Featured Episodes

Norm Ornstein: How to Fix the Filibuster Without Breaking Congress

Many experts argue that the modern filibuster has ruined Congress: it allows a small minority to run roughshod over the majority, and stops important things that the American people need and want. Others say that even with its flaws, getting rid of the filibuster could be dangerous and even destructive. Norman Ornstein is one of the nation's leading experts on American government.  He explains what's going on and more important, how we might make it better without causing a Congressional meltdown.

Health Care: Three Compromises That Could Help Millions of Americans

Over the course of the last decade, the US has undertaken a massive experiment in remaking the way we pay for people’s health care -- the Affordable Care Act. It’s had some real successes, as well as a number of shortcomings: we've cut the number of uninsured in half, but we're still struggling to cover 30 million Americans and to control spiraling costs in the system.  Everyone wants to expand coverage and control those costs, they just can’t agree on how to get there. Our guest says there is a way to make progress that Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Three ways actually. Health care expert Jim Capretta explains how the ACA works, and how to make these three relatively simple changes that could improve costs and coverage for millions. Written excerpts also available on PoliticusUSA.com.

Climate: Hope and Progress

There may be no more complicated policy topic than global warming. Researchers say that global temperatures will continue to rise for centuries, no matter what we do today…and prospects for getting things done in Congress are not that bright. But climate policy expert Sam Ricketts says there is a lot of important action outside federal government that is making a big difference, and that should give us all reason to hope.