The really interesting thing about influential and powerful staffers like the Parliamentarian

is reporters can't source with these folks.

That's a lot of shore.

Congressional editor at Politico.

She's covered Congress for years, and she's never met Elizabeth McDonough face-to-face.

Reporters are constantly reaching out to both parties to find out about their meetings

with someone like Elizabeth McDonough.

Because it's just not in the Parliamentarian's job description or blood to go near the press.

And that's kind of how it should be, frankly, but it just enhances her power if anything.

I'm Scott Blan, and this is Nerdcast.

So today, news. Congressional budget reporter Caitlin Emma has been watching

and waiting, and waiting, not fun, to see how the Parliamentarian ruled.

Caitlin, in 10 seconds, can you tell me what went down on Thursday or really what didn't?

So the Parliamentarian in a big blow to Democrats said that the minimum wage hike is going

to violate these arcane budget rules, sort of known as the bird rule, and that could jeopardize

the rest of President Joe Biden's coronavirus relief package if they leave it in.

And so today, we're looking not just at the Parliamentarian's ruling and what it means for

the future of the COVID relief package, but also what we're doing here and how we got here in the

first place. So when we think of Congress, we think of the members of Congress, the actual

elected officials voting and making speeches. But there's also this massive behind-the-scenes

machinery of rules and staffers and all sorts of other things that make this big branch of

government work. And right at the center of that is this position that's part human

...