Mastering the Room

• The federal budget is a complex and abstract topic that is difficult to make relatable to people, but it is important because it affects the strength of the economy, national security, and the ability to address new challenges.
• Mandatory spending, which includes entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, is a major driver of the budget and is less subject to oversight and evaluation compared to discretionary spending.
• The political incentives for lawmakers to focus on mandatory spending include the popularity of these programs and the tangible benefits they provide to individuals.
• Ignoring the fiscal problem and failing to address the growing debt can have serious consequences, including crowding out other investments, hindering economic growth, and creating vulnerabilities in national security.
• Addressing the fiscal problem requires a combination of raising revenues and cutting spending, and it is unrealistic to expect that the problem can be solved without making difficult choices.
• China's role as a major borrower of US debt poses a risk, as they have the ability to stop lending or sell their existing treasuries, which could have negative effects on the US economy.
• There is a need for a fiscal commission to bring together lawmakers from both parties to find solutions and create a public education effort to engage people in understanding the importance of fiscal responsibility.
• While there are challenges and concerns, there is still hope that the fiscal problem can be addressed and the country can work towards a more sustainable financial future.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and the Importance of the Federal Budget

12:01 The Challenges of Mandatory Spending and the Political Incentives

25:56 Addressing the Fiscal Problem Requires Difficult Choices

34:37 The Risk of China Calling the US Debt

37:02 Hope for Addressing the Fiscal Problem

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

• Lorenzo Santos is a Democratic challenger from Wisconsin running for Congress because of his love for his community and belief in his unique skill set.
• He has a background in politics and grassroots organizing, which has allowed him to understand the challenges and experiences of other candidates.
• Santos emphasizes the importance of engaging with voters, listening to their concerns, and fighting for the issues that matter to them.
• He recognizes the challenges of fundraising and reaching out to voters in a polarized political environment but remains committed to transparency and principled stands on important issues.

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Motivations

02:54Grassroots Organizing and Engaging with Voters

07:11Reproductive Rights and Differentiating from the Incumbent

11:01Challenges and Strategies in a Polarized Political Environment

13:15Transparency, Listening, and Fighting for the Issues

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

Takeaways

Being ideologically consistent is important in politics, regardless of which party is in power. The United States is facing generational challenges that require attention and action. Bipartisanship should not be seen as a negative, but as a way to address important issues. Leaving Congress and running for president can be a rewarding experience despite the challenges. Finally, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of America.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

03:16

From CIA to Congress

09:32

Bipartisanship in Politics

16:14

Challenges in Congress

26:53

Leaving Congress and Running for President

31:48

Lessons from Running for President

36:54

Optimism for the Future

41:06

Favorite Cocktail and Closing

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

• Rural America's conservative leanings are not a recent phenomenon but have been developing for decades.
• The rural-urban divide is more complex than a simple distinction between Democrats in cities and Republicans in rural areas.
• Rural voters interpret politics through a place-based lens and have a shared fate perspective.
• Rural voters value their sense of place and have a deep connection to their communities.
• Rural voters are not solely defined by demographics and exhibit a range of political beliefs.
• Donald Trump's appeal to rural voters can be attributed to his perceived authenticity and his challenge to the political establishment.
• Rural voters have genuine anxieties and concerns that have shaped their political views.
• Stereotypes and generalizations about rural Americans hinder understanding and dialogue.
• It is important to take the time to understand the perspectives and experiences of rural Americans.
• Reducing people to stereotypes and dismissing their concerns does not contribute to productive political discourse.

Chapters

00:00Introduction: The Question of Rural Conservatism

03:40The Rural-Urban Divide

10:37Characteristics of Rural Voters

16:23The Appeal of Donald Trump to Rural Voters

29:25Challenging Stereotypes and Preconceived Notions

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

• TikTok is a social media platform with 170 million users in the United States, known for its addictive nature and short videos.
• The concern with TikTok lies in its ownership by ByteDance, a Chinese company that may be compelled to share user data with the Chinese government.
• Teenagers and young people are the primary users of TikTok, but they generally do not prioritize the national security concerns or the potential ban of the app.
• There is a need for regulatory frameworks to protect children online and address privacy concerns, but finding the balance between freedom of expression and user protection is challenging.

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Overview

00:59 What is TikTok?

03:35 Concerns about Data Privacy

06:03 Public Perception and Teenagers' Views

08:48 Legislation and Separating TikTok from ByteDance

13:26 Political Motivations and Privacy Concerns

15:22 Privacy Trade-Offs and Mental Health Impact

23:19 Overview of the Bill and ByteDance's Response

24:14 Details of the Bill and Constitutional Concerns

25:28 Definition of Foreign Adversary and Potential Geopolitical Implications

26:36 Avoiding First Amendment Concerns and Forced Divestiture

27:49 Potential Buyers and Antitrust Concerns

28:04 Uncertainty from Apple and Google

28:32 Data Privacy Concerns and ByteDance's Efforts

30:08 Likelihood of Adoption in the Senate

31:19 Former President Trump's Stance

34:26 Impact on Youth and Media Literacy

36:23 Media Literacy and Responsibility

39:44 Likely Court Challenges

41:05 Potential Constitutional Challenges

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

• Impeachment has become normalized in politics, with both parties using it as a campaign slogan and tool.
• The definition of high crimes and misdemeanors is open to interpretation, leading to debates about what constitutes an impeachable offense.
• Congress needs to assert its authority and strengthen its oversight power to prevent stonewalling and ensure compliance with subpoenas.
• The normalization of impeachment raises concerns about the future of democracy and the potential for abuse of power. Congress should work together to address executive actions and make them go away through legislation.
• Congress needs to reclaim its war powers and fulfill its constitutional duty to declare war.
• Partisanship and political calculation have led to the loss of congressional authority and a polarized environment.
• Courageous behavior should be rewarded regardless of party affiliation.
• Gerrymandering reform and the For the People Act are important steps towards fair elections.
• The founders would be both disappointed and hopeful about the current state of American democracy.
• Amending the Constitution for greater democracy and ending the dominance of political parties is crucial.

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background

04:47The History of Impeachment

06:10Defining High Crimes and Misdemeanors

09:01Impeachment as a Political Tool

10:29Congressional Authority and Impeachment

14:11The Normalization of Impeachment

28:43Taking Back Power from Executive Actions

29:39Congress' Abdication of War Powers

30:36Wimpiness of Members of Congress

31:06The Polarized Environment

31:36Hope for Governing and Working Together

32:01The Impact of Partisanship on Courageous Acts

32:30The Need for Courage to be Rewarded

32:45Disentangling from Political Party

33:06Gerrymandering Reform

34:07The For the People Act

35:41Being Primaried and Regretting Votes

36:15Running for Office Again

37:14Redistricting and Gerrymandering

38:00Drawing Multi-Member Districts

39:08The Founders' Perspective on Today's World

41:17Surprises for the Founders

44:14The Challenge to the Electoral College

45:13The Tantalizing Dream of Government

48:36Amending the Constitution for Greater Democracy

49:29Ending on a Bipartisan Note

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

• The decline in respect for the institution of Congress and the lack of trust and civility among members have changed the political landscape in Washington.
• The rise of social media and the influence it has on political discourse has contributed to the polarization and cynicism in Congress.
• The small number of competitive districts and the incentive structure in Congress make it difficult for members to reach across the aisle and find common ground.
• The shift towards commuting and spending less time in Washington has affected the personal relationships and interactions among members.
• There is concern about the current state of American democracy and the need to respect institutions and the electoral process.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Topic of Discussion

01:55

Changes in Washington and Congress

04:24

Decline in Respect for the Institution

07:45

Challenges in Caucus Meetings

10:13

Impact of Competitive Districts

12:19

Influence of Family and Commuting

15:26

Welcome to DC Moments

18:10

Most Influential Politicians

21:31

Mulligan Moments

27:01

Dominating a Room

29:46

Running for Office Today

31:20

Concerns and Optimism for the Future

34:02

Favorite Hole in the Wall Restaurant

34:35

Closing Remarks

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is a bite-sized podcast from GW’s Graduate School of Political Management, hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average morning commute, you’ll get smarter on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

The podcast challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing points of view that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. Prior to joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on a variety of television and radio outlets. Dr. Burgat co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by the Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

• Former President Trump faces a range of legal liabilities, including charges of falsifying business records, election fraud, mishandling national security documents, and subverting the 2020 election.
• The Manhattan charges, related to falsifying business records, are seen as less threatening but may be the first case to go to trial. The Georgia charges, involving election fraud, are significant as they could not be pardoned at the federal level.
• The case of national security documents highlights the mishandling of classified information and the efforts to hide them. The 2020 election subversion case raises constitutional questions about the prosecution of a former president.
• The likelihood of conviction varies across the cases, with higher chances in the Manhattan and Georgia charges and lower chances in the Florida case. The role of Chief Prosecutor Jack Smith and the independence of the Department of Justice are also discussed.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:15 Manhattan Charges: Falsifying Business Records

04:56 Importance of State-Level Charges

08:11 Billionaire Defense and Questionable Accounting Practices

10:33 Georgia Charges: Election Fraud

18:28 Introduction to Chief Prosecutor Jack Smith

24:41 National Security Documents Case

33:30 2020 Election Subversion Case

42:01 Likelihood of Conviction and Prison Time

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

McKay Coppins is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers politics, religion, and national affairs. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Romney: A Reckoning, a biography of Mitt Romney published by Scribner in October 2023, and The Wilderness, a 2015 book about the battle for the future of the Republican Party. A former visiting fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Coppins has won the Aldo Beckman Award from the White House Correspondents Association for his coverage of the Trump presidency and the Wilbur Award for religion journalism. He lives near Washington, D.C., with his wife and children.

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

ABOUT SCOTT MACFARLANE
Scott MacFarlane is a congressional correspondent for CBS News, reporting for all broadcasts and platforms. MacFarlane brings a wealth of experience to the Capitol Hill beat having covered Washington, D.C. and the federal government for nearly 20 years. MacFarlane's meticulous and ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has included interviews with several defendants and members of the House committee investigating the attack. MacFarlane and his reporting have also contributed to the public release of some of the video exhibits used by federal prosecutors in court. MacFarlane has also produced documentaries on the history of two New York radio stations, WJPZ-FM and WAER-FM. He belongs to the WJPZ and WAER radio Halls of Fame. He previously served on the Board of Advisors of Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications. MacFarlane is a summa cum laude graduate of Syracuse University.

ABOUT MYAH WARD
Myah Ward is a White House reporter for POLITICO. She previously worked as a breaking news reporter, a senior digital producer and an editorial intern at POLITICO. Before joining the newsroom, Myah interned for the Charlotte Observer, Bloomberg and freelanced for the New York Times. Myah grew up outside of Charlotte, N.C. She studied journalism and political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is a bite-sized podcast from GW’s Graduate School of Political Management, hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average morning commute, you’ll get smarter on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

The podcast challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing points of view that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. Prior to joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on a variety of television and radio outlets. Dr. Burgat co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by the Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.