If the news is any indication, it does not look like the government shutdown will end anytime soon. Stories about damage to national parks, “sick outs” at the TSA, and potential delays in tax returns call to mind all the ways the government impacts our day-to-day lives in ways we don’t normally think about.

I host a podcast about democracy, so I listen to a lot of podcasts about the government and the way it works. These episodes are some of my favorites that explore those lesser-known parts of the government and its functions give context for how we got to this point.

Political Wire Conversations – Who is Actually Running Our Government?

Michael Lewis’s book The Fifth Risk takes a deep dive into government agencies that play a big role in our lives but are not often talked about, like the USDA and the National Weather Service. In this interview with Political Wire, Michael talks about what he learned and why it’s important for everyone to have a better understanding of how the government works.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

Civics 101 – The Government Shutdown

Week after week, Civics 101 breaks down the intricacies of the government and its laws in a way that’s interesting and engaging. The hosts are passionate about this stuff, and it shows. This episode on government shutdowns is no exception. It talks about what parts of the government need to remain open during a shutdown and looks at why a shutdown is a “disease” in the budgetary process.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

BackStory – The Divided States of America

With the stalemate between President Trump and congressional Democrats, it might seem like the country is more divided than ever. This episode of the history podcast BackStory provides some much-needed context about other times in our history when we’ve disagreed about the country’s direction — from the Revolutionary War through Prohibition.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

Why Is This Happening? – The Trump Scheme to Rig the Census

The Census is definitely one of those areas of government that you don’t often think about. Did you know that’s regulated by the Commerce Department? I didn’t until I started researching it for one of my own episodes. In this episode, Chris Hayes and Dale Ho of the ACLU break down what the Trump administration is trying to do in advance of the 2020 Census, and why citizenship has proved to be such a divisive issue.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

Proud to Pay Taxes – The Brookings Cafeteria

Taxes have become a toxic political issue over the past few years, but at the end of the day that revenue is what drives the government’s spending. While there’s disagreement about how much people should pay, this episode of The Bookings Cafeteria explains most Americans agree that taxes are a necessary part of American life, and even feel a sense of civic pride when it comes to paying their share.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

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