The Politics Guys

On this Good Friday edition of the Politics Guys, Trey is joined by Justin, and the duo dives into a chaotic week of personnel changes at the Justice Department and Pentagon, significant Supreme Court rulings, and the President's personal appearance at the high court. First, the guys open with the sudden firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi after a 14-month tenure. Despite her loyalty, Trey argues that President Trump is trying to create a far more unitary executive branch. The pair also includes a discussion of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent firings, which include Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and General David Honder. Justin argues that the strategy is clear: bomb things. They both also laugh about Hegseth getting involved in a flyby of Kid Rock’s house. Next, they move to the Supreme Court’s 8-1 ruling in Chile v. Solars, which challenged Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for licensed counselors. While the law wasn't fully struck down, Trey outlines how the Court directed lower courts to apply the strict scrutiny standard. Justin and Trey debate the boundary between regulating medical practice and protecting professional speech. After that, they move to a historic first: a president personally attending oral arguments at the Supreme Court. In this case, it was President Trump personally attending regarding his executive order to end birthright citizenship. Trey highlights the President's post-hearing comments where he labeled the justices "stupid people" for insisting on their independence from the man who appointed them. The pair discuss the tension between this action and the constitutional separation of powers. Then it is a move to the executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and the Postal Service to create a master list of confirmed citizens. The order threatens election workers with prosecution if they issue ballots to those deemed ineligible by the federal government. Justin explores the federalism concerns of the executive branch intervening in state-run elections. They close the show by reviewing President Trump’s Wednesday night address on the conflict in Iran. Trump claimed military success and suggested operations could conclude in two to three weeks, despite the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a proposed trillion-dollar defense budget. Trey ends the show discussing the challenges of modern warfare, asymmetric warfare, where drones and missiles often bypass traditional air superiority. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks about the Explain Like I'm 5 podcast. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

Trey and Ken transition from the writings of John Jay to Alexander Hamilton in this week’s midweek Federalist Papers show. Topics discussed include: Hamilton’s deeply pessimistic view of human conduct and his response to the idea that democracies or commercial republics are inherently peaceful. A deep dive into the four specific triggers Hamilton believed would afflict a disunited America, including the massive Revolutionary War debt. Hamilton’s warning that disunion would force states to adopt the fortified borders and standing armies of Europe. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s show, Trey and Ken discuss why the Senate funded the TSA while excluding ICE, along with the legality of President Trump’s plan to pay workers using a slush fund from last year’s tax bill. Next, they move to Iran’s rejection of the U.S.’s 15-point peace plan and the administration's controversial preventative self-defense justification filed with the UN. After that, they turn to the allegations of insider trading, including a $580 million spike in oil bets placed minutes before President Trump’s social media posts and the rise of the prediction markets as a feature of modern warfare. The pair then moves to the Mar-a-Lago upset, which saw Democrat Emily Gregory’s 19-point flip of Florida House District 87, and how the shift in suburban voters may stall Florida’s gerrymandering efforts. Trey and Ken close the show looking at how the FBI has potentially used a loophole in the Fourth Amendment to bypass warrants by purchasing bulk location data from commercial brokers. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode, Mike and Michael discuss the first New Rule of Politics (which is also an old rule of politics): follow the money. Mike contends that money is the most visible and measurable driver of political incentives, arguing that while it rarely buys votes outright, it is essential for viability and influence. Mike emphasizes how campaign finance evolved into a system where legal, structural incentives prioritize access and donor influence over outright corruption, while Michael highlights how massive spending, small-donor dynamics, and technological targeting reinforce polarization and keep the system escalating. The guys close with the practical implications: money signals who is viable, shapes which issues get attention, and determines who gets access to policymakers. Mike argues that donors—especially large ones—buy influence rather than outcomes, while Michael underscores that even well-intentioned politicians are constrained by these incentives, leaving ordinary citizens with limited direct influence. 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. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Russ open with a discussion of the ongoing U.S.–Israel war with Iran, focusing on rising costs, limited military capacity, and unclear strategic objectives. Mike frames the conflict as a mix of presidential preference for displays of strength and structural constraints, while Russ argues the war exposes a disconnect between public opinion and foreign policy, emphasizing skepticism of regime change and questioning whose interests are actually being served. Next, they turn to the Illinois primary elections, highlighting progressive Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton’s Senate primary win and the mixed results for progressive candidates in House races amid heavy outside spending. Mike sees the results as favoring institutionally backed “pragmatic progressives” and boosting Governor Pritzker’s national profile, while Russ views the outcomes as evidence of growing grassroots progressive momentum despite financial disadvantages and electoral losses. The guys close with a broader reflection on political incentives and public perception, with Mike emphasizing how narratives around voter fraud can be politically useful regardless of factual basis, and Russ warning that the success of such narratives points to deeper issues in political literacy and the ability of leaders to shape reality for their supporters. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast 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. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Ken unlock Jay’s the Federalist Papers' No 2 - 5. In this episode, the pair examine how Jay envisioned a unified nation's path to peace, strength, and global influence. Topics include Jay’s Hobbesian vision and perspective of a war where decentralized American states invites chaos, while a united America deters foreign aggressors from Europe. The hosts also overview Jay’s views on the need for a singular national identity and how he saw a powerful national government as being more likely to obey international law. Join Trey and Ken as they explore the details of why Jay was in favor of a strong, centralized leadership to secure America’s future internationally. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices