Best Legislative Branch Podcasts (2025)

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Necessary & Proper Episode 99: Defining Antisemitism: A Debate on Free Speech and Civil Rights 1:00:58

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5h ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Congress is currently debating the Antisemitism Awareness Act. This proposed legislation aims to provide a clear definition of antisemitism for use in enforcing existing civil rights laws. Supporters argue that the bill is a crucial tool for combating rising antisemitism by filling a gap in current legal definitions. Opponents, however, contend tha…

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Necessary & Proper Episode 100: Legislative or Executive? The Curious Case of the Library of Congress 1:01:25

5h ago1:01:25

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The recent dismissal of the Librarian of Congress and the Register of Copyrights by President Trump raises fundamental questions about the scope of the President’s removal authority and the constitutional status of these offices. Do these officials exercise executive power such that they must be removable at will? Or has Congress validly rest…

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Necessary & Proper Episode 98: Courthouse Steps Decision: Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research 44:57

9d ago44:57

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has traditionally regulated interstate and international communications and, as part of that, maintained a universal service fund that requires telecommunications carriers to contribute quarterly based on their revenues. In order to calculate these contribution amounts, the FCC contracts the help of the U…

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Necessary & Proper Episode 95: DOGE and the Future of the Federal Workforce 1:14:50

9d ago1:14:50

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On January 20th, 2025, President Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by executive order. DOGE and its head, Elon Musk, hope to reduce the size and inefficiencies of the administrative state and return the federal bureaucracy to being accountable to the President and, ultimately, the people. While the scope and extent of…

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Necessary & Proper Episode 97: Checks and Balances: Deregulation Based on Supreme Court Rulings 1:06:05

9d ago1:06:05

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Among the points emphasized by the second Trump administration has been a major push for deregulation. President Trump has directed that there must be ten deregulatory actions for every one regulatory one, and put forward Presidential Memoranda and Executive Orders to that end. As some have noted, however, such deregulation can take significant tim…

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Necessary & Proper Episode 96: The Art of Deregulation: Executive Orders and Limited Government 1:14:49

9d ago1:14:49

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Since taking office on January 20, 2025, President Trump has emphasized deregulation. Deregulatory efforts have focused both on undoing Biden-era policies in areas of interest (environmental regulation, SOGI issues, immigration, etc.) and on a broader effort to limit the scope of administrative power more broadly. In light of these strong changes, …

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Necessary & Proper Episode 94: The End of Humphrey’s Executor? 1:27:55

9d ago1:27:55

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Does the President control independent agencies? This panel will examine the Trump administration’s efforts to reassert presidential control over independent federal agencies, considering the constitutional, legal, and practical implications of such actions. Central to the discussion will be Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which upheld the in…

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Necessary & Proper Episode 93: Executive Orders: Faithful Execution or Legislating from the Oval Office? 1:01:04

9d ago1:01:04

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Presidents have used executive orders to direct the executive branch since the founding, but over the years the modern Presidency has drastically expanded its use of executive orders. Executive Orders have always been an important means of moving the Executive Branch into alignment with the President’s interpretation of the law consistent with his …

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Necessary & Proper Episode 92: Can the Federal Government Ban At-Home Distilling? 59:25

9d ago59:25

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After the U.S. Supreme Court in Morrison v. Olson (1988) and U.S. v. Lopez (1995) held two federal statutes were unconstitutional as those statutes were beyond the power of Congress to enact, some claimed it was the dawn of a new federalism revolution. However, such challenges to federal power did not seem to continue. Now, a new case McNutt v. DOJ…

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Necessary & Proper Episode 91: Antitrust and FTC Reform in the New Congress 1:03:33

9d ago1:03:33

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In 2025, antitrust and consumer protection remain hot topics in the legal world as a new Congress and Administration begin. Join this FedSoc Forum as we discuss possible antitrust and Federal Trade Commission reforms in the 119th Congress. Featuring: Adam Cella, Chief Counsel for the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, House Com…

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Necessary & Proper Episode 90: Nondelegation Doctrine Adds Another Good Year? 1:03:33

9d ago1:03:33

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For many years, legal scholars have declared that the nondelegation doctrine is dead. Professor Cass Sunstein once quipped that the nondelegation doctrine had only “one good year” and more than 200 “bad ones.” But that has changed recently. In 2024, the en banc Fifth Circuit held that the Federal Communications Commision&rsq…

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Why We Underestimate Our Lifespan: Cognitive Biases and Social Security Decisions 7:28

9d ago7:28

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In this episode, Trevor Lawson concludes the mini-series on cognitive biases by examining how they influence the decision of when to claim Social Security benefits, often leading individuals to underestimate their life expectancy. Drawing on an article by Rick Kahler, Trevor discusses how the availability heuristic, shaped by immediate examples lik…

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Does Congress’s Power to Declare War Mean Anything? (With Gary Schmitt) 28:11

16d ago28:11

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The topic of this episode is, “Does Congress's power to declare war mean anything?” In June of 2025, President Donald J. Trump directed US aircraft to drop 30,000 pound bombs on nuclear facilities in Iran. Some legislators in Congress and some media complained that this was a violation of the US Constitution. They note that Article I, Section 8 dec…

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The "I Knew It All Along" Effect: Understanding Hindsight Bias in Investing 8:46

23d ago8:46

8:46

In this episode, Trevor Lawson resumes the series on cognitive biases, focusing on hindsight bias. He defines it as a psychological phenomenon where individuals believe they accurately predicted an event after it occurred, often leading to overconfidence. Trevor shares a personal anecdote about Meta stock to illustrate how this bias can affect inve…

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Bad Faith President 33:24

28d ago33:24

33:24

The United States generally does not allow a standing army to be used against civilians. But Trump has been exploiting an exception to keep troops in Los Angeles to protect ICE agents, with terrifying implications. Bad Faith PresidentBy Elizabeth Joh

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The Big, Beautiful Bill: Unpacking Trump's Latest Tax and Spending Legislation 15:37

1M ago15:37

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In this timely episode, Trevor Lawson interrupts the cognitive biases series to dive into "The Big, Beautiful Bill," a sweeping piece of legislation under the Trump administration. Drawing from a CNBC article, Trevor breaks down the key provisions and their potential impact on personal finances. He discusses the permanency of the 2017 tax cuts, inc…

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Overcoming Recency Bias in Your Investment Decisions 8:59

1M ago8:59

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In this episode, Trevor Lawson delves into recency bias, a cognitive bias where individuals overemphasize recent experiences, even if they aren't the most relevant. He provides relatable examples, such as the perception of current mortgage rates as astronomically high due to recent historical lows , and the tendency to invest heavily in sectors tha…

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Why Are Legislators on Social Media? (with Annelise Russell) 27:17

2M ago27:17

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The topic of this episode is, Why are legislators on social media?” We’ve all seen it, and if you haven’t, well, you will soon enough. Social media posts by members of Congress. They are on Facebook, X.com (what used to be called Twitter), Bluesky, and the like. The average voter may be forgiven for wondering, “Why are these lawmakers hanging out o…

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Beware High Watermark Thinking: Understanding Cognitive Biases in Investing 8:12

2M ago8:12

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In this episode, Trevor Lawson begins a multi-part series on cognitive biases, focusing on how they impact investment decisions. Drawing from an article by Signature Investment Advisors, Trevor introduces "high watermark thinking," where investors use their portfolio's highest value as a mental reference point, making market dips feel like losses e…

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The Investor's Triangle: Balancing Growth, Liquidity, and Safety 5:08

2M ago5:08

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In this episode, host Trevor Lawson introduces "The Investor's Triangle," a framework for understanding different investment products. He explains that investments can offer two of three key benefits: liquidity, growth, and safety, but never all three simultaneously. Trevor illustrates this concept with examples like stocks, which provide growth an…

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Planning for Your Future: A Look into Continuing Care Retirement Communities 11:16

2M ago11:16

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In this episode, host Trevor Lawson rounds out the series on long-term care planning by discussing Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), also known as "life plan communities." Trevor explains what CCRCs are, why they are growing in popularity, and provides 10 key questions to consider when touring a facility, such as financial strength, s…

