The Politics Guys
The Politics Guys
Michael Baranowski
The Politics Guys is an independent, bipartisan, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, practicing attorneys, and former government officials. Our mission is to give listeners a much-needed break from conservative and liberal echo chambers through civil, rational, and evidence-based discussion of American politics and policy from multiple perspectives. In addition to our weekly news discussion, we feature regular interviews with leading figures from across the ideological spectrum. Past guests include Representatives Jim Jordan, Thomas Massie, and Rob Wittman; Jeffrey Sachs; Tyler Cowen; Bryan Caplan; Dan Carlin; Larry Sabato; and Lawrence Lessig.
Ukraine War, Student Debt Forgiveness, Alabama IVF Ruling, Diversity Admissions
Mike and May open with a discussion of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the latest US sanctions as the war reaches the two-year mark. May is unclear as to the US's goals and argues that this is reflected in declining public support for Ukraine. Mike believes the lack of support breaks down more along partisan lines, with Democrats more supportive than Republicans, and that the US goal is clear - to prevent Russia from overrunning Ukraine and to send a strong message to our allies and adversaries around the world. Next is a look at the Biden administration's latest student loan debt forgiveness. Neither Mike nor May feel this is the best policy, but Mike sees it as one of the few economic relief levers the administration can pull without getting buy-in from congressional Republicans. They also consider student loan debt forgiveness in light of more fundamental problems with higher education costs. Following that they get into the ruling by Alabama's supreme court that a wrongful death suit can go forward against a person accused of destroying frozen embryos at an IVF facility. They agree that the court made the right call based on Alabama's constitution and the state's Wrongful Death of a Minor statute, and debate the larger implications of this ruling as well as what legislative action they expect to see in response. They close by considering why the US Supreme Court declined to take up an appeal to an equal protection challenge to a Virginia high school's admissions program, as well as how schools across the country can factor diversity into their admission decisions without having their programs invalidated by courts. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24
57 min
Alexander Ward on Restoring American Foreign Policy
Mike talks with Alexander Ward, a national security reporter at Politico and anchor of National Security Daily. He’s the author of the recently released book, The Internationalists: The Fight to Restore American Foreign Policy After Trump, which they discuss on this episode. Topics Mike and Alexander Cover Include: - why post-Trump foreign policy needed restoration - comparing Biden and Trump’s Secretaries of State - Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan - meeting the rising threat from China - Russia and the war in Ukraine - Middle East policy - North Korea - climate change The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 21
1 hr 4 min
The Constitution: The Right to Bear Arms
Trey & Ken continue through the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights by diving into the 2nd Amendment. They cover the history of the right, how it was a compromise between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and the current jurisprudence of the 2nd Amendment. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X  Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 20
18 min
Trump's Civil Judgment, Navalny's Death, Trump's NATO Remarks, Biden and Netanyahu
In this packed episode, Trey and Ken start by discussing the breaking news of Donald Trump’s civil judgment of $354.9 million in a New York court. Ken believes it will be difficult for the case to be overturned on appeal due to the need for a bond and because of the nature of the defense. Following that they move to the next breaking story: the death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison. Trey and Ken both agree there is no good response because in large part the normal responses are already engaged. Ken hopes this might push Republicans toward supporting a Ukraine aid package. Next, the pair turn to Trump’s NATO remarks over the weekend. Trey argues that the comments are terrible, in part because they burn down reasonable arguments over NATO. Ken argues that even if the U.S. had to foot the bill entirely it would be in its best interests to do so. After that, they turn to a constellation of issues regarding Israel, including the relationship between Biden and Netanyahu. Trey sees the increasingly hostile relationship as a combination of factors, including Israel’s move to eliminate Hamas in its entirety and domestic pressure on Biden’s left. Ken somewhat optimistically believes that Biden can help broker a more lasting peace while looking forward to a two-state solution. They close with a look at the flipped Santos seat for the Democrats and what that means for Speaker Johnson and the Senate funding bills for Ukraine and Israel. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X  Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16
58 min
Immigration, Ukraine, Nevada Elections, Climate Change
