CD254: Baby Formula Shortage
Congressional Dish
After multiple formula-related infant deaths were reported to the FDA in February, samples from Abbott Laboratories' Sturgis, Michigan baby formula production facility tested positive for cronobacter, triggering a recall and a subsequent formula shortage. In this episode, Jen uncovers monopoly and neglect in the baby formula production industry, lack of oversight by the FDA, and the United States' refusal to adopt the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via ...
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CD253: Escalation of War
Congressional Dish
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Congress has signed four laws that send enormous amounts of money and weapons to Ukraine, attempting to punish Russia for President Putin’s invasion. In this episode, we examine these laws to find out where our money will actually go and attempt to understand the shifting goals of the Biden administration. The big picture, as it’s being explained to Congress, differs from what we’re being sold. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send...
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CD252: Women’s Health Protection Act
Congressional Dish
The Women’s Health Protection Act is a bill written by Democrats that would guarantee access to abortion services in the United States. While this bill is unlikely to become law, learning what exactly the Democrats are proposing is instructive, as many of us will be voting with abortion in mind later this year. Now that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn previous decisions that guaranteed access to abortion services for the past 50 years, what do Democrats hope to do in response? Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support...
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CD251: BIF: Driving Dangers Sustained
Congressional Dish
The recently signed infrastructure law continues the United States’ over-reliance on the most dangerous way to travel: driving a vehicle. Did Congress make sufficient safety improvements to decrease the dangers posed by driving in the United States? This episode will examine all vehicle-related safety provisions to help you weigh your own transportation options. 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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CD250: Congress Saves the Postal Service
Congressional Dish
Congress did a good thing! In this encouraging episode, learn about a new law that saved the Postal Service from financial doom without spending one extra penny in taxpayer money. Then, listen to the highlights from a recent hearing about the electrification of the Postal Service’s vehicle fleet. Louis DeJoy may not have sabotaged the 2020 election, but is he sabotaging the effort to transition the Postal Service away from fossil fuels? Executive Producer: Stephen McMahan Executive Producer: Jose Huerta Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via ...
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CD249: A Few Good Laws
Congressional Dish
We have some new laws! In this episode, a brief overview of the government funding law that (finally) funds the government for 2022 and provides money and weapons to Ukraine, a new law that protects drinking water, a new law that slightly reduces the corruption of Puerto Rico’s financial oversight board, and a new law that guarantees you rights that corporate contracts have been taking away. 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]
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CD248: Understanding the Enemy
Congressional Dish
Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched an illegal, unjustified war against Ukraine and Putin himself is the only person who can stop the war immediately. In this episode, we seek to understand why President Putin has launched this horrific war in order to judge our country’s ability to bring the war to a quicker end. Executive Producer: Alex Bilotta 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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CD247: BIF: The Growth of US Railroads
Congressional Dish
The infrastructure law provides the most significant investment in passenger rail in U.S. history, but substantial hurdles - including a powerful cartel - stand firmly in the way of a real national network. In this episode, learn the ways the infrastructure law paves the way for a better future for passenger rail along with the significant obstacles that it failed to address. 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...
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CD246: BIF: Appalachian Chemical Storage
Congressional Dish
The Infrastructure Law that was signed in late 2021 funds the first phase of a huge infrastructure project called the Appalachian Storage Hub, which would consist of large gas processing plants, underground chemical storage facilities, and pipeline networks to connect them all together. In this episode, get the details - as many as are known - about the plans for this possible project. Is this a good idea for our country? Please Support Congressional Dish Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to:...
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CD245: New Year, Same Congress
Congressional Dish
Much media attention has been rightfully aimed at the recent failures of Congress, but there was, in fact, lawmaking happening at the end of 2021. In this episode, learn about some laws that didn't get much attention, including a law that solves a real problem and a few laws designed to economically punish China. We also take a look at what is happening in Congress as we start 2022 and look for opportunities for effective activism as we enter this Congressional election year.
info_outlineThe law that funded the government for 2018 is 2,232 pages and Jen has finished reading a quarter of it. In this episode, learn about the most interesting provisions she found in the Department of Defense and environmental sections of the quickly passed funding law.
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The 2018 Government Funding Law
Read the latest 2018 Omnibus Provisions
Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes
CD171: 2,232 Pages
CD168: Nuclear Desperation
CD167: Combating Russia (NDAA 2018) LIVE
CD145: Price of Health Care
CD131: Bombing Libya
Additional Reading
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Report: DOE recommends pit production at SRS and Los Alamos; plan kills, repurposes MOX facility by Colin Demarest, Aiken Standard, May 11, 2018.
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Statement: Joint statement from Ellen M. Lord and Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty on recapitalization of plutonium pit production, National Nuclear Security Administration, May 10, 2018.
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Report: Israel launches massive military strike agains Iranian targest in Syria by Loveday Morris, Ruth Eglash, and Louisa Loveluck, The Washington Post, May 10, 2018.
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Article: Calls for restraint after Israel raids on 'Iranians' in Syria by Laurent Lozano, Yahoo News, May 10, 2018.
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Report: Israel and Iran, newly emboldened, exchange blows in Syria face-off by Isabel Kershner and David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, May 10, 2018.
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Article: Will scrapping atomic fuel plant actually bring jobs to SC? by Sammy Fretwell, The State, May 10, 2018.
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Report: SRS, Los Alamos recommended for pit production; MOX facility would be repurposed by Staff Reporst, The Augusta Chronicle, May 10, 2018.
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Article: Syria blames Israel for missile strike near Damascus, BBC News, May 9, 2018.
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Report: Israel strikes Iranian targest in Syria after rocket fire by Dan Williams and Angus McDowall, Reuters, May 9, 2018.
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Report: Israeli preemptive strike thwarts Iranian attack by Yochanan Visser, Israel Today, May 9, 2018.
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Article: Sage Grouse once again land at heart of public lands dispute by Rachel Christiansen, Nevada Public Radio, May 9, 2018.
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Report: Israel attacked Syria an hour after the Iran deal was ended, says report by Zeina Karam, Time, May 8, 2018.
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Article: For Netanyahu, vindication and new risk after Trump's Iran decision by David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, May 8, 2018.
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Analysis: In first meeting, Pompeo thrills Netanyahu with hawkish talk on Iran - and what he doesn't say about Palestinians by Allison Kaplan Sommer, Haaretz, April 29, 2018.
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Report: Iran-Israel conflict escalates in shadow of Syrian civil war by Ben Hubbard and David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, April 9, 2018.
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Article: Aiken leaders met with NNSA's chief, discussed pit production at SRS by Colin Demarest, Aiken Standard, March 14, 2018.
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Report: DOE announces notice of sale of crude oil from the strategic petroleum reserve, Office of Fossil Energy, March 8, 2018.
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Article: US takes steps to resume plutonium pit production for nukes, Aljazeera, February 23, 2018.
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Article: Israel air force says seized Iranian drone is a knockoff of US Sentinel by Barbara Opall-Rome, Defense News, February 12, 2018.
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Report: Minister: Iran will need 'time to digest' how Israel hit covert military sites by TOI Staff and Agencies, The Times of Israel, February 11, 2018.
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Report: Israeli jet shot down after bombing Iranian site in Syria by Maayan Lubell and Lisa Barrington, Reuters, February 10, 2018.
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Report: Israel hits back at Iran and Syria as border region boils by Donna Abu-Nasr and Gwen Ackerman, Bloomberg, February 10, 2018.
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Article: U.S. oil reserve would fall nearly in half under budget deal by Ari Natter and Catherine Traywick, Bloomberg, February 8, 2018.
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Opinion: What we owe the innocent victims of America's wars by Patrick Leahy, The New York Times, November 22, 2017.
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Article: The uncounted by Azmat Khan and Anand Gopal, New York Times, November 16, 2017.
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Analysis: Israel's new missile defense system is a clear message to Iran, but it isn't perfect by Amos Harel, Haaretz, April 3, 2017.
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Article: Israeli army probing whether unprecedented use of arrow missile system was justified by Gili Cohen and Almog Ben Zikri, Haaretz, March 19, 2017.
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Article: Iran to stop using US dollar in response to Donald Trump's 'Muslim ban' by Bethan McKernan, Independent, February 1, 2017.
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Article: Measuring methane emissions from cows is elusive, but we're getting closer by Robert Parkhurst, Environmental Defense Fund, December 13, 2016.
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Article: Half-built fuel plant in South Carolina faces test on its future, The New York Times, February 9, 2016.
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Report: Iran, India to settle outstanding crude oil dues in rupees by Amitav Ranjan, The Indian Express, January 5, 2016.
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Article: Oil backers, conservationists battle over fate of greater sage-grouse by Sandra Fish, Aljazeera, December 13, 2013.
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Article: Only one currency is still backed by gold by Simon Black, Business Insider, March 29, 2012.
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Report: Iran ends oil transactions in U.S. dollars, CBS News, April 30, 2008.
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Report: Iran stops selling oil in U.S. dollars - report by Reuters Staff, Reuters, December 8, 2007.
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Report: SYRIA dollar dropped as primary hard currency by Items copiled from Tribune news services, Chicago Tribune, February 15, 2006.
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Report: Iraq nets handsom profit by dumping dollar for euro by Faisal Islam, The Guardian, February 15, 2003.
Resources
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Bill: H.R. 1892: Further Extension Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018...
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International Atomic Energy Agency: Verification and Monitoring in Iran
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National Nuclear Security Administration: Plutonium Pit Production Mission
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Office of Fossil Energy: Strategic Petroleum Reserve
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Open Secrets: Boeing Co Profile for 2018 Election Cycle
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Open Secrets: Chicago Bridge & Iron
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Open Secrets: Orano Group
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Open Secrets: Raytheon Co Profile for 2018 Election Cycle
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Open Secrets: Steve Cohen
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Press Release: We are now Orano!
Visual Resources
Sound Clip Sources
Hearing: Authorization for Use of Military Forces; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; October 30, 2017.
- 8:00 Chairman Bob Corker (TN): In his last War Powers Resolution letter to Congress, the president identified the following 19 countries where U.S. military personnel were deployed and equipped for combat: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Kenya, Niger, Cameroon, Uganda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Cuba, and Kosovo.
Cover Art
Design by Only Child Imaginations
Music Presented in This Episode
Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)