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Understanding Congress

AEI Podcasts
Congress
American Enterprise Institute
House Of Representatives
Benghazi
Legislative Effectiveness
United States Senate
Congressional Investigations
Congressional Capacity
State Of the Union Address
Center For Effective Lawmaking
Hillary Clinton
Demosclerosis
Mitch Mcconnell
Elliot Mamet
Public Dissatisfaction
Constitution
Bipartisan Cooperation
University Of Virginia
Federal Budget
Electoral College

Congress is the least liked and perhaps least understood part of government. But it’s vital to our constitutional government. Congress is the only branch equipped to work through our diverse nation’s disagreements and decide on the law. To better understand the First Branch, join host Kevin Kosar and guests as they explain its infrastructure, culture, procedures, history, and more.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes65Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for Understanding Congress

Latest Episodes

The topic of this episode is, “Should Congress pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution?”

The federal government experienced a shutdown in autumn 20025, which is one of many that have occurred in the past 20 years. The nation also has ra... more

The topic of this episode is, what are budget rescissions and pocket rescissions?

Rescissions have been in the news recently. This past July President Donald J. Trump sent the House and Senate a rescissions message. This memorandum requested that Co... more

The topic of this episode is, “Was James Madison the first majority leader?”

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have a majority leader. At the time of the recording this podcast, Republican John Thune of South Dakota is the Senate majo... more

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... more

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Recent Guests

Jay Cost
Gerald R. Ford Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of 'James Madison, America's First Politician'.
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Was James Madison the First Majority Leader? (with Jay Cost)
Annelise Russell
Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Kentucky, studying legislators' use of social media
University of Kentucky
Episode: Why Are Legislators on Social Media? (with Annelise Russell)
Gabe Fleisher
Creator and editor of Wake Up to Politics
Episode: Is Congress Getting Anything Done? (with Gabe Fleisher)
Derek Kilmer
Former member of Congress for Washington's 6th District
Formerly served on the Appropriations Committee and co-led the House's Modernization Committee
Episode: What Does a Member of the House of Representatives Do All Day? (with Fmr. Rep. Derek Kilmer)
Dr. Casey Burgat
Professor at George Washington University and editor of We Hold These Truths
George Washington University
Episode: Would Term Limits Fix Congress? (with Casey Burgat)
Beau Baumann
Doctoral candidate in law at Yale University and author of articles on administrative law and legislation.
Yale University
Episode: What Is the Lost History of Congress’s Offices of Legislative Counsel? (with Beau Baumann)
Philip Wallach
Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, studying American separation of powers and regulatory policy issues.
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Should the House of Representatives Change Its Rules?” (with Philip Wallach)
Tom Reed
Former member of the House of Representatives who served on the Ways and Means Committee.
House of Representatives
Episode: What Does the House Ways and Means Committee Do? (with Fmr. Rep. Tom Reed)
Stephanie Bice
Republican representative for Oklahoma's fifth congressional district
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: How Can the House of Representatives Better Prepare New Members? (with Rep. Stephanie Bice)

Host

Kevin Kosar
Host of the show, deeply engaged in discussions about congressional procedures and history, often with a focus on educational content and civic engagement.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 30 ratings
  • Dennis Karpf

    Excellent and knowledgeable guests informed and questioned by concise and cogent moderator. Our citizenship obligations should include every high school civics course to require listening to this podcast. Our fractured republic can be improved by the information of Congress provided by this podcast. Well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dennis.karpf
    United States3 years ago
  • PERFECT for learning

    These episodes are so incredibly helpful in understanding congress!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    statedept1515
    United States4 years ago
  • This podcast brings fresh points of view in how Congress runs from experts. It explains the more inside look to those things that everyday citizens only scrap the surface of. I appreciate the book recommendations throughout this series.

    Audible
    5
    WendyLimbaugh
    United States5 years ago
  • Informative

    This podcast brings fresh points of view in how Congress runs from experts. It explains the more inside look to those things that everyday citizens only scrap the surface of. I appreciate the book recommendations throughout this series.

    Audible
    5
    WendyLimbaugh
    United States5 years ago
  • Wonderful, instructive podcast.

    A podcast devoted to understanding Congress has never really been tried. And here we finally are, with perhaps the best guide (Kevin Kosar) to its operations in both theory and practice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    North Carolina prof
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the knowledgeable guests and the clarity of discussions, praising the podcast for its insightful exploration of Congress.
Many reviews highlight the necessity of civic education, suggesting that such discussions ought to be included in educational curricula.
The content is viewed as invaluable for those wishing to comprehend the complexities of legislative processes and constitutional dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#156
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#65
Israel/Government
Apple Podcasts
#235
South Korea/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Was James Madison the First Majority Leader? (with Jay Cost)
Q: How did Madison become the first Majority Leader?
Madison's hard work and intellectual prowess earned him respect and influence in Congress, allowing him to function as a de facto majority leader before the formal position existed.
Was James Madison the First Majority Leader? (with Jay Cost)
Q: What is a majority leader in Congress?
The majority leader in the Senate manages the floor agenda and the party coalition for legislative victories, while the House's majority leader functions similarly but in support of the Speaker.
Does Congress’s Power to Declare War Mean Anything? (With Gary Schmitt)
Q: Why hasn't Congress formally declared war since World War II?
Congress hasn't declared war largely because recent conflicts lack the scale of World Wars, and congressional authorizations have been used instead.
Does Congress’s Power to Declare War Mean Anything? (With Gary Schmitt)
Q: What is the War Powers Resolution and has it been effective?
The War Powers Resolution requires the president to consult Congress before sending troops and report within 48 hours, but it hasn't effectively curtailed presidential war-making.
Does Congress’s Power to Declare War Mean Anything? (With Gary Schmitt)
Q: What does the Constitution say about Congress's power to declare war?
The Constitution states that Congress has the power to declare war, which has left ambiguity over what constitutes a declaration or military engagement.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Understanding Congress

What is Understanding Congress about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the complexities and operations of the U.S. Congress, the episodes feature engaging discussions about its historical significance, current challenges, and fundamental procedures. Various topics such as the influence of social media on legislators, the intricacies of declaring war, and the impact of congressional rules are frequently examined, providing listeners with a well-rounded understanding of how Congress functions within American governance. The host often invites experts in political science and former members of Congress, shedding light on the institution's evolving role through both theoretical and practical lenses. Overall, this content is designed to demystify Congress for a broad audience while emphasizing its crucia... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Understanding Congress?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Understanding Congress:

1. Washington Today
2. The Playbook Podcast
3. We the People
4. Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
5. Civics 101

How many episodes of Understanding Congress are there?

Understanding Congress launched 5 years ago and published 65 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Understanding Congress?

Recent guests on Understanding Congress include:

1. Jay Cost
2. Annelise Russell
3. Gabe Fleisher
4. Derek Kilmer
5. Dr. Casey Burgat
6. Beau Baumann
7. Philip Wallach
8. Tom Reed

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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