White House Ballroom to Mega-Arch: Who Gets to Change Washington?

White House Ballroom to Mega-Arch: Who Gets to Change Washington?

Who gets to decide when America’s most historic public spaces should change? Washington, D.C., has always evolved. Presidents and first ladies have influenced its landscape, new memorials have reshaped the National Mall, and security needs have changed how the public experiences some of the country’s most recognizable places. Now, projects proposed or advanced during President Donald Trump’s second term—including the White House ballroom and a proposed monumental arch—are renewing questions about presidential influence, historic preservation and public input. Charles Birnbaum, president and CEO of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, joins Ben Dennis to explain how changes to historic landscapes are traditionally reviewed, what Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires, and why his organization has challenged some current projects and review processes. The conversation explores the balance between security and accessibility, the role of presidents and first ladies in shaping Washington, public input in memorial design, original design intent, redevelopment and the question of whether today’s approach could influence how future administrations pursue major projects. Birnbaum also raises questions about how some projects are funded and the role nonprofit organizations play in advancing them. A conversation about how Washington changes, who gets a voice and what happens next.

What Happens After Trump? The Midterms, Affordability and the Fight for 2028

The 2026 midterms are still months away, but the political fight for 2028 may already be taking shape. Will voters cast their ballots based on affordability, foreign policy, cultural issues, or frustration with Washington? Are Democrats building a message beyond opposition to President Trump? And what does the future of the Republican Party look like once Trump is no longer on the ballot? Political analyst and Randolph-Macon College professor Rich Meagher joins me to discuss the issues driving voters, why affordability remains one of the most powerful forces in American politics, and whether both parties are preparing for a post-Trump era. In this episode: • Why affordability continues to dominate political conversations • Whether Democrats are finding a message beyond anti-Trump politics • Signs some Republicans are beginning to distance themselves from Trump • Why younger voters may be looking for a new generation of leaders • Whether cultural issues still resonate with voters the way they once did • What the race for 2028 could look like before the 2026 midterms are even over • The role AI, technology, and economic uncertainty could play in future elections What issue do you think will matter most to voters this November?

AI, Courts, And Consequences

AI is changing how people find information, make decisions, and interact with technology. But what happens when it gets something wrong? Law professor and former Google trust and safety expert Jess Miers joins me to discuss AI liability, chatbot lawsuits, free speech, and the legal questions courts are being forced to answer in real time.

The Constitution Meets Artificial Intelligence: Who’s in Charge of America’s Future?

Artificial intelligence is no longer theoretical. It’s already shaping how we search for information, communicate with coworkers, consume news, and increasingly how society functions behind the scenes. But as AI systems become more embedded into everyday life, a larger question is emerging: Who decides the rules? In this episode of Byline with Ben Dennis, Ben sits down with legal scholar and former Department of Justice attorney Alan Rozenshtein to explore whether America is entering a new constitutional era driven by artificial intelligence. The conversation examines: — whether democratic institutions can realistically keep pace with AI development — how executive power could expand alongside AI systems — the growing influence of private tech companies over public life — whether the Constitution is flexible enough to adapt to machine learning and algorithmic governance — and what kinds of legal guardrails Americans may ultimately demand — or reject Rozenshtein argues the Constitution was designed to survive periods of massive technological and political change. The founders never imagined AI chatbots, recommendation algorithms, or machine-generated speech. But they also never imagined electricity. So what happens when innovation moves faster than regulation? And if government fails to establish meaningful boundaries, are Americans comfortable allowing the people building these systems to increasingly shape the economy, culture, and flow of information themselves? As the United States approaches 250 years since its founding, this conversation asks a broader question: What technological guardrails are Americans willing to accept before AI becomes fully embedded into the next chapter of public life? #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Constitution #Technology #Politics #SamAltman #ElonMusk #AIGovernance #ExecutivePower #MachineLearning #BylineWithBenDennis

Is There Such a Thing as a Fair Election?

Is there such a thing as a fair election? This week on Byline, Penn State mathematics professor Andrea Boito joins me to unpack the hidden math behind democracy — from ranked-choice voting and the Electoral College to apportionment, strategic voting, and why mathematicians say a perfectly “fair” voting system may actually be impossible. We dive into the formulas and theories that shape how leaders are elected, why the same votes can produce different winners under different systems, and what Americans should understand before the next major election cycle. It’s a fascinating conversation about politics, power, and the numbers quietly deciding who wins. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.