The Levin Center at Wayne State Law School presents "Oversight Matters," a podcast series on legislative oversight. This podcast is a behind-the-scenes look at important oversight and investigations by both state legislatures and Congress and the people involved in such work. You will hear personal stories and learn how legislators and their staffs uncover waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs as well as the facts behind important public policy reforms. You’ll also hear how bipartisanship can strengthen the value of oversight and foster constructive debate in our democracy. Hosted by the Levin Center's Ben Eikey.
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
A conversation with Professor Keesha Middlemass from Howard University of corrections oversight. Join us as we discuss visitation, her book Convicted and Condemned, and where state legislators could focus their oversight endeavors.
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
1 Jun 2023
Geoff Schumacher from the Mob Museum
This episode is being released in tandem with a new Portrait in Oversight titled Congress Investigates the Mafia: https://www.levin-center.org/what-is-oversight/portraits/ (https://www.levin-center.org/what-is-oversight/portraits/)
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
26 May 2023
West Virginia State Auditor JB McCuskey
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
29 Mar 2023
FAST Class: State Representative Jordan Harris on Corrections, Budget Hearings
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
2 Nov 2022
State Representative Wes Newton Discusses Legislative Oversight in the South Carolina Legislature
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
12 Oct 2022
Phil Barnett on Rep. Henry Waxman and the Big Tobacco Investigations
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
21 Sept 2022
Pablo Carrillo on the Abramoff Investigation and Lessons for Today's Congress
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
21 Jun 2022
Rufus Edmisten on Watergate, Oversight, and Barbecue
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
21 Apr 2022
Oversight Matters: Jesse Drucker, Investigative Reporter for the New York Times
Today we are talking with one of the top investigative reporters in the financial world — Jesse Drucker. Jesse is an award-winning investigative reporter for the New York Times Business section. He has also worked for both the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News. He won a pair of awards in 2011 from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers for articles he wrote on how U.S. multinationals shift profits to tax havens. Investigative reporters are part of the oversight ecosystem by raising concerning issues to light, and leveraging their platform to inform the general public and to provide Congress with essential information which might lead to a Congressional investigation. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
3 Mar 2022
Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser Blouin
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
21 Dec 2021
Oversight Matters: State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh
On this episode of Oversight Matters I am joined by State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh from Nebraska. Senator Cavanaugh has been a leader on legislative oversight in the Nebraska Unicameral. This is a unique legislature, with only one chamber and nonpartisan elected state senators. Today we focus on a child foster care contract in Nebraska. The oversight on this contract was conducted by Senator Cavanaugh and a team of other concerned Senators and staff. Our conversation takes several twists and turns, from initial concerns about the contract, to embezzlement, to what might happen next to better ensure children in need can receive essential care and support.
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
12 Oct 2021
Oversight Matters Episode 5: Youth and Government Oversight Program
On this episode of Oversight Matters my guests discuss the Youth and Government Oversight exercise program. The Levin Center offers this program to the YMCA and other high school level education programs across the nation. A scenario researched by team of Wayne Law volunteer students is prepared and then delivered to high school students who play the committee members and must work together to ask questions and gather facts on the scenario from the witnesses. This year's scenario involves school resource officers and social media algorithms.
The Levin Center has offered a different scenario every year for the simulated oversight hearing by students: one focused on an oil spill in the Great Lakes, another involved young workers being exploited by employers; and the most recent was a school resource officer asked to confront a student whose social media posts had been identified by an algorithm as threatening.
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
4 Aug 2021
Oversight Matters Episode 4: Ryan Alexander
On this episode of oversight matters, my guest is Ryan Alexander.
Ryan served as president of Taxpayers for Common Sense for fourteen years. Taxpayers for Common Sense is a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on ensuring responsible use of taxpayer dollars and that government operates within its means. They conduct their own robust investigations and issue their own reports, an interesting example of oversight by a nonprofit.
Ryan has worked with allies all across the political spectrum to get things done, and has testified to Congress on a wide range of topics related to federal spending, subsidies, and fiscal policy. Her perspective on oversight is one of someone who conducted oversight not from a position in Congress, nor from a state legislature, but as a nonprofit seeking to inform the public and equip decision-makers with facts.
Ryan co-founded Appalachian Mountain Advocates, which she continues to chair, and sits on the boards of directors of the Fund for Constitutional Government, Project on Government Oversight, and R Street Institute.
Together, we discuss habitual oversight like the GAO’s high-risk list, and oversight on a wide range of topics including oil & gas and cybersecurity. I enjoyed this conversation and hope you all do as well.
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
8 Jun 2021
Oversight Matters Episode 3: California Assemblymember Ken Cooley
Assemblymember Ken Cooley shares stories on his favorite oversight memories, writing a comprehensive state legislative oversight handbook, and a special letter from Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
27 Apr 2021
Oversight Matters Episode 2: Senator Carl Levin
On this episode of Oversight Matters, Ben visits with Senator Carl Levin to discuss his new memoir, Getting to the Heart of the Matter: My 36 Years in the Senate. Together, they discussed the Detroit City Council, some favorite Senate memories, and the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Clips are shared throughout the podcast, featuring Senate colleagues sharing acclaim for Senator Levin’s service and legacy.
The views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.
3 Feb 2021
What is oversight? How oversight generates positive reform. Part 2.
15 Jan 2021
What is oversight? How oversight generates positive reform. Part 1.
On this episode of Oversight Matters, we will hear from two of the nation's leading experts on congressional oversight about the power of diving into the facts, the impact of ordinary Americans telling their stories and inspiring change, the capacity of oversight to hold global corporations accountable and to make even the wealthiest and most powerful people face the music for letting their customers or shareholders down.
Topics include social security disability, credit card interest reform, predatory sweepstakes, the Enron hearings, and secret swiss bank accounts.
You will hear why oversight matters.
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