Pocket Policy

Pocket Policy

Pocket Policy is a podcast that breaks down the latest policy stories small enough to fit in your pocket.

Ecuador's wild animals get legal rights, Berlin's bikes overtake cars

Pocket dictionary: debt ceiling. US's battle to raise the country's debt ceiling. Ecuador's high court grants legal rights to wild animals. Berlin begins to allow bikes park in car spots.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

02-20
29:12

Our predictions for 2023!

It's been a jam-packed year of policy news, and we wanted to take some time to reflect on trends we've picked up on. We made several of our own predictions for some policies that will be passed in 2023, and some reflections on our predictions from the last year.Let us know if you have any of your own predictions and what you think of ours @pocket_policy on Twitter!For more information, read up on our sources here.

01-17
23:09

EU's Big Tech crackdown, Pakistan's intersex amendment

Pocket dictionary: right to collective bargaining. Ontario's ban on striking. EU's digital markets' demand. Pakistan's new proposal towards limiting transgender rights. For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

11-08
28:23

Back to School Episode! California's teens sleep in, Buenos Aires limits language in school

After a brief hiatus, we're back with a school-themed episode!Pocket dictionary: Pink Wave. Latin America sees a shift in political agendas. California leads the way in teenager sleep schedules. Buenos Aires bans gender neutral Spanish from being taught in schools. Matthew Walker's Why We Sleep .For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

08-08
28:08

New Zealand does not sanction Russia, Istanbul wins for "bread on hooks" policy

Pocket dictionary: Sanctions. The world's leaders sanction Russians and their economy. But New Zealand is missing from the list of their sanction-giving allies. Istanbul wins for Askıda Ekmek policy for digitizing "bread on hooks."For more information, read up on our sources here.To donate to support the efforts in Ukraine, see a list of resources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

03-07
29:41

US's sports betting legalization trend, South Africa's basic income debate

Pocket Dictionary: Valentine's Day. Pakistan's prohibition of celebrating the day of love. New York jumps on the sports betting legalization train. South Africa gets tense in its debate to introduce a permanent income. For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

02-15
31:33

Turkey's money problems, Indonesia's big move

Pocket dictionary: age of majority. The Philippines raises its age of consent. Turkey gambles on its untraditional monetary policy. Indonesia's capital moves--but not necessarily for why you think. For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

01-31
33:41

Mexico uses trees to deter emigration, the US bans surprise medical bills

Pocket dictionary: minimum unit price. Ireland's new minimum unit price comes into affect for alcohol purchases. Mexico pushes payment for tree planting onto its neighbors to deter emigration. The No Surprises Act comes into effect within the US. For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

01-10
29:03

BONUS: Our predictions for 2022

It's been a jam-packed year of policy reviewed here, and we wanted to take some time to reflect on trends we've picked up on. We made several of our own predictions for some policies that will be passed in 2022. Let us know if you have any of your own predictions and what you think of ours @pocket_policy on Twitter!For more information, read up on our sources here.

12-20
25:02

Turn out our pockets! (Story follow-ups)

What happened to US Right to Repair laws? Who won the UNWTO Best Villages competition? Remember New Zealand's 2025 Smoke Free deadline? And after several stories covering China this year--where are we now?Best Villages winners: https://www.unwto.org/news/unwto-announces-list-of-best-tourism-villages-2021For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

12-13
22:26

Japan's blue collar worker invitation, Scotland's happiness indicator

Pocket dictionary: life expectancy. After 2020, the US's life expectancy has dropped. Japan reworks its visa program for blue collar workers. Scotland ramps up the Wellbeing Economy. Learn about Twitter's Happiness Measure.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

12-06
39:58

New Delhi's non-Covid lockdown, Panama's newest holiday

Pocket dictionary: Strategy. The EPA announces its National Recycling Strategy to get to 50% recycling rate by 2030. New Delhi discusses a lockdown to tackle air pollution. Panama introduces an unexpected national holiday.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show!  

11-22
32:35

Kenya pauses digital transformation, France pays for therapy

Pocket dictionary: state of emergency. Egypt breaks out of a 4 year state of emergency.  Kenya's high court pauses Huduma Namba, the country's digital ID initiative. France champions mental health for lower income communities.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show!  

11-15
35:14

Africa's record-breaking free trade agreement, Singapore's free speech infringement

Pocket dictionary: price controls and price freezes. Argentina creates 90-day price freeze on 1200 household goods nationwide. Africa forms world's largest free trade agreement. Singapore passes Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act. For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

10-25
31:42

Russia attacks France's pride (read: wine), Squamish Nation breaks ground in urban development

Pocket Dictionary: government. Germany has an election. Russia passes policy targeting sparkling wine labels. Squamish Nation, next to Vancouver, plans an urban development innovation.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

10-12
32:53

California mandates mental health education and targets period poverty

Pocket dictionary: euthanasia. Italy embarks on a referendum to legalize euthanasia. California wraps up a busy legislative session with a requirement to teach mental health in secondary schools. The state proposes another policy to require free period products in all school bathrooms.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

09-20
27:14

Uganda repeals anti-porn act, China blacklists karaoke songs

Pocket Dictionary: IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel  on Climate Change).  The IPCC rings the global climate change bell. Uganda's highest court finds the country's Anti-Pornography Act unconstitutional. China creates a list of banned karaoke songs.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

08-23
26:53

India copies China's population policies, UN's best villages competition

Pocket dictionary: reparations. Jamaica seeks reparations from Great Britain. Several Indian states propose a variety of two-child policies. The UN World Tourism Organization kicks off the Best Tourism Villages initiative. For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show! 

07-26
26:07

China's Arctic Ocean takeover strategy, Canada fines hate speech

Pocket Dictionary: conservatorship. Britney Spears's ongoing conservatorship battle. China plans the "Polar Silk Road" in the Arctic Ocean. Canada targets hate speech with hefty fines.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show!  

07-12
27:14

Saudi Arabia's women's rights progress, Japan's 4-day work week breakthrough

Pocket Dictionary: Federal Holiday. The US officially recognizes Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Saudi Arabia legalizes women choosing her own housing situation. Japan's support of a 4-day work week.For more information, read up on our sources here.Follow us on Twitter @pocket_policy for more policy stories that don’t make it onto the show!  

06-28
25:33

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