Stay ConnectedPolitical power: Who wants it? Who wields it? And why? Through compelling conversations with power players, newsmakers, and experts, The X-Ray answers these questions, providing listeners with insightful analysis of the biggest issues facing our democracy at home and abroad.
The X-Ray is brought to you by Issue One, producers of the Swamp Stories podcast.
Copyright: © 2021 Issue One 349910
This is the second episode in a periodic series of conversations between Swamp Stories host Weston Wamp and leaders in the political reform movement.
This week, AND Campaign’s Co-founder Justin Giboney joins Weston to discuss the intersection of faith and politics, separating identity from political party, and how people of faith can put their faith in action in this election and beyond.
Running an election amidst a pandemic presents historic challenges — a problem made even more difficult by a new and unprecedented controversy about absentee voting, a well-established method of casting a ballot which is expected to double this election. Voters on both sides of the aisle are left wondering what the facts are, and whether or not we'll be able to trust the outcome because of it.
Host Weston Wamp sets the record straight by talking with two election experts about absentee voting, fraud, and the Post Office’s ability to handle the increase in mail-in ballots.
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Issue One hosted a roundtable with faith leaders to explore how people of faith and church communities can engage civically to promote shared values and integrity in a volatile election year. The “People of Faith: Engage 2020” summit featured Christian musician Michael W. Smith, longtime Southern Baptist leader Dr. Richard Land, President Obama’s evangelical outreach leader Michael Wear, & Campaign Co-Founder Justin Giboney, and young author and theologian, Kaitlyn Schiess. The conversation was moderated by Issue One's ReFormers Caucus Co-chair and former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp and Weston Wamp, Issue One’s Senior Political Strategist.
A unique bipartisan group of over 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials has come together to build off their experiences while in office and advocate for solutions to fix our broken political system. Weston chats with a few of these ReFormers about their time in Washington, their personal swamp stories, and what they’re doing to help increase transparency, improve civic participation, and make our political leaders more accountable to the American people.
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Host Weston Wamp examines the history of conservatives opposing political reform over the years, and looks at how a new wave of Republican reformers is turning the tide when it comes to fixing the political system. Listen to this episode to hear Weston speak with some of these reformers, including a member of Congress, to build the conservative case for reform.
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At the end of its 2020 term, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling on what might seem like an obscure question in Constitutional law, but could have huge ramifications in elections this November and beyond. Democracy Works, Swamp Stories' partner in the Democracy Group podcast network, dives into the ruling on “faithless electors” in this episode featuring Issue One’s Executive Director Meredith McGehee.
We’re introducing the first episode in a periodic series of conversations between Swamp Stories host Weston Wamp and leaders in the political reform movement. This episode's guest: Nick Penniman, Founder and CEO of Issue One
The CARES Act, which was signed into law in March, was intended to help with the crippling economic effects America was experiencing due to COVID-19. But it also opened the floodgates to a lobbying frenzy by big businesses attempting to influence where funds should go. In episode 13, Weston looks at those efforts to shape the CARES Act, and the critical importance of ensuring that these kind of programs are transparent and that taxpayers can see where their money is going.
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The influence industry looms large in policymaking in Washington, DC, and the big players are lobbyists. Because of legal loopholes, more people than ever who make a living lobbying Congress are skirting the rules with impunity to avoid registering as a lobbyist and wearing the scarlet "L." On episode 12, Weston wades into the world of “shadow lobbying” to give listeners an inside look into what lobbying actually means, how influencers are able to easily get around the rules, and introduces us to a Republican and a Democrat who are working to close loopholes to ensure that the way decisions are made is transparent for Americans.
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Congressional approval ratings have been at an all-time low in recent years. But a small group of members in Congress — and dedicated political reform groups — are trying to turn that around and make Congress more functional and responsive to the American people. This week, we’re taking you behind the scenes for an up-close look at one of the few bright spots in Washington — the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
This episode has been updated with additional information.
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