Today we answer this question from a listener, "Is Santa a criminal?"We get to the bottom of the myriad actions of the jolly old elf, and whether he could reasonably be tried for civil and criminal violations, including but not limited to trespassing, breaking and entering, voyeurism, stalking, surveillance, burglary, tax evasion, bad labor practices, emotional distress, and (in one instance) involuntary manslaughter.Taking us through this complex web of charges is <a href="https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/law/faculty_and_staff/directory/miller_colin.php">Colin Miller</a>, professor at University of South Carolina School of Law and co-host of the true crime podcast Undisclosed.
<ul><li><a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/">CLICK HERE:</a> Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!</li><li>To see Civics 101 in book form, check out <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/">A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works</a> by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.</li><li>Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,<a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"> Outside/In</a> - we think you'll love it!</li></ul> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Today we answer this question from a listener, "Is Santa a criminal?"&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We get to the bottom of the myriad actions of the jolly old elf, and whether he could reasonably be tried for civil and criminal violations, including but not limited to trespassing, breaking and entering, voyeurism, stalking, surveillance, burglary, tax evasion, bad labor practices, emotional distress, and (in one instance) involuntary manslaughter.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Taking us through this complex web of charges is &lt;a href="https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/law/faculty_and_staff/directory/miller_colin.php"&gt;Colin Miller&lt;/a&gt;, professor at University of South Carolina School of Law and co-host of the true crime podcast &lt;i&gt;Undisclosed&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/"&gt;CLICK HERE:&lt;/a&gt; Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;To see Civics 101 in book form, check out &lt;a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/"&gt;A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works&lt;/a&gt; by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,&lt;a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"&gt; Outside/In&lt;/a&gt; - we think you'll love it!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

One our favorite subjects in recent memory: is Santa's method of present delivery... legal?

Probable Claus: Is Santa a Criminal?

Why does it take, in practice, 60 votes for a bill to pass in the Senate? Why doesn't it seem like anyone is up there talking for days anymore? And why do we even have it in the first place?Today is all about the filibuster; from its benign origins to its use and misuse, the arguments for and against it, and what it would take to eliminate it entirely. Our guest is <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/people/molly-e-reynolds/">Molly Reynolds</a> from the Brookings Institution.To learn about the tumultuous back and forth between the federal and state government in Little Rock, <a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/civics-101-episodes/federalism">here's</a> our episode on Federalism.And <a href="https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Thurmond_filibuster_1957.pdf">here</a> is the full, 88-page transcript of Strom Thurmond's day-long filibuster.  
<ul><li><a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/">CLICK HERE:</a> Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!</li><li>To see Civics 101 in book form, check out <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/">A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works</a> by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.</li><li>Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,<a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"> Outside/In</a> - we think you'll love it!</li></ul> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Why does it take, in practice, 60 votes for a bill to pass in the Senate? Why doesn't it seem like anyone is up there talking for days anymore? And why do we even have it in the first place?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Today is all about the filibuster; from its benign origins to its use and misuse, the arguments for and against it, and what it would take to eliminate it entirely. Our guest is &lt;a href="https://www.brookings.edu/people/molly-e-reynolds/"&gt;Molly Reynolds&lt;/a&gt; from the Brookings Institution.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To learn about the tumultuous back and forth between the federal and state government in Little Rock, &lt;a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/civics-101-episodes/federalism"&gt;here's&lt;/a&gt; our episode on Federalism.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And &lt;a href="https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Thurmond_filibuster_1957.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; is the full, 88-page transcript of Strom Thurmond's day-long filibuster. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/"&gt;CLICK HERE:&lt;/a&gt; Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;To see Civics 101 in book form, check out &lt;a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/"&gt;A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works&lt;/a&gt; by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,&lt;a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"&gt; Outside/In&lt;/a&gt; - we think you'll love it!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How a small, procedural rules change led to the biggest obstacle in the legislative process.

What is the filibuster?

The lottery generates over $70 billion in revenue each year. Today on Civics 101 we explore how we got here; from failed lotteries in the Revolutionary War to the Golden Octopus to the Numbers Game to a Mega Millions ticket from your neighborhood shop. Where does all of that money GO? And why are states so dependent on them in the first place?Taking us on this madcap journey are two experts on the lottery in the US; Kevin Flynn (author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Sweepstakes-Bucked-Church-Lottery/dp/1611687020">American Sweepstakes</a>) and Matthew Vaz (author of <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/R/bo49299126.html">Running the Numbers</a>).
<ul><li><a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/">CLICK HERE:</a> Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!</li><li>To see Civics 101 in book form, check out <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/">A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works</a> by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.</li><li>Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,<a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"> Outside/In</a> - we think you'll love it!</li></ul> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;The lottery generates over $70 billion in revenue each year. Today on Civics 101 we explore how we got here; from failed lotteries in the Revolutionary War to the Golden Octopus to the Numbers Game to a Mega Millions ticket from your neighborhood shop. Where does all of that money GO? And why are states so dependent on them in the first place?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Taking us on this madcap journey are two experts on the lottery in the US; Kevin Flynn (author of &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Sweepstakes-Bucked-Church-Lottery/dp/1611687020"&gt;American Sweepstakes&lt;/a&gt;) and Matthew Vaz (author of &lt;a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/R/bo49299126.html"&gt;Running the Numbers&lt;/a&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/"&gt;CLICK HERE:&lt;/a&gt; Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;To see Civics 101 in book form, check out &lt;a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/"&gt;A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works&lt;/a&gt; by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,&lt;a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"&gt; Outside/In&lt;/a&gt; - we think you'll love it!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The lottery: when it started, why states have so many of them, and where the money goes.

The Lottery: How it happened, and what it pays for

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, once upon a time called food stamps, helps nearly 42 million Americans every month. While the 2025 government shutdown showed us what happens when SNAP dries up, we have yet to see the effects of major new legislative changes to the program.So what, exactly, is SNAP? How does it work? Who gets it? Why do we have it to begin with, and what does it look like now? Our guide is <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/sara-naomi-bleich/">Sara Bleich</a>, Professor of Public Health Policy at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
<ul><li><a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/">CLICK HERE:</a> Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!</li><li>To see Civics 101 in book form, check out <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/">A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works</a> by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.</li><li>Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,<a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"> Outside/In</a> - we think you'll love it!</li></ul> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, once upon a time called food stamps, helps nearly 42 million Americans every month. While the 2025 government shutdown showed us what happens when SNAP dries up, we have yet to see the effects of major new legislative changes to the program.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So what, exactly, is SNAP? How does it work? Who gets it? Why do we have it to begin with, and what does it look like now? Our guide is &lt;a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/sara-naomi-bleich/"&gt;Sara Bleich&lt;/a&gt;, Professor of Public Health Policy at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/"&gt;CLICK HERE:&lt;/a&gt; Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;To see Civics 101 in book form, check out &lt;a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/"&gt;A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works&lt;/a&gt; by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,&lt;a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"&gt; Outside/In&lt;/a&gt; - we think you'll love it!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

And what happened to it?

What is SNAP?

Today we talk about the myriad procedures involved in getting the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed in record time. How do discharge petitions work? What did HR 581 do exactly? How did it get through the Senate so quickly? And while we're at it,  why did it take a record seven weeks to swear in a new representative?<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2025090209">Here</a> is the discharge petition signed by 218 members of Congress.<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/581">Here</a> is the full text of HR 581, passed by the House on 11/17.And finally, here is <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405">HR 4405</a>, related to <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/185">HR 185</a>, which was brought to the floor by HR 581.   
<ul><li><a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/">CLICK HERE:</a> Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!</li><li>To see Civics 101 in book form, check out <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/">A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works</a> by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.</li><li>Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,<a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"> Outside/In</a> - we think you'll love it!</li></ul> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Today we talk about the myriad procedures involved in getting the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed in record time. How do discharge petitions work? What did HR 581 &lt;i&gt;do&lt;/i&gt; exactly? How did it get through the Senate so quickly? And while we're at it,  why did it take a record seven weeks to swear in a new representative?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2025090209"&gt;Here&lt;/a&gt; is the discharge petition signed by 218 members of Congress.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/581"&gt;Here&lt;/a&gt; is the full text of HR 581, passed by the House on 11/17.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And finally, here is &lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405"&gt;HR 4405&lt;/a&gt;, related to &lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/185"&gt;HR 185&lt;/a&gt;, which was brought to the floor by HR 581.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/"&gt;CLICK HERE:&lt;/a&gt; Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;To see Civics 101 in book form, check out &lt;a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250751843/ausersguidetodemocracy/"&gt;A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works&lt;/a&gt; by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,&lt;a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"&gt; Outside/In&lt;/a&gt; - we think you'll love it!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Discharge petitions, deem and pass legislation, and how a bill became a law in a week.

How did the Epstein Files Transparency Act happen?

How do landmark Supreme Court decisions affect our lives? What does the 2nd Amendment really say? Why does the Senate have so much power? Civics 101 is the podcast about how our democracy works…or is supposed to work, anyway.

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