Congress's Vast Powers: From Commerce to Common Defense

Resources

Books

• "The Federalist Essays" by Alexander Hamilton - Referenced for its historical context regarding the exclusion of titles of nobility.

Research & Studies

• "The 13th Amendment" - Discussed as a proposed but ultimately unratified amendment related to titles of nobility.
• "The Impoundment Control Act" - Mentioned as a process related to the rescission of funds.
• "The Rescission Act of 2025" - Referenced in the context of the process of rescinding funds.

People Mentioned

• Elizabeth Warren (Senior Democratic Senator from Massachusetts) - Featured guest discussing Article One of the Constitution.
• Alexander Hamilton - Referenced for his writings in The Federalist Essays concerning titles of nobility.
• FDR - Mentioned in the context of the Supreme Court's interpretation of the commerce clause during the Great Depression.
• George W. Bush - Mentioned for signing the No Child Left Behind Act.
• Barack Obama - Mentioned for signing the Every Student Succeeds Act.
• Donald Trump - Referenced extensively regarding his administration's actions and claims of presidential power, including mass deportations, immigration enforcement, and the use of funds.
• Stephen Miller (White House Deputy Chief of Staff) - Mentioned for suggesting the suspension of habeas corpus during the Trump administration.
• Abraham Lincoln - Mentioned for suspending habeas corpus during the Civil War.
• Mike Lee (Senator from Utah) - Referenced for suggesting the revival of letters of marque and reprisal to combat drug cartels.
• Nicole Hannah Jones - Mentioned as a previous guest who discussed the lingering shadow of slavery in the Constitution.
• Thomas Jefferson - Mentioned for his idea that the Constitution should be revised every 19 years.

Organizations & Institutions

• The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• LinkedIn Ads - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• Supreme Court - Referenced multiple times regarding its interpretations of the Commerce Clause, taxing power, and the unitary executive theory.
• US Senate - Discussed as a powerful legislative body and its role in checking presidential power.
• USAID - Mentioned in the context of foreign aid and funding disputes.
• National Archives - Mentioned in relation to the phantom 13th amendment.
• Federalists - Referenced in the context of fears of secret foreign influence before the War of 1812.
• Republicans - Referenced in the context of fears of French influence and later as a political party in the Senate.
• The Confederacy - Mentioned in relation to the last significant use of letters of marque and reprisal.
• ICE - Mentioned in the context of immigration enforcement by the Trump administration.
• Department of Education - Discussed as a federal agency created by Congress, referencing the necessary and proper clause.
• The Reconstruction Amendments - Mentioned as later amendments that overrode earlier provisions related to slavery.
• PNC Bank - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• Edward Jones - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• Claude AI - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• Article Furniture - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• Dsw - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• Indeed - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• Squarespace - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• IXL - Mentioned as a sponsor.
• Series XM Podcast Family - Mentioned as the parent organization for 99pi.
• Pandora Building - Mentioned as the headquarters for 99pi.

Courses & Educational Resources

• No Child Left Behind Act - Cited as an example of conditional spending by Congress to influence state education practices.
• Every Student Succeeds Act - Mentioned as a later act that modified requirements of No Child Left Behind.

Websites & Online Resources

• thecosmopolitanoflasvegas.com - Mentioned for booking stays.
• linkedin.com/invisible - Mentioned for LinkedIn ads.
• claude.ai/invisible - Mentioned for trying Claude AI.
• article.com/99 - Mentioned for an offer on furniture.
• indeed.com/invisible - Mentioned for a sponsored job credit.
• squarespace.com/invisible - Mentioned for a free trial and discount code.
• ixl.com/20 - Mentioned for a discount on the learning program.
• 99pi.org - Mentioned as the website for past episodes and the Discord server.

Other Resources

• The Articles of Confederation - Discussed as the precursor to the US Constitution, highlighting its limitations, particularly regarding taxation and national commerce regulation.
• The Commerce Clause - A significant focus of the discussion, explaining its broad interpretation and application by the Supreme Court.
• The Necessary and Proper Clause - Explained as an extension of Congress's listed powers.
• The Power of the Purse - Discussed as a primary power of Congress related to spending federal money.
• The Appropriations Clause - Explained as a limitation in Section 9 that reinforces Congress's control over federal spending.
• Habeas Corpus - Discussed in relation to its suspension clause and its historical and contemporary relevance.
• The Alien Enemies Act - Mentioned in the context of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement.
• The Unitary Executive Theory - Discussed as a concept that would grant broad power to the president.
• The Boston Tea Party - Referenced as a historical event driven by the principle of representation in taxation.
• Range Rover Sport - Featured in a segment discussing its design and features.
• 99% Invisible (podcast) - The podcast itself, with specific mentions of its producers, editors, music, and logo designer.
• 99pi Discord server - Mentioned as a place for discussion about the podcast's content.