Almost all of us have political opinions about the 2025 government shutdown, Supreme Court decisions, and federal spending—but do you actually know how the American government system was designed to work? With Trump’s second term reshaping executive power and federalism debates dominating headlines, understanding the basics has never been more important.

In this episode, we break down the three branches of government in simple terms: what Congress actually does (and why it’s gridlocked), why the President has more power than the Founders intended, how the Supreme Court shapes policy on everything from voting rights to transgender sports, and why federalism and states’ rights matter more than you think.

Whether you’re trying to understand the current government shutdown affecting 900,000 federal workers, presidential immunity debates, or separation of powers controversies—you need to know how it was supposed to work in the first place. Perfect for anyone confused by civics, students studying American government, or voters who want to understand what’s actually broken.

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To hear more, visit carsonwagner.substack.com