ABOUT THIS EPISODE
E38: Congressman James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee
Monroe County’s own Congressman James Comer sits down in the Average Joseph studio for a wide-ranging conversation about what the House Oversight Committee actually does, what ten years in Washington have taught him, and whether he’ll run for governor of Kentucky.
Comer describes the committee’s job as rooting out waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the federal government. He explains the difference between serving as ranking member and as chairman, which comes down to subpoena power. He walks through the committee’s investigation into welfare fraud in Minnesota and the questions it has raised about Rep. Ilhan Omar, and gives his view on why Medicaid fraud ends up hurting the people the program is meant to serve, including patients and doctors here in Kentucky.
As a combat veteran, Joseph asks about the Afghanistan withdrawal and what the investigation found. Comer explains why the military is so difficult to oversee under any administration. The two also discuss exit strategy, Vietnam, Iran, and how drones are changing warfare.
Comer also talks frankly about how Congress works today: the “firebrands” playing for viral moments, the 218-vote math, why the Senate moves so slowly, and the lame-duck rush to pass one giant bill before Christmas. Before he heads to the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, he addresses the encouragement he’s getting to run for governor in 2027.
In this episode:
What the House Oversight Committee does, and why subpoena power matters
The Minnesota welfare fraud investigation
Medicaid fraud and its effect on eligible patients and providers
Accountability for the Afghanistan withdrawal
Iran, drones, and the problem of exit strategy
Why Congress has become more partisan, and the role of social media
How a bill actually becomes law, and why it stalls in the Senate
A possible 2027 run for governor of Kentucky
Manufacturing, NAFTA, and Monroe County’s economy
🎙️ Average Joseph Podcast: real conversations with the people who shape Monroe County and beyond.
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