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Episode | Date |
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22. The President’s Frontman
00:15:54
President Trump and his supporters ran a months-long campaign to attack the 2020 presidential election and undermine the democratic process. One of the most notable attacks was launched on the results in Pennsylvania by the man once known as "America's mayor" — Rudy Giuliani. Dispatched by the Trump campaign, Giuliani led the charge with baseless claims of voter fraud and attacks on mail-in voting. Guest:
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Feb 19, 2021 |
21. The Georgia Meltdown
00:15:23
In 2020 politics, Georgia was ground zero. It came to be a swing state in the defeat of the incumbent president, and it flipped the Senate with the defeat of two Republican senators. And lots happened in between Election Day in November and the Senate runoffs in January that shook Georgia and the U.S. Senate. In episode 21, Weston tells the inside story of how Georgia exposed the lie about election fraud, and reveals how Republicans lost those two Senate seats in Georgia — in part because they couldn't stop attacking our elections. |
Feb 04, 2021 |
20. Firewall
00:14:53
COVID-19 has changed many aspects of everyday life, including the way many Americans are voting. Because of this, people have increasingly begun to wonder about delayed election results, or contested outcomes, or even the possibility that a candidate may not concede. But in the middle of all this, a group of well-respected Americans has come together to defend the integrity of our elections, ensure that every American's vote is counted this November, and instill confidence that we can hold a safe, secure, and successful election this year — just like we did through both world wars and another pandemic. Listen to Weston speak with two of them in this episode. Guests:
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Oct 30, 2020 |
19. Recounting 2000
00:14:40
This year, many Americans are worried that the 2020 elections will be contested, chaotic, and drawn out, leading to comparisons with the infamous 2000 Bush vs. Gore election that was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court. Weston sat down with Leonard Downie Jr., Executive Editor of the Washington Post during the 2000 election, to unpack what happened in 2000, what if any parallels there are to this year's election, and how politics and journalism has changed since 2000. |
Oct 19, 2020 |
18. Conversations: Justin Giboney
00:29:39
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. |
Oct 12, 2020 |
17. Setting the Record Straight
00:17:33
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. Guests:
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Sep 29, 2020 |
Bonus Episode: "People of Faith: Engage 2020"
01:26:50
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. |
Sep 14, 2020 |
16. Whistleblowers
00:18:54
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. Guests:
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Aug 31, 2020 |
15. The Conservative Case for Reform
00:20:05
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. Guests:
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Aug 06, 2020 |
Bonus from Democracy Works: The People Who Choose the President
00:42:06
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. |
Jul 31, 2020 |
14. Conversations: Nick Penniman
00:40:21
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 |
Jul 27, 2020 |
13. Hidden Trillions
00:15:43
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. Guests:
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Jun 25, 2020 |
12. Shadow Lobbying
00:18:15
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. Guests:
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Jun 01, 2020 |
11. Fixing the People's House
00:24:05
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. Guest List:
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May 18, 2020 |
Bonus Episode: COVID-19 and Democracy
00:54:29
We joined some of our fellow Democracy Group members for a special bonus episode about COVID-19's impact on politics at the local, state, national, and international levels. On this episode:
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Apr 30, 2020 |
10. The Show Must Go On
00:14:42
One of the biggest challenges COVID-19 poses to our democracy? Holding safe, secure, and fair elections this year. Our democracy is at risk if states don’t adequately prepare for the various threats that this viral outbreak presents to the smooth running of our elections. In this episode, we talk with leading voices at the state and national level about how coronavirus affects voting, the task ahead for states and election administrators, and how our elections can be held safely this year. Guests:
Additional Resources:
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Apr 24, 2020 |
9. Profiting from Public Service
00:21:44
Recent news reports have exposed that some members of Congress dumped stock after receiving classified congressional briefings on COVID-19. We're going to talk about how lawmakers are able to use their positions of power for personal financial gain through insider trading — and what Congress can do to stop it. Episode Guests:
Resources: |
Apr 13, 2020 |
8. The Russians are Coming
00:21:13
In 2016 and 2018, foreign actors including Russia, China, and Iran interfered in our elections and tried to disrupt our political system. Here’s how we can stop them from succeeding in 2020. Guests:
Learn more about Issue One's "Don't Mess With US" project and solutions to help prevent foreign interference in our political system at https://www.dontmesswithus.org. You can find all episodes of Swamp Stories at https://www.swampstories.org. |
Mar 30, 2020 |
7. Beating the Machine
00:18:24
Conventional wisdom says the candidate who has the most money wins on election night. But that’s not always true, and we’ll talk about how David has beaten Goliath in recent years as candidates turn to small-dollar fundraising, digital-first campaigns, and grassroots armies to beat the system. |
Mar 16, 2020 |
Introducing: Democracy Works
00:38:54
This is a guest episode from the "Democracy Works" podcast. Swamp Stories will return on March 16 with a new episode. Full notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. |
Mar 09, 2020 |
6. Dark Money Shell Game
00:25:29
In 2010, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to record amounts of secret cash flowing into our elections. Here’s how it works - and why we have to stop it. Guests:
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter. |
Mar 02, 2020 |
5. A Gerrymandering Tale You Haven't Heard
00:19:01
“Politicians should not choose their voters.” That simple statement is at the heart of why no reform issue has gained more crosspartisan momentum in recent years than getting rid of so-called gerrymandering. But both parties have years of work and millions of dollars invested in drawing districts that benefit one team more than the other. Guests:
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter. |
Feb 24, 2020 |
4. The Super PAC Surprise
00:19:28
Billionaires, political consultants, and the super PACs have more control in our political system than ever. And both parties are playing the game to win. Here’s how to begin fixing it. Guests
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter. |
Feb 17, 2020 |
3. Secret Slush Funds
00:22:00
Little-known slush funds let elected leaders vacation at five-star resorts, spend tens of thousands of dollars at steakhouses steps from the Capitol, and upgrade their wardrobe one pair of shoes at a time — all under the guise of “fundraising.” But learn about why living lavishly leads to one member of Congress being thrown in jail, and others treating it as business as usual. Guests
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter. |
Feb 10, 2020 |
2. Extorting the People's House
00:20:33
During their orientation on Capitol Hill, new members of Congress learn about a decades-old tradition often referred to as dialing for dollars, or dues. Political leaders effectively turn newly elected lawmakers into telemarketers — exchanging seats on committees for contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and sometimes millions, to the political parties. Guests:
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter. |
Feb 03, 2020 |
1. Cashing In
00:24:02
In 2003, PhRMA and other special interests in Washington overcame conservative opposition in Congress — including then-Reps. Mike Pence (R-IN), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and others — to pass the largest social welfare program in a generation, Medicare Part D (the prescription drug program). But what nobody knew at the time was one member of Congress in particular was cashing in and preparing to walk through the revolving door to work for the pharmaceutical industry. Guests:
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter. |
Jan 27, 2020 |
Trailer: Swamp Stories
00:02:09
Issue One is the leading crosspartisan political reform group in Washington, uniting Republicans, Democrats, and independents to fix our broken system. More info at IssueOne.org. |
Jan 03, 2020 |