The Fly

Georgetown's Institute of Politics and Public Service
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Your weekly window into how the most impactful moments in politics unfold. From the Oval Office to the Clinton campaign war room to the hallowed halls of Congress to Maryland's Governor's Mansion, we bring you inside the rooms where the biggest decisions are made. Hosted by a couple of college kids still trying to learn how things get done in this complicated yet beautiful world of American politics.

  1. Greg Landsman, Ohio United States Representative, 'You’ve got to kick in doors and overturn tables"

    4D AGO

    Greg Landsman, Ohio United States Representative, 'You’ve got to kick in doors and overturn tables"

    Welcome to our President’s Day special episode with guest Representative Greg Landsman! Will and Bode had the chance to talk with the Ohio Representative to hear about how he flipped a swing seat, his time in Congress so far, and his plan for an “American comeback”. Listen to our latest episode to hear more about Representative Landsman’s honest insights about life on the Hill.

    27 min
  2. Alsu Kurmasheva, Former Political Prisoner, "Sometimes in prison, the only thing I could control was my breath."

    JAN 18

    Alsu Kurmasheva, Former Political Prisoner, "Sometimes in prison, the only thing I could control was my breath."

    This week, fly to Radio Free Europe's Headquarters in Prague to sit down with Sarah Sverdlov as she interviews Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist who served nearly nine months in a Russian prison. Kurmasheva was imprisoned for her work, including a book titled "Saying No to War," which documented Russian dissent. She described the harsh prison conditions and her coping mechanisms, such as running and reading Milan Kundera's "The Unbearable Lightness of Being." Post-release, she advocates for press freedom and supports imprisoned journalists. Tune in!

    39 min
  3. Ankit Jain, D.C. Shadow Senator, "We fought a revolution to prevent this”

    12/22/2025

    Ankit Jain, D.C. Shadow Senator, "We fought a revolution to prevent this”

    Our latest episode is with Ankit Jain! Elected in 2024, Ankit Jain has served as the Shadow Senator for the District of Columbia and has stayed committed to advocating for statehood and expanding voting rights for DC. Before entering politics, Jain worked as a voting rights attorney and founded Young Democrats Ward 2 to encourage civil engagement in young people. Jain’s election as a shadow senator for D.C was historic as he was the first Asian-American and Indian-American elected to office in Washington, D.C. Listen more to hear everything there is to know about Congress from Ankit Jain!

    39 min
  4. Former Senator Laphonza Butler, "I'm Open to Every Opportunity"

    11/16/2025

    Former Senator Laphonza Butler, "I'm Open to Every Opportunity"

    Welcome back to another episode of the Fly on the Wall! Today, we welcome Former Senator Laphonza Butler on the podcast! Laphonza Butler is a former senator representing California, who Governor Gavin Newsom appointed to replace the late Senator Dianne Feinstein after her death in 2023. Born in Mississippi, Butler attended Jackson State University before beginning her career as a labor organizer. She has been actively involved in the United States labor movement throughout her public service career, serving as President of SEIU Local 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Before serving in Congress, former Senator Butler served as the president of Emily’s List which works to elect Democratic pro-choice women to government. Former Senator Butler has also been prominent in the private sector, working as Director of Public Policy for Airbnb. Former Senator Butler is a Fall 2025 GU Politics Fellow at Georgetown University and has hosted her weekly discussion groups on AI, Labor, and the Politics of the Future of Work, which she expands on in this must-listen-to podcast episode.

    29 min
  5. Jamelle Bouie, NYT Opinion Columnist, "The Constitution is Living"

    11/10/2025

    Jamelle Bouie, NYT Opinion Columnist, "The Constitution is Living"

    Tune in to this week’s episode with a fellow podcaster, Jamelle Bouie! Co-host of his own podcast, Unclear and Present Danger, and columnist for the New York Times, Jamelle Bouie, provides perspective on history and politics.  Before joining the Times, Bouie began his career at The American Prospect magazine and then became the chief political correspondent at Slate magazine. From receiving the Hillman Prize for Opinion & Analysis Journalism and being elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Bouie has shaped national conversations on democracy and race. Some of Bouie’s most recent articles for the Times include “They Don’t Want to Live in Lincoln’s America” and “This Administration Is Silencing Its Critics.” Listen to one of the most influential commentators in politics today as Bouie explores topics of the Constitution and the role of executive power in modern politics

    25 min
  6. Ambassador Mark Green, "I Don't Do Wish Projection"

    11/02/2025

    Ambassador Mark Green, "I Don't Do Wish Projection"

    Welcome back, flies! We hope you had a spook-tacular halloween 👻 🎃 This week we sat down with Mark Green, the former Ambassador to Tanzania. Green’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. Green began his political career as a congressman for Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district, where he served as Assistant Majority Whip. During the second Bush administration, he worked to promote international development as the Ambassador to Tanzania. From 2017 to 2020, he served as the Administrator of USAID—leading its humanitarian aid efforts. As a malaria survivor, child of South African immigrants, and former school teacher in Kenya, Green brings a dynamic perspective to the table. TUNE IN to learn about his take on humanitarianism, free enterprise, and the Trump administration’s dismantlement of USAID.

    41 min
  7. Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), "The Slow Walk Into an Authoritarian Government is Absolutely Happening"

    10/27/2025

    Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), "The Slow Walk Into an Authoritarian Government is Absolutely Happening"

    Hi Flies, welcome back to Episode 5 of Season 18! On this episode, we have Congressman Adam Smith, a democrat from Washington state’s 9th district on the podcast. Representative Smith recently spoke at an event hosted by Georgetown’s Initiative for U.S-China dialogue, and discussed the U.S/China relationship and its importance. Representative Smith was born here in Washington, D.C and grew up in Washington State. In 1987, Congressman Smith graduated from Fordham University with a degree in political science and went back to Washington state to pursue his law degree at the University of Washington. After law school, Congressman Smith worked in both private and public law, notably practicing for Cromwell and Mendoza and Belur, before becoming a prosecutor and later a judge. At 25 years old, Mr. Smith was the youngest state senator ever elected, serving there until 1996 before being elected to Congress in 1997. Mr. Smith is currently the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, as well as the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Notably, and related to this episode of the podcast, Mr. Smith created the bipartisan congressional caucus for effective foreign assistance to advocate for reforms in foreign aid. In this episode, Mr. Smith discussed U.S-China relations regarding his leading of the first United States House delegation to China in six years, U.S-China diplomacy, the airstrikes conducted by the Trump administration in the Caribbean, and Mr. Smith’s role being one of the first Democrats to call for President Biden to drop out of his 2024 campaign. This episode, which you can find on Spotify, is one you won’t want to miss out on!

    14 min
  8. Amy Howe, Author of SCOTUSblog, "The 64,000 Question"

    10/20/2025

    Amy Howe, Author of SCOTUSblog, "The 64,000 Question"

    Get ready for Episode 4 of Season 18! 🪰🪰 Listen to Georgetown University 2025 Fall Fellow Amy Howe! Amy Howe is an accomplished journalist and legal analyst, best known for her work SCOTUSblog. She is the co-founder of SCOTUSblog, where she helps break down complex Supreme Court decisions and is a leading voice on the intersection between law and public life. Before turning to journalism. Amy Howe has argued over two dozen merit cases before the Supreme Court and has taught at Harvard Law, Stanford Law School and American University’s Washington College of Law. Amy has covered the Court for more than a decade and has earned both a Peabody Award and a National Press Club Journalism Award for Breaking News! Tune in to get a behind-the-scenes at the Supreme Court and the life of a journalist!

    42 min
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4.8
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Your weekly window into how the most impactful moments in politics unfold. From the Oval Office to the Clinton campaign war room to the hallowed halls of Congress to Maryland's Governor's Mansion, we bring you inside the rooms where the biggest decisions are made. Hosted by a couple of college kids still trying to learn how things get done in this complicated yet beautiful world of American politics.

Information

  • Creator
    Georgetown's Institute of Politics and Public Service
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    206
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Fly