Transportation and infrastructure are massive (literally) undertakings here in the United States. So what does it mean to oversee it all? What is the Secretary of Transportation actually in charge of and what's going on with our roads, bridges, airports, etc.? We spoke with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to find out. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newslet...
Jan 07, 2025•24 min
How do we mourn our presidents and former presidents? Where did all those very public rituals come from? And how much input does a president have in their own post-death ceremonies? We break down the history and mystery of presidential funerals with Lindsay Chervinsky and Matthew Costello . This episode of Civics 101 was produced by senior producer Christina Phillps and mixed by Rebecca Lavoie. It was hosted by Nick Capodice and Hannah McCarthy. Special thanks to Jacqui Fulton. CLICK HERE TO DON...
Dec 31, 2024•42 min
In our latest edition of Holiday Trivia, a rundown of some of the quirky food, drinks, and celebratory ephemera at the White House during the most wonderful time of the year. Have an opinion on the pronunciation of "praline?" Send us an email! CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more! To see Civics 101 in book form, check ou...
Dec 24, 2024•43 min
President-elect Donald Trump has said, "the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff, and it’s my favorite word." So what are they? Why might the United States raise or lower a tariff on goods from another country? How has America used tariffs throughout our history? And how might Donald Trump's proposed tariffs affect the cost of goods in the US? Taking us through tariffs is Dr. Shannon O'Neil, senior vice president and director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. CLICK HERE ...
Dec 17, 2024•26 min
Authoritarianism and autocracies take many forms. So how do you know it when you see it? Our guide to the erosion of choice, rights, truth and power is Anne Applebaum , author of several books including, most recently, Autocracy, Inc.. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more! To see Civics 101 in book form, check out A User...
Dec 10, 2024•29 min
Former HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius talks about the powers - and limits - of the role in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump's pick of RFK Jr. for the role. This episode was brought to us by the podcast Tradeoffs , hosted by former NHPR health reporter Dan Gorenstein. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more! To see ...
Dec 03, 2024•23 min
In 1906, the Supreme Court stayed a man's execution. That same day, his town murdered him. Then SCOTUS held it's first and only criminal trial for those who had allowed it to happen. This is the story of a wrongful conviction that was only the beginning of injustice and the students who learned that story in June of 2024. It's also the story of what happens when you realize your government is closer than you think. Click here learn more about the Supreme Court Historical Society's Hometown progr...
Nov 26, 2024•44 min
Whenever there's an incoming administration, there's a big to-do about Cabinet nominations. So what does The Cabinet DO? How has it evolved since Washington's administration? What is the process for appointing someone to the cabinet? And finally, how could a president appoint someone without approval from the Senate? Taking us through all the cabinetry is Dan Cassino , professor of government and politics at Farleigh Dickinson University. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TO...
Nov 19, 2024•33 min
President Elect Donald Trump has said he won't be a dictator "except for day one." We take a look at all of the "day one" promises he's made over the course of his campaign and explain how he might get them done. Or not. For a sense of how many times Donald Trump made these promises, check out the Washington Post's data here . Click HERE to buy tickets for NHPR's Holiday Raffle! NHPR’s Holiday Raffle is open to any United States resident 18 years or older in any state where the Raffle is not pro...
Nov 12, 2024•20 min
In 2018, we did an episode on Presidential Transitions. Now that we have had an election, we decided to revisit it. There are nearly 4,000 positions that a president appoints after their inauguration. How do they do it? How long does it take? And why has Donald Trump repeatedly refused to sign the "memoranda of understanding" regarding the transition from the U.S. General Services Administration? Our guest is Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service , which runs the Cen...
Nov 08, 2024•23 min
You voted for president. So what happens to your ballot next? This episode covers EVERYTHING that happens to ensure your vote is verified, all the way up to the official counting of electoral votes in Congress. Our guests are journalist Jessica Huseman and Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller . CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational material...
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 6 min
A story about a former Capitol Police officer who's life has been shaped by the events of January 6th. Emilia's Thing was produced by the Document team at NHPR. Click here for more . CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more! To see Civics 101 in book form, check out A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works by Hannah Mc...
Oct 31, 2024•53 min
The United States spends more than any other country on healthcare. And, unfortunately, that's just about the only place we come in first. Today we learn about the creation and maintenance of our unique public/private system with Sue Tolleson-Rinehart, Professor Emeritus at UNC, and Amélie Quesnel-Vallée, Canada Research Chair in Policies and Health Inequalities at McGill University. They break down how our system measures up to other wealthy nations; in cost to its citizens, efficacy, taxation,...
Oct 29, 2024•33 min
The Smithsonian is the world's largest research institution, but much of it is out of public sight. And one particular kind of collection is part of a growing debate over where ethical lines and scientific discovery should be drawn. This week, we present the first part of a special series from our colleagues at Outside/In. You can listen to the rest of the series here, or get Outside/In wherever listen to podcasts. You can support our journalism by making a donation to our show ! Thanks so much....
Oct 22, 2024•33 min
Corruption in politics is a trope that's been around ever since we had politics. And it can feel inevitable. Regardless of anticorruption legislation and executive orders, it seems like it will never go away. David Sirota, editor in chief of The Lever and host of the podcast Master Plan , argues the opposite. Today on Civics 101 we learn about what corruption is, how it influences (or doesn't influence) policy, and what needs to be done to eradicate it from our political system. CLICK HERE TO DO...
Oct 15, 2024•49 min
Whenever there's a big strike in the news, someone inevitably invokes the phrase "Taft-Hartely Act" when talking about whether or not the president should intervene. But what is Taft-Hartley? How did it come about? And what can it actually do? Nick chats with Erik Loomis , a professor at the University of Rhode Island and expert on all things labor-related. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the pod...
Oct 08, 2024•29 min
Why don't people "civically engage?" Because they're too busy! Politicians are busy! Or maybe...they don't care? In this special episode of Civics 101 recorded in front of a live audience, we hear from experts who break down what it means to participate in our democracy, how to break down barriers to participation, and how to be who you already are and make a VERY big difference. This episode was recorded at NHPR's Civics 101 Summit at Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about that eve...
Oct 01, 2024•51 min
What does it mean if a SCOTUS justice is a self-proclaimed "originalist?" When was the word first used in that context? And what are we missing about the framers when we look only upon the recent interpretation of their words in the court? Today our guide is Mackenzie Joy Brennan ; lawyer, media commentator, and author of the upcoming book The Original ‘Original Intent,’ Recovering the Lost Constitution of the Founders . Click here for more of Mackenzie's research on originalism, including Terry...
Sep 24, 2024•27 min
For more than two hundred years Americans have tried to tame the Mississippi River. And, for that entire time, the river has fought back. This week we present an episode of our sister podcast Outside/In . Journalist and author Boyce Upholt has spent dozens of nights camping along the Lower Mississippi and knows the river for what it is: both a water-moving machine and a supremely wild place. His recent book, “The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi River” tells the story of h...
Sep 17, 2024•24 min
Today, we bring you a special bonus - a SMACKDOWN episode of NPR's It's Been a Minute featuring our own hosts Nick and Hannah! IBAM host Brittany Luse has been taking this smackdown on the road to cities all across the country. Hear the other debates on the It's Been a Minute podcast. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more...
Sep 13, 2024•30 min
Today we discuss what a president is, what a president does, and what a president "should be." To quote Professor Amar, it can be hard to find someone to fill those shoes because they were designed for Washington's feet. Our guests are Akhil Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, and Andy Lipka, president of EverScholar. Akhil and Andy co-host Amarica's Constitution , a podcast that explores the constitutional issues of our day. It is a perfect companion show t...
Sep 10, 2024•27 min
For most of our nation's history, the voting age was 21. So how'd we get it down to 18? In one sense, it was the fastest ratified amendment in history. In another, it took three decades. Our guide to the hard-won fight for youth enfranchisement is Jennifer Frost, author of "Let Us Vote!" Youth Voting Rights and the 26th Amendment . CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our news...
Sep 03, 2024•36 min
Why do very different political candidates say the same things over and over? Things like "middle class," "coastal elites" and "middle America?" What do those things even mean? That's what this episode is all about. Also...some civics and history trivia that's VERY much on-topic. Sort of. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and ...
Aug 27, 2024•50 min
The Chevron Doctrine, or Chevron Deference, was an established judicial principle. When the law was ambiguous, the courts would let the agency experts interpret it. After a Supreme Court case called Loper Bright v Raimondo , that is no longer the case. So what does that mean? What exactly has gone away? What happens next? Our guides to the wonkiest of the wonk are Robin Kundis Craig and Mustafa Santiago Ali . CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our ...
Aug 20, 2024•38 min
Nick and Hannah both love board games. There I said it. So what are they doing in a Civics 101 episode? Well, from Student Council and Model UN to CIA intelligence acquisition scenarios, there is a fine line between games and simulation. We learn more about things when we pretend to do them. Today we talk to three designers about their civic-centric games; Tory Brown of Fort Circle Games discusses Votes for Women , Cole Wehrle of Wehrlegig Games breaks down John Company , and Non-Breaking Space ...
Aug 13, 2024•49 min
Choosing to blow the whistle on the U.S. government is a big deal. It's a huge risk and, despite legal protections, can result in major negative repercussions. So why do people do it? What happens to them when they do? What protections do they have, and do those protections work? Our guides to the process are Kathleen McClella , Deputy Director at WHISPeR, Danielle Brian , Executive Director and President of the Project on Government Oversight and Chris Appy , Professor of History at the Univers...
Aug 06, 2024•26 min
America's first congress debated it in the 1790s, and it's been debated about ever since. Who should step into the president's shoes if the offices of President and Vice President are simultaneously vacant? Today we talk about the many different Presidential Acts of Succession that we've had in the US, as well as designated survivors, the "football," and the recurring question of the constitutionality of such acts. Click here to listen to our episode on the Executive Branch, should you want to l...
Jul 30, 2024•23 min
The Olympics are a global event. They take years of planning, negotiation and convincing -- not to mention billions of dollars -- to stage. This is how the games are used by the United States and others around the world. This is what it takes to host, what the games do for a nation and what it means when you refuse to attend. Welcome to the Olympics. Our guests for this episode are Jules Boykoff , professor of government and politics at Pacific University and author of several books on the polit...
Jul 26, 2024•44 min
You have questions about the future of the democratic ticket, and Civics 101's favorite explainer, Dan Cassino, has the answers. What happens to Biden's fundraising money? What will the delegates at the DNC do? Will there be any legal challenges? And finally, what does it mean for a party when they nominate a candidate different than the one that won the primary? CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to t...
Jul 24, 2024•30 min
You may have been surprised (or maybe not) when judge Aileen Cannon abruptly dismissed the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump. We dig into how and why that happened. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SHOW AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW TOTE BAG! CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more! To see Civics 101 in book form, check out A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works ...
Jul 17, 2024•18 min