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The Return of Con Law 57:34

2M ago57:34

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We heard you. The chorus of voices asking “where is Con Law? Where is Professor Elizabeth Joh to guide us through this madness? We need it now more than ever!” Well, here it is. We’re back with a special extra-long episode about Trump’s perverted use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport people without due process and how judges are trying to hold the…

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Paying for Long-Term Care: Smart Strategies to Protect Your Retirement 11:11

2M ago11:11

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In the final installment of this three-part series on long-term care, host Trevor Lawson dives into the practical side of planning: how to pay for it. From understanding the limitations of Medicare and Medicaid to evaluating self-funding, long-term care insurance, and hybrid solutions, this episode offers a clear breakdown of your options. Learn ho…

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Rethinking Polling: AI, Accuracy, and Election Predictions 24:23

3M ago24:23

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I interviewed Kyle Lovelace of Eyesover Technologies on how AI is revolutionizing political polling. We discussed declining accuracy in traditional methods and how AI-driven sentiment analysis offers real-time, cost-effective insights. #WaterCoolerPolitics #EyesoverTechnologies #AI #Polling #Politics #ChrisArps #TechInPolitics…

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Is Congress Getting Anything Done? (with Gabe Fleisher) 28:12

3M ago28:12

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The topic of this episode is, “Is Congress getting anything done?” The 119th Congress convened in early January. Months have gone by, and there are lots of things happening in Washington, DC. But is it all being done by President Donald J. Trump? Is Congress itself doing anything? Gabe Fleisher is here to help us answer that latter question. He is …

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Long-Term Care Expenses: What to Expect and How to Plan 6:44

3M ago6:44

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How much will long-term care really cost—and how can you prepare for it? In part two of his long-term care planning series, host Trevor Lawson breaks down the rising costs of long-term care using data from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey. From in-home care to assisted living and nursing facilities, Trevor walks through current national averages an…

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Healing the Soul of a Nation: Judy Elias Isaacson on Veterans, Faith, and Black-Jewish Relations 53:37

3M ago53:37

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On this episode of Water Cooler Politics, I spoke with Judy Isaacson Elias, founder of the Heroes to Heroes Foundation, about rising anti-Semitism, shifting political loyalties, and healing our veterans. Judy criticized Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer for ignoring anti-Semitism and she highlighted the Democratic Partys drift away from Israel.…

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What Is Long-Term Care and Why is It Important? 9:53

3M ago9:53

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What exactly is long-term care—and why should it be a critical part of your retirement plan? In this first episode of a special three-part series, host Trevor Lawson breaks down the essentials of long-term care using insights from Genworth’s educational resources. Trevor explains what qualifies as long-term care, who it impacts, why it’s increasing…

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Living Inheritance: Pros, Cons, and What to Consider 10:36

3M ago10:36

10:36

Should you give your children part of their inheritance while you’re still alive? In this episode of Retirement With/On Purpose, host Trevor Lawson explores the concept of a living inheritance—what it means, how it works, and whether it might be right for your family. Drawing from an article, Pros and Cons of a Living Inheritance by Randy Fox, and …

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Benjamin Watson: NFL Champion, Pro-Life Advocate, and Speaking Truth in a Divided Culture 15:19

3M ago15:19

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In this powerful episode, Chris Arps sits down with Super Bowl champion and former NFL star Benjamin Watson for a wide-ranging conversation on football, faith, and the fight for life. We start with Benjamins journey from being a first-round NFL draft pick to his thoughts on why Shedeur Sanders may have dropped to the fifth round in this years NFL D…

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5 Estate Planning Steps to Make Life Easier for Your Heirs 11:58

3M ago11:58

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What can you do now to make your estate plan simpler—and easier—for your heirs to manage later? In this episode of Retirement With/On Purpose, host Trevor Lawson shares five practical estate planning tips inspired by a recent Wall Street Journal article. From keeping documents updated and addressing digital assets, to assigning sentimental personal…