Mike and Jay open the preview of this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of why the Senate’s bipartisan immigration proposal failed. Mike argues that the GOP is more interested in keeping the issue than improving things at the border, and Jay’s previous legislative optimism has now all but vanished. They go on to discuss prospects for standalone funding for Ukraine and Israel, followed by a look at Nevada’s presidential primaries and GOP caucus. They close by addressing listener questions, including one on whether the hottest year on record has changed Jay’s view on climate change. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13
18 min
Biden’s Cognitive State, Trump Insurrection and Immunity Cases
Mike and Jay open with a discussion of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on President Biden’s handling of classified documents. Mike argues that Hur should have been more neutral in his wording, while Jay doesn’t see any significant problems with how Hur presented his findings. They also consider the broader issues of memory, verbal gaffes, and cognitive fitness. Following that, they consider the oral arguments before the Supreme Court concerning Donald Trump’s eligibility to run for president. They expect either a unanimous or 8-1 decision allowing Trump to run and discuss the multiple reasons why this is the right call. They close with a look at the D.C. Circuit’s ruling that Donald Trump isn’t immune from prosecution for any actions he took as President. Mike characterizes the argument by Trump as a long-shot aimed at delaying a potential guilty verdict until after the 2024 election. Jay doesn’t disagree and predicts the Supreme Court will hear an inevitable appeal from Trump. Mike hopes the high court doesn’t hear the case at all, letting the D.C. Circuit’s decision stand, and allowing Trump’s trial to move forward as expeditiously as possible. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10
1 hr 2 min
Luttig vs Trump, MAGA vs Taylor Swift, State of the Democratic Party
Mike and Ken open the preview of this supporters’ midweek episode with a detailed look at why conservative former federal judge Michael Luttig believes Donald Trump is ineligible to run for president. They discuss both Luttig’s arguments against the Court ducking the issue and his substantive case against Trump as an insurrectionist. Following that, they discuss why MAGA world is so unhappy with Taylor Swift and consider the present state and near-future prospects for the Democratic Party. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6
19 min
Mayorkas Impeachment, Social Media, Alabama Execution, Biden’s Judges
Mike and Ken open the episode with a discussion of the move by House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. They examine the articles of impeachment and agree that they’re not very convincing, and consider how the Senate might proceed if the House votes to impeach Mayorkas. Next, they turn to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearings on online harm to children. While there’s a bipartisan consensus that more should be done to keep kids safe online, Ken points out the problems with simply eliminating legal protections for social media companies. Mike contends that much of the harm done to kids online is unlikely to be addressable through legislation. After that is a discussion of capital punishment in the wake of Alabama’s first-in-the-nation use of the nitrogen hypoxia execution method, followed by a discussion of whether it’s time for the Senate to speed up judicial confirmations by ending the “Blue Slip” home-state Senator veto for district court judge nominations. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 2
1 hr 6 min
Donald Trump’s War on Capitalism
Mike talks with David Stockman, a legendary figure in Republican circles. Mr. Stockman has served as a member of the House of Representatives, budget director in the Reagan White House, and partner in the private equity company Blackstone. He’s the author of many books, the latest of which is Trump’s War on Capitalism, which they discuss in this episode. Topics Discussed Include: - why Donald Trump has “all the right enemies” - Trump’s “hopelessly wrong” economic policies - how the financial crisis of 2008-09 never really ended - Trump’s immigration and trade policies - the COVID response under Trump - the big Trump tax cut - why a Trump loss would be good for the GOP The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31
1 hr 7 min
Navarro Sentencing, Secret Courts, The Republican Party
This week's special bonus show is our right-wing hosts: Trey and Jay! They start the show with a few items from last week: Peter Navarro's Sentencing and the new secret data courts formed by executive order. Jay is pretty firm that Navarro is a political prosecution. Where Trey and Jay do agree is that Trump will have a hard time continuing to find real staff as he steps back from those who supported him when it becomes convenient. Next, they discuss the new court designed to allow Europeans to protect their privacy in the United States. But the court's docket is unknown, if they take cases are unknown, and even the process for EU citizens is not clear. This leads Trey to question what the real intention of this court is and to a conversation about the importance of data privacy. Finally, Trey and Jay give their take on the past, present and future of the Republican Party. They have large agreement on its origins and transformation. But where Trey despairs that the party is not only no longer what it once was, nor a place he finds a home, Jay believes that after short-term pain there is a future for conservatives. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X  Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29
13 min
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