Eye on Congress

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is emphasizing a push for racial equity in the nation’s transportation system. CQ Roll Call transportation reporter Jessica Wehrman reports on the obstacles Buttigieg faces, and why advocates are optimistic for change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The buzz on K Street is a likely return of earmarks on Capitol Hill. CQ Roll Call lobbying reporter Kate Ackley explains the history of why earmarks were banned in Congress and the implications of their possible return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for behavioral health resources and existing inadequacies in the mental health system. CQ Roll Call reporter Sandhya Raman reports on how budget reconciliation may be the most likely vehicle for changes in behavior health policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To hear former U.S. national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia Eugene Rumer tell it: “I’m not sure we even had a Russia policy during the previous four years.” This is particularly alarming when considering that for the past decade, national security has been marked by Russian aggression toward the Western world through the annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine, the undermining of U.S.-Iran relations, and the attempted assassination and subsequent arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.  With the announcement of a full review of U.S.-Russia policy by President Joe Biden, we wanted to examine what the future of the U.S. relationship with Russia might look like during this administration. CQ Roll Call’s Shawn Zeller speaks with Rumer, director of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Russia and Eurasia Program, for this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev was the main focus of Thursday's House Committee on Financial Services hearing — the first of many on the Gamestop stock transactions last month. But what is perhaps more interesting are the topics members didn't dive into in this hearing. CQ Roll Call securities reporter Caitlin Reilly has more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats in Congress are pushing for billions of dollars to go to a program that provides discounted laptops and hotspots to schools. CQ Roll Call reporter Dean DeChiaro breaks down the fight in Congress over making internet more accessible to students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will make investments in COVID-19 testing and tracing while waiting for lawmakers on Capitol Hill to appropriate more funds through a pandemic relief package. CQ Roll Call Ariel Cohen reports on the $1.6 billion investment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the high drama and hard feelings associated with the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, it’s unclear it will have an effect on the political coin of the realm: The next election. Senior politics correspondent Bridget Bowman and Political Editor Herb Jackson discuss some of the remaining questions about whether their votes during this latest impeachment round will come back to haunt any senators or members of the House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., told CQ Roll Call that he'll be proposing a bill Thursday to codify the Pentagon recommendations for preventing white supremacists from enlisting in the military. Listen to reporter John Donnelly for more on the report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic lawmakers are expected to introduce legislation later this week to overhaul the immigration system. CQ Roll Call immigration reporter Suzanne Monyak reports on what to expect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House Budget Committee is set to assemble the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package this week through the budget reconciliation process. CQ Roll Call’s David Lerman and Paul M. Krawzak discuss the latest around the relief measure and look ahead to other parts of the reconciliation process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Silicon Valley Bank CEO Greg Becker and top lawyer Michael Zuckert join Fintech Beat along with Kate Waldock and YeshaYadav to discuss the ins and outs of one of the most influential banks in the innovation economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest data on border arrests show an increase last month, raising concerns that more asylum seekers and immigrant-hopefuls are heading to the border now that President Biden is in office. CQ Roll Call's Suzanne Monyak reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigration policy is one of President Biden's top priorities. He has signed five executive orders and issued another four statements and proclamations — in less than two weeks — that include: upping the annual number of refugees allowed into the country nearly tenfold, seeking to reunify families that were separated at the border, stopping construction of the border wall, and looking at access to the legal system for immigrants. Mary C. Curtis speaks to former immigration advocate and senior director for Obama's White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Muñoz about the past, present and future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showtime’s political documentary series “The Circus” wants to capture, in the words of co-host John Heilemann, the “big, giant chaotic, nightmarish stew” of our politics. At Political Theater, we’re pretty down with that. Heilemann and co-host Jennifer Palmieri join the podcast to discuss their approach to the Jan. 6 insurrection, the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, political violence and democracy’s “second chance.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted Tuesday to advance Michael Regan, President Joe Biden's nominee for EPA administrator, to the Senate floor for a confirmation vote. CQ Roll Call's Joseph Morton reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Parents with advocacy chops are tapping into their political prowess to get schools in the DC area to open their doors to students. CQ Roll Call's Kate Ackley reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Democrats are barreling ahead with the budget reconciliation process, with committees spending the week marking up their portions of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan. But major changes are coming — with tax rebate checks aimed at lower-income households and additional aid for restaurants and airlines. And a Congressional Budget Office price tag of $54 billion for the $15 minimum wage proposal puts that provision at risk. CQ Roll Call’s Peter Cohn and David Lerman discuss the latest on the COVID-19 relief package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic Sens. Mark Warner, Mazie Hirono and Amy Klobuchar introduced a new bill Friday and CQ Roll Call's Dean DeChiaro has more details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nine committees have begun drafting bills for committee markups this week. And there were some surprises. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman previews what to expect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices