The Politics Guys

Trey and Ken begin with a discussion of the so-called American Liberation Day. Trey attacks Trump’s tariffs from a libertarian view, but sees connections to authoritarianism in their implementation. Ken is more sympathetic to tariffs, but does not believe the current tariff policy would achieve his desired ends of protected key industries. Next is a discussion of the firing of both NSC and NSA officials and its connection to Laura Loomer. Here there is a detailed discussion of Trump’s circle of influence. Neither Ken nor Trey sees positives in these moves, but it confuses Ken. Trey explains the differences between Trump populists and former Republican conservatives and neo-conservatives. Then, it is a discussion of Cory Booker and his record-breaking Senate speech. Both Trey and Ken see this as the launching of Booker’s campaign, but Trey also sees it as an effective position-taking strategy, one that Democrats have sorely lacked in the wake of Trump’s election. They close the show with a discussion of the Wisconsin and Florida special elections and what, if any, clues they have to President Trump’s support. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 with Adam Chandler, a former staff writer at The Atlantic whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and a bunch of other places. They discuss his recently released book, 99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life. Topics Mike & Adam discuss include: - the “American Abracadabra” - Columbus, the Puritans, and Ben Franklin - if the United States is still the “Land of Opportunity” - the downside of hustle culture - universal basic income - how workplace culture has changed over time - what we might learn from the French about work - the economic costs of a more laid-back approach to work - work and a New Patriotism Adam Chandler on X The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Jay open this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of nationwide injunctions by federal district court judges. Neither of them likes the practice, and they consider three ways that the practice might be curtailed or ended entirely. Next, it’s a look at President Trump’s memorandum ostensibly on preventing abuses of the legal system, as well as his various Executive Orders targeting big DC law firms that have gone up against him. Mike is very concerned about this, and while Jay isn’t as worried, it’s not because he thinks what Trump is doing is at all okay - Jay believes that this will all be rejected by federal courts, while Mike is less optimistic about that, especially when it comes to revocation of security clearances. Following that, they review the Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing the ATF to regulate so-called ‘ghost guns’, and Jay discusses whether he now regrets having supported Donald Trump. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Jay open with a discussion of ‘Signalgate’, the text chain with top Trump administration officials on the Signal app in which Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffery Goldberg was inexplicably included. Jay has big concerns about the competence of the administration as well as the overall tone of the Signal communication. Both Mike and Jay agree with the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board that the Trump administration can’t bully its way through everything crying Fake News and that at times like this the best thing to do is admit a screwup, fire those responsible, and move on – not that any of that is remotely likely to happen in an administration known for doubling down, not backing down. Next is a look at the most recent development in President Trump’s new tariff regime: 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts. Not surprisingly, neither Jay nor Mike sees this as a good idea. Mike makes an argument for restoring more control over tariffs to Congress, and significantly curtailing presidential ‘emergency’ tariff powers. Then, they consider President Trump’s Executive Order on federal elections. Mike doesn’t think what Trump is doing is constitutional, and Jay largely agrees, seeing this EO more as politics than serious policy. Mike adds that the penalty for states that don’t comply – potential loss of federal election assistance funds – isn’t all that significant. They close by wondering why Donald Trump is so obsessed with Greenland and how his ham-handed efforts to ‘get’ it may end up backfiring. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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

Jay and Justin open this supporters’ midweek episode with a look at the Department of Defense's efforts to remove DEI-tagged historical content from its websites, sparking backlash and broader questions about how diversity, equity, and inclusion policies are defined and implemented. They discuss whether this was merely an administrative blunder or a deliberate action, exploring the nuances and potential political motivations behind this move. Jay argues for a conservative redefinition of DEI—celebrating individual achievement rather than group identities—while Justin highlights the complexities and misunderstandings surrounding DEI initiatives across institutions. In the second half of the episode, Jay and Justin shift gears to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, examining former President Trump's recent attempts at negotiating a partial ceasefire. They unpack the complications of the "mostly peaceful" ceasefire and express skepticism about the sincerity and effectiveness of such agreements given continued aggression. They contemplate the broader geopolitical implications, considering how the international community, especially China, may interpret these developments. Both Jay and Justin acknowledge the war's eventual resolution will likely require uncomfortable compromises, but doubt remains over how quickly—or effectively—these negotiations will proceed. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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

Jay and Justin open the episode with a discussion of President Trump’s Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education. Is this legally possible, or just symbolic politics? Jay and Justin dig into the history, constitutional limits, and practical implications—especially regarding federal funding, student aid, special education, and K–12 policy. They also weigh in on whether educational standards have actually changed since the Department’s inception. Next, they consider Chuck Schumer’s bad week. From accusations of weak leadership to talk of a primary challenge by AOC and grumbling within his own caucus, the Guys assess Schumer’s standing, the Democrats’ strategic missteps, and what the Senate minority leader could—and maybe should—do next. They close with a look at Trump, the Courts, and Chief Justice Roberts. With Trump seemingly defying court orders, calling for judges’ impeachment, and stirring constitutional anxieties, Jay and Justin assess whether we’re creeping toward a genuine constitutional crisis—or just playing political Calvinball with separation of powers. Bonus: Roberts finally speaks, and it’s… measured. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 talks with Monica Hopkins, the executive director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia. Given all of the legal challenges to Trump administration actions, this seemed like an ideal time for a discussion with someone on the front lines. Topics Mike and Monica discuss include: - if the ACLU is a progressive-left organization - Trump, DOGE, and threats to federal employees - deportation of undocumented immigrants - ending birthright citizenship - DC statehood ACLU DC on X The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Ken open this preview of the midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of the administration’s actions against DC law firms that have opposed President Trump. They both find this to be deeply disturbing, especially as legal action is about the only resource Democrats have until they’re able to win enough seats to control the House or Senate. Then they look at the budgetary effects of mass firings. Mike wonders what will happen to the money freed up from the firings, and predicts that much of it will end up going back to the Treasury at the end of the fiscal year. Ken argues that many of the firings will be successfully challenged in court, meaning that there won’t be much (if any) money to go back. They also discuss whether or not President Trump will try to throw Elon Musk under the bus if DOGE continues to grow in unpopularity. Next is a conversation about Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Mike sees Barrett as a big disappointment to MAGA, as she’s not a perfectly reliable pro-Trump vote. Ken agrees, suggesting that Barrett was influenced by Justice Antonin Scalia to develop a judicial philosophy that, while flawed (to Ken’s way of looking at it, at least) gives her a certain commendable integrity. They close by considering what sort of a presidential nominee Gavin Newsome might be and consider the alternatives, including Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, Andy Beshear, John Fetterman, and Mark Cuban. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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. T 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 Ken open with a discussion of the Continuing Resolution to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Passage of the bill wouldn’t have been possible without the support of some Senate Democrats, which has caused consternation with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Mike and Ken both think this was a tough call, though Ken would have sided with the “no” voters while Mike would have voted “yes” to keep the government open. Next, they consider the terms of the Ukraine ceasefire. Neither of them feels that Russian dictator Putin has much incentive to accept a ceasefire at this point, and they conclude that we’re unlikely to see the shooting stop as long as Russia is still making battlefield gains. From there, it’s a look at the attempted deportation of Mahmoud Khalil. Mike wonders why the Trump administration so obviously violated the due process rights of Khalil when they could have done things by the book and likely have gotten Khalil deported. Ken responds that the legal argument for deporting Khalil isn’t very good, which may be why the Trump administration chose the approach it did. They close by addressing a listener question concerning Trump’s win in November and what can be done to most effectively resist Trumpist policies prior to the midterm elections. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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. ThePolitics 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 with Jason Read, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern Maine, about his book The Double Shift: Spinoza and Marx on the Politics of Work. Topics Mike & Jason discuss include: - work as a source of meaning and identity - what Spinoza adds to Marx’s views on work - what Fight Club, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul can tell us about work - Gen X and the death of slacker culture - why ‘selling out’ isn’t seen as such a bad thing anymore - mythocracy and negative solidarity The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Jay open this midweek supporters’ episode with a look at the Supreme Court’s decision to not vacate a temporary restraining order (TRO) that requires the government to pay USAID contractors $2 billion for services provided. Jay focuses on the legal arguments and at least partially convinces Mike that the TRO was problematic, though on the larger issue of the government paying contractors, Mike and Jay agree that the US should pay up for services rendered. Next is an in-depth discussion of the fate of Ukraine and US foreign policy, in the wake of a number of troubling signs for supporters of Ukraine. They close by considering the Supreme Court’s decision to not hear a case concerning university bias response teams (BRTs). Jay thinks that BRTs are a horrible idea, and Mike is no big fan of them either, but thinks in some circumstances they could play a role. What surprises Mike is that the decision to not hear the case was 7-2, meaning that four of the Court’s six conservatives voted against granting cert. Jay suggests some reasons why this may have happened, but Mike is still a bit mystified. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Jay open with a look at the latest in the “Will he or won’t he?” saga of President Trump’s tariffs, They agree that this sort of uncertainty is bad for markets, and Mike points out that tariffs are not just a tax, but a regressive tax. Jay observes that the US used to derive nearly all of its income through tariffs, but that was a very different time. They also look at the legal justification for the tariffs, which they both agree is at least somewhat shaky. Next is a discussion of the big Trump rally that was his address to a joint session of Congress. There wasn’t much substance, but plenty of lies and people behaving badly. They close by considering a UK listener's view that under President Trump, the United States is no longer either strong or right, but that American under Trump is weak and venal. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 talks with Katherine Stewart author of the new book: Money, Lies and God. Katherine is a journalist and author whose work focuses on intersection of religion, politics and policy, and the threat the intersection of religion and politics has on democratic institutions. Topics Trey and Katherine discuss include: - the origins of Christian Nationalism - why abortion became a rightwing position - the various groups that have become the Christian right - why school issues have become a key cultural issue in the U.S. Katherine Stewart on X 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

In this U.S. Constitution episode, Trey and Ken look at the ties between prohibition and women's suffrage, the unique policy nature of the 18th Amendment, and the unusual path to ratification in Ohio. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 open the episode with the breaking chaos between President Zelenskyy, President Trump, and Vice-President Vance. Trey opened the segment by stating that his assumption of a foreign policy difference between Putin and President Trump was flawed. The hosts agreed that the moment was a turning point in the break between the U.S. and Europe. Next, they moved to the House's budget bill. Ken was surprised that only Representative Massie defected. Trey believes Democrats will end up taking the blame if they shut the government down. Ken agrees historically but believes some specifics make Democrats' strategy different in this budget cycle. They close with a look at DOGE and Musk's demand that all federal employees report the five things they did in the last week. Ken takes a deep legal look at worker protection, and Trey argues that it gives true efforts to reign in government a bad name. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Jay open with a discussion of the Trump administration’s attempt to fire Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger. So far, the courts have sided with Dellinger against the administration, but Jay thinks there’s a reasonable chance that the Supreme Court might end up giving the administration what it wants, and further advancing the “Unitary Executive” view of the presidency. Mike agrees that Jay may be right as a matter of law, but feels that the Trump administration continues to push executive power to dangerous levels. Next they take a look at DOGE. While it sure seems like Elon Musk is in charge of it, the White House says Musk isn’t even a DOGE employee. What’s going on here, and can Musk legally do what he’s doing without Senate confirmation? Mike thinks not, while Jay believes that Musk is simply a presidential advisor, not someone in a top policy position who would require Senate confirmation. They close with a look back at the first 10 years of The Politics Guys. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Jay open this 10th Anniversary episode of The Politics Guys with a discussion of the Trump administration’s seeming turn toward Russia and away from Ukraine. They discuss Trump’s many lies about the war, including that Ukraine started it (which Trump later walked back), that Zelensky is a dictator with a four percent approval rating, the amount of money the US has given to Ukraine, and more. They also consider the larger foreign policy and global order implications of the deals Trump is hoping to make with Ukraine and with Russia. In the end, both Mike and Jay are horribly disappointed by this turn of events. Then they turn to the domestic scene – a Trump executive order intended to give the president more control over so-called independent agencies. Mike is no fan, but Jay argues that as the president, Donald Trump has the right to do more or less what he wants with executive branch agencies, including firing “independent” agency heads because they disagree with him on policy. 