Congressional Insider Trading: What the STOCK Act Does—and Why It Falls Short - with James Copland Part 1

In this segment of America’s NewsHour, Bill Bernardoni is joined by James R. Copeland, Senior Fellow and Director of Legal Policy at the Manhattan Institute, to break down the STOCK Act and the renewed debate over congressional insider trading. Drawing on Copeland’s congressional testimony, the conversation explores:

What the STOCK Act actually prohibits—and what it doesn’tWhy disclosure rules alone may not deter questionable behaviorHigh-profile examples that fuel public distrust, even absent illegalityGaps in enforcement, penalties, and transparencyThe tradeoffs behind proposed reforms, including blind trusts and stock bans

This is a sober discussion about ethics, appearance, and public trust—separating what’s illegal from what simply doesn’t sit right with voters.

Should members of Congress be allowed to trade individual stocks at all, or would stricter disclosure and enforcement be enough to restore public trust?