RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast cover art

RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast

RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast

Written by: The Federalist Society
Listen for free

About this listen

 The Regulatory Transparency Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort dedicated to fostering discussion and a better understanding of regulatory policies.

On RTP’s Fourth Branch Podcast, leading experts discuss the pros and cons of government regulations and explain how they affect everyday life for Americans.Copyright The Federalist Society Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Tech Roundup Episode 29 - An AI Roundup of 2025 and What Lies Ahead for 2026

    Tech Roundup Episode 29 - An AI Roundup of 2025 and What Lies Ahead for 2026
    Jan 13 2026
    Join tech and legal experts Prof. Kevin Frazier (University of Texas School of Law), Neil Chilson (Abundance Institute), and Charlie Bullock (Institute for Law & AI) for a breakdown of AI legal policy and regulatory developments in 2025 at the state, federal and executive levels, and the future of AI policy in 2026.
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • A New WOTUS Rule

    A New WOTUS Rule
    Oct 20 2025
    What waters are considered “waters of the United States” or WOTUS under the Clean Water Act (CWA)? This question is critical because it determines which waters are regulated under the statute. The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have struggled to develop a definition that can pass legal muster, in large part because they have tried to regulate waters that go beyond their statutory authority. For many years, the courts didn’t provide clarity either. But in 2023, the US Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA specified what waters are regulated, including to what extent wetlands are covered.
    Currently, a new proposed WOTUS rule is being reviewed by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. What should the rule include and what is required for the rule to be consistent with Sackett? The Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Daren Bakst discusses this important issue with Charles Yates, an attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation who was on the litigation team that represented Chantel and Michael Sacket before the US Supreme Court.
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • Law for Little Tech: Part 6 - Does the Little Tech Agenda Work for Startups?

    Law for Little Tech: Part 6 - Does the Little Tech Agenda Work for Startups?
    Oct 3 2025
    Startups often struggle to balance financial constraints with the pursuit of innovation, raising questions about how they can effectively advocate for themselves within the tech industry. In Washington, D.C. and abroad, various organizations promote the growth of smaller innovators, yet many "little tech" firms still face challenges meeting regulatory requirements. How do regulatory frameworks affect smaller innovators and their ability to compete? What balance should be struck between oversight and innovation? How can policymakers incentivize little tech companies without creating a disadvantage for Big Tech firms or consumers?
    Join the Federalist Society’s Regulatory Transparency Project and host Prof. Kevin Frazier for an in-depth discussion of the “Little Tech Agenda” with special guest Kate Tummarello at Engine | Advocacy & Foundation.
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
No reviews yet