Decode DC

DecodeDC collects the stories of those most often left out of the immigration debate: actual immigrants.

In the first of a two-part series on immigration, DecodeDC looks at how humor can get closer to a problem than political talking points ever could. Special thanks this week to Radio Ambulante, a Spanish-language radio program telling uniquely Latin American stories.

Let's start from the beginning. To understand what underlies every argument in Washington these days, you have to know the basics of the federal budget. Problem is, most of us don't.

Jim Kolbe, a Republican member of the House of Representatives from 1985–2003, is a political outlier. He is pro-choice, he supports same-sex marriage, and he's against any kind of institutional discrimination. Even more interesting? You probably haven't heard of him.

The Budget, sequestration, and how it all began.

Big and long-term plans SOUND great in politics, but do they really work?

Andrea speaks with Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf about the Net's origins and future. Music by Gable, The Swing Ninjas, The Grateful Dead

In January, 2012, America's digerati pulled off the broadest, most powerful political protest ever orchestrated on the Internet. One year later we ask, what happened? And what next?

What We're NOT Covering and Why. DecodeDC explores the interplay of politics and the media, and how press coverage can feed into the negative, partisan bickering in Washington. Case in point: The Fiscal Cliff.

Perhaps the most cockeyed voter guide you've ever heard, this piece intentionally avoids the big issues of this race. Instead, Andrea talks to brilliant thinkers -- among them Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma), Lawrence Lessig (The Future of Ideas, One Way Forward: The Outsider's Guide to Fixing the Republic) and Jim Wallis (Sojourners, God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It) -- about what they're thinking as they head to the voting booth.

Roman Mars joins Andrea to reveal the 7 and a half secrets of political staging on this special joint episode with 99% Invisible.

Have you ever wondered about the neuroscience behind party politics?

Ever have that sinking feeling that your voice isn’t heard in Washington? It could be because it isn’t.