property to a public water system. Stevens said the county had just received its first rebate request and expects many more. "In the next week or so, the state will be providing additional training on how to process those payments and those applications," he said. Putnam and Dutchess are two of six counties selected by the state for a pilot program to address PFAS contamination in private wells. Known as "forever chemicals" because of their duration in the environment and the human body, PFAS have been used for decades in nonstick cookware, water-repellant clothing and other consumer products, as well as firefighting foams. Researchers have linked them to various health problems, including cancers, low birthweights and high cholesterol. Health concerns have led public health officials to close contaminated water sources serving the City of Newburgh and other municipalities, and supply filters to well owners in Mahopac, Putnam Valley and other parts of Putnam County. Rodriguez told the Health Committee in February that the state chose Dutchess, Putnam and four other counties — Orange, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester — for its pilot because they are "at higher risk" of PFAS contamination. Dozens of properties near the Mahopac Business District received water main filters after testing found about 100 wells had high PFAS levels. The state traced the pollution to dry-cleaning chemicals. New York State has allocated funds to Kent, two neighborhoods in Brewster and the Floradan Estates in Putnam Valley to address contamination. The Putnam Valley school district traced PFAS contamination at its elementary school to foams used by the Putnam Valley Fire Department. When asked by Legislator Nancy Montgomery, who chairs the committee and represents Philipstown and part of Putnam Valley, if testing has identified clusters, Stevens cautioned that the county needs to collect more data. By one estimate, as many as half of U.S. households have some level of PFAS in their water, whether supplied by well or tap. New York State and the federal Environmental Protection Agency regulate PFAS limits in public water supplies, such as the reservoirs that supply drinking water to Beacon and Cold Spring. But an estimated 1 million homes and businesses in the state, and 40 million people nationwide, rely on wells, which are not regulated.

Former employees want lower health costs Their incomes are fixed, but not the cost of health insurance. That was the message on July 16 when a group of retired Putnam County employees attended the Legislature's Personnel Committee meeting to beseech lawmakers to reduce the amount they and other retirees must contribute to their health insurance premiums. Jane Meunier-Gorman began working for Putnam County in 1985, when retirees paid a flat annual amount toward their health insurance and the county paid the rest. Annual premiums had risen to $200 [about $350 today] for individuals and $400 [$700] for families when the Legislature, citing the "burden on the taxpayers," in 2004 allowed the county to instead set rates based on each retiree's date of hire, age at retirement and length of service. Eleven years later, the Legislature approved pension-based contribution rates for six salary ranges, beginning at 8 percent for retirees whose annual pensions were $9,999 or less and rising to 30 percent for those paid $65,000 or more. (Lawmakers later added a seventh salary range by splitting the one covering pensions between $40,000 and $64,999.) "The feeling was that it was more equitable to look at pension amounts rather than just years of service," said Adriene Iasoni, a specialist with the Personnel Department, on July 16. "If you just look at years of service, you can have folks whose earnings are on the lower end, and they may be paying the same as somebody who's at a much higher annual salary." For the 2016 budget, the change raised the total amount pensioners would contribute to Putnam's estimated $4.7 million cost for insurance from $357,000 to $609,000. By 2025, retirees were paying $1.2 million of $7.9 million. This year, the county costs ballooned to $8.8 million, with Gorman and other retired employees paying $1.3 million. Their increases are "deeply troubling" and "place a significant and unexpected financial burden on individuals living on fixed incomes," said former county employees John Mulreany and Aileen Napolitano in a letter to the Legislature. Meunier-Gorman, who was president of the local Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) union when the Legislature adopted the contribution rates in 2015, said employees "were made promises. We were told that we would always have affordable health insurance through our employment with the county." Since retiring from the Health Department in 2024, Gorman said her annual pension is $50,000, and her bill for county health coverage is $10,000. "When I retired after 39 years, and I got my first bill, I couldn't even breathe," she said. "I was like, 'Oh my God, how am I going to afford this?' " Putnam recently created some breathing room for current employees. Legislators in December approved an agreement with Putnam's labor unions that lowered, from 30 percent to 17 percent, the share of health insurance premiums paid by new employees. County Executive Kevin Byrne forged the agreement with Putnam's four unions: the CSEA, the Putnam County Sheriff's Employee Association (jail guards and staff), the Putnam Management Association and the Sheriff's PBA (deputies). For CSEA employees, the share drops to 15 percent after 12 years and 10 percent after 15. Paul Eldridge, the county personnel officer, said the 30 percent rate was significantly higher than new employee contributions in Dutchess and Westchester (20 percent each) and Orange (16 percent) counties. He estimated that 225 employees would benefit, but the plan would add $865,000 to the $11.5 million Putnam allocates for health insurance premiums for current employees. Legislator Toni Addonizio, who chairs the Personnel Committee, voted against the pension-based contribution system established in 2015. She said Putnam "should consider how the other counties do the years of service" during continued discussions about retiree health benefits. "Many people have worked 25 years and still don't, in their retirement, receive $40,00...

Texas Talks host Brad Swail sits down with State Representative Gary Gates, Chairman of the House Land and Resource Management Committee and longtime Fort Bend County representative.  As one of the Legislature's leading voices on housing policy, Chairman Gates breaks down the interim hearings focused on restoring affordability across Texas. The conversation covers the real-world impact of recent bills, aggressive local pushback from cities, and bold solutions to cut red tape and deliver more attainable housing.  Major topics include: • The dramatic rise in home prices and interest rates since 2020 and their effect on Texas families • SB 840 and by-right conversion of offices/retail into housing • SB 15 and reduced minimum lot sizes to increase supply without disrupting established neighborhoods • Local resistance tactics — from Olympic-sized pool mandates to public art fees and three-bedroom requirements • Impact fees, their unintended consequences, and why they drive prices higher • Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), transparency, and their role in financing rapid growth • Third-party plan reviews and inspections to speed development and lower costs • The balance between state leadership and legitimate local concerns  Chairman Gates shares how the committee is preparing strong legislation for the 90th Session and why housing affordability remains a top priority for Texas leadership.  00:00 Intro & Welcome 01:13 Rep. Gary Gates Background & Committee Role 02:42 Interim Hearings Process & Preparation 05:11 Housing Affordability Crisis in Texas 08:50 Review of Key Bills: SB 840, SB 15 & Others 10:13 Local Resistance & City Ordinances 13:49 Why Cities Are Pushing Back (NIMBYism) 17:35 State vs Local Control Debate 21:15 Infrastructure & State Support for Growth 24:01 Supply Shortage vs Affordability Problem 28:10 Balancing Neighborhood Character & New Housing 30:44 Impact Fees & Their Real Effects 37:14 Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) Explained 44:32 What Success Looks Like Next Session 48:21 Closing Thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

Wildfires burning across Minnesota's Arrowhead have not been very active in recent days. Tom Hall with the U.S. Forest Service says cooler, wetter weather has allowed fire containment to improve. But Hall says fire conditions are expected to get worse going into Aug. and Sept.One victim of a shooting targeting Minnesota lawmakers and their families is denouncing the gunman's request to serve his sentence in Florida. Vance Boelter will be sentenced in the deaths of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the wounding of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Boelter admitted to shooting them in June 2025 at their homes. Yvette Hoffman wrote on Facebook that Boelter does not deserve a say in where he serves his sentence.A man charged with killing three people in a St. Paul leasing office made his first court appearance Wednesday. Tsegaab Binessu is charged with three counts of second-degree murder. Charges say he opened fire on employees of an apartment management company after they told him he could not cancel his garage parking contract. His bail is set at $10 million, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Aug.13.Former Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell is running for Woodbury City Council a year after she was convicted of felony burglary. Mitchell resigned from the Legislature after a jury found her guilty of breaking into her stepmother's home. The DFLer filed Tuesday for the nonpartisan office. Mitchell says she will focus on clean water issues and transparency in city government.

This episode is presented by Create A Video – Andrew Dunn is the publisher of Longleaf Politics and  a contributing columnist to The Charlotte Observer. We chatted about the money race to replace North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger. We also talked about the hard choice on the I-77 toll road project that the newly-appointed Charlotte Mayor will be faced with.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-kaliner-show--6946691/support.Subscribe to the podcast My preferred podcast platform: SpreakerAll the links to Pete's Prep are free!Get exclusive content here!Media Bias Check: GroundNews promo code!Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com  

A little more than a year after catastrophic floods devastated Central Texas, another deluge hit the area. How are residents and the state responding to this new tragedy?

In backsliding democracies around the world, civil society organizations have consistently been targeted by government actors in order to stifle dissent and pluralism.  ACS Director of Policy and Program Diane Furstenau joins Lindsay Langholz to discuss this pattern and what lessons we can learn from other countries' experiences as we face similar threats at home.Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.orgHost: Lindsay Langholz, Vice President of Policy and ProgramGuest: Diane Furstenau, Director of Policy and Program, ACSLink: Monitor: Tracking Civic Space, CIVICUSLink: Resource Collections, International Center for Not-for-Profit LawLink: The Impacts of the Recent Executive Orders on Nonprofits, National Council of NonprofitsLink: Civil Society Rights & Resiliency Resources, Charity & Security NetworkVisit the Podcast Website: Broken Law PodcastEmail the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.orgFollow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube-----------------Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn't.-----------------Production House: Flint Stone MediaCopyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

A look at some of the new laws now in effect in Kentucky, several constitutional officers ask Kentucky's Supreme Court to rehear a case, Gov. Beshear discusses his expansion of a pre-K pilot program, and the U.S. House passes a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent.

Danielle Hayden is Director of Early Education for the Minnesota Department of Education, joined Vineeta to discuss the new program on the WCCO Morning News.

Utah's premier conservative think tank, the Sutherland Institute, has a new CEO: state Sen. Todd Weiler, a frequent guest of this podcast. Host Ali Vallarta asks Weiler about his goals, 1-star reviews of his organization, and why he won't be stepping down from the Legislature. We're doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. You'll be doing us a big favor if you take it at citycast.fm/survey — and it only takes seven minutes. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and City Cast City swag. Thank you! Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.

Today my guest is M.R. Madhavan, co-founder and president of PRS Legislative Research. We talked about the role and purpose of the Rajya Sabha, treatment of money bills in a Westminster system, how the anti-defection law and party whips have hollowed out parliamentary function, parliamentary procedure, the role of the governor, and much more. Recorded June 24th, 2026. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:33) - The Role and Purpose of the Rajya Sabha (00:14:46) - Money Bills, No-Confidence Motions, and Design Flaws (00:22:47) - GST and Constitutional Design (00:30:33) - One Country, One Tax System? (00:35:31) - The Problem with Anti-Defection Laws and Whips (00:43:55) - Who Will Bell the Cat? (00:50:53) - Parliamentary Pressures: Constitutional vs. Constituent Expectations (01:02:04) - Challenges Faced by State Legislatures (01:15:37) - Reforming the Office of Governor (01:27:18) - The Role of PRS in Parliamentary Functioning (01:35:13) - Outro

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Is Abbott's H-1B visa freeze real? Texas Tech doesn't appear to think so: Did Texas Tech Just Violate Abbott's H-1B Freeze? If Texas Tech can't find its own graduates to fill this basic level job then it should shut its doors!Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Governor Abbott to propose the Legislature create a fund to help Texans get roofs up to “Fortified” status to help with runaway insurance rates. He, the Lt. Gov. and the House Speaker also direct agencies to prepare budgets 3% smaller for next biennium.ICE and Houston:  FBI obtains warrant to search Salgado's van for drugs. Abbott says Texas Rangers will investigate Houston ICE shooting Houston immigration lawyer who accused ICE of abuse charged with strangling. Please no contest to domestic violence charge today. It gets worse: Former employee questions attorney representing men in ICE shooting as felony cases proceed. Gary Boren, Lubbock city council District 4 special election candidate joins us. Early voting in the race begins Monday, July 20 and runs through Tuesday, July 28 with Election Day on Saturday, August 1st.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates. www.PrattonTexas.com