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 welcomes back George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan to talk about his latest collection, Self Help is Like a Vaccine: Essays on Living Better. Topics Mike & Bryan discuss include: - obese people and anti-vaxxers - Bryan’s life of appeasement - the value of betting on politics - poverty and substance abuse - reasons to spend more time in a bubble - quality vs quantity in converts Bryan’s Substack: Bet on It 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 Jay open this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of President Trump’s call with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and plans to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Mike points out that Trump, supposedly a master negotiator, seems to have made concessions to Putin even before negotiations have begun. Both Jay and Mike are concerned about how any capitulation to Russia’s unprovoked aggression might encourage China’s dictator regarding Taiwan. Following that, they consider the House Republican budget blueprint which, while decrying huge deficits, would add trillions in debt. They close by addressing listener questions concerning whether Jay thinks Trump is still just a passing phenomenon, and if Mike believes that Democrats are doing enough to counter the president. 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 Jay open with a look at the various efforts by the Trump administration to pull back on political prosecutions or political figures, including the very controversial decision to not pursue charges (for now) against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Neither Mike nor Jay agree with the Adams decision, but Jay is more willing to consider a political motive by the Biden DOJ for bringing the charges in the first place. They also discuss the wider implications of Trump’s actions. Mike’s main concern is that it will result in more public corruption, though he agrees with Jay that there’s something to be said for not unduly constraining American businesses in international competition. Then they turn to the issue of constitutional crises – what the term means, if we’re in (or near) one, and the last time we’ve seen an unquestionable constitutional crisis. They close with a discussion of the latest Trump cabinet confirmations: Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, and RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mike’s New (free) Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 continue working through the U.S. Constitution with the 16th Amendment. Why and how did we allow direct taxes? What was the reason for not having direct taxes in the original constitution? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Ken begin with a detailed look at DOGE, specifically focusing on what it is and its connection to Treasury Department Data. That leads to an extended debate between the hosts on Presidential power. Trey argues that scholars have long pointed to the danger of each President taking new and unique powers via unprecedented unilateral action. In this view, the long-term health of our Republic is reigned in primarily not by separation of powers, but by norms Presidents are not willing to violate. All it takes is for President Trump to ignore those norms to jeopardize the system. Ken disagrees and argues the American system is fine; the problem is solely a president who takes his orders from Putin (about which Trey also disagrees). After that, they turned to an extended discussion on tariffs. Trey puts tariffs in historic and political-economic terms. Ken turns to the legality- or illegality- of the proposed tariff scheme. They finish the show with a brief conversation on Trump's comments, both in person and online, concerning Gaza. Mike’s New (free) Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Justin open the preview of this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of the Laken Riley Act, the first bill signed into law in the Trump administration. Justin has some serious problems with it, and while Mike shares many of those concerns, he thinks it wouldn’t be such a bad law with a few changes. They also consider President Trump’s ending the Biden-era rule that restricted ICE from entering schools, churches, shelters, and hospitals. That’s followed by a look at some of the major initiatives targeting the federal workforce, including a rule that would make it easier to fire tens of thousands of federal workers, and a ‘buyout offer’ that’s actually not a buyout offer (despite what Elon Musk might say). Mike’s New (free) Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 Justin open with a discussion of the wild pace of events since Donald Trump’s inauguration. They give Trump credit for shaking things up (for better or worse) but think that “move fast and break things” might not get even Trump supporters the results they ultimately want. Justin thinks Trump did a poor job as “national comforter” following the worst US air disaster in over 20 years by choosing to use the moment to make unsubstituted claims about DEI policies and to attack previous administrations. Following that they turn to the confirmation hearings for Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr., and Kash Patel. Mike is sticking with his prediction that every Trump nominee coming before the Senate will be confirmed, but he’s at least somewhat optimistic that at least four GOP Senators will reject the nominations of Gabbard and RFK Jr. Justin points out that RFK Jr. is a walking red flag, with issues involving his judgment, competence, experience, and personal life. Next they discuss the short-lived (for now) federal funding freeze, considering its legality as well as whether the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which would seem to disallow the freeze, is itself unconstitutional. They close with a listener question concerning racism, fascism, and the Republican Party. Mike’s New (free) Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? 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 talks with Kurt Gray, a Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he directs the Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. They talk about his recently released book, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground. Topics Mike and Kurt discuss include: - what Jonathan Haidt gets wrong - myths of human nature - dehumanization and moral conflict - social media as a Godzilla movie - why people only want ‘their’ facts - the importance of perceived harm - how to connect, invite, and validate Kurt Gray on X 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 Trey open the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode with a look at the many executive actions President Trump has taken on DEI-related issues. Trey points out the bad biology in the order recognizing only two sexes at conception. Mike is somewhat receptive to the idea of ending preferences based on race, gender, or ethnicity, but feels that well-implemented DEI is not just a good idea, but important to the continued functioning of a multi-ethnic, multi-racial country like the United States. Next, they turn to executive actions on energy and climate, including the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, ‘drill baby drill’, and wind energy. They close by addressing listener questions on hostage releases and where Reagan Republicans fit in the GOP of Donald Trump. 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 Trey open with their thoughts on Donald Trump’s inauguration and inaugural address. Trey considers Trump’s rhetoric, while Mike points out the typical Trumpian exaggerations and compares the speech to Trump’s 2017 “American Carnage” address. Then they turn to pardons. Mike is sympathetic to President Biden’s use of preemptive pardons for his family and officials subject to potential political prosecution, but Trey can’t get behind them because of the bad precedent they set. They both agree that President Trump’s pardons of essentially everyone involved in the January 6th Capitol insurrection are unconscionable and that President Trump should have at least made the effort to sort out those who committed violence from non-violent offenders. They close with a look at President Trump’s many executive actions on immigration and birthright citizenship, an issue that Mike argues is clearly settled law. Trey disagrees, pointing to a number of legal scholars who argue for a different interpretation of the 14th Amendment that might potentially convince enough members of the Court to allow his order to stand. 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

In the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode, Justin and Jay weigh in on several big tech cases in front of the Supreme Court. First, the 9-0 ruling on the TikTok ban, and whether there will be some resolution from the Trump administration. Next, they discuss the Texas adult website age verification case that was heard this week, a conversation that covers the balance between privacy, safety, and technical capabilities, as well as their reminiscences of John Updike and 2 Live Crew (and the difference between pornography and obscenity). Finally, they take up President Biden's declaration that the ERA has been added to the constitution as the 28th amendment (to be clear, it hasn't). 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

Jay and Justin open with a discussion of the political and practical challenges surrounding the LA fires, including the role of climate change, disaster preparedness, environmental regulation, and political blame games. Then they turn to Trump nominee confirmation hearings, focusing on Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and RFK Jr. 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 talks with Justin Talbot Zorn, who has served as Legislative Director to three Members of Congress and is a Senior Adviser to the Center for Economic and Policy Research. In his policy and communications work, Justin specializes in climate, innovation, manufacturing, and economic competitiveness. In this conversation, Mike and Justin focus on PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ and environmental policy. Topics Mike and Justin discuss include: - why the US Air Force isn’t cleaning up water it contaminated with PFAS - the military’s big PFAS problem - costs and benefits of cleaning up PFAS in the water supply - what to expect concerning PFAS regulation in the Trump administration - plausible worst and best-case scenarios for the next four years Justin’s article on Trump’s testicle shrinking deregulation. 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 continue their journey through the U.S. Constitution by examining the long-dormant history of the 15th AMendment, the history of the goals of the 15th Amendment, and the modern jurisprudence on the 15th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 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 open their first episode of 2025 discussing Trump’s felony conviction. Next, they consider Trump’s comments on international foreign policy, specifically his aggressive stance on Canada, Greenland, and Panama. They finish the show by discussing special council Jack Smith’s report release and its court rulings thus far. 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 Jay open this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of the potential threat posed by Chinese technology to US national security. Between issues with market-leading TP-Link routers and the TikTok ban scheduled to go into effect later this month, how worried should we be about China’s ability to use technology against us? Next, they look at a story that’s been underreported in most of the media but has significant implications for tens of millions of small businesses: the Corporate Transparency Act’s reporting requirements. Both Mike and Jay question the wisdom of the legislation, wondering if it’s overly broad, restricts free association rights, and would do anything significant to minimize money laundering and financing of terrorism. They close by responding to listener questions about Jay taking potshots at left-wing alarmists and their views on populism and a strong two-party system. 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 Jay open the first episode of 2025 with a discussion of the recent terror attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, followed by a look at the upcoming vote for Speaker of the House. Next, they consider the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter, looking at the awful situation Carter inherited from Ford, the thumping Carter took in losing to Reagan in 1980, and Carter’s long and impressive post-presidency. After that, it’s a follow-up on their healthcare discussion from late last year. Mike points out that Jay was right (and Mike was wrong) about most Americans liking their health insurance. However, Mike has some issues with the question itself and makes the case that more specific questions about people’s experiences with healthcare, especially costs, paint a far less rosy picture. They close by considering whether working for Donald Trump in his second administration is justifiable and, if so, under what conditions. 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 talks with Jeremy Young, PEN America’s Freedom to Learn program director, about the recently released report, America’s Censored Classrooms, 2024. Topics Mike & Jeremy Discuss Include: - how big of a problem educational censorship is - where it’s happening - the deviousness of ‘stealth censorship’ - institutional neutrality and viewpoint diversity - how universities are responding to censorship attempts - what to expect from the incoming Trump administration PEN America on X 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

Jay and Justin discuss the Democratic strategy as an opposition party. Will Democrats do better to oppose everything, or to attempt bipartisanship to blunt the edges of Trump's policy? They wrap up with a discussion of the ethics and optics of Biden's proposed commutation of some (or all) federal death sentences. 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

Jay and Justin cover the freshly minted debt ceiling deal and the implications for the strategies for both parties headed into the new year. They then discuss Trump's lawsuits and threatened lawsuits against ABC, the Des Moines Register, and Lynne Cheney, and whether these are undemocratic chilling of the fourth estate or a means of holding them to some ethical standards. 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 Jay open the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode by considering everything Donald Trump has promised to do on his first day in office. It’s a huge list, and they get into the probable, possible, and unconstitutional. Then they look back at their predictions for 2024 and make new and improved predictions for what they expect in 2025. 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 Jay open with a discussion of the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. While they agree that Luigi Mangione’s actions were absolutely wrong, Mike makes the case for a more nuanced understanding of both Mangione and the people in charge at health insurance companies like United Healthcare. This leads to a broader discussion of American healthcare. Mike argues that the system is fundamentally flawed, whereas Jay believes that things aren’t nearly as bad as Mike makes them out to be. Then it’s a look at one of Donald Trump’s many Day 1 promises: ending birthright citizenship. While that will be highly unlikely without a constitutional amendment, they consider what the incoming Trump administration could do to disincentivize immigrants from attempting to come to the US to give birth. Mike doesn’t even see this as a problem, but even if it is, he argues that there are far more important immigration issues to tackle. Jay makes the point that Democrats are often too focused on ‘root causes’ and that even minor disincentives to illegal immigration might be worth enacting. 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 discuss the implications of the 14th Amendment's state action doctrine. The 14th Amendment cannot be enforced against private individuals or relationships. But what happens when state action and private action intermingle? As a special, this normally supporter-exclusive show is available to everyone free of charge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Ken start with a look at the Hunter Biden pardon. Trey forcefully argues that it didn’t have to be a terrible move for President Biden. Still, because it involves lying and taking unnecessary shots at the Justice Department, it is wrong and bad for the Democratic Party. Ken argues that the pardon was not only necessary but justified. In Ken’s view, the primary problem is that the pardon did not cover enough people and, maybe due to mental decline, was not worded well. Next is a discussion of Trump’s nominees with a special focus on Hegseth and Kennedy. They agree Hegseth is a bad nominee but have differing takes on what may happen next. Ken believes one possibility is that it is a flytrap: that is one bad nomination to take eyes off of other nominees. They close with a look at the oral arguments for United States v. Skrmetti. Ken drills deep into the legal issues and the potential future for the case to return not under the 14th Amendment, but under a parental rights framework. Trey suggests that we live in a post-liberal world primarily concerned about good ends for people and not minimal liberal visions of justice. 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

This weekend's episode will be delayed due to technical issues. Trey and Ken recorded on Friday evening, and while they made it through just fine, Trey's microphone didn't. They'll be re-recording on Sunday and we'll have the weekend episode up for you by Sunday evening. Our apologies for the delay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and May open the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of the gender gap in American politics. Mike thinks that part of the reason for it is that Democratic candidates do a poor job of projecting strength and aren’t offering much to young males. May believes the issue is more policy than vibes, with Mike wondering if he’s overreacting to a loss for his party that can plausibly be explained by bad fundamentals. When May makes an early exit, Mike soldiers on by himself, addressing listener questions on why Biden chose Harris as his VP and if MAGA can survive Trump. 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 May open with a look at where the many legal cases against Donald Trump stand as Inauguration Day approaches. They agree that there won’t be any further action on them until Trump is out of office again, with May believing there’s much more of a chance of future Democratic administrations reopening them than Mike does. Next is a discussion of the latest tariffs Donald Trump said he’d enact on day one: 25% on both Mexico and Canada as well as an additional 10% on China. Mike believes that Trump made these promises as the opening salvo in a negotiation and won’t end up following through. May argues that Trump has a real attachment to tariffs, and that he’s likely to stick with them even if they cause markets to drop and inflation to rise. They close with Walmart’s recently announced DEI rollback, which is part of a larger corporate trend. Mike believes that thoughtfully administered awareness training can be valuable, but that it too easily becomes counterproductive hectoring. 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 talks with Jim Wallis, author of the new book The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy. Topics Trey and Jim discuss include: - the origins of white and black Churches - how evangelicalism has become home to white nationalism - the deeper meaning of the good samaritan - true faith in the modern world The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out the Sustainable Planet podcast, as well as the free Sustainable Planet Substack. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jay open the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of transgender awareness in the wake of the recent International Transgender Day of Remembrance. They get into whether Capitol bathrooms should be open to Delaware Democratic Representative Sarah McBride – the first openly trans person to serve in Congress – as well as other issues surrounding transgender policy. Next is a look at Donald Trump’s call to eliminate the Department of Education. Neither Jay nor Mike think that will happen, but Republicans have been pushing for it ever since the agency was created in 1979. Jay explains what Republicans have against the Department of Education, and along the way, Jay and Mike find at least some common ground. They close by addressing listener questions on Jay’s critique of capitalism, diversity in Trump’s cabinet, and if it’s time for a law prohibiting political retribution. 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 Jay open with a discussion of President-Elect Trump’s nominations to this point. Mike isn’t surprised by the picks overall, as they’re about what one would expect from Donald Trump given his belief that establishment insider picks in his first term were a major impediment to his administration. Jay believes that new AG nominee Pam Bondi will likely do a better job than Gaetz ever could. They both have issues with DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard, though Jay argues that it’s one thing to oppose her nomination, and something else entirely to claim that she’s acting on behalf of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. From there they turn to the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. They consider the plans of the department, as outlined by Musk and Ramaswamy in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, with their expectation being that not a lot of money will be saved, but that work from the office requirements and moving a number of government jobs out of the Washington DC could lead to a smaller federal workforce. Here's Mike’s May 2023 interview with Tulsi Gabbard 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 welcomes back Heather Cox Richardson, a professor of history at Boston College and author of the “Letters from an American” Substack. Professor Richardson is also the author of Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, which has recently come out in paperback. Topics Mike & Heather discuss include: - why the elections went so well for Republicans - why Harris’ messaging failed to carry the day - the media and political misinformation - leftism and liberalism in contemporary America - voter (mis)understanding of economics - why Heather is still optimistic Here's Mike’s 2023 interview with Heather Cox Richardson. 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

Elections have consequences for the winning and losing parties. Justin and Jay start this midweek supporters’ episode by discussing how united Republicans are, whether Republicans are ever united, and where there might be dissent that potentially sinks Trump's policy priorities. For the Democrats, will the coalition hold? What does the future of the party look like? Or is it all just the economy? 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

Jay and Justin open by explaining why the election results weren’t really all that surprising – at least for those who believe that fundamentals matter more than candidates or campaign strategies. That said, Jay and Justin agree that Republicans generally fielded stronger candidates this time around than they did in the 2022 midterms, which probably helped them to maintain control of the House and retake the Senate. Following that they turn to President-Elect Trump’s cabinet picks, from mainstream choices like Marco Rubio to more unconventional selections like Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Gaetz, and RFK Jr. 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