Suspending the Rules

Companies wouldn’t be able to require employees or consumers to resolve disputes through arbitration rather than court under a bill the House plans to take up this week. On this episode of “Suspending the Rules” from Bloomberg Government, legislative analyst Adam M. Taylor and Bloomberg Law congressional labor policy reporter Jaclyn Diaz break down the bill, the debate around it, and its prospects moving forward. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device:

Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher | Via Spotify Hosts: Sarah Babbage, Michael SmallbergEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

Congress faces a long to-do list as it returns from its summer recess this week. Lawmakers will need to extend federal funding past Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown, and could take up legislation to address recent shootings, drug pricing, and trade. On this episode of Bloomberg Government’s podcast “Suspending the Rules,” budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick joins legislative analysts Danielle Parnass, Sarah Babbage, and Adam M. Taylor to preview the fall slate. Download the Fall 2019 Hill Watch for a closer look at the wide range of policy issues that could arise in Congress. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device:

Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher | Via Spotify Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Sarah Babbage, Danielle ParnassEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

A special election in North Carolina is being watched as a potential bellwether for the 2020 campaign. The state’s 9th Congressional District will vote on Sept. 10 to fill a vacant seat in the House after the 2018 results were nullified following evidence of absentee ballot fraud.  On this episode of “Suspending the Rules” from Bloomberg Government, BGOV campaigns and elections reporter Greg Giroux and Andrew Ballard, a staff correspondent based in Raleigh, break down the race between Democrat Dan McCready and Republican Dan Bishop. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device:

Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher | Via Spotify Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle ParnassEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

Legislation to regulate autonomous vehicles got hung up in Congress last year, but that hasn't stopped developers from rolling test vehicles onto the streets. This special episode of Bloomberg Government’s “Suspending the Rules” looks at how the industry is evolving without firm federal rules. The episode features Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who are looking to restart momentum for an autonomous vehicle bill that stalled in the last Congress, as well as stakeholders from Toyota Motor Corp. and safety advocate groups. It also includes a trip to a pilot project in Houston delivering Kroger Co. groceries in autonomous vehicles.

Hosts: Sarah Babbage, Shaun Courtney

Supervising Producer: Adam Schank

Audio Editor: Nico Anzalotta

Executive Producer: Josh Block

Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected].

Republicans and Democrats are increasingly discussing potential changes to the law that protects social media platforms and other internet companies from liability for their users’ content. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said that companies should face more accountability for their privacy practices and moderation of harmful content, while conservative lawmakers have introduced bills to prevent what they say is censorship of conservative voices. The White House is also reportedly drafting a proposal to require social media companies not to censor viewpoints in a politically biased way. On this special episode of Bloomberg Government’s “Suspending the Rules,” technology reporter Rebecca Kern speaks with Elizabeth Banker, vice president and associate general counsel at the Internet Association, about the law, known as "Section 230," and her group’s views on proposed changes. The association represents online companies like Facebook, Google, and Yelp. This is the second of two episodes in a series looking at Section 230 liability protections. The first, an interview with Public Knowledge Legal Director John Bergmayer, was released on Aug. 6. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device: 

Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher | Via Spotify Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Rebecca KernEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

With public and congressional attention increasingly focused on social media companies, lawmakers and other stakeholders are discussing changes to the obscure provision of law that’s been credited with the rise of online companies. The “Section 230” shield protects online platforms from liability for user-generated content. Members of Congress including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said they’re open to changes to create more accountability for companies’ privacy and moderation practices. On this special episode of “Suspending the Rules” from Bloomberg Government, technology reporter Rebecca Kern sits down with Public Knowledge Legal Director John Bergmayer to discuss how Section 230 helped create the current internet landscape and his group’s views on proposed changes to the law.

Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device:

Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher| Via Spotify Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Rebecca KernEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

With the House scheduled to leave town for a six-week recess Friday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are negotiating a budget deal to address spending caps and the debt ceiling. On this episode of Bloomberg Government’s “Suspending the Rules,” budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick breaks down the talks and issues at stake in the deal. He also previews what to look for when the annual appropriations process resumes this fall. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device:

Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher| Via Spotify Hosts: Danielle Parnass, Adam M. TaylorEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

The House last week easily passed a bill to eliminate the per-country cap on employment-based green cards, a move that would reduce the backlog of applicants from China and India. The measure faces a rockier road in the Senate, however, where concerns over specific occupations and the broader system of legal immigration are holding up action. On this episode of “Suspending the Rules” from Bloomberg Government, legislative analyst Adam Taylor and Bloomberg Law immigration reporter Laura Francis break down the legislative proposals and prospects moving forward. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device:

Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher| Via Spotify Hosts: Danielle Parnass, Michael SmallbergEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

The House this week will take up its version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act amid opposition from Republicans and potential defections from progressives. The Senate passed its version of the bill, which will need to be reconciled with the House’s version. On this episode of “Suspending the Rules,” Bloomberg Government defense reporters Roxana Tiron and Travis Tritten break down the House bill, highlight key difference with the Senate’s bill, and preview the measure’s prospects. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device:

 Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher| Via Spotify Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Adam SchankEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

Lobbyists have been just as busy as lawmakers halfway through 2019, as industries and interest groups mobilize around drug pricing, mergers, and other hot-button topics. Democratic proposals like “Medicare-for-All” have spurred industry groups to hire lobbyists to oppose or blunt those initiatives. On this episode of “Suspending the Rules” from Bloomberg Government, lobbying reporter Megan Wilson breaks down the biggest stories in the industry, including the effects of candidates forgoing lobbyist donations and how some influence peddlers are finding new ways to sway the Trump administration. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Listen and subscribe to Suspending the Rules from your mobile device:

 Via Apple Podcasts | Via Overcast | Via Stitcher| Via Spotify Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Adam SchankEngineer: Nico Anzalotta