Congress is surrendering more of its power to the president. In this episode we look at two events from last week that illustrate the diminishing roll of the house and senate.

The announcement of The Trump Gold Card visa for wealthy immigrants is very on brand for the president. For "a gift" of one million dollars to the federal government, rich immigrants can receive expedited approval to live and work in the United States. It's a plan that the Whitehouse says will bring in billions to the treasury. It's also a clear power grab by the executive branch as Congress, not the president, constitutionally controls immigration law.   

The US senate confirmed 48 of Trump's federal appointees in one vote after the Republican majority changed the rules to shut out their Democrat opponents. In doing so, the senate weakens its own power to influence how presidents choose their nominees going forward.

In this episode:
- Senate rule change → 48 confirmations in one vote. Republicans lowered the bar to a simple majority and batch-approved sub-cabinet posts and ambassadors.
- “Trump Gold Card” fast-track immigration. An executive-order pathway offering expedited visas for the ultra-wealthy—positioned as phase one before a “Platinum” tier.
- Executive power vs. Congress. Both moves centralize authority in the White House and sidestep Congress’s role over confirmations and immigration.
- FCC pressure as playbook. The Kimmel saga shows how loyal appointees can weaponize agencies without formal orders.
- Why it matters long-term. Normalizing simple-majority, batch confirmations + EO-driven immigration policy erodes checks and balances.

🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica 
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The Politics of New America explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

In the wake of the Charlie Kirk killing, we explore the rising tide of American political violence and how the country is at risk of normalizing such attacks.

In the second half of the show we look at the looming threat of a federal government shutdown and explain why these shutdowns are a uniquely American phenomenon.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change. 

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Democrats are sounding the alarm over what they say are Trump’s plans to postpone or cancel the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential elections. 

Join us as we delve into the constitutional legalities around federal elections and America’s history of holding elections in times of crisis to answer the question: What can Trump legally do to interfere with the normal election process?

In the second half of the show we look at  the soul searching amongst federal democrats as the party deals with a crisis of faith among their base. 

The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

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In a showcase of the limits of presidential power, Trump's executive order titled: "Prosecuting the Burning of The American Flag" does nothing of the sort, as flag burning is a constitutionally protected form of protest. The document descends into absurdity as it pushes the Department of Justice to find other crimes to charge flag burners with. Join us for a discussion on what, if anything, this executive order actually does and a look at the unintentionally humorous history of attempts to criminalize flag burning in the US. 

In the second half of the show, we check in on the immigration file after a Pew Research report that shows more than a million immigrants left the US since Trump took office. 

Episode Breakdown:
- Flag-burning EO ≠ ban: Trump’s executive order can’t criminalize flag burning—First Amendment still protects it.
- What it does do: Tells DOJ to target other crimes (e.g., incitement) that occur while someone desecrates a flag—symbolic, not substantive.
- Trial balloon? Why this EO may be a test to push courts to revisit long-standing free-speech rulings.
- Enforcement surge: Deportations and detentions are up; daily arrests rising even as official quotas lag.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the United States federal government in this era of radical change. 

🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica 

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Created for situations where time is of the essence, the Supreme Court's shadow docket allows the justices to weigh in on matters of extreme urgency without requiring a full trial. Since Trump's first term, the shadow docket is being used more and more frequently to remove obstacles to the president's agenda. New data reveals an overwhelming bias towards conservative rulings through the shadow docket and highlights the dangers of an increasingly compliant Supreme Court. 

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

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Once a fringe belief, the Unitary Executive Theory is being used by the Trump administration and right-wing political analysts to justify handing the president absolute authority over federal agencies. Expansion of presidential power threatens to further marginalize congress, the courts, and American democracy. 

In this episode we look at the history of the Unitary Executive Theory and how it’s being invoked in the present. Then we take some time to explain how Washington DC’s strange history allows for Trump to militarize the city over a fictional emergency.

The Politics of New America explains and explores the policies of the American federal government in an era of radical change.

Gerrymandering is an American tradition dating back to the nation’s founding. Join us as we look back at how Gerrymandering took root in the US, the humorous story of how it got its name, and its continued devastating impact on American democracy. 

The Politics of New America explores and explains the American federal government in this age of radical change. 

The US accounts for close to 40% of the world’s military spending, but it never seems to be enough. Maintaining the globe’s mightiest armed force is becoming unsustainably expensive. Join us as we look at the over inflated and fiscally disastrous state of the US military and how the Trump administration is making a big problem even worse. 

Welcome to the Politics of New America. We explore and explain the policies of the American federal government in this age of radical change. 

President Trump's latest Executive Order seeks to institutionalize thousands of Homeless Americans without their consent. It also forces states to abandon their current homelessness initiatives or face funding cuts and criminal investigations. Join us as we break down the order piece by piece to look at the context and consequences of this new aggressive approach toward America's ever worsening homelessness crisis. 

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal Government in this era of rapid change. 

The Supreme Court has given the Trump administration the green light to continue its dismantling of the Department of Education. At the same time the federal government is pulling billions out of school programs. We discuss the effects of these cuts and how the most vulnerable children will face the greatest impact. 

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American Federal Government in an era of radical change.