Can Congress Police Itself? Insider Trading Bills, Blind Trusts, and Public Trust - with James Copland Part 2

In the final segment of America’s NewsHour, Bill Bernardoni continues his conversation with James R. Copeland, Senior Fellow and Director of Legal Policy at the Manhattan Institute, examining the latest congressional proposals aimed at curbing insider trading and conflicts of interest. The discussion breaks down:

Why these bills apply to Congress—but not the presidentThe differences between the PELOSI Act, STOP Insider Trading Act, and other proposalsForced divestment vs. blind trusts vs. pre-clearance trading rulesTax consequences and unintended effects on who can serve in CongressWhy appearance and public trust may matter as much as legality

The segment closes with a broader reflection on how stock trading controversies—legal or not—fuel distrust in government and undermine confidence in public institutions.

Should members of Congress be barred from trading individual stocks altogether, or would stronger disclosure and pre-clearance rules be enough to restore public trust?