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Special Book Edition: Congressional Deliberation: Major Debates, Speeches, and Writings, 1774-2023 (with Jordan Cash) 27:40

4M ago27:40

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The topic of this episode is a recent book that is titled, Congressional Deliberation: Major Debates, Speeches, and Writings 1774-2023 (Hackett 2024). The book is edited by Jordan T. Cash, a professor at James Madison College at Michigan State University, and by Kevin J. Burns, a professor at Benedictine College. As the book’s title indicates, its …

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6 Ways a Financial Advisor Can Add Value to Your Retirement 14:49

4M ago14:49

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Is working with a financial advisor really worth it if they’re not “beating the market”? In this episode of Retirement With/On Purpose, host Trevor Lawson reframes the true value of a financial advisor—beyond just portfolio performance. Drawing from Vanguard’s Advisor Alpha framework, Trevor breaks down six key ways advisors can add measurable valu…

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Episode 31: Civic Engagement & Give NOLA 54:32

4M ago54:32

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Discover how neighborhood engagement is crucial for civic life in New Orleans. With a rich history of grassroots activism, organizations are needed to unite diverse communities and amplify their voices in decision-making. By embracing innovative strategies for participation, we can foster stronger, more equitable communities. Learn more about empow…

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Should I Max Out My 401(k)? A Fresh Look at an Old Rule 13:53

4M ago13:53

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Should you really be maxing out your 401(k)? In this episode of Retirement With/On Purpose, host Trevor Lawson challenges one of the most common pieces of retirement advice. Drawing insights from a compelling article by Nick Maggiulli, Trevor explores the pros and cons of maxing out your 401(k)—including fees, limited flexibility, and the long-term…

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The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying—And How to Avoid Them in Retirement 10:48

4M ago10:48

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What do people regret most at the end of their lives, and how can you avoid those regrets in retirement? In this reflective episode of Retirement With/On Purpose, host Trevor Lawson explores the five most common regrets of the dying, drawn from the experiences of palliative care nurse and author Bronnie Ware. Trevor shares practical insights for re…

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Episode 30: Testimony: Over 40 bullets can't stop the call on my life 1:10:03

4M ago1:10:03

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I let it all out… Testimony Tuesday! Watch your circle. Forgive and let God do it! 40 shots can’t stop the call on my life! Speak up in your spheres of influence - New Orleans deserves better and we will deliver better together! Like Jehu asked, who is with me? Testimony: I am only alive because of the intervention of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit …

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The Retirement Spending Gap: How to Start Enjoying Your Savings 13:42

4M ago13:42

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Why is it so hard to start spending your retirement savings—even when you know you’ve saved enough? In this episode of Retirement With/On Purpose, host Trevor Lawson explores the emotional and psychological hurdles many retirees face when shifting from saving to spending. Inspired by an article from Morningstar’s Christine Benz, Trevor unpacks the …

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How Much Should I Spend on Vacation? 10:46

5M ago10:46

10:46

How much should you really spend on vacation in retirement—and how do you balance fun with financial responsibility? In this episode of Retirement With/On Purpose, host Trevor Lawson explores smart vacation spending strategies, just in time for summer planning. Drawing from expert advice and personal insights, Trevor shares guidelines like the 5–10…

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What Does a Member of the House of Representatives Do All Day? (with Fmr. Rep. Derek Kilmer) 29:29

5M ago29:29

29:29

The topic of this episode is, “What does a member of the House of Representatives do all day?” It is not easy for the average voter to imagine how a member of Congress spends each day. We see images of them standing in the ornate chamber, talking with voters, and there’s no shortage of videos of them delivering speeches or denunciations of presiden…

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Episode 28: Engagement can root out corruption: Bill of Rights 1:02:38

5M ago1:02:38

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Unfortunately, the state of New Orleans is no April Fools' joke! The city is past the tipping point and it's going to take all hands on deck to right this ship! I was scouring the news this week and found two articles, one that encouraged me and one that floored me. One is by the Tulane Hullabaloo and one is by WWNO respectively. The Tulane article…