The Politics Guys

Kimberly Weir. Professor of International Relations at Northern Kentucky University, talks with international management consultant Dr. Joe Zammit-Lucia about his latest book, The New Political Capitalism: How Businesses and Societies Can Thrive in a Deeply Politicized World. Topics Kimberly & Joe discuss include: Why business and politics are inseparable How the interaction between business and government is like football Policy regulation and deregulation as public goods Why living in Florida would be impossible without government subsidies Why so many corporations give China a pass on its authoritarian policies Why Harley Davidson workers voted to axe their own jobs Tony Chocoloney and the problem of moving away from slave labor chocolate The instability of the current tri-polar trade bloc system The reality that ‘no brand can remain apolitical for too long’ Markets as essentially political constructs Joe Zammit-Lucia on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay kick off the episode by discussing a bunch of topics related to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling of two weeks ago, including President Biden’s latest executive order, state constitutions and reproductive rights, Mike’s novel interpretation of the Takings Clause, Trey & Ken as proponents of a “living Constitution”, and a lot more. Next, they turn to the Court’s decision in West Virginia v EPA, a case in which Jay wrote one of the amicus briefs before the Court. They end up agreeing that the Court got it right on the merits, but Mike thinks the dissenters were right that the case didn’t present a live controversy for the Court to hear in the first place. After that it’s another Supreme Court case – Biden v. Texas, concerning the Biden administration’s attempt to end the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers. While both Jay and Mike have sympathy for Justice Alito’s dissent (at least in part), they believe that the Court got it right and that the Biden administration can legally end the Trump-era program. Following that is Mike’s brief interview with Jenna Spinelle, the host of a great new podcast on citizen initiatives called When The People Decide, more general thoughts on the Supreme Court’s latest term, and a look at the latest work of the January 6th Committee. When The People Decide The McCourtney Institute for Democracy The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey & Ken record early this week and do something unique: they give additional insight into the cases of Dobbs and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association covered by Mike and Jay last week. The duo start by discussing the Cassidy Hutchinson testimony. Ken thinks the likelihood of a Trump inditement has increased. Trey asks what could actually be demonstrated in court. Further the pair discuss the intersection of politics and law in a case such as this. The finish the topic by discussing the implications for Trump challengers to the Republican primary including Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence. Next is a discussion on the major establishment vs. expression question at the heart of Kennedy v Bremerton School District. Trey is supportive of the bottom line outcome, although he doesn't believe there was a need to overturn precedent to do it. Ken believes that it is just a particular outcome that was destined to win and that it was a violation of the establishment clause. After that they close the show by moving on to something unusual: they examine what Mike & Jay had to say on abortion and guns in the Dobbs and New York cases. In Dobbs Trey agrees with the outcome, but disagrees with the reasoning. Specifically he, like Ken, agree that there are more rights than specifically outlined in the constitution. In this way they both disagree with Mike & Jay. On guns Trey believes a close reading of history shows a conflicted set of frames over the meaning of the 2nd Amendment, but that it included an individual right to bear arms. Ken gives no ground and thinks it is historically only connected to states. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay start off this episode with the landmark Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. They have an in-depth discussion on all five of the opinions as well as what they see as the political implications of the ruling. That’s followed by a discussion of a major ruling on gun rights in which Justice Thomas announces what Mike sees as a radical departure for the Court with disturbing implications. Along with this they talk about the bipartisan gun legislation recently approved by Congress. They close the show by considering the Court’s ruling in an important religious freedom case. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks with Matt Sienkiewicz, an Associate Professor and Chair of the Boston College Communication Department. He's the co-author, along with Nick Marx, of That's Not Funny: How the Right Makes Comedy Work for Them. Topics Mike & Matt Discuss Include: - why most political comedy is left of center - the main types of right of center comedy - “punching up” vs “punching down” in comedy - conservative humor challenging liberal pieties - the biggest names in right wing comedy - why right-wing comedy matters, even if you don’t think it’s funny Right-Wing Comedy Links The Political Orphanage. Andrew Heaton Greg Gutfeld Ryan Long Michael Malice Matt Sienkiewicz on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Ken kick off the episode with a discussion of the Federal Reserve's .75 percent rate increase. Ken doesn't think it is deficit spending and is more related to war. Trey believes while war and COVID are contributing factors they are exasperated by current monetary policy. The pair also weigh in on the idea of greedflation. Next the pair discuss the primaries in Main, North Dakota, Nevada and South Carolina. They also discuss the rule of law and the Couy Griffin in New Mexico not certifying the vote. After that it is the most recent revelations concerning Pence with the January 6 Committee along with Trump's twelve page response. Trey and Ken dive into both the questions of the modality of Trump's response and the content. They also ask what the probable audience is for the hearings and response. After that there is a brief update on the major issues facing gun compromise and Ken's belief that Republican Senators, led by Mitch McConnell, are corrupt. Trey suggests that there are other readings of the impasse. Finally Trey and Ken talk about Biden's executive order on LGBTQI+ rights and what impact it is intended to have, and might pragmatically have, on states like Florida. Trey’s Recommendation The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness by Meghan O’Route Ken's Recommendation Mountain Community Radio The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks with Will Moravits, a former police officer who became a college professor, earning his Masters in Political Science from Texas State University and a PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University. He's the author of the recently published book The Blue Divide: Policing and Race in America. Topics Mike & Will Discuss Include: - Will’s unique perspective as a former cop / current academic - effectiveness of police use of force training - understanding how humans respond in high-stress situations - myths and misconceptions surrounding police use of force - what Will learned from studying multiple high-profile police shootings - the case Will makes for a lack of racial bias in police shootings - defunding the police - President Biden’s Executive