Gavel In
A podcast for Members Elect of Congress
About “Gavel In”
Gavel In Season 1 was produced in support of the 119th Congressional Freshman Class and is back for Season 2 in Summer 2026. Listen to Season 1 here.
“Gavel In” is a limited-run explainer podcast series designed especially to mentor new Members Elect of the incoming 120th Congress, their staff, and families, to help them successfully set up their new office, team, and Washington home base with ease.
“Gavel In” augments the House of Representatives’ official New Member Orientation and breaks down complex topics in short, easy-to-understand lessons on House Floor operations, office structure and hiring, budgeting, technology, security, ethics, and also the intricacies of parliamentary procedure, rules, and how a bill becomes a law.
Cohosted by POPVOX Foundation’s Director of Government Innovation & Global Initiatives Aubrey Wilson and Rebuild Congress Initiative’s Director of Congressional Engagement Taylor J. Swift, “Gavel In” is a nonpartisan resource to demystify the experience of working in Congress.
Episode topics from Season 1 included:
Government 101 Refresher
Standing up your office; hiring and managing staff
How committees work and how to be an effective committee member
Congressional procedures and rules
Understanding your office budget (the Member Representational Allowance)
Working with and overseeing federal agencies
Constituent engagement
Building relationships and rapport within the chamber
“I wish I knew then that I know now” from former Members of Congress
Leveraging emerging technologies to improve efficiency and capacity
“Gavel In Season 2” — set to be released Summer of 2026 — will build on these topics and more, supporting incoming Members and their families with lessons learned by both current Freshmen and departing Members.
Season 1
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Ep. 1: Schoolhouse Rock: A Refresher and Reality Check for the Modern Legislative Process
For the inaugural episode of Gavel In, we pull back the curtain on Members’ and staffers’ real experiences in navigating the legislative process.
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Ep. 2: The Structure of a Congressional Office and How to Boost Effectiveness Out of the Gate
In this episode, we glean insight from three sitting Representatives, two former members of House, and two experienced Chiefs of Staff on how to approach hiring staff at the start of a new Congress.
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Ep. 3: How Committees in the House Work and How to be an Effective Committee Member
In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of the committee process, how to best prepare for hearings, and how to foster a productive relationship with committee staff.
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Ep. 4: House Rules: What Procedures to Become a Pro on Pronto
In this episode, we demystify the House Rules and share resources available to Members and staff of Congress to help them become pros – fast – on rules and procedure.
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Ep. 5: Understanding Your Office Budget (“MRA”)
In this episode, we interview current and former Chiefs of Staff and Congressional experts about strategies to make the most out of the Members Representational Allowance (MRA).
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Ep. 6: How to Work With and Oversee Federal Agencies
In this episode, we speak with experienced Congressional staff and scholars about the House’s oversight powers, strategies for effective interactions between the branches, and recent changes to Congressional authorities.
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Ep. 7: Reaching Your Constituents and Translating Your Impact to the District
In this episode, a bipartisan mix of current Members and former Chiefs of Staff share advice on how to make your work in Washington more accessible and relevant to the folks back home in your district.
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Ep. 8: Building Relationships and Rapport Within the Chamber
In this episode, we dig into how new Members and staff can overcome partisan challenges by seeking the advice of seasoned current and former Representatives and staff.
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Ep. 9: I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now
Across their conversations with current and former Members of Congress, Aubrey and Taylor asked them, “What do you wish you knew during your freshman term that you know now?”
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Ep. 10: How to Approach the House as a Modern Institution
For this episode, we spoke with the champions of the House modernization movement to discuss some of the biggest changes that have recently come to fruition.
About the Hosts
Aubrey Wilson served as former Deputy Staff Director for the Committee on House Administration (CHA) in the 118th Congress under Chairman Bryan Steil. In this role, she coordinated efforts to make the House work more effectively, including overseeing the inaugural session of CHA’s bipartisan Subcommittee on Modernization. Prior, Aubrey served as Director of Oversight and Modernization for CHA under Ranking Member Rodney Davis during the 117th Congress. She is a former House legislative assistant and member of the R Street Institute Governance Policy and federal affairs team. Aubrey’s work remains focused on supporting Congress’ and other parliaments’ internal operations and innovation.
Taylor J. Swift serves as the Director of Congressional Engagement for the Rebuild Congress Initiative (RCI). Before joining RCI, Taylor was the Director of Government Capacity at the POPVOX Foundation, where he focused on strengthening institutional capacity and improving the digital tools available to Congress and its constituents. Earlier in his career, Taylor worked for the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus under Leader Hakeem Jeffries, focusing on issues ranging from budget and appropriations to education, labor, environmental, and tax policy. He helped establish the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (ModCom), holding dozens of listening sessions with congressional staff to provide critical insights into operational and technological shortcomings within the institution. Taylor has also advocated for improving conditions for congressional staff, including submitting testimony that contributed to the creation of the House Intern Resource Office. He holds a master’s degree from The University of Akron, where he worked as a Teaching Assistant at the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics.