x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Civil Discourse

Nia Rodgers and Dr. John Aughenbaugh

This podcast uses government documents to illuminate the workings of the American government, and offer context around the effects of government agencies in your everyday life.

government

All Episodes

50:17

SCOTUS Eras: Taney Court

Civil Discourse ·

2025/10/31

Nia and Aughie talk about the fifth U.S. Supreme Court's Chief Justice, Roger Brooke Taney. Taney's Court lasted from 1836 - 1864, notably presiding over the Dred Scott case as well as cases that further defined the Commerce Clause and set into stone the idea that the Court should consider the Political Question Doctrine when taking a case.

en

44:30

Can He Do That? Demolish the East Wing

Civil Discourse ·

2025/10/28

Aughie and Nia discuss the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a new ballroom.

en

65:27

SCOTUS Eras Marshall Court part 2

Civil Discourse ·

2025/10/24

Aughie and Nia explore the contributions and impact of the Marshall Court. In part two, they discuss the pivotal cases of the SCOTUS in this era, as well as the influence of Marshall on the institution of the Court.

en

40:02

Can He Do That? Remove O'Donnell's Citizenship

Civil Discourse ·

2025/10/20

In this episode, Aughie and Nia explore the question of whether Donald Trump can remove Rosie' O'Donnell's American citizenship.

en

51:22

SCOTUS Eras Marshall Court part 1

Civil Discourse ·

2025/10/17

Aughie and Nia explore the contributions and impact of the Marshall Court. In part one, they discuss Chief Justice John Marshall's personal history and the formalizing of the U.S. Supreme Court rules under his leadership.

en

47:11

SCOTUS Eras In the Beginning

Civil Discourse ·

2025/10/10

In a new series, Aughie and Nia are exploring the United States Supreme Court Eras, usually defined by the name of the Chief Justice of the era. In this first episode the first eleven years of the Court (Chiefs Jay, Rutledge, and Ellsworth) are covered as a group, since there really wasn't a lot accomplished in this period.

en

39:45

Can He Do That? Firing an Independent Regulator

Civil Discourse ·

2025/10/06

Aughie and Nia discuss the cases that support the SCOTUS decision to allow the firing of Lisa Slaughter to stand. Slaughter is a member of an independent regulatory agency.

en

39:07

Can He Do That? Fire a Federal Reserve Governor

Civil Discourse ·

2025/10/06

Aughie and Nia discuss the issues at stake when President Trump called for the firing of Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve Board Governor. SCOTUS will take up this issue in January of 2026.

en

35:03

Can He Do That? Renaming the Defense Department

Civil Discourse ·

2025/09/22

Nia and Aughie discuss the legal and Constitutional answers to the question: Can President Trump rename the Department of Defense?

en

38:38

Can He Do That? Sinking Venezuelan Boats

Civil Discourse ·

2025/09/22

Aughie and Nia discuss the legal and Constitutional answers to the question: Can President Trump order the destruction of Venezuelan boats?

en

31:42

Federalist 78

Civil Discourse ·

2025/09/19

Aughie and Nia discuss the final Federalist Paper in this series, number 78. In this Federalist Paper, Alexander Hamilton tackles the appointment of judges and justices in the Judicial Branch of the proposed government. Brutus (likely Robert Yates) responds in Brutus papers 11, 12, and 15.

en

39:12

Federalist 68

Civil Discourse ·

2025/09/12

Nia and Aughie discuss Federalist Paper 68, the election of the President of the United States. Alexander Hamilton lays out the electoral college in Federalist 68. The response, Cato 4, was likely written by George Clinton.

en

40:02

Federalist 51

Civil Discourse ·

2025/09/05

Aughie and Nia discuss Federalist Paper 51, which lays out checks and balances in the proposed federal government. James Madison is the author of Federalist 51. Centinel 1, by Samuel Bryan, responds.

en

65:41

SoS 2025: The 1st Set of Cases

Civil Discourse ·

2025/07/18

Nia and Aughie discuss the following case rulings: Oklahoma Statewide Charter Board v. Drummond, Smith & Wesson Brands v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Commission, Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, and Martin v. United States.

en

59:26

SoS 2025: Wrapping It Up

Civil Discourse ·

2025/07/18

Aughie gives Nia a run-down on all the statistics of the most recent SCOTUS session; who talked the most and least, who wrote the most and least, who agreed the most and least, and other statistics and observations.

en

64:16

SoS 2025: The 3rd Set of Cases

Civil Discourse ·

2025/07/18

Nia and Aughie discuss the following case rulings: Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, Mahmoud v. Taylor, and Trump v CASA.

en

61:45

SoS 2025: JRob's Tough Year

Civil Discourse ·

2025/07/18

Aughie and Nia explore the rather difficult year Chief Justice John Roberts has had in the keeping the SCOTUS on track and productive.

en

63:07

SoS 2025: The 2nd Set of Cases

Civil Discourse ·

2025/07/18

Aughie and Nia discuss the following case rulings: United States v. Skrmetti, Diamond Alternative Energy v. EPA, Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, and Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers' Research.

en

61:07

SoS 2025: Looking Forward

Civil Discourse ·

2025/07/18

Aughie gives listeners a preview of some of the cases that have been accepted for adjudication in the next SCOTUS term, including: Louisiana v. Calais, Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, Hamm v. Smith, Elingburg v. U.S., Chiles v. Salazar, National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, Urias-Orellana v. Bondi, and a combination of two cases, Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.J.P.

en

49:57

In the News: Trump and the National Guard

Civil Discourse ·

2025/06/16

Aughie and Nia discuss the legal and Constitutional guidance around Presidents and their deployment of the National Guard to a state or city.

en

295 results

Similar Podcasts

The Fly

Georgetown"s Institute of Politics and...

THE CONSTITUTION STUDY

Paul Engel

The DSR Daily

The DSR Network

The Lawfare Podcast

The Lawfare Institute

Fora do Baralho

Rádio Observador