Order concerning federal law enforcement - Will’s thoughts on how to improve policing Will Moravits on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay kick off the show with a discussion of the first of a scheduled six hearings from the House January 6th Committee. They share their views on the value of the hearings, what if anything they learned, whether Fox News was right to not carry the hearings live, and more. Then it’s a look at the man who came to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home, armed & dangerous and intending to kill Kavanaugh. Mike and Jay consider this in light of larger protests following the leak of Justice Alito’s opinion draft that would overturn Roe v Wade, a decline in trust of government, and issues with judicial filibusters and the nomination process. After that they return to the issue of guns, talking about Matthew McConaughey’s impassioned speech at the White House, recent legislation passed by the House to address mass shootings, as well as a Justice Department investigation into the Uvalde response. Following that is a discussion of the Summit of the Americas, being held this year in Los Angeles. Mike & Jay agree that President Biden was right to not invite Latin American anti-democratic leaders, but they disagree about how best to address some of the key issues between the US and Latin American countries. They close the show with discussions of the baby formula shortage and what it tells us about government as well as markets, as well as sky high gas prices and what, if anything, government can (or should) do about them. Mike’s Recommendation Don Winslow’s ‘Power of the Dog’ Trilogy: The Power of the Dog, The Cartel, The Border The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken breaks out his extensive Cold War spy knowledge in this conversation with journalist and New York Times best-selling author Howard Blum. They discuss his recently released book, The Spy Who Knew Too Much: An Ex-CIA Officer's Quest Through a Legacy of Betrayal. Formerly a reporter for the The Village Voice and the New York Times, Blum is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. While at the Times, he was twice nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. Topics Ken and Howard cover include: - the uses of intelligence - moles, traitors, spies - big moles vs little moles - the war within the CIA - Angleton, Golitsyn, and the "Monster Plot" - the suspicious "suicide" of CIA agent John Paisley - human vs signal intelligence - if human intelligence really matters - spying in the US/ Russia / Ukraine conflict - and lots more! Howard Blum on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open with a discussion of where we’re at 100 days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Jay is optimistic, and much more so than he was in the early days. Mike largely agrees but is concerned that the pro-Ukraine alliance is beginning to show signs of fraying and might not hold up in the long run, especially in tough economic times. Next, they discuss the social media laws passed by Texas and Florida and the Supreme Court’s recent 5-4 decision to temporarily halt Texas’ law. Mike sees these laws as blatantly unconstitutional on multiple grounds, while Jay points out that some of the reasoning used in defense of the laws isn’t all that far-fetched. After that they look at the acquittal of Democratic attorney Michael Sussman, who was indicted by Special Counsel Robert Durham for making false statements to the FBI. Mike thinks it was the right verdict, but also points out that there’s often a significant difference between wrongdoing and wrongdoing that can be successfully prosecuted. Jay agrees, though he tends to be less skeptical of Deep State narratives surrounding the Trump-Russia story than Mike is. Then it’s more on guns in the wake of yet another mass shooting. This time, Mike attempts to better understand strongly pro-gun, anti-government people by making the best argument he can for more guns and fewer regulations. Jay responds by critiquing Mike’s argument with what he sees as the strongest pro-regulation points. They wrap things up with stories that involve free speech, the #MeToo movement, and social justice: The Johnny-Depp / Amber Heard trial and the firing of tenured Princeton Professor Joshua Katz. Jay’s Recommendation Fear of a Setting Sun. Dennis Rasmussen Two Songs Mike Would Use For His Campaign Theme Everybody Knows. Leonard Cohen American Idiot. Green Day The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open the show with an extended conversation on the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. They discuss the police response, the problem of gun violence in the United States, and a raft of policy proposals from both the left and the right. Next, they look at the recent primary elections in Georgia and consider whether the shellacking of two high-profile Donald Trump endorsed candidates means the waning of Trump’s influence in the Republican Party. They also look at the upcoming Michigan primary election, where five of the 10 Republican gubernatorial candidates were disqualified from appearing on the ballot. After that, it’s President Biden’s recent Executive Order on police accountability. Mike & Jay weigh in on the EO, and also whether it should serve as a template for the majority of law enforcement personnel who are not federal and therefore not covered under the order. They close with a discussion of bipartisan Senate legislation that would force Google and Facebook to sell significant portions of their businesses. Is this idea – which seemingly unites the Libertarian right and the corporate-skeptical left good policy? And what chance does it have of becoming law? Mike’s Recommendation America’s Philosophy, with Cornel West. (Vox Conversations) Jay’s Recommendation District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey & Ken open the show talking about the Buffalo shooting with a focus on the shooter’s, Payton Gendron, screed. They discuss why the screed is hard to find, its contents, and they tackle the problems of fascism in the United States. They also discuss the underlying racial shifts that fascism and racism has taken. Next they move to the razor thin Pennsylvania Senate primaries between Oz and McCormick and how Trump’s influence continues, or not, to hold sway. They also discuss how election law and closeness impact election counting. After that it is scandal ridden Cawthorne’s House loss and a discussion of his comments on “dark MAGA” on instagram. There is also a brief discussion of the gubernatorial primary in Idaho. Then it is off to the Supreme Court for a conversation on Federal Election Commission v. Cruz and what constitutes a bribe. Here also is a conversation about Supreme Court precedent. Next is a discussion of Bezos, President Biden, and inflation — specifically the relationship between tax policy and inflation. They close by revisiting the issue of abortion upon listener request. They discuss, and vigorously disagree over, the philosophic and moral arguments of abortion. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open the show with a discussion of the post Roe landscape, given the near certainty of the Supreme Court finding that there is no constitutionally protected right to terminate a pregnancy. They look at some data on pregnancy and abortion, discuss the recent efforts of Democrats to codify Roe’s protections into law, how states are likely to act, and whether a future Republican chamber might pass a national abortion restriction. Next they turn to Donald Trump’s success as a primary endorser and what it means for Trump’s control over the GOP, followed by the latest on Ukraine – including Finland & Sweden applying for NATO membership and a $40 billion Ukraine package. After that it’s inflation: the latest downturn (sort of), what the Fed has been and likely will do in the future, how markets have reacted, how big of a role the American Rescue Plan has played in fueling inflation, and whether US tariffs against China should be rolled back. They close the show with Mike’s announcement that he and his wife are thinking about retiring to either Uruguay, Chile, or Portugal in the next few years. Mike explains why, brings up some data on how those countries compare to the US in terms of freedom and corruption, and he and Jay discuss the tension between American nationalism and Stoic cosmopolitanism. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey talks with Adam Probolsky, President of Probolsky Research, a full service opinion research firm specializing in market research and opinion research on elections and public policy, working on behalf of business, government, non-profit, special interest and media clients. Trey and Adam's conversation includes: A conversation on political and public policy research. Adam's overview of quantitative data and polling. How qualitative measures can help create better polling data. Probolsky research on political identification and predicting voting behavior. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Ken open the show with a two-pronged discussion of the leaked Alito opinion overturning Roe v Wade. First the pair discuss the opinion itself, the location of the right to privacy, and, ultimately, the legal obligations states can (or should) impose based on the question of what constitutes life. Second, the pair discuss the implications of the leak and who may be the source of the leak. After that, they turn to another leak: the intelligence community leak in the New York Times suggesting that the U.S. was helping Ukrainian forces target Russian generals. Then they turn to the recently decided U.S. v Valero Madero concerning the applicability of the 5th Amendment to Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. To what extent should the Constitution apply to territories and what are the larger effects of having it apply more uniformly? Then they turn to the Republican primaries in Ohio and Indiana. The question here is what the data says Trump’s seal of approval means for candidates? How do MAGA candidates fair in the primaries compared to the more mainstream conservatives or if MAGA is the mainstream for the Republican Party. They close the show by briefly discussing the case of Shurtleff v. City of Boston and why a straightforward case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Ken’s Recommendation Bernie Trey’s Recommendations The Everything Store The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey talks with Paul Brandus, independent member of the White House press corps and founder of West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport), columnist, and author of books including Under This Roof and This Day in Presidential History. Trey and Paul's conversation includes: Paul's assessment of former President Donald Trump's communication strategy Paul's thoughts on President Biden’s communication strengths and weaknesses Discussion of what makes a better presidential communication strategy The effect of social media on presidential communication The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike, Jay, and Trey open the show with an extended discussion of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, Disney’s response to it, and Florida’s state government retaliation. They get into what the law actually says, whether Disney was violating unwritten rules of lobbying by coming out against the law after it had passed, if the state was right to retaliate against Disney for doing so, and if Florida’s retaliation might be an unconstitutional restriction of speech. After that, the Guys consider Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, discussing how big of a deal it is, who it’s likely to help and hurt, and whether or not Twitter unfairly censors conservative voices. Then they turn to the latest in Russia’s war against Ukraine, including Russia cutting off gas supplies to Poland & Bulgaria, Russia’s increasing comments about a nuclear option, Biden’s latest Ukraine funding request, the resolve of the West to hold out in a long conflict, and whether or not it’s justifiable to liquidate the assets of Russian oligarchs and use them to provide funds for Ukraine. They close the episode with a discussion of the Title 42 program of migrant expulsion, and whether a federal district court judge’s halt of the phase out of the program is justified, whether the program will be forced to continue, and what a better solution might look like. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open the show with a discussion of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy being caught in a lie about recommending that Trump resign, Trump’s reaction, and what this might tell us about Trump and Trumpism in the GOP of 2022. Next is a look at the ruling that ended the federal mask mandate. Mike and Jay get into administrative power, judicial deference to agency decisions, a Congress that may have good political reasons to not legislate, and more. Following an update and discussion on the current state of Russia’s war against Ukraine, they turn back to domestic politics – lax enforcement of tax policy and IRS funding, followed by the current state and future of marijuana laws. Jay’s Recommendation A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal. Ben Macintyre Mike’s Recommendations Louis Prima & Hoopla The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Northern Kentucky University political scientist Kimberly Weir talks with Jennifer Sciubba, political scientist at Rhodes College and author of the recently released 8 Billion and Counting: How Sex, Death, & Migration Shape our World. Topics Kimberly & Jennifer discuss include: Why people don’t think about demography when considering politics Global fertility, mortality, and migration patterns Why demographics isn't destiny How power transition theory explains Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine China’s aging and shrinking population challenges Why we don’t see ‘Gray Pride’ T-shirts, but should Why HALE matters more than life expectancy Demographic engineering as a political strategy Why the future is much more optimistic than the sensationalist ‘doom and gloom’ reports Jennifer Scuibba on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey & Ken open the show with a discussion of Frank James arrest. Big topics include the nature of his arrest, discussion of crime trends in the U.S., the role of weapons in crime trends, and the political ramification of those trends. That's followed by Oklahoma's newly passed abortion ban. The ban, which has no exceptions, was followed by Kentucky's. Trey & Ken discuss the future of privacy and abortion in the U.S. and the problems facing lawmakers in addressing in and what the Supreme Court is likely to do next. After that Trey & Ken talk about the reaction from Russia from Finland and Sweden considering NATO membership. The likelihood of the Senate to make such a treaty change, plus conversations about the most recent sinking of a ship in the Black Sea. Then the pair talk about America's tax policy, why it isn't as progressive as it seems, and why Trey doesn't think liberals get it. Last the pair discuss the humorous possibility of espionage in Washington DC. Trey & Ken's Recommendations Trey: Severance on Apple TV+ Ken: Candy House by Jennifer Egan. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey talks with Larry Jacobs, founder and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance (CSPG) and holder of the Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs on his latest book Democracy Under Fire: Donald Trump and the Breaking of American History. Topics Trey & Larry discuss include: – The history of primaries in the United States – How political primaries harm democracies – The need for political elites – The problem with Trump and Bernie and primaries The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open the show with a discussion of the Supreme Court confirmation vote for Ketanji Brown Jackson. They focus on Mitt Romney’s flip from “no” vote on Jackson’s confirmation to the DC Circuit last summer to his “yes” vote on Supreme Court confirmation. Jay agrees with Romney’s assessment of Jackson and feels that the default should be to approve qualified nominees of the president, but he also argues that there’s a principled case to be made against Jackson serving on the Court. That’s followed by a look at of the latest developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine, including new sanctions, whether Russia’s actions amount to genocide, if anyone will ever be held to account for Russian war crimes, and if Russia is an Evil Empire. After that, Mike & Jay get into a number of domestic policy issues, including the first ever Amazon union in the United States, the Biden administration’s move to end Title 42 immigration expulsions and why almost all Republicans as well as some Democrats oppose it, plans to disqualify certain Republicans from office on the grounds that they’re insurrectionists, as well as listener questions & comments. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks with Chris Brady, a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, humorist, and businessman. His latest book is The Bitcoin Bride: A Rascal Money Story. Topics Mike & Chris discuss include: - what cryptocurrency is and how it works - Bitcoin as “freedom money” - the inevitability of traditional currency losing value - “Gold Bugs” and cryptocurrency - President Biden’s recent Executive Order on cryptocurrency - whether the cryptocurrency needs more regulation - if Russia can use cryptocurrency to evade sanctions - Friedrich Hayek and the philosophical underpinnings of cryptocurrency - the future of cryptocurrency The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open the show with a discussion of multiple developments concerning the events of January 6th, including Ginni Thomas’s text messages and Justice Thomas’s refusal to recuse, White House communication records on that date, and whether Donald Trump should be investigated and potentially prosecuted for his role in the events of that day. After that they turn to Russia’s war against Ukraine, focusing on President Biden’s remarks about Putin remaining in power as well as Biden’s authorization of the largest ever release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That’s followed by a look at the almost completely bipartisan Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Law (and why Jay would have voted against it, if he had the political courage to do so), President Biden’s first full-fledged budget, and the wisdom and constitutionality of the response to state “anti-trans” laws being planned by the Department of Education. They close by addressing listener questions, including one in which they recommend some possibly under the radar sources of political information. Andrew Sullivan Joseph Epstein Thomas Edsall Matt Grossmann Adam Tooze Chris Blattman The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter 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. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | PocketCasts | Overcast | Stitcher | RSS Trey and Mike host this week's show and start with the confirmation hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson. Topics include the importance of position taking over substantive conversations, the questions of sentencing in child pornography cases and judicial philosophy. Next the pair take on the newest revelations on Hunter Biden and his laptops. Trey and Mike discuss why the story took the time it did to be confirmed, the unlikely nature of the source, and delve a bit into the question of understanding the nature of sources and the tabloid nature of the New York Post. After that it is an update on the war in Ukraine with specific focus on a piece by Brian Klaas in The Atlantic and the fallacy of assuming dictators have better long term strategies than elected officials. Then Trey and Mike discuss the Texas style abortion ban passed in Idaho, in the similar bill working its way through Oklahoma. Do the ends justify the means? Next is Indiana and Utah's Republican governors vetoing anti-trans athlete bills. Trey and Mike have a long conversation on biologic sex and gender and how the complications of the conversation. After that they tackle a question from Isaac Saul from their interview this week: how and when have we changed our minds? Each reflects on some of the moments of when they have altered their beliefs and the process by which they change their beliefs. The pair end with a brief update on inflation. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Mentioned on the Show Vladimir Putin Has Fallen Into the Dictator Trap This War of Mine (also on iOS) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Trey talk with Isaac Saul, a political reporter who shares our belief that information bubbles are a big problem. Instead of just bemoaning this and encouraging people to try and somehow break out of their partisan bubbles, Isaac decided to do something about it – he founded Tangle. If you're a fan of The Politics Guys, you'll really appreciate Isaac's work. Topics we cover include: media’s treatment of Obama vs Trump political opinion that masquerades as “news analysis” the challenge of getting real political diversity why “When is the last time you changed your mind?” is such an important question what Tangle is, how Isaac and his team put it together, and what they cover the economic model of news and the future of political media Check out Tangle here. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open the show with a look at the latest in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its third week. They discuss whether the United States should be doing more to help Ukraine, some military realities, whether or not Putin is a war criminal, revoking Russia’s Most Favored Nation trade status, what to expect of China, and a lot more. Following that is a discussion of two Federal Reserve stories from the last week. The first is the widely expected rate hike (the first since 2018) which both Mike and Jay favored. The second is President Biden withdrawing the nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin to serve as the Fed’s vice chair for supervision, largely over her views on the Fed’s role on climate change. Jay thinks there is no role for the central bank and Senate Republicans and Democrat Joe Manchin were right to torpedo Raskin’s nomination. Mike things that climate change does connect with the Fed’s role, and believes Raskin should have been confirmed. Next, they consider the potential for a new COVID wave in the United States, why Congress hasn’t approved funding to mitigate the effects of the next wave (assuming it comes), who’s playing politics with the issue, and what we should be doing domestically and globally to minimize the spread