Why are Texas school children as young as 10 years old ending up in trouble with the law? Data shows how districts across the state are arresting and citing children for common misbehavior. The children are left with lasting trauma as the Legislature rejects bills to raise the age of criminal responsibility and floods schools with even more police.

Is North Dakota still open for business? That's a question we asked during an interview with Brooks Burgum, co-founder and CEO of Longwater, a private equity and alternative asset management firm. What prompts that question is what seems to be a growing, anti-development attitude among some political factionsin North Dakota. The state once marketed itself as an easy place to do business, but increasingly building things like transmission lines, pipelines, and data centers has become a fraught business. "Where would we be if no one built a railroad?" Burgum, who is the former governor's cousin, asked. "We want to grow this country, we want to grow this state," he continued. "We've got to have pipelines. We've got to have railroads. We've got to have interstate highways. This concept of not on my land, not in my backyard, this NIMBY idea, yeah, it's scary to think about." But Burgum thinks the backlash against data centers may be less about the centers themselves than the economic and cultural change they represent. "If you think about all the fears we all have around AI, and it can be scary, and it's real, and there's so many things happening, the only physical manifestation of that, that people lash out at, is a physical data center, he said. "Like, 'I'm scared of AI. I don't know what's going to happen to my job, to my life, all sorts of different things.' There's one physical thing that has the shape and form of AI and it's a data center." Burgum also spoke about North Dakota's efforts to steer public dollars toward in-state investments, arguing for an expansive view of those efforts that includes, not just investing in companies in North Dakota, but creating opportunities for North Dakota-based investment managers. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban discuss the need for "proof of life" laws for politicians, the timing of Fargo Mayor Josh Boschee's resignation from the Legislature, and we responded to listener feedback. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Is North Dakota still open for business? That's a question we asked during an interview with Brooks Burgum, co-founder and CEO of Longwater, a private equity and alternative asset management firm. What prompts that question is what seems to be a growing, anti-development attitude among some political factionsin North Dakota. The state once marketed itself as an easy place to do business, but increasingly building things like transmission lines, pipelines, and data centers has become a fraught business. "Where would we be if no one built a railroad?" Burgum, who is the former governor's cousin, asked us. "We want to grow this country, we want to grow this state," he continued. "We've got to have pipelines. We've got to have railroads. We've got to have interstate highways. This concept of not on my land, not in my backyard, this NIMBY idea, yeah, it's scary to think about." But Burgum thinks the backlash against data centers may be less about the centers themselves than the economic and cultural change they represent. "If you think about all the fears we all have around AI, and it can be scary, and it's real, and there's so many things happening, the only physical manifestation of that, that people lash out at, is a physical data center, he said. "Like, 'I'm scared of AI. I don't know what's going to happen to my job, to my life, all sorts of different things.' There's one physical thing that has the shape and form of AI and it's a data center." Burgum also spoke about North Dakota's efforts to steer public dollars toward in-state investments, arguing for an expansive view of those efforts that includes, not just investing in companies in North Dakota, but creating opportunities for North Dakota-based investment managers. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban discuss the need for "proof of life" laws for politicians, the timing of Fargo Mayor Josh Boschee's resignation from the Legislature, and we responded to listener feedback. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

In this week's episode, our hosts speak with Texas Tribune reporters Uriel J. García and Colleen DeGuzman about the unanswered questions and incoming investigations in response to the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.

On their latest political podcast, Milfred and Hands talk ICE, affordability and ERs with Democratic candidate for governor Sara Rodriguez. She's Wisconsin's lieutenant governor, a former state lawmaker and emergency room nurse who has been surging in the race for the Democratic nomination. She won a straw poll at the party's convention and earned endorsements from two former opponents in Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. leader Missy Hughes. The wife of a first-generation Mexican immigrant, Rodriguez wants to step up opposition to masked federal agents conducting raids in Wisconsin. She also touts her record of winning a seat in the Legislature from conservative-leaning Waukesha County. Rodriguez could become the consensus candidate, especially if the field of five main challengers for the Democratic nomination thins further. “I’ve always been on the front lines," Rodriguez says. "I have always run to the problem."

Close to two hundred years ago, people from all over the world flocked to California's rivers in search of gold. This year, they're back at it, hoping that with the price of gold trending upward in the last year or so, they might just get lucky. But is it really that easy? Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED A bill advancing in the state Legislature would let insurance companies track how you drive, in exchange for a possible discount on your premium. Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7/10/26, Co-Host-Josh Silver MTA President, about to become rank & file member, Max Page: a touching, feel-good story -- the Tartan Army, school buses, the World Cup, a magnificent contribution, & Good Morning America; MTA accomplishments during his Presidency & his return to UMass; the labor movement's recent past and immediate future. Community Action's Lev Ben-Ezra (Exec Dir) & Lisa LaPierre (Dir, Youth & Workforce Dev): a win-win-win for the community—well-paying jobs, free training while providing good and safe housing. Political Gold with Josh Silver & his guest Joe Lyman: audit the legislature, the governor & the courts—really? Boston Globe investigations, transparency & public record requests. Touches a nerve. Josh Silver on Maine's U.S. Senate race—who will replace Graham Platner what qualities should the candidate have? ArtBeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & Kiah Tinkham of Waterway Arts in Turners Falls: “Please Touch”— we tell you why.

What does it take to cement a region as a premier culinary destination? This week, Justin and Emily sit down for an exclusive interview exploring the upcoming Traverse City Food & Wine Festival, unpacking the community partnerships and creative culinary forces driving northern Michigan's booming tourism scene.Plus, a marathon overnight session in Lansing results in a massive $75.2 billion state budget—we're breaking down what a split Legislature's eleventh-hour deal means for local operators. We also dive into new data on how shifting American social habits are fast-tracking emerging trends in dining and look at the unexpected sporting event fueling late-night traffic surges for local bars. Bid on Michigan Hospitality Foundation auction here: https://www.mihf.org/summerauction.htmlFind out more about the Traverse City Food & Wine Festival here: https://www.traversecity.com/food-wine/

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Shira Diner. Last time she was on the show, she explained why the bar advocates in Massachusetts stopped accepting new cases. This time, she joins to explain how the Legislature and Judiciary responded and what comes next for the state.     Guest: Shira Diner, Professor of Law, Boston University   Resource:   Read the Case Here   https://statecourtreport.org/case-tracker/committee-public-counsel-services-v-middlesex-and-suffolk-county-district-courts   Updated Coverage https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-03-17/following-high-court-ruling-mass-bar-advocates-turn-to-lobbying-lawmakers https://www.masslive.com/news/2026/05/defense-lawyers-sue-over-mass-law-they-say-stops-them-from-fighting-for-better-pay.html https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/04/04/massachusetts-continues-to-address-bar-advocate-shortage-with-incentive-plan/   Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****  

On this week's "Capitol Chats," physical therapist and GOP candidate for the 5th SD Mike Roberts discusses how he wants to improve health care, reduce the state's property tax burden, and how to pay for increasing police staffing and prison reforms. 

7/9/26, Co-Host- Andy Bukowski Karen Giuliano, UMass Prof & Co-Director of the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation: her just-published break-through study at UMass that will make hospitals safer and improve patient care, using eye-tracking technology. Rep Aaron Saunders: the ayes have it --approved by the legislature --money for UMass & research, the Bright Act, the Protect Act, and closing a criminal law loophole of sexual exploitation. Helen Kahn, Farmers Market Manager for Grow Food Northampton – a feast for your eyes --the Tuesday Market, this week's produce, HIP & your Bicycle Benefit. All That Jazz with N'hmptn Jazz festival Pres Ruth Griggs & extraordinary musicians Ed Brainerd (trumpet, flugelhorn & piano) & Ethel Lee (vocals) – listen to this!

Two more storm-related deaths are confirmed following last week's flooding, new details regarding Sen. McConnell, state lawmakers discuss NIL, the state's two largest cities see crime rates drop, and items belonging to Colonel Harland Sanders will soon be up for auction.

The Legislature created the Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) program in 1961 to promote economic development. Local governments issue IRBs to fund business facilities with the goals of growing the local economy and increasing property tax revenue. Businesses that use IRBs can get a 10-year property tax exemption (IRBX). During 2010-2024, local governments issued about $18.3 billion in industrial revenue bonds and exempted about $1.1 billion in related property taxes, most of which would've likely gone to school districts and local governments. Statute requires local governments to prepare cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) if they want to offer IRBXs but provides limited guidance on their quality. We compared foregone property tax revenue estimates in 23 CBAs to the actual foregone property taxes reported by county appraisers. The CBA estimates differed greatly from county appraiser amounts (between 94% lower and 6,065% higher). Some CBAs underestimated completed project values, some overestimated how much investment would translate into appraised value, and some used erroneous figures and assumptions when estimating property taxes.Finally, we identified 3 subsidiaries of foreign businesses that received $282 million in IRB funds in 2024.

This episode is presented by Create A Video – Andrew Dunn is the publisher of Longleaf Politics and a contributing columnist to The Charlotte Observer. We discussed the potential for Major League Baseball in Raleigh as well as Andrew's book about Pat McCrory. Plus, the North Carolina legislature looks to ban foreign adversaries from buying farmland within 50 miles of military installations.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-kaliner-show--6946691/support.Subscribe to the podcast My preferred podcast platform: SpreakerAll the links to Pete's Prep are free!Get exclusive content here!Media Bias Check: GroundNews promo code!Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com  

Inside the Texas Democrats' convention in a rare hopeful year for party leadership

Checks on executive power have become fully unbalanced, with boundaries and guardrails overrun daily. Congressional leadership unwilling to challenge a president of their own party and an enabling Court have thus far proven largely uninterested in reining in a president who openly defies constitutional and legal constraints on his power. A recent panel at ACS's 2026 National Convention tackles the question of what can be done now to curb executive power and rebalance our branches of federal government?Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.orgHost: Lindsay Langholz, Vice President of Policy and ProgramGuest: Vanita Gupta, Director of the Center for Law and Public Trust, NYU LawGuest: Harold Hongju Koh, Sterling Professor of International Law, Yale Law SchoolGuest: Barbara McQuade, Professor from Practice, University of Michigan Law SchoolGuest: Hon. Jamie Raskin, Member, U.S. House of Representatives for the 8th District of MarylandGuest: Donald Sherman, President and Chief Executive Officer, CREWLink:  Videos of all 2026 National Convention Panel Conversations Coming SoonVisit the Podcast Website: Broken Law PodcastEmail the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.orgFollow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube-----------------Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn't.-----------------Production House: Flint Stone MediaCopyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

Lawmakers hear from teachers who say their students want more instruction from teachers and less from tech, a major AI company now has a stake in a Kentucky data center, why the FBI arrested a former UK basketball player, and a campaign focused on reducing the use of plastic.

This episode is presented by Create A Video – AP Dillon is a reporter for the North State Journal. Read her reporting at NSJonline.com. She publishes a Substack.com newsletter called More To The Story. We chatted about the US Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes and the North Carolina General Assembly overriding four of Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes. And while Democrats complain that the Republican legislature is engaing in "culture war politics," the GOP legislation is always in response to transgressions by the political left.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-kaliner-show--6946691/support.Subscribe to the podcast My preferred podcast platform: SpreakerAll the links to Pete's Prep are free!Get exclusive content here!Media Bias Check: GroundNews promo code!Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com  

7/6/26, Co-Host Megan Zinn Sen. Jo Comerford: Reading Frederick Douglass Together, recent Supreme Court decisions, the legislature's approval of bonds for our future. Writers Block -- Megan Zinn interviews Cara Benson on “An Armsfull of Birds: A Personal Field Guide to Love, Loss, and Commitment” -- at Broadside Bookshop this Wednesday. Dr. Xiomara Herman, Amherst, Pelham & Amherst Regional School Superintendent: why is she leaving at the end of this school year? Mayors Monday w/ Northampton's Gina Louise Sciarra: the July 4 Naturalization Ceremony, the Declaration of Independence this Wednesday at Memorial Hall, and the FACT Force (Fiscal Assessment Community Taskforce) – the override in the City's future.

We're continuing to dig through the mountain of content we accumulated during the Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi, and up next are the full remarks from Friday from Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa.We'll remind you that Gina won the primary outright with nearly 60 percent of the vote in a crowded field, has been a longtime champion of public schools and thus one of the Legislature's fiercest opponents of private school vouchers, is centering her campaign on schools as well as corporate accountability, and, despite a continuing familiarity gap and Governor Greg Abbott's 100 million dollar war chest, is lately trailing the Governor by a very bridgeable six percentage points in recent polling.Learn more about Gina Hinojosa and her campaign at https://ginafortexas.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how to support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Texas politics have become deeply engaged in the fight over the future of college football. We discuss the saga of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, the influence of megadonor Cody Campbell and U.S. Ted Cruz's proposed fix.

Today from SDPB - a new AAA survey previews the upcoming 4th of July travel weekend, bills passed by Legislature take effect and more.

DeWine's change in position seems little more than symbolic. Republican leaders in the Legislature support the death penalty. There is no movement ready to put it on the ballot.

We kick things off with the three things! Utah voters sent shockwaves through the Legislature — Senate President Stuart Adams conceded after trailing challenger Stephanie Hollist, losing his seat. Plus, a lethal rabbit virus returns to Utah for the first time since 2022. We go behind the scenes of wildfire management with North Tooele Fire Department PIO, Jon Smith. Then, Utah Division of Air Quality Director Bryce Bird joins us as Salt Lake City hits #1 worst air quality in the U.S. — what can you actually do to protect yourself and your family? Also, is office attire too casual now? Sunscreen misinformation is spreading on TikTok. And — what is an "otrovert"?   KSL Brightside streams live weekdays 12–3 PM. YouTube-exclusive live stream from 12–1 PM | Radio + YouTube from 1–3 PM.   Follow KSL Brightside on social media! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KSLBrightside Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KSLBrightside Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KSL_Brightside TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ksl.brightside  

With the midterms fast approaching, Texas' top elections administrator is out the door. Who will be next - and what awaits them in the role?

Since retaking office, the Trump Administration has put the legal profession in the crosshairs through executive orders, administrative rules, and public pressure campaigns targeting lawyers, law firms, and judges. In a recent wave of attacks, the Administration has set its sights on law schools and law students. Amanda Fuchs Miller joins Ashley Erickson to discuss the various levers of federal power being pulled by the Administration to target legal education and what can be done about it.Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.orgHost: Ashley Erickson, Senior Director of Network AdvancementGuest: Amanda Fuchs Miller, President, Seventh Street StrategiesLink:  An Under the Radar Attempt to Politicize Federal Funding Needs Your Input, by Amanda Fuchs MillerLink: Notice and Comment Project, ACSVisit the Podcast Website: Broken Law PodcastEmail the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.orgFollow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube-----------------Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn't.-----------------Production House: Flint Stone MediaCopyright of American Constitution Society 2025.