Episodes
Rob Quartel joins me again to continue our Swamp Explained series! We cover a lot since we haven't spoken in a while including the assassination of Japan's Abe, Abortion, the Gun Lobby, the Supreme Court leak, Biden's job performance, will it be Trump or Desantis in 2024, and the resignation of Boris Johnson.  In the Swamp Explained," Rob Quartel and I go in-depth on how Washington works. The show is hosted by Chris Spangle of the We Are Libertarians network. Rob Quartel is a 45-year fly on...
Published 07/09/22
Rob Quartel and Chris Spangle discuss the withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 08/28/21
In the Swamp Explained," Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. The show is hosted by Chris Spangle of the We Are Libertarians network. Rob Quartel is a 45-year fly on the wall in Washington, DC. Rob has worked for Republican presidential campaigns, government agencies like the EPA, and has been confirmed by the Senate to the Us Federal Maritime Commission. He's also been a candidate for Congress and Senate. Given his experience and iconoclastic viewpoints, Rob...
Published 04/16/21
In the Swamp Explained," Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. The show is hosted by Chris Spangle of the We Are Libertarians network. Rob Quartel is a 45-year fly on the wall in Washington, DC. Rob has worked for Republican presidential campaigns, government agencies like the EPA, and has been confirmed by the Senate to the Us Federal Maritime Commission. He's also been a candidate for Congress and Senate. Given his experience and iconoclastic viewpoints, Rob...
Published 04/16/21
In the "Swamp Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss the insurrection at the Capitol and Trump's role in it, the future of the GOP, impeachment, and Inauguration Day. Video - https://youtu.be/CMtgWYhQpUg
Published 01/11/21
In the "Swamp Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss Trump's loss and his relationship with the swamp. Rob served on the 1980 transition and gives us some insight on how it works. 
Published 11/24/20
The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss Miles Taylor's tell-all book of the White House inner workings and why it illustrates the Swamp well. Rob gives his predictions of what will happen in the coming week as well as the years to come. 
Published 11/01/20
The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss Trump's illness and its effects on the race and Coney Barrett's nomination. We discuss the 25th amendment and succession protocol. We also cover the debate and his taxes.  Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ 
Published 10/03/20
The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg and the nomination of a new justice's effect on the race. We also discuss the controversies of Attorney General William Barr, the fallout of the Woodward book, and the Department of Education suing Princeton University.
Published 09/19/20
In The Swamp Explained series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss students returning in the fall, the problem with Portland, the resurgence of COVID-19, and the bad numbers for the President in recent polling. Get the Swamp Explained Podcast Feed: https://swamp.fireside.fm/ Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Have questions for Rob? Email us -...
Published 07/27/20
In the "The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss the new John Bolton book, the Trump Rally, and give thoughts on the 2020 campaign. Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Have questions for Rob? Email us - [email protected]
Published 06/24/20
In The Swamp Explained series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss the political calculations of "opening" the economy, Trump's disinfectant comments, Biden's sexual harassment accusations, and the protests. Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Have questions for Rob? Email us - [email protected]
Published 04/29/20
The Swamp, Explained” series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss when the swamp can be useful. What role does institutional knowledge play in the middle of a crisis? Get the Swamp Explained Podcast Feed: swamp.fireside.fm/ Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob’s resume here: www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Have questions for Rob? Email us – [email protected] Subscribe to the podcast:...
Published 04/08/20
The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss Joe Biden's amazing resurgence to the nomination, Bloomberg's collapse, Bernie's future, Warren's failure, the political aspects of COVID-19, ending daylight saving time, and a Jones Act update. Video - https://youtu.be/x2L7ixyhpV8 Get the Swamp Explained Podcast Feed: https://swamp.fireside.fm/ Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here:...
Published 03/08/20
The Swamp Explained series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we recap the most recent Democratic debates, the Nevada Caucus results, and the future of the Democratic primary. Get the Swamp Explained Podcast Feed: https://swamp.fireside.fm/ Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Video - https://youtu.be/aFcW-Z_qP1k
Published 02/24/20
The Swamp Explained series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we explore President Trump undercutting his own scientists, impeachment and the attack on Iran's top general. Video: https://youtu.be/aIKw56-hZpE Get the Swamp Explained Podcast Feed: https://swamp.fireside.fm/ Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Have questions for Rob? Email us -...
Published 01/03/20
The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we open with a discussion on the importance of networking within the Swamp. Then we discuss the role of the "steady state" in Trump's impeachment. Rob shares his opinion on if removal is possible or necessary. Video - https://youtu.be/5aGHuregVgs Get the Swamp Explained Podcast Feed: https://swamp.fireside.fm/ Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here:...
Published 11/20/19
In the "The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. President Trump has fired John Bolton. We debate if Bolton is the last Wilsonian hawk in the White House. Rob shares where he was on 9-11, and we examine how the world has changed over 18 years. Follow Rob on twitter: @RobQuartel. Check out Rob's resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Have questions for Rob? Email us - [email protected]
Published 09/13/19
The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, we discuss Trump's wild week where he proposed buying Greenland and accepted the title 'King of the Jews.' Joe Walsh is getting into the Presidential race, and we discuss a few more that might. We look at Nixon's price controls and how it relates to the tariff fight. We also touch on the possibility of a recession. Check out Rob's resume here:...
Published 08/26/19
"The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in-depth on how Washington works. In this episode, they discuss ending the Department of Homeland Security and Trump's fight with the "Squad." Check out Rob's resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Have questions for Rob? Email us - [email protected]
Published 07/22/19
"The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in depth on how Washington works. Today we discuss the possible Justin Amash campaign and if impeaching Donald Trump is politically smart for the Democrats. Check out his resume here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-quartel-5291553/ Have questions for Rob? Email us - [email protected]
Published 05/27/19
Rob Quartel served as Issues Director for two Presidential campaigns. After serving on Gerald Ford's 1976 campaign, he was the third person hired on George HW Bush's 1980 campaign. He details how the campaigns worked and what kind of man Bush was. He went to the funeral and shares his experience there. We briefly touch on the shutdown as well.
Published 02/06/19
In our "The Swamp, Explained" series, Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel go in depth on how Washington works. On this episode, we compare the heated political environments of the 1960's to today, we examine how Trump is emboldening the Swamp by not staffing the Executive Branch, and we question if the Federal Reserve is truly independent. Bib Gourmand - http://dcist.com/2018/09/bib_gourmand_2018_dc.php Rob has lived and worked in Washington DC for 40 years. He worked for the EPA and the Ford...
Published 10/30/18
Chris Spangle and Rob Quartel discuss the Paul Manafort trials and how it is emblematic of the Swamp, and we discuss the complex legacy of John McCain. Rob then answers listener questions about the Jones Act. Paul Manafort - 00:04:08 John McCain Dies - 00:16:29 Brett Kavanaugh Nomination - 00:28:14 Jones Act Questions - 00:35:10 Diner's Guide to DC - 0055:24
Published 08/31/18