CD291: Warrantless Spying Continues
Congressional Dish
“FISA 702” allows the government to spy on foreigners and store the information that they collect about American citizens incidentally. After more than a decade of FBI officials inappropriately searching the database of our information without warrants, Congress just reauthorized the program and made some changes - some reigning the program in and some expanding it. In this episode, learn what those changes are and how they are likely to affect you. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per...
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CD290: Israel War Money: What’s Already Law
Congressional Dish
After an unprecedented embassy bombing followed by an unprecedented drone and missile attack, Israel and Iran may have us on the brink of WWIII. In this episode, as Congress and the Biden administration ponder additional support for Israel, we take a look at what has already been approved for Israel in the 2024 defense authorization and funding law. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: [email protected] Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send...
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CD289: The Not A TikTok Ban Bill
Congressional Dish
A bill is quickly moving through Congress that supposedly would “ban TikTok.” While it is clearly aimed at TikTok, this bill is really about creating a new Presidential power to remove Americans’ access to apps, websites, games and other entire tech platforms. In this episode, using the text of the bill itself, we examine how exactly this new censorship power would work if the bill passes the Senate and becomes law. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to:...
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CD288: Government Funding 101
Congressional Dish
As we enter another round of government funding drama, let’s learn the basics. In this episode, we examine how the process is supposed to work, spot the tell tale signs that something has gone wrong, and decipher all of the DC wonky words that make the appropriations process seem more complicated than it really is. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: [email protected] Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to:...
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CD287: War Money
Congressional Dish
It’s been four months since President Biden requested over $100 billion in war money for Israel and Ukraine and the Senate has now passed a bill that would provide most of the money. In this episode, we examine the events that lead up to and have occurred since President Biden’s address to the nation, and analyze the Senate bill along with its possible paths to becoming law. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: [email protected] Send Venmo...
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CD286: Prolonging the War in Ukraine
Congressional Dish
Congress is probably going to send approximately $50 billion more, most of that for weapons, to continue the war in Ukraine. In November, high ranking officials from the State Department testified about how the Biden administration intends to use our money and why. In this episode, hear the highlights of their testimony and decide for yourself if you think their goals are worth sacrificing more American money and Ukrainian lives. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments...
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Bonus! December Preview with Justin Robert Young
Congressional Dish
December is busy season in a Congress that has done nothing all year. In this bonus episode - which features Congressional Dish host Jen Briney as a guest on the December 1st episode of Politics, Politics, Politics with Justin Robert Young - we take a look at what we expect in Congress during the final month of a Congressionally chaotic year. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: [email protected] Send Venmo payments to:...
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CD285: The Indicteds: Rep. George Santos and Sen. Robert Menendez
Congressional Dish
Two members of Congress, one from each side of the aisle and each branch of Congress, are currently under criminal indictment, yet are steadfastly clinging to their roles as lawmakers. In this episode, we’ve got the dirt straight from the criminal indictments of Rep. George Santos of New York and Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: [email protected] Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to:...
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CD284: Thieving Russia
Congressional Dish
While the world is distracted, members of Congress are writing bills designed to steal Russia’s money and give it to Ukraine. In this episode, listen to the pitch being made to Congress as we examine if this is a good idea. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: [email protected] Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or [email protected] Use your bank’s online bill pay function to mail...
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CD283: A Federal Reserve Digital Dollar (CBDC)
Congressional Dish
The House Financial Services Committee has been investigating the possibility of the Federal Reserve creating a Central Bank Digital Currency. In this episode, hear experts unpack the nuances and implications of this idea during three hearings, and discover how you can play a part in shaping the future of American currency. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: [email protected] Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to:...
info_outlineFTX, a large cryptocurrency exchange, recently went bankrupt, leading to calls for government regulation of cryptocurrencies. But you might be wondering, what are cryptocurrencies? In part one of this two-part series, listen to expert testimony provided over a four-year period informing Congress about the cryptocurrency industry, the promise of blockchain, problems - both real and overblown - with this new technology, and how best to regulate this complicated industry.
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Background Sources
Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes
CD235: The Safe Haven of Sanctions Evaders
CD262: Inside C-SPAN with Howard Mortman
Proof of Work
Jake Frankenfield. May 2, 2022. "What Is Proof of Work (PoW) in Blockchain?" Investopedia.
Initial Coin Offering (ICO)
Jake Frankenfield. Aug 18, 2022. “Initial Coin Offering (ICO): Coin Launch Defined, with Examples.” Investopedia.
Sherwin Dowlat. Jul 11, 2018. “Cryptoasset Market Coverage Initiation: Network Creation.” Satis Group.
Madison Cawthorn
The Associated Press. Dec 7, 2022. "Rep. Madison Cawthorn broke rules over a 'meme' crypto, a House panel finds." NPR.
Regulations
Cheyenne Ligon. Dec 5, 2022. “The ‘Good Cop and Bad Cop’ of US Crypto Regulations.” CoinDesk.
Bills
S.4760 - Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act of 2022
Sponsor: Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Audio Sources
Cleaning Up Cryptocurrency: The Energy Impacts of Blockchains
January 20, 2022
House Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Witnesses:
Ari Juels, Weill Family Foundation and Joan and Sanford I. Weill Professor, Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, Cornell Tech
John Belizaire, Chief Executive Officer, Soluna Computing, Inc.
Brian Brooks, Chief Executive Officer, BitFury
Steve Wright, Former Chief Executive Officer, Chelan County Public Utility District and Bonneville Power Administration
Gregory Zerzan, Shareholder Jordan Ramis P.C.
Schemes and Subversion: How Bad Actors and Foreign Governments Undermine and Evade Sanctions Regimes
June 16, 2021
House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy
Witnesses:
Jesse Spiro, Global Head of Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Chainalysis
Eric B. Lorber, Senior Director, Center on Economic and Financial Power, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Dollars Against Democracy: Domestic Terrorist Financing in the Aftermath of Insurrection
February 25, 2021
House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy
Witness
Daniel Glaser, Former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Examining Regulatory Frameworks for Digital Currencies and Blockchain
July 30, 2019
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Committee concluded a hearing to examine regulatory frameworks for digital currencies and blockchain, including S. 2243, to amend the Expedited Funds Availability Act to require that funds deposited be available for withdrawal in real-time.
Witnesses:
Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Circle, on behalf of The Blockchain Association
Dr. Rebecca M. Nelson, Specialist in International Trade and Finance, Congressional Research Service
Professor Mehrsa Baradaran, Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine School of Law
Exploring the Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Ecosystem
October 11, 2018
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Committee concluded a hearing to examine the cryptocurrency and blockchain ecosystem, including S. 3179, to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on how virtual currencies and online marketplaces are used to buy, sell, or facilitate the financing of goods or services associated with sex trafficking or drug trafficking.
Witnesses:
Dr. Nouriel Roubini, Professor of Economics and International Business, New York University Stern School of Business
Peter Van Valkenburgh, Director of Research, Coin Center
Cover Art
Design by Only Child Imaginations