Civil Discourse

Aughie and Nia welcome Dr. Pattie Sobczak to discuss the National Zoo. Topics range from the history of the Zoo, to the basics of planning a visit, and Panda Diplomacy.

In a two-part set of episodes, Nia and Aughie talk with Eric Johnson about the opportunities to see national parks in every state in the union. The first episode focuses on the legislation that brought the National Park system into being. In the second episode, Eric explains the details of visiting the parks.

In a two-part set of episodes, Nia and Aughie talk with Eric Johnson about the opportunities to see national parks in every state in the union. The first episode focuses on the legislation that brought the National Park system into being. In the second episode, Eric explains the details of visiting the parks.

In the final episode of the Commissions series, Aughie and Nia look at the Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy, also known as the Moynihan Commission. Coming at the end of the Cold War Era, this report discusses the need for careful review of secrecy decisions to limit the potential harms from too many documents being declared secret.

The second of two episodes that find Nia and Aughie exploring the four major Banking Commissions from 1907 to 2010. In part 1, they discussed the National Monetary Commission and the Pecora Investigation. In part 2, they look into the Commission on Money and Credit and the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.

The next two episodes find Nia and Aughie exploring the four major Banking Commissions from 1907 to 2010. In part 1, they discuss the National Monetary Commission and the Pecora Investigation. In part 2, they look into the Commission on Money and Credit and the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.

In these two episodes of the Commission series, Nia and Aughie explore the report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, also known as the Kerner Commission. In the first part, Aughie and Nia discuss membership, precipitating events, and list the recommendations. In part 2, they discuss the public reaction to the recommendations, and the ongoing political fallout from the Commission's work.

In these two episodes of the Commission series, Nia and Aughie explore the report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, also known as the Kerner Commission. In the first part, Aughie and Nia discuss membership, precipitating events, and list the recommendations. In part 2, they discuss the public reaction to the recommendations, and the ongoing political fallout from the Commission's work.

The Tower Commission, established in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan, was to investigate and review the proper role of the National Security Staff  in the sale of arms to Iran. Aughie and Nia discuss the scope of the investigation, from the Congressional mandates regarding arms sales to the lack of cooperation of some of the intelligence agencies. They also touch on the concurrent Congressional investigations.

Nia and Aughie discuss the work of the The Shafer Commission. The discussion touches on Reefer Madness and moves to the 1974 report and the recommendations regarding decriminalization of recreational marijuana use. The Commission's report on marijuana use was largely ignored by the Nixon Administration.