In this special episode, we dive into the fascinating world of US congressional procedure with Hansard Society member Kacper Surdy, the once-anonymous force behind the influential social media account @ringwiss. Despite being a 20-year-old Durham University student, Kacper has become a go-to authority on Capitol Hill’s intricate rules, earning the admiration of seasoned political insiders. With Donald Trump hinting at bypassing Senate norms to appoint controversial figures to his cabinet, Kacper unravels the high stakes procedural battles shaping Washington.
Ruth and Mark sat down with Kacper Surdy to explore the remarkable story of how a British student became a trusted commentator on US congressional workings—all without setting foot in Washington, DC. Kacper reveals how his fascination with the 2020 presidential election led him to explore and master the inner workings of the House and Senate. From maintaining a hobbyist’s passion for procedural rabbit holes to fielding inquiries from Capitol Hill insiders, Kacper reflects on his future plans for this unexpected, niche expertise.
He explains the key differences and historical connections between British parliamentary traditions and US congressional rules, offering insights into the House’s meticulous documentation of precedents versus the Senate’s more informal approach. He also explores the potential impact of recess appointments on the balance of power in Washington, decoding the controversial practice that Trump has hinted at using to bypass Senate scrutiny, its historical origins and why it’s a constitutional flashpoint today.
NOTE: This episode was recorded just before Matt Gaetz, Trump’s nominee to be Attorney General, announced he was withdrawing from the post. We’ve left the discussion about this in the recording because it may be relevant to consideration of other nominations in the future.
Kacper Surdy (@ringwiss)
Kacper Surdy is the political and procedural commentator behind the once-anonymous but highly influential social media account @ringwiss. His online commentary focuses primarily on procedures, precedents and practices in the US Congress, often providing advice and insight into complex procedural matters to journalists and parliamentarians on Capitol Hill. He also occasionally comments on parliamentary procedure in the UK. Since his identity was revealed he has been the subject of profile pieces by both Politico and The Times. Kacper is an undergraduate at Durham University studying for an economics degree and he is a member of the Hansard Society.
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Intro: You are listening to Parliament Matters, a Hansard Society production, supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Learn more at hansardsociety.org.uk/pm.
Ruth Fox: Welcome to Parliament Matters, the podcast about the institution at the heart of our democracy, Parliament itself. I'm Ruth Fox.
Mark D'Arcy: And I'm Mark D'Arcy. In this special episode, we talk to someone who's become a veritable oracle of parliamentary procedure. Not at Westminster, but in Washington. A few years ago an anonymous Twitter feed called @Ringwiss began to comment authoritatively on the work of the U.S. Congress. So good was it that people assumed the person behind it was some veteran congressional staffer informed by decades of experience on Capitol Hill.
Ruth Fox: But no, eventually @ringwiss was revealed to be the product of a 20 year old Durham University student, Kacper Surdy, who also happens to be a Hansard Society member.
With [00:01:00] Donald Trump seeking to bypass the normal procedures to make a series of controversial appointments to his cabinet, we thought we'd talk to Kacper about how it might work and what's at stake. But first, we asked him how he got into this unlikely role as an authoritative commentator on the US Congress.
Kacper Surdy: I really got into the 2020 presidential election. Like many people in the UK, I followed that with some closeness. And after that, I just thought to myself, why don't I take a look at Congress as well? So I started watching the organisation of the House of Representatives and the Senate in January of 2021.
And I was just fascinated by everything that was going on. All the little procedural things that they had to get done, processes that they had to go through.
Ruth Fox: Have you ever been to Washington? Or have you done it all remotely down watching it on C SPAN or something?
Kacper Surdy: Exactly. It's amazing what you can learn from so far away. But hopefully, trip there in the not too distant future. I'd be terrified to [00:02:00] count up how much of my week this takes up, but I do enjoy it. So, in terms of doing it as a hobby, it's absolutely not a problem for me. I love doing it. And, if we get more procedural curiosities for me to look at in the next Congress, it would be great if it does take up more of my time. To be honest. And, I've just never stopped watching.
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The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – the Bill to legalise assisted dying – will begin its Committee Stage in the House of Lords on Friday 14 November. In this blog, we explain how Committee Stage works in the House of Lords, including how the House debates and decides on amendments, and how long this stage is likely to take.
Ten years after the House of Commons Petitions Committee was created – does it actually work? Does it genuinely shift policy? Or is it an emotional release valve? In this special anniversary episode, we bring together four Chairs of the Petitions Committee – one current, three former – for a candid conversation about what happens after hundreds of thousands (or sometimes millions) of people click “sign”. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.
Peers begin clause-by-clause scrutiny of the assisted dying Bill, after a Joint Committee on Human Rights evidence session on its impact on disabled people. David Lammy takes Justice questions in the Commons. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill completes its Lords stages and begins Commons ping-pong. MPs hold a Remembrance Day debate on the armed forces. Prime Minister’s Questions is followed by a Conservative Opposition Day. The Lords continue detailed scrutiny of the Border Security Bill, Tobacco and Vapes Bill, and Crime and Policing Bill and debate the Sentencing Bill for the first time. Four Secretaries of State face questions from Select Committees and Dame Antonia Romeo, the Home Office Permanent Secretary, will face scrutiny of her department’s performance.
Having passed through the House of Commons, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - the Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales - must now go through its legislative stages in the House of Lords. This guide explains the special procedures for legislation in the House of Lords, and for Private Members’ Bills in particular. It answers some frequently asked questions, including how Peers might block the Bill, and gives an explanation of each stage of the process, from Second to Third Reading.
As Britain’s modern party system frays, we rewind 300+ years to Queen Anne’s reign to trace the messy, very human birth of Britain’s party politics in conversation with historian George Owers, author of Rage of Party. He charts how religion, war, and raw parliamentary management forged early party politics, as the Whigs and Tories hardened into recognisable parties. Parliament turned from an occasional royal event into a permanent institution, and the job that would later be called “Prime Minister” began to take shape through court craft and parliamentary number-crunching. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.