of COVID variants. That’s followed by a discussion of the permanent Daylight Savings Time bill that passed the Senate unopposed, President Biden’s unusual interest in the 9th Amendment, and what, exactly, it means to “win” in the culture wars. Mike & Jay’s Recommendations The Tempting of America. Robert Bork The Closing of the American Mind. Allan Bloom The Decline of the West. Oswald Spengler The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey talks with scholar Justin Gest (@_JustinGest), an associate professor from George Mason Universty's Schar School of Policy and Government, and author of the upcoming book Majority Minority. Things Trey & Gest get into include: The future of majority minority politics in the United States Understanding nationalism The intersection of ethnicity, nationalism, and politics Trinidad and Tobago's lessons for the U.S. What happens to democracy as demographics shift The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go topatreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open with a look at the flurry of activity surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - the death toll and human cost, Russia’s cratering economy, energy policy ramifications, and much more. They also take a look at President Biden’s new Executive Order on cryptocurrencies, which some believe Russia may be using to at least partially evade sanctions. After that it’s two verified sightings of bipartisanship in Congress: the Fiscal Year 2022 budget and the even more bipartisan Postal Service Reform legislation. Mike & Jay join in the love-fest, though they don’t completely agree on everything in these two bills. Next they discuss two laws that have been seen by many as anti-LGBTQ+. The first is Texas’ decision to classify sex reassignment procedures for minors as child abuse, with the second being Florida’s so called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Their discussion gets into, among other things, parental rights, school board vs state control, the significant rise in no-traditional gender identity, and even a risqué report that high school junior Jay did on this 1973 John Updike short story. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks with Andrew Rice, a contributing editor at New York magazine, former staff writer at The Hill, and the author of the recently published book The Year That Broke America: An Immigration Crisis, a Terrorist Conspiracy, the Summer of Survivor, a Ridiculous Fake Billionaire, a Fight for Florida, and the 537 Votes That Changed Everything, which is the topic of their discussion. Things Mike & Andrew get into include: - Why 2000 was the year that broke America - Donald Trump’s first (failed) presidential run - the story of Elián González and how it divided America - how John McCain broke Mike’s (and the media’s) heart - terrorist preparations for 9/11 - Al Gore & Chaos Theory - the insanely close, and incredibly chaotic 2000 presidential election - what looking back at 2000 can tell us about American politics today Andrew Rice on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Trey and Ken host the show and start by bringing updates on Russia and Ken's perspective to the ongoing crisis. Specifically the pair discuss the recent attack on a nuclear power plant and the Congressional resolution condemning Russia. Next the pair talk about client, attorney privilege as it may or may not apply to John Eastman, which apparently opens Trump to the possibility of criminal investigation. After that it is a discussion of Biden's State of the Union and how State of the Union addresses might be reimagined to better help the populace and president communicate. Then Trey and Ken discuss the new White House COVID strategy. They move south to talk about he Texas primary and the ongoing difficulties Democrats had. Trey again argues it might be time for Democrats to not think that demographics necessarily run in their favor. The pair close the show looking at the cases of Egbert v Boule and the U.S. v Abu Zubaydah. Trey's Recommendation Severance Ken's Recommendations The Case of Richard Sorge The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay are joined by Trey on this episode of the podcast, which starts off with an extended discussion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The guys get into likely outcomes, Putin’s strategic savvy, the ineffectiveness of sanctions, democratic vs authoritarian regimes, prospects for energy policy in Europe, the GOP split in reactions to Putin and Russia, how Russia’s actions might affect China’s view of a Taiwan, and a lot more. Then it’s a look at Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. Nobody is surprised by Biden’s choice, and the guys expect Jackson to be confirmed on a narrow, mostly party line vote. Jay suggests that a more consensus-building nominee might have been shortlisted candidate J. Michelle Childs, though Mike argues that we’re in an age where almost no conceivable Supreme Court nominee would be confirmed with any significant bipartisan support. After that is a discussion of the Supreme Court’s announcement that it will be hearing 303 Creative v. Elenis, in which a Christian website designer argues that Colorado’s LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination law violates her 1st amendment free expression and free exercise of religion rights. The Court declined to consider the religious freedom implications, but Jay, Mike, and Trey all agree that a majority of the Justices are likely to see that law as unconstitutionally compelling speech. Next, they talk about why a Democratic House member would want to deliver a response to Democrat Joe Biden’s upcoming State of the Union Address, as Michigan Representative and “Squad” member Rashida Tlaib plans to do for the progressive group Working Families Party. Following that, they discuss the launch of Donald Trump’s Truth Social app, as well as a federal court ruling that pits deference to administrative regulations against the Court’s role in determining the meaning of major legal questions. Mike’s Recommendations The Hitman’s Bodyguard & The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard Trey’s Recommendations The Constitution, An Introduction. Michael Stokes Paulsen and Luke Paulsen The Least of Us, Part II (video game) Jay’s Recommendations The NRPLUS Facebook Group A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal. Ben Macintyre The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks with Bryan Caplan, Professor of Economics at George Mason University and a prolific and always interesting blogger for Econlog. He's the author of multiple books, three of which Bryan and Mike have discussed on previous episodes: The Myth of the Rational Voter (interview), The Case Against Education (interview), and Open Borders (interview). Today they discuss Bryan’s latest book Labor Econ vs The World: Essays on the World's Greatest Market. Topics Mike & Bryan discuss include: what labor economics is and why it stands against the world if politicians are irrational and wrong or rational and deceptive the problem with almost all government regulations how the minimum wage hurts workers (and everyone else) the largely illusory gender and race pay gaps the questionable value of higher education (for most people) why open borders would be a good thing for America (and the world) CBO Interactive Minimum Wage Modeling Tool The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay kick off the show with a look at what seems to be the “it’s only a matter of time” Russian invasion of Ukraine. Jay thinks that the Biden administration’s approach has been very good to this point, while Mike attempts to present the non-interventionist, “America First” case for staying out of Russia’s (and possibly China’s) spheres of influence. Then it’s on to two lawsuits - the first being the Department of Justice’s suit against Missouri’s “Second Amendment Protection Act” and the second Texas’s suit against the CDC for the federal travel hub mask mandate. Mike & Jay agree that Missouri doesn’t get to nullify federal law, and that their law is almost certain to fall. They think Texas may have a stronger case on the mask mandate, but that it’s important to separate what may be good public policy from what’s within the power of a government agency to do absent specific congressional authorization. Following that, they look at a pretrial motion filed by Special Counsel John Durham in his investigation of the federal government’s investigation of Russian influence in the 2016 elections. They agree that the allegations are serious, but that it’s easy to reach bad conclusions so early in the process. The show winds up with discussion of “prestige television”, class, and politics followed by an appreciation of the late P. J. O’Rourke, and then some thoughts on ballot harvesting. Jay’s Recommendation The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. Gordon Wood Mike’s Recommendations A Mencken Chrestomathy and Notes on Democracy. H. L. Mencken The Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Emily Smith of Oklahoma Christian University joins Ken & Trey. The trio begin by looking at the Supreme Court's recent decision to allow Alabama redistricting maps to remain, despite a potential conflict with the Voting Rights Act. Following this the trio talk Trump and his 15 boxes of documents retrieved by the National Archives and Records Administration. Trey focuses on the growing power of the modern presidency and the seeming inability of other branches of government to check it. Ken thinks that there are checks, they just have not been effectively used. Next the trio look at the recent bipartisan push to end individual stock trading for members of Congress or their immediate family. Ken argues it ought to be expanded to the court where there is more evidence of harm. Trey looks at the evidence of success in the stock market for those in Congress. Then the trio turn to the Open Apps Market Act. Ken is fully in support of the motion, but is surprised by the Republican support. Emily wonders what it may do to increase disability software for mobile platforms. Trey is supportive of opening devices to more app stores, but not of forcing how those app stores to adhere to particular rules. Following that topic they turn their attention to the northern border and the Canadian trucker protests. All three discuss what these larger protests mean and if there isn't an end to COVID restrictions in sight for no other reason than an ability to convince more people to get vaccinated. Last comes a conversation on the growing number of individuals in the U.S. who identify as Republican. Trey points out that the conventional wisdom from the left was wrong, demographics do not necessarily favor Democrats. Ken focuses on border communities and what might explain their shift. Emily suggests that the religious conviction of certain demographic groups may incline them towards Republicans. Ken's Recommendations Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World by Giles Milton Emily's Recommendations A Kind of Spark & Show Us Who You Are & Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll Trey's Recommendations The Cult of the Presidency by Gene Healy & Swan Song (2021) The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay start off this week’s episode with a look at the latest developments in the no longer “immanent” Russian invasion of Ukraine (at least not according to the White House). That’s followed by discussion of Donald Trump’s comments on the Electoral Count Act, pardons for those involved in the January 6th Capitol rioting, and the Republican National Committee’s censure of Republican House members Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney. Following that is a discussion of judicial recusal and whether Justice Clarence Thomas should be hearing cases involving the House January 6th Commission, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL and its larger societal implications, and whether Joe Rogan should be reined in or even censored for giving a platform to people advancing questionable information concerning COVID-19. Jay’s Recommendations Nightmare Alley (1947) & Nightmare Alley (2021) Mike’s Recommendation Napoleon's Master: A Life of Prince Talleyrand. David Lawday The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks with Glenn Hubbard, the Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at the Columbia Business School. Professor Hubbard is the author of a number of highly regarded economics texts and he's also served as the chairman of the US Council of Economic Advisers from 2001 through 2003. His latest book, and the topic of this conversation, is The Wall and the Bridge: Fear and Opportunity in Disruption's Wake. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week it’s a special three-person episode: Mike, Jay, and Ken. They kick things off by discussing the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, including his role on the Court, potential replacements, and the upcoming confirmation battle. They stick with the Supreme Court in their discussion of two big affirmative action cases the Court has agreed to hear, both concerning alleged discrimination against Asian Americans in college admissions. Next, it’s a look at a federal judge’s ruling that halted the largest oil lease sale in US history. Why did the Biden administration hold the sale in the first place? What was the Trump-era Interior Department’s argument about drilling having less of an environmental impact than not drilling? Mike, Jay, and Ken discuss that and more. Following that, they turn to recent economic news, including strong growth in 2021 — with even stronger inflation. Mike stands by his optimistic economic predictions (while admitting that he might have been somewhat too optimistic) and Ken largely agrees. Jay, on the other hand, thinks the economy won’t be improving nearly as quickly as Mike and Ken seem to believe. The show closes with a look at the American Museum of Natural History’s decision to remove an allegedly racist statue of former US President Theodore Roosevelt. Mike and Ken agree that the statue should have been removed, while Jay feels it should have stayed in place. Recommendations Ken: Lost Cincinnati Concert Venues of the '50s and '60s: From the Surf Club to Ludlow Garage. Steven Rosen Jay: Supreme Court of the United States Website Mike: Station Eleven (HBO Max) We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes for The Politics Guys 2022 Listener Survey. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Trey and Ken host the show. The first story is discussing the filibuster and the Democrats inability to change it for voting rights. Trey gives a brief history of the filibuster. Ken argues it has been weaponized since the 1990s. Trey suggests weaponization depends on the policy outcome desired. Next, they turn to the Supreme Court's ruling on the January 6 Committee's request for documents. Trey talks about the implications of the Supreme Court ruling the earlier court as dicta and Ken talks about how he sees this as evidence against a stacked court. After that they discuss the New York Attorney General's newest revelations. They discuss the implications of pleading the 5th in a civil case as opposed to a criminal case and the possibility of not engaging in civil lawsuits. They move on to talk about what gerrymandering in 2022 might mean for the midterms. Ken sees Ohio as an ideal model and Trey wonders if what Democrats really want is to ditch single member districts. Up last is a discussion about Biden's polling, what the polling predicts about the midterm elections, and why and when his numbers hit bottom. We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes for The Politics Guys 2022 Listener Survey. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Mike, Jay and Trey all host the show. Mike pays tribute to his late mother and this episode is dedicated to her memory. The first story is vaccine mandates. The trio parse out the questions of legality from policy. All three hosts are in large agreement on legality, but there are some differences in the best policy moving forward. Next, they turn to Biden's speech in Georgia and his accompanying failure to pass, or even start, a voting rights bill through the Senate. The hosts debate the underlying strategy and why the White House believed it was possible to pass such a sweeping bill. After that they discuss the failure of Cruz's Russian pipeline sanctions. This leads Jay and Mike to agree on a new era of Cold War policy, while Trey has doubts about the success of true real politic style relations. They move on to talk about the dustup between Dr. Fauci and Senator Paul. Trey finds the rhetoric disturbing while Jay thinks it is warranted. Up last is a discussion about those who were part of January 6 now running for office. This leads to a protracted conversation between Trey and Jay on Babbitt and the use of force. We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes for The Politics Guys 2022 Listener Survey. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay start the first Politics Guys show of 2022 by looking back at the events of January 6th, 2021. They discuss how they viewed the Capitol riot then, how they see it now, the value of the House January 6th Commission, and how much of a hold Donald Trump and “The Big Lie” has on the Republican Party. January 6th happened in large part because of Congress’ role in certifying presidential election results. Mike & Jay move on to discuss how that process works and whether it’s time to clarify or even repeal the Electoral Count Act. Next, they turn to the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s December meeting, which were released this past week. Mike & Jay agree that it’s good that the Fed is moving to moderate inflation, but they disagree on how quickly inflation is likely to fall. After that they discuss Chief Justice Roberts’ year end report on the state of the federal judiciary. Roberts acknowledges problems with transparency and discrimination in the judicial branch, but argues that these problems can be dealt with internally. Mike is skeptical about the ability of the branch to police itself, and even Jay thinks there may be a role for Congress to play here, though he’s more cautious about regulation than Mike is (which is generally the case). They move on to talk about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Twitter ban and the larger issues of Big Tech censorship, free speech, and the marketplace of ideas. The show closes with Mike & Jay responding to listener questions on workforce development policy and the future of the Republican Party. We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes for The Politics Guys 2022 Listener Survey. Mike’s Recommendations Chief Justice Roberts’ 2021 Report on the Federal Judiciary The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6. Miles Davis & John Coltrane The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final episode of 2021 Trey and Ken look back to the biggest moments of 2021 in order to make some predictions about the big issues of 2022. They cover the party system, the durability of democracy, economic policy with a focus on inflation and spending, midterm predictions, the pandemic, and a bit of thought on the 2024 presidential election. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Trey is joined by Ken and they start the show discussing Mark Meadows and the House's criminal contempt vote. The conversation focuses on the legal nature of executive privilege, the nature of 5th Amendment protections against self-incrimination, and the likelihood of the proceedings simply making it to the next election. After that the pair move on to discuss the wider information drop from Meadows, including the PowerPoints and text messages. The hosts then move to talk about the most recent developments in Texas SB 8. Trey focuses in on the implications of the private enforcement mechanism, which turns the hosts to a discussion of California governor Newsom's threat to use a similar mechanism against gun makers. After that the conversation turns overseas to Russia. Trey and Ken agree that it is unlikely the Biden administration would risk war over the buildup of troops near Ukraine. They discuss what policy might happen moving forward and a discussion of the flipping of party alignment in the U.S. in relation to Russia. Trey also discusses a brief history of "Putin Power." Finally thee hosts engage in the recent request by the Biden Administration to uphold the healthcare vaccine mandate and, additionally, a discussion of what policy ought to be moving forward. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a tribute (of sorts) to Bob Dole, Mike comes in hot on the Supreme Court’s decision on the Texas abortion case. That surprises Jay, who feels it’s a victory (of sorts) for abortion providers in Texas. Mike agrees with Chief Justice Roberts who, in his partial dissent, argues that “it is the role of the Supreme Court in our constitutional system that is at stake.” Next, they discuss the debt ceiling deal that was reached this week, getting into the legislative politics of it all as well as patting themselves on the back for calling it correctly (not that it was all that difficult to conclude that in the end the United States government wouldn’t default on its debt). Following that they delve into US foreign policy, in a look at the Biden-Putin talks over Ukraine and the Biden administration’s announcement that US diplomats will be boycotting the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Then it’s a discussion of the merits of the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Texas for alleged violations of the Voting Rights Act in creating their new congressional and state legislative districts. They agree that the VRA’s racial gerrymandering standards are awfully vague, but Mike believes they still serve a useful purpose, while Jay isn’t so convinced of that. After delving into the latest developments surrounding COVID, including a Senate vote to repeal the Biden administration’s workplace vaccine mandate, Mike & Jay look to the future, with their best and worst case predictions for 2022 and years beyond. Mike thinks Democrats have plenty of reasons to be concerned, and while Jay agrees he’s far more optimistic about the demise of authoritarian populism than Mike is. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open the show with a discussion of the deal to keep the federal government funded through mid February, which turns into a much more philosophical argument between Jay’s Machiavellian pragmatism / realism and Mike’s liberal idealism. Next is a discussion of oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which involves Mississippi’s ban on essentially all abortions after 15 weeks. Mike & Jay agree that the Supreme Court will uphold the law and, in the process, allow other states to put into place significant restrictions on the ability of women to have abortions. Where they disagree is whether or not a constitutionally protected right to terminate a pregnancy exists. After that, they discuss a recent National Labor Relations Board ruling that Amazon acted improperly in a union election at its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse, and that a new election is necessary. Mike agrees with the ruling and believes it’s clear that Amazon was out of line in its anti-union efforts, while Jay doesn’t think the company did anything meriting a re-do of the election. This leads into a broader discussion of the role of unions in America, globalization, automation, and economic vs non-economic concerns of workers. The show ends with Mike & Jay picking up on a theme from last week - Mike’s alleged privilege. Mike makes the case that, as a White, male, cisgendered, heterosexual, he’s swimming in an ocean of privilege. Jay concedes that Mike has had some advantages based on his gender, race, and sexual orientation, but argues that those advantages are not as great as many on the left claim, and that socioeconomic and cultural issues can be far more important. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jay start off this week’s show with late-breaking news about the emergence of the Omicron COVID variant. Jay brings up the inherent non-political nature of viruses, whereas Mike argues that responses to viruses are inherently political, and that the US and other wealthy countries can and should be doing more. Next, they discuss President Biden’s release of 50 million barrels of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve in coordination with oil reserve releases in other countries. They agree that this move is both political and largely symbolic. Jay believes the administration should make it less difficult to extract fossil fuels, while Mike focuses more on what he believes to be the significant negative climate ramifications of fossil fuels. Then it’s a look at the verdict in the Ahmaud Arbery case. Mike & Jay both support the jury’s verdict, and agree that there may be widespread issues with favoritism and even corruption in local law enforcement. But they differ on hate crime laws, which Mike supports and Jay believes to be unnecessary. After that they give two cheers to President Biden’s nomination of Jerome Powell to continue chairing the Federal Reserve and of Lael Brainard to serve as vice chair. Mike is more supportive of the nominations than Jay, largely because Jay takes issue with the Fed’s reluctance to taper asset purchases and raise interest rates. They both agree that while Fed independence may rankle presidents and members of both parties in Congress, it’s a good thing. Next is a discussion of Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s “Patriot Purge” video. They both see it as egregiously misleading propaganda and lament that some valid points about federal power are buried beneath a mountain of hyperbole and atrocious logic. Mike sees the video as further proof that even if Donald Trump fades from the scene, toxic Trumpism isn’t going away anytime soon and, if anything, may be gaining power. Jay is more hopeful and points out that when similar films were made by Michael Moore, he was praised - Mike agrees, but feels that it’s a false equivalence. They end the show with listener questions on whether Joe Biden is more like Jimmy Carter or Gerald Ford and why The Politics Guys listeners skew left. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Ken get deep into the details this week starting with the Kyle Rittenhouse case. Did the jury get the correct verdict? What are the implications for self-defense in states with both open carry and stand your ground laws? Next they turn to another case: the indictment of Steve Bannon. They talk next steps and the history of executive privilege. Finally it is a discussion of Representative Paul Gosar's meme attacking the southern border resulting in a vote of censure. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay open the show with a look at a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that halts implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety and Health Administration’s rule requiring vaccinations at businesses with 100 or more employees. Both Mike and Jay agree with the ruling, which makes it clear that the OSHA rule would be highly unlikely to succeed on the merits. Mike was disappointed that his preferred policy outcome - requiring workers to get a COVID vaccine or undergo weekly testing - doesn’t seem to be within OSHA’s and possibly even Congress’ legal authority. Next, they turn to the worsening inflation situation. Mike argues that despite recent increases, there’s good reason to believe that inflation is transitory and that Build Back Better won’t make a meaningful contribution to inflationary pressures. Jay wonders how long inflation has to last before it’s no longer considered transitory, and questions the wisdom of more massive governmental spending in light of recent inflation numbers. The show closes with a look at a federal appeals court decision to block the release of Trump administration documents to the House January 6th Committee. They both think this was the right decision, with Jay arguing that in the end, he believes that Trump’s claim of executive privilege should be rejected by the courts, and that the committee should get the documents it requested. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay start off the show by discussing the flurry of last-minute activity that led to the eventual passage of the infrastructure bill, with House progressives (at least enough of them) agreeing to support it in exchange for a commitment from Democratic moderates that they’d support Build Back Better as long as the CBO cost analysis - due in the next few weeks - largely mirrors White House projections. Mike and Jay both support the infrastructure bill (Jay less enthusiastically than Mike) while Mike is more confident than Jay that Build Back Better will also head to President Biden’s desk in the near future. After that they turn to Tuesday’s elections with a special focus on the Virginia gubernatorial election. Jay believes that Democrats erred in playing the race card in the governor’s race, and that things look good for Republicans in the next year’s midterm elections. Mike focuses more on structural factors which he believes will almost inevitably lead to Democrats losing control of one or both chambers after 2022, and Donald Trump being well positioned for another run at the presidency in 2024. Mike Recommendation - Democracy in America. Alexis De Tocqueville Jay’s Recommendation - Big White Ghetto. Kevin Williamson - “The Tuesday” Newsletter. Kevin Williamson The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Trey and Ken tackle the Wall Street Journal's opinion piece by Trump. Trey grapples with the rule by which to hold opinions in a liberal society while Ken thinks the WSJ should have contextualized the Trump piece. Next the pair discuss the DOJ Memo on potential violence at school board meetings and the subsequent grilling of Garland in Congress. This leads to a conversation on whether the distance between parents and school boards is a grassroots movement or astroturfing. Finally the pair talk Virginia gubernatorial politics and weigh in on what the race means for the 2022 midterms. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the podcast, go to patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices