The Gun Show [More Perfect]

This #podcast episode is a fascinating look at how the Second Amendment went from being a relatively sleepy amendment to rocking our politics today. I was surprised to learn that a pivotal point in the “gun rights storyline” occurred in the 1960’s when Black Panthers took up arms as an individual right, showing up armed at the California Legislature. The response to that was both surprising and not.

Then, the NRA did a pivot in the 1970’s, changing from an organization largely focused on teaching gun skills, to one focused on lobbying efforts, with individual gun ownership rights a core tenet.

The most recent kicker is the 2008 Supreme Court Heller decision stating ownership is an individual right (versus strictly a “militia” right).  The individual ownership right was decided, but it also said the right is not unlimited and gun ownership could be regulated.

More Perfect is a great show highlighting interesting and important Supreme Court cases. Created by Radio Lab’s Jad Abumrad, it’s a unique look at an important governmental body that makes decisions affecting our lives.

• Podcast Link: More Perfect
• Episode Link: The Gun Show
• Host: Jad Abumrad
• Date: 10/11/17
• Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

More Perfect is “a series about how the Supreme Court got so supreme.”

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Filibuster – Update! [On the Media]

My “What’s a Filibuster?” post provided a short filibuster lesson, taken from the Civics 101 podcast. Senate Republicans have since eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations, a decision referred to as the “nuclear option.”

After the “nuclear” decision, On The Media delivered helpful historic context about the filibuster, stuff I hadn’t gotten from the Civics 101 episode.  If you want a quick overview with some more “filibuster flesh,” listen to Brooke Gladstone’s interview of guest Sarah Binder. Binder, a professor of political science at George Washington University and author of Stalemate: Causes and Consequences of Legislative Gridlock, had thoughts about the “fabled filibuster.”

What’s a Filibuster? [Civics 101]

My head is about to explode; I’ve been following Washington’s attempts to govern this past week. The news headlines are breathily reporting the Democrats will filibuster Neil Gorsuch’s nomination for the Supreme Court. No! Not the filibuster!