RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast

On President Biden’s first day in office, he signed Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. He then signed Executive Order 14035: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce later that year on June 25, 2021. Taken together, these orders outline what President Biden has described as an “ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda.” Executive branch agencies are now charged with creating, implementing, and assessing a large variety of DEI initiatives. As examples, agencies have been encouraged to hire a Chief Diversity Officer, workforce DEI training programs have been implemented and expanded, and federal health benefits have been augmented to include “comprehensive gender-affirming health care” for employees and their dependents. These initiatives cost time, money, and resources, and they are not without controversy. Some question the legal grounding of these initiatives and assert that they run afoul of constitutional guarantees to equal protection of the law. A separate concern is whether federal DEI priorities fail on a utilitarian calculus and drain the federal government’s financial and manpower resources. Still, many Americans support the executive branch initiatives in both theory and practice. Should the executive branch maintain such a robust focus on DEI initiatives? Is the current administration’s focus constitutional? Is it appropriate? Does it serve the American people?Featured Speakers:Veronica Venture, Deputy Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Director of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)Hans von Spakovsky, Manager, Election Law Reform Initiative, Senior Legal Fellow, Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, The Heritage FoundationDevon Westhill, President and General Counsel, Center for Equal OpportunityDean Todd Clark, Dean, Delaware Law School[Moderator] Hon. Kenneth L. Marcus, Founder and Chairman, Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Former Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education

In October 2022, President Biden issued an executive order regarding the European Union - U.S. Data Privacy Framework. The Framework allows for data flows between the EU and the U.S., and it was established after the European Court of Justice struck down a prior agreement known as the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield. The executive order addresses U.S. collection of signals intelligence, which has been a source of concern for EU regulators and privacy advocates. The executive order limits signals intelligence collection to defined national security objectives, requires the privacy and civil liberties of all persons be considered regardless of nationality, and the collection must be proportionate. In addition, the executive order calls for a multi-layered review process that will allow individuals to lodge complaints regarding the collection of signals intelligence.Our experts will discuss whether the Framework addresses the concerns of privacy advocates in the EU and the U.S., and they will consider the implications of the review process for U.S. intelligence collection. This program will also explore whether the EU and U.S. can reach a durable privacy agreement given the tension between EU privacy preferences and U.S. national security needs.Featuring:- Stewart Baker, Of Counsel, Steptoe & Johnson LLP- Max Schrems, Founder, NOYB- [Moderator] Matthew R. A. Heiman, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Waystar Health; Senior Fellow and Director of Planning, National Security InstituteVisit our website – www.RegProject.org – to learn more, view all of our content, and connect with us on social media.

As children's lives become increasingly digital, how can we protect their safety online while weighing potential trade-offs like privacy interests and free speech?Join us for a panel discussion examining the complex legal and ethical implications of enacting age verification requirements for access to social media and adult websites. The panel will dive into regulatory and legislative proposals and efforts, the role of tech companies and educational institutions, and the technological solutions available. Key questions include: How can we balance children's privacy and safety? What are the roles of government, companies, and parents? Is it necessary to restrict access by age? This timely discussion will provide a nuanced look at the issues from all sides as we seek to build a safer, more responsible digital world for the next generation.Featuring: - Clare Morell, Senior Policy Analyst, Technology and Human Flourishing Project, Ethics and Public Policy Center- Ben Sperry, Senior Scholar, Innovation Policy, International Center for Law & Economics- Jamie Susskind, Legislative Director for Senator Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senate- Shoshana Weissmann, Director, Digital Media, Communications and Fellow, R Street Institute- [Moderator] Ashkhen Kazaryan, Senior Fellow, Free Speech & Peace, Stand TogetherVisit our website – www.RegProject.org – to learn more, view all of our content, and connect with us on social media.

Eleventh Annual Executive Branch Review Conference — EBRXITheme: Transparency, Accountability, and the Administrative StateThe White House recently released much-anticipated changes to federal regulatory practices, including a new Executive Order 14094 on “Modernize Regulatory Review,” draft revisions to Circular A-4 governing regulatory impact analysis, and draft guidance on meetings with entities outside of the executive branch. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has the lead for implementing these changes, which comprise the most significant regulatory policy initiatives of the Biden administration. In this opening session, OIRA experts, including several former OIRA administrators will review these developments.Featuring:- Anthony Philip Campau, Principal, Clark Hill Public Strategies & Attorney, Clark Hill PLC- Susan Dudley, Director, GW Regulatory Studies Center & Distinguished Professor of Practice Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration, George Washington University- Sally Katzen, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence & Co-Director of the Legislative and Regulatory Process Clinic, New York University- [Moderator] Andrew Olmem, Partner, Mayer BrownVisit our website – www.RegProject.org – to learn more, view all of our content, and connect with us on social media.

During President Obama’s second term, the U.S. Education Department began sharing studies indicating that black students were disciplined at higher rates than their white peers. These data were viewed as evidence of racial bias, and, in 2014, the Education and Justice Departments jointly published a resource package to help American schools “…promote fair and effective disciplinary practices that will make schools safe, supportive, and inclusive for all students,” (DOJ). Supporters applauded these steps from the federal government saying they reduced schools’ racial disparities in disciplinary decisions thereby curtailing the “school-to-prison pipeline.” Critics countered that the guidance misstated federal civil rights law, encouraged racial discrimination in the allocation of school discipline to produce demographic parity, and left classrooms less functional. The 2014 resource package was ultimately rescinded in 2018 under the Trump Administration, only to be largely restored by the Biden Administration. In May 2023, the Education and Justice Departments published a “Resource on Confronting Racial Discrimination in Student Discipline.”What is the best path forward for appropriate and meaningful disciplinary decision making in American schools? How will our school children be best served? What does the evidence really show about race and school discipline? Please join us as an expert panel discusses the legal and educational contours of the most recent guidance on race and school discipline. Featuring:Dr. Juan Del Toro, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of MinnesotaMax Eden, Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute (AEI)Kristen Harper, Vice President for Public Policy and Engagement, Child TrendsDan Morenoff, Executive Director, American Civil Rights Project[Moderator] Alison Somin, Legal Fellow, Center for the Separation of Powers, Pacific Legal Foundation*******As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Join us for an in-depth exploration into the SEC's recent lawsuit against Coinbase – a case that will no doubt influence the legal landscape of crypto asset trading and securities laws well into the future. The SEC alleges that Coinbase has operated its trading platform as an unregistered exchange, broker, and clearing agency, and further contends that Coinbase's staking-as-a-service program has been unlawfully engaged in securities offerings. On the other hand, Coinbase has challenged the classification of digital currencies as 'investment contracts' and has invoked the Major Questions Doctrine to question the SEC's authority to regulate without affirmative Congressional authorization. Join Paul Grewal from Coinbase, Stephen Palley from Brown Rudnick LLP, and Professor J.W. Verret from George Mason University as they discuss regulators’ approach towards this burgeoning asset class, the legal arguments at play in the SEC’s lawsuit, and the broader implications of the case going forward. Featuring: - Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer, Coinbase - Stephen Palley, Partner, Brown Rudnick LLP - Moderator: J.W. Verret, Associate Professor of Law, George Mason University Visit our website – www.RegProject.org – to learn more, view all of our content, and connect with us on social media.

What does it take to attract the world's most brilliant minds?In this Tech Roundup episode, Caleb Watney and Adam Thierer explore the United States’ approach towards highly skilled immigration, its impact on innovation and economic growth, and how it might be improved going forward.They begin by looking backwards, highlighting contributions from scientific refugees that led to remarkable advances such as the Manhattan Project. The conversation then delves into present-day legislative scenarios, including bipartisan support and barriers to immigration reform, alongside an analysis of specific policies like the CHIPS Act and the potential to expand the O-1 visa for extraordinary ability. The episode underscores immigrants' contributions to entrepreneurship and contrasts the United States' policies with those of Canada, the UK, and China's aggressive talent recruitment strategies.Tune in for an in-depth exploration of how the United States could maintain its competitive edge in the global race for talent.Featuring:- Adam Thierer, Senior Fellow, Technology & Innovation, R Street Institute- Caleb Watney, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Institute for ProgressAdditional Resources:- STEM Immigration Is Critical to American National SecurityVisit our website – www.RegProject.org – to learn more, view all of our content, and connect with us on social media.*******As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

The debate over the electrification agenda and its implications for consumer choice and the environment remains contentious. As federal agencies like the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and The Department of Energy look to regulate natural gas home appliances, many consumers have questions: where does the federal government draw authority to regulate climate? What potential health risks and price impacts loom over natural gas and electric appliances? Should consumers have the choice between natural gas appliances and electric appliances, or should new electric appliances be mandated and subsidized? In this episode, Ben Lieberman and Professor James Coleman discuss these questions and more. Featuring:- Ben Lieberman, Senior Fellow, Competitive Enterprise Institute- Host: James W. Coleman, Professor of Law, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of LawVisit our website – www.RegProject.org – to learn more, view all of our content, and connect with us on social media.*******As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Regulatory modernization has been a topic of nationwide interest in recent months. With its recently revised Circular A-4, the federal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has embraced an approach that could potentially lead to a massive expansion in the regulatory state. At the same time, the Commonwealth of Virginia has been pursuing a very different approach. Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order, EO 19, which strives to reduce regulatory burdens by 25% while promoting more transparency in the process and better regulatory analysis.This panel, which includes the Director and Deputy Director of Virginia’s Office of Regulatory Management as well as leading scholars in the regulatory space, will consider the reforms that Virginia is pursuing and examine whether and how they might work in other states and at the federal level. They will consider the challenges and opportunities associated with regulatory economic analysis and a regulatory budget, look at how the Virginia reforms have fared over the last year, and explore what it might mean to implement similar reforms in other jurisdictions.Additional Reading:Reeve T. Bull, Virginia's Model: The Commonwealth Leads the Way on State Regulatory Modernization, Washington Legal Foundation, July 13, 2023, available at: https://www.wlf.org/2023/07/13/publishing/virginias-model-the-commonwealth-leads-the-way-on-state-regulatory-modernization/*******As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Affirmative action plans, though perhaps most associated with college admissions and higher education, actually crop up in a wide array of spaces, including in the context of employment. In this podcast, Eric Dreiband breaks down how Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies in the context of voluntary affirmative action plans. He explains not only what the criteria for such plans are, but also the risks employers should consider, what, if anything, has changed post SFFA v. Harvard, and when it could be legal to discriminate based on protected characteristics in the context of employment.