Congressional Dish
Congress took multiple vacations during a DHS shutdown, failed to check an unauthorized war with Iran, and passed just two bills—both honoring the dead. Meanwhile, a bipartisan majority voted to keep misconduct investigations against themselves secret. This episode exposes a month of dysfunction—and the real consequences of a Congress that isn’t doing its job. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App...
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The SAVE Act and the SAVE America Act are two of the most searched bills in Congress right now—and they’re confusing a lot of people. By digging into what these bills actually do—and the long history they fit into—you’ll see why they’re widely considered voter suppression efforts and how they could affect your ability to vote. And more importantly, you’ll learn what you can do right now to protect your ballot before any of this becomes law. View the show notes on our website at Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support...
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February’s big accomplishment: partial government funding—months late and still incomplete. This episode breaks down the most important provisions in the law, from war powers and foreign policy to domestic policies that affect your daily life, and evaluates what Congress actually delivered. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Use your bank’s online bill...
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An ICE whistleblower says officers are graduating without proper training and entering homes using “administrative warrants.” Hear the testimony from a shadow congressional hearing investigating immigration raids and potential violations of the Fourth Amendment. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your...
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January 2026 put the 119th Congress to the test—and once again, it barely showed up. This episode tracks how sudden vacancies shrank the Republican majority, why that paralysis explains one of the quietest legislative months in years, and what actually made it into law when Congress finally finished half of its long-overdue government funding. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash...
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the Senate to defend the U.S. seizure of Venezuela’s president—and his answers raised more questions than they settled. This episode features highlights from the testimony, discussion of possible further military action, and an examination of the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape and control Venezuela’s oil sector and contracts. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send...
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This episode breaks down major provisions of the newly passed National Defense Authorization Act, including how Congress quietly weakened air-traffic safety rules, expanded counter-drone authorities for law enforcement, loosened protections against toxic “forever chemicals” for firefighters, and repealed outdated Iraq war authorizations while leaving broader war powers intact. It also covers new laws affecting taxes, veterans, and public lands, Trump’s vetoes of bipartisan bills, and a wave of confirmations placing industry-connected figures in powerful regulatory and defense roles. ...
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Special Prosecutor Jack Smith gave a closed-door, eight-hour deposition to the House Judiciary Committee that was later—surprisingly—made public. In this episode, hear highlights from his testimony about the investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including the fake electors scheme, key prosecutorial decisions, and why members of Congress chose to scrutinize the investigation rather than the alleged crimes. 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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In this episode, hear testimony that Republican leadership refused to make part of the official Congressional Record—stories from U.S. citizens who were violently arrested and jailed by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, often while clearly identifying themselves as Americans. This is not rhetoric, speculation, or partisan spin; it is sworn testimony, backed by a Senate investigation, and it raises a terrifying question: if this can happen to them, what stops it from happening to any of us? Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via ...
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In this two-topic episode, we break down what became law in November—including the shutdown deal that reopened the government and the dingleberries that were quietly slipped into it. Then we revisit the hearing on the firing of the CDC Director, focusing on a politicized vaccine advisory committee that has changed its recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments...
info_outline“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.
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Background Sources
Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes
CD289: The Not A TikTok Ban Bill
CD285: The Indicteds: Rep. George Santos and Sen. Robert Menendez
CD098: USA Freedom Act: Privatization of the Patriot Act
FISA
“US Senate votes to reauthorize surveillance program, Biden to sign swiftly.” Jasper Ward. April 20, 2024. Reuters.
“Reformers Narrowly Lose on FISA Reform, Now Get Patriot Act 2.0.” Luke Goldstein. April 12, 2024. The American Prospect.
“FBI misused intelligence database in 278,000 searches, court says.” Zeba Siddiqui. May 19, 2023. Reuters.
“Document re: Section 702 2021 Certification.” April 21, 2022. U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
“Review of Four FISA Applications and Other Aspects of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane Investigation.” December 2019. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General.
“Surveillance of Foreigners Outside the United States Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA),” [R44457].” Edward C. Liu. April 13, 2016. Congressional Research Service.
History of Surveillance
“Domestic Surveillance and AT&T.” Mark Klein. November 8, 2007. C-SPAN Washington Journal.
“Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts.” James Risen and Eric Lichtblau. December 16, 2005. The New York Times.
NSA Spy Center
“Surprise Visitors Are Unwelcome At The NSA's Unfinished Utah Spy Center (Especially When They Take Photos.)” Kashmir Hill. March 4, 2013. Forbes.
“The NSA Is Building the Country's Biggest Spy Center (Watch What You Say.)” James Bamford. March 15, 2012. Wired.
PRISM program
“Everything you need to know about PRISM.” T.C. Sottek and Janus Kopfstein. July 17, 2013. The Verge.
Laws
H.R.7888 - Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act
Vote Breakdowns
Amendments
H.R.6304 - FISA Amendments Act of 2008
Audio Sources
Senate Session
April 19, 2024
House Session
April 12, 2024
Speakers:
Domestic Surveillance and AT&T
November 8, 2007
C-SPAN Washington Journal
Music
Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito