WashingTown

Members of Utah's Pacific Islander community met with with Rep. Ben McAdams, Utah's only Democrat in its congressional delegation, in Washington D.C., to discuss the reauthorization of COFA (Compacts of Free Association) in 2023 and how changes to the U.S. healthcare system a few years ago took medicaid benefits from a population deserves them. Not only do residents of Micronesian countries, like the Marshall Islands, travel and work freely in the U.S., they pay taxes, and they were exposed to radiation as the U.S. tested weaponry near their communities in World War II. It is an informative and moving conversation about a little known reality for many members of the Micronesian community living in the U.S.

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If the Federal Government manages state land, how do local government's generate revenue? In this episode, Rep. Ben McAdams discusses public lands, including how the state is compensated for the public land managed by the federal government, with Piute County Commissioner, Darin Bushman, a Republican, and Summit County Councilman Glenn Wright, a Democrat. The trio have worked together before, and they are discussing some of the things they all agree on when it comes to generating revenue from public lands.

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In this episode, Rep. Ben McAdams talks with Utah surgeon Dr. Scott Leckman about his advocacy work for on behalf of the poorest among us. He talks about what Dr. Leckman has been involved with, how Congress has responded to his requests for help, and what he’s working on in the future. Dr. Leckman explains why the U.S. government should be concerned about disease and healthcare around the world.

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This is an extended episode in which, Rep. Ben McAdams visits the U.S. southern border with colleagues from the Problem Solver’s Caucus. He interviews Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, a Republican from Ohio, Rep. Tom Reed, R-New York, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger, R-Virginia, about what they saw during their visit and how they might find solutions to the growing crisis. The problem, McAdams says, is much more complicated and nuanced that the public debate, which makes finding solutions more difficult. 

For Gonzalez, some moments took him back to his childhood. One weeping woman, in particular, made him think of the many relatives who spent time at his home as they immigrated from Cuba to the U.S.

“That was incredibly powerful for me,” Gonzalez said. “I couldn’t help but see members of my own family when I looked in her eyes and saw the tears running down her face.”

This is a longer version of Episode 24, in which featured only Gonzalez.

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In this episode, Rep. Ben McAdams talks with Salt Lake City Council members about why local government tends to get so much done despite very different political philosophies. From homeless issues to infrastructure projects, local government officials set aside personal differences to accomplish a wide range of things that stall in halls of our federal government.

City officials discuss the importance of autonomy of local government, but also the ways in which local officials can cooperate with federal representatives to “be a rising tide that lifts all ships.”

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In this episode, we bring you an edited version of the podcast "Thanks for sharing" with Jackie Pack. The Bountiful addiction recovery therapist is the older sister of Congressman Ben McAdams, and they discuss overcoming the difficulties of their childhood, how hardships shaped him, and how politics can become something that helps people and heals communities.

You can find more from Pack, including the complete episode, at healingpathsrecovery.com.

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In this episode of WashingTown, Congressman Ben McAdams talks with two of his colleagues from the House of Representatives about the tenuous relationship between the U.S. and Iran. He talks with one member from each of the major parties - Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat who represents Michigan’s 8th District, and Rep. Mark Green, a Republican who represents Tennessee’s 7th District. 

They each bring a unique and thought-provoking perspective to a political situation that is not well understood among many Americans. Rep. Green is a physician and veteran who served one tour in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq, while Rep. Slotkin is a former CIA analyst and Defense Department official who served three tours in the Middle East, and has worked on issues related to Iran most of her professional career.

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In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams has a wide-ranging conversation that includes, building Olympians through youth programs, the mindset of a gold medalist, and how the lessons of sports and teamwork apply to the job we ask of our federal representatives. 

Congressman McAdams shares his frustration with the partisan language that undermines the spirit of cooperation and compromise. Derek Parra shares how representing the country should unite us in finding solutions rather than pit us against each other.

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In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams talks with another member of Utah's Congressional delegation - Republican Rep. John Curtis. They discuss working together on Utah issues, and what gets in the way when they try to work across party lines at the federal level. They also discuss successes and current issues in this unique public discussion of Washington's partisan system.

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In this episode of WashingTown, Congressman Ben McAdams talks to actor and activist Joshua Rush, who is an aspiring journalist currently serving as an intern in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rush starred in the Disney Channel show "Andi Mack," and has worked in independent features like "Emelie" and "Break Point,", as well as animation projects like "The Lion Guard” and "The Adventures of Puss in Boots.” He talks about his most interesting assignments, offers advice to McAdams, and talks about working in the nation’s Capitol. He and the congressman also discuss the pros and cons of social media access to elected leaders.

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This is a conversation with Ashish Patel, who came to the U.S. on an H1B Visa, a visa that allows companies to hire highly skilled, specialized workers from around the world. He was granted status as an immigrant in 2011, but will wait decades for a green card without changes to the current immigration laws. In this conversation, Patel discusses his 10-year effort to change the immigraiton quota system that now means immigrants from countries like India would wait more than 150 years for a green card.

He also discusses why his wife couldn’t work, and what it’s like to live with uncertainty. For some, he said, the U.S. system is too difficult to navigate, and recently many are opting to make their homes in Canada instead.

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This episode is part two of a WashingTown live event. Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics discusses the Mueller report, trying to accomplish legislative goals in the wake of the report and future hearings, the reasons he feels a constitutional amendment is necessary to balance the federal budget, and how he deals with situations where his personal conscience conflicts with the demands of his constituents. He also talks about how the current political climate has made solving even the most minor problems more difficult, especially because of dysfunction in the Senate. 

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In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams discusse shis first 100 days in office with Hinckley Institute of Politics director Jason Perry in front of an audience at KSL Broadcast House. Mr. Perry talks about the class that changed the congressman’s career path, his bipartisan roots and how difficult it has been to take the philosophy that made him successful in Utah to a deeply divided federal government.

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In this issue of WashingTown, Congressman Ben McAdams talks about being in Utah for a couple of weeks to discuss issues that require cooperation between local governments and federal lawmakers. In this episode, he talks transportation - infrastructure and issues - with Utah Transit Board of Trustees Carton Christensen, board chair; Beth Holbrook, and Kent Millington. They talk about some of the new and innovative projects UTA hopes to undertake and what some of the issues are when trying to help people find the ability to live mobile lives.

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Attorney Mehrsa Baradaran discusses what it’s like to testifying in front of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, a subcommittee on which McAdams serves. Her testimony came during discussions about the Community Reinvestment Act and what possible updates or changes might be necessary, especially if financial institutions don’t have incentives to help with issues that are not profitable for them. The author of books and academic papers on the subject, she talks about why she was asked to testify, and why it’s difficult to deal with the nuances of the issues in a committee hearing.

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In this episode, Rep. Ben McAdams discusses the Safe Banking Act (H.R. 1595) with Washington Rep. Denny Heck. With 34 states legalizing marijuana to some degree, including Utah (medicinal), federal lawmakers are now grappling with how to allow those businesses dispensing or selling marijuana to use the federally insured banks or credit unions. Running cash-only businesses has made these dispensaries targets for criminals, and Rep. Heck shares a tragic story in his conversation with Rep. McAdams. 

The Utah State Treasurer and the Utah legislature have asked Congress to solve the problem and the SAFE Banking Act provides help. Nationally, the financial services industry has been calling for guidance on how to do business with companies that are legal in many states but are not legal at the federal level. Compliance burdens and fear of violating anti-money laundering laws have kept the number of financial institutions willing to do business with marijuana companies to only a few dozen.

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In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams meets with St. George Mayor Jon Pike and Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd to discuss what Congress could learn from the way local governments solve problems and deal with issues. They touch on priorities, including an airport expansion in St. George and infrastructure and minimum wage issues. Mayor Shepherd talks about decisions he thought might cost him his job, and why he did it anyway. 

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