GW WonkCast S7E1 – “Let’s Just Make It All Free”: A Conversation on State Welfare Policy with Matt Bruenig & David Trimmer
Jul 28, 2023
The GW WonkCast has returned! Season 7, Episode 1 begins after nearly a year hiatus with a new team, co-host Ali Ulin, co-host Nathan Varnell and producer Annie Robey. In this episode, former Brief Policy Perspectives staff writer David Trimmer (MPA ’23) interviews Matt Bruenig, founder of the People’s Policy Project think tank and distinguished welfare policy expert, to discuss how state welfare policies can be effectively implemented. The co-hosts then spoke to David to hear his thoughts on emerging programs across the U.S. and welfare policy as a field of study.
Read David’s original piece with Matt Bruenig here.
Please direct your feedback on this episode to wonkcast@gmail.com or briefpolicyperspectives@gmail.com.
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The views expressed herein are those of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
GW WonkCast S6E5: How do you solve a problem like climate change? A surprising proposal from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission presents one solution
May 03, 2022
Join WonkCast host William Somes for a special interview with Garrett Kephart (MPP ’07) and Chris Smith (MPA ’86) from the Trachtenberg School Advisor Council. In this episode, William, Garrett, and Chris discuss a regulation proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to require corporations to disclose information related to their climate footprint, as well as the political debates surrounding the regulation.
Please direct your feedback on this episode to wonkcast@gmail.com
The views expressed herein are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
GW WonkCast S6E4: A Case Study of Waste Management in Maine with Sarah Nichols
Feb 10, 2022
Join WonkCast host William Somes for a special interview with Sarah Nichols, the Sustainable Maine Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, an environmental advocacy organization. In this episode, William and Sarah discuss extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy and other policies intended to increase recycling and decrease the amount of packaging waste in landfills.
Please direct your feedback on this episode to wonkcast@gmail.com
The views expressed herein are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
GW WonkCast: Interview with Policy Perspectives’ Allison Woolverton
Dec 20, 2021
Join WonkCast host William Somes for a special interview with Policy Perspectives author Allison Woolverton, who’s research titled Management of an Aquifer Threatened by Saltwater Intrusion will appear in Volume 29 of the Policy Perspectives Journal. Allison discussed environmental threats to the Southern Hills Aquifer in Louisiana, as well as the options and responsibilities that policymakers have to protect this and similar natural sources of fresh water.
Please direct your feedback on this episode to wonkcast@gmail.com
The views expressed herein are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
GW WonkCast S6E3: How the Government Works – Profiles in Courage and Modern Bulwarks of Justice
Dec 01, 2021
Even if individual action doesn’t permanently change the course of public policy, it can still make a splash. In this episode, WonkCast host William Somes discusses individuals who have significantly affected policy throughout American history, and what policymakers can learn from their acts.
The views expressed herein are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
GW WonkCast S6E2: How the Government Works – Electoral Systems and Partisanship in the 21st Century
Nov 07, 2021
Politicians in America are selected through democratic elections, but how do these elections work? What are the consequences of our electoral system, and do other countries do it better? This week WonkCast host William Somes is joined by Verena Wingerter, an International Affairs and Cybersecurity student on exchange from the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany. Following a brief introduction, William and Verena discuss the features of the American and German electoral systems for selecting federal legislators, as well as the benefits and flaws of both. William then concludes with a discussion of alternative electoral systems that have been employed in the United States in recent years, including ranked-choice and single transferable vote systems.
References:
Dubner, S. J., & Levitt, S. D. (2015). Think like a freak. HarperCollins USA.
Katz, R. S. (2007). Political Institutions in the United States. Oxford University Press.
Rule, W., & Zimmerman, J. F. (1992). United States electoral systems: Their impact on women and minorities. Greenwood Press.
The views expressed herein are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
GW WonkCast S6E1: How the Government Works – Power and the Three Branches Over Time
Oct 16, 2021
Please welcome our new host, William Somes, to the WonkCast. William is a first year student in the Trachtenberg School, working on his MA in Environmental Resource Policy. This season of the WonkCast will be split into three parts: 1) How the Government Works, 2) The Environment, and 3) Social Justice. Episode 1 of Part I will focus on policy-making power in the three branches of government over time.
The views expressed herein are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
Below the Fold S5E1: Medicare for All and the Paris Climate Accords
Nov 18, 2019
Join Co-Hosts Fania Jean, Eli Richman, and Sean Parker for an in-depth discussion of two issues that will certainly headline the upcoming 2020 elections. Preston Bruce edited this episode.
The views expressed herein are those of the co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
GW WonkCast S4E9: What is a Right?
May 15, 2019
We often hear the word “right” used in policy discussions and debates about federal programs. But what exactly is a right? What is the difference between a positive right and a negative right? How does our understanding of rights influence what we believe about the roles and responsibilities of a government and its citizens? This week, co-hosts Nathalie Grogan, Eli Richman, and Eric LaDue explore these questions and their implications for modern-day policy issues including healthcare, gun control, and education.
The views expressed herein are those of the co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.