The Politics Guys

Mike and Jay open with a discussion of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. While there’s a lot we still don’t know, it’s clear that the Secret Service failed to do its job. Mike and Jay agree that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle shouldn’t still have her job, though Mike contends that those on the right blaming what happened on “DEI hires” are engaged in rampant speculation to promote their ideological agenda. Next is a look at Ohio US Senator JD Vance, who Trump picked as his running mate. Jay still doesn’t think Vance was a great choice, though he attempts to work out what Vance might bring to the ticket. Mike argues that VPs bring almost nothing to the ticket and that the simplest way to understand Trump’s selection of Vance is that Trump just went with his gut. Mike also argues that the selection of Vance points to a MAGAfied GOP even after Trump leaves the scene. In considering the Republican Convention at which Trump and Vance were formally nominated, Mike found that the GOP seems to be looking to the past and not at all like the optimistic, future-oriented party of Ronald Reagan. Jay points out that the Republicans did a great job of bringing in “real Americans” to drive home the point that the Republican Party is fighting for Americans who are looked down on by elites. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Politics in Question, Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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 educator, researcher, and writer Sarah Towle about her latest book, Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands. Topics Mike and Sarah Discuss Include: - the historical roots of our current immigration issues - the connection between trade policy and immigration - why prevention through deterrence hasn’t worked - if “remain in Mexico” is a viable approach to asylum seekers - immigrants, crime, and American jobs - helping border communities cope with the flow of migrants - what a more efficient, effective, and humane border policy might look like Sarah Towle on X The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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, Jay is joined by Justin Holmes from the University of Northern Iowa (whose opinions, as always are his own and not reflective of his employer, the people of the great state of Iowa, or its 20 Million head of hogs). They open by taking up the failed vote to hold Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over Robert Hur’s recordings of his interviews with President Biden. They discuss the legal merits of contempt, the challenges of enforcement, bills of attainder, and campaign implications. (Spoiler alert, Republicans win either way, if anyone is paying attention to this.) They close with a discussion of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which has gotten a lot of attention recently as a potential blueprint for a second Trump administration. They initially focus on potential changes to the DOJ and continue with a broader discussion of the role of bureaucracy in a democracy, where Justin attempts to find common ground between the great political philosophers Edmund Burke and Jello Biafra. They try to get to the bottom of whether these are new ideas, whether they’re good ideas, whether they’re going to be guiding principles for Donald Trump, and why Democrats are so concerned. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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 is joined by Justin Holmes from the University of Northern Iowa (whose opinions, as always are his own and not reflective of his employer, the people of the great state of Iowa, or its 20 Million head of hogs). The show kicks off with a discussion of the ongoing calls for President Biden to end his campaign. They start with a divide over how bad of shape Biden is in cognitively and mainstream press coverage (Jay thinks it’s about time the mainstream press picks up on Biden’s problems, Justin thinks the coverage is overblown). They then discuss the process for removing Biden from the ticket (there’s not a clean one), who the contenders are, and what their odds are. Next, they turn their attention to Trump’s potential Vice Presidential Choices, and what each brings to the ticket. They conclude with a discussion of AOC’s impeachment resolution against Justices Thomas and Alito for accepting gifts. Jay discusses whether they did anything illegal, and Justin and Jay disagree about how much meddling Congress should have in regulating the Supreme Court, but they both agree that accepting valuable gifts is a bad look, and that Harlan Crow should take them to Bali. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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 the preview of this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of the Supreme Court decision allowing municipalities to deal with homeless encampments by bans on outdoor camping. Mike is all over the place on this one, finding something to like (and dislike) on all sides, while May believes that the majority got it right. Next, they consider the Court’s ruling in Moody v. NetChoice, involving efforts by Florida and Texas to regulate social media they believe is biased against conservatives. Mike has a big problem with any government viewpoint regulation while May thinks a case can be made that these services are monopolies and there is a reasonable state interest in promoting a diversity of opinion. They close with a discussion of Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s policy blueprint for a conservative administration. Mike points out that the many big government conservative activist proposals are fundamentally un-conservative, a tension May also recognizes. They focus in particular on the proposal to give presidents more power to remove government officials from their positions, which many on the right feel is necessary to correct a longstanding liberal bias in the administrative state. 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

Biden Defiant, Presidential Immunity, Overturning 1/6 Convictions Mike and May open with a discussion of the fallout from President Biden’s debate performance, including his defiant (and some would say delusional) determination to stay in the race and beat Donald Trump. May thinks the Democrats should have seen this coming and doesn’t expect them to force Biden out, while Mike holds out hope that the mounting pressure from party leaders and donors will end up with Biden stepping aside. Following that they turn to the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity. May believes that the majority got it right, and while Mike doesn’t disagree, he feels that they went too far. They close by considering the Court’s ruling that one of the charges a number of January 6th defendants were convicted on was improperly applied to them. Both Mike and May agree with the ruling, and note the somewhat unusual alignment of the justices, with one of the Court’s conservatives joining the liberals in dissent, and one of the liberals siding with the conservative majority. 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

It’s mostly Supreme Court on the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode, with Mike and Jay discussing whether the EPA can force Ohio to be a “good neighbor” to downwind states, when a bribe isn’t a bribe, whether the Purdue Pharma OxyContin settlement should have been thrown out, and – in a non-court discussion, their thoughts on the Julian Assange plea deal. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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 Biden’s disastrous performance in the first presidential debate. Mike was actually hoping for a worse outcome that would all but force Biden from the race, which he doesn’t think will happen, despite multiple calls for Biden to step aside. Jay wonders how Biden’s closest confidants and top advisors allowed things to get to this point. Mike suggests that Biden may still be able to handle the non-public-facing parts of the job, which Jay doubts, particularly in the event of a national security emergency. After that, they turn to the Supreme Court ending Chevron deference, in a ruling that will have major implications for government agencies, Congress, and the courts. Mike has long been a supporter of Chevron but thinks that the Court made the right call here, which both surprises and pleases Jay, who’s never been a fan of Chevron. Following that they discuss two other major decisions of the Court – one that allows women in Idaho to obtain abortions to preserve their lives and health and another in which the Court decided that plaintiffs arguing the government censored their social media posts don’t have standing to sue. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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 attorney, author, and historian Talmage Boston. His books include Cross-Examining History, Raising the Bar: The Crucial Role of Lawyers in History, and most recently, How The Best Did It: Leadership Lessons From Our Top Presidents, which is the focus of their discussion. Topics Mike and Talmage cover include: - the “Great 8”: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, TR, FDR, Ike, JFK, and Reagan - key leadership strengths of those 8 presidents - the main weakness of each of the 8 presidents - most important presidential leadership skills - if it’s harder to be a great political leader in today’s world - strengths and weaknesses of Joe Biden and Donald Trump The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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 & Ken discuss the meaning of the 11th Amendment including: Chisholm v Georgia Hans v Louisiana Ex parte Young Fitzpatrick v Bitzer Seminole Tribe v Florida Central Virginia Community College v Katz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey & Ken open by delving into President Biden's proposed path to citizenship for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, analyzing its potential impacts and political ramifications. Trey argues the timing is a political bone to the left in the wake of his tougher border policies. Next, they tackle the implications of three major Supreme Court cases. In the first, Moore v. United States, upholding foreign asset taxing, Trey and Ken agree with the majority but Trey disagrees with the policy implications of a wealth tax. In the second, Gonzalez v. Trevino, both Trey and Ken agree that reigning in some protection for police officers is important. Still, Ken argues that all the justices would change their votes if it were applied to former president Trump. In the third, United States v. Rahimi, they discuss the upholding of the Second Amendment's constitutionality for those under domestic violence orders. Lastly, they explore the Senate's recent blockage of the Democratic-led bump stock ban by Senate Republicans. Trey argues Republicans are simply using it as a political tool for the upcoming election and hopes afterward a ban will be possible. Check out Democracy Works, Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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 Liam deClive-Lowe, co-founder and co-president of American Policy Ventures. APV is a group that works with people and organizations across the ideological spectrum to make it easier for policymakers to effectively solve critical policy problems. They sponsored the Georgetown Battleground Civility Poll that came out not too long ago, which is the focus of their conversation Topics Mike & Liam Discuss Include: - the mission of AVP - the value of Democrat and Republican pollsters working together - why most Republicans and Democrats believe democracy is threatened - fighting for values vs working for the best possible solution - getting to a point of ‘slightly less loathing’ - how close we are to civil war - why Congress is more bipartisan than you might think - opportunities for bipartisanship Follow Liam and American Policy Ventures on X The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet. 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 the preview of this supporters’ midweek episode by discussing the House of Representatives holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over audio of Special Counsel Hur’s interview with President Biden in the classified documents investigation. They agree that this is political on both sides, and that while the Biden camp may not have strong legal ground to stand on, it’s not likely the audio will be released before the election. Following that they turn to the conservative backlash against YouTuber Ms. Rachel. Many conservatives believe that Ms. Rachel’s support for Pride Month and the inclusion of a non-binary guest makes her channel inappropriate for children. Mike argues that Ms. Rachel isn’t doing anything objectionable, and nothing that amounts to ‘grooming’, a term he argues conservatives throw around with reckless abandon,. They close by discussing May’s recent article in the Washington Examiner on a federal magistrate judge’s ruling that not transferring a female-identifying, biologically male prisoner to a women’s prison violates her 8th Amendment rights. May finds this completely out of line with any reasonable understanding of the amendment, whereas Mike sees it as a reasonable conclusion to reach considering the circumstances in this particular case. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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 & May open with a discussion of the guilty verdict in the Hunter Biden gun trial. They discuss Biden’s defense, the possibility of a pardon or commutation by President Biden, Donald Trump’s reaction, and how this may all play out politically. Next, they turn to two big Supreme Court decisions. In the first of these, a unanimous Court found that the group challenging the FDA’s loosening of restrictions on the abortion drug mifepristone didn’t have standing to sue. Mike agrees, but May feels that standing has become such a degraded doctrine that the right should be able to take advantage of it as much as she feels the left has in the past. They close with the Court’s ruling that the Trump-era ATF exceeded its authority by banning bump stocks. Mike and May agree with the ruling, but Mike is more inclined to give regulatory agencies some deference in interpreting statutes than May. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Democracy Works, Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet, and the 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. 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

Political scientist Travis Taylor talks with law professor Joshua Douglas about his new book The Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights, in which he writes about the U.S. Supreme Court's recent history of prioritizing the power of states to regulate elections over the rights of voters. Topics Travis and Josh Cover Include: · how the Court has changed the standard by which it reviews voting rights cases · combating election fraud and maintaining voter access · the direction the Court is going in light of more recent decisions in "extreme" cases · potential solutions to correct the Court's current course · conservative criticisms of the book and why conservatives should read it Follow Josh Douglas on X The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet. 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 finish the Bill of Rights by delving into the origins and significance of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Topics covered include: Federalist and Anti-Federalist debates during and after the Constitution's drafting, addressing concerns that listing specific rights might imply that others were not protected. Does the Ninth Amendment make textualism pointless? The conflict between the philosophic origins of the Ninth Amendment and why legal scholars abandoned it. The Tenth Amendment's balance between federal and state power Lessons learned from the Articles of Confederation The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions The modern (1990s) application of the Tenth Amendment. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out How Do We Fix It and Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet. 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 start the show with Biden’s immigration order. President Biden has announced a sweeping executive action on immigration, authorizing U.S. immigration officials to deport large numbers of migrants without processing their asylum claims. This new policy, seen as one of the most restrictive border policies by a Democratic president, marks a significant shift in the administration’s approach to border security. Ken partially defends Biden’s order, even if it looks similar to past Trump policies. Trey argues that Biden issued it as a proclamation instead of an executive order because he recognizes it is not inherently constitutional. Next, Attorney General Merrick Garland faced intense scrutiny from Republicans this week. Garland was grilled on Capitol Hill and has seen his standing on both the right and the left fall. Ken argues that Garland has overemphasized neutrality and has not properly pursued former President Trump and allies. Trey argues that the left’s attacks on Garland are nearly identical to those from Republicans and are no more founded than those from the Republicans. Finally, the pair discuss Dr. Anthony Fauci’s testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, where he addressed critical issues related to the U.S. response to COVID-19. Fauci admitted that the “6 feet apart” social distancing recommendation lacked robust empirical support and it was more of an arbitrary guideline. He also acknowledged that the lab leak theory regarding the origins of COVID-19 should not be dismissed outright, a significant shift from his earlier stance. Both Trey and Ken continue to agree he largely did well in his capacity during the pandemic, however, Trey faults him for wrongfully downplaying, primarily for political reasons, the possibility of a lab leak in China. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out How Do We Fix It and Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet. 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 Les Leopold, co-founder and executive director of the Labor Institute, a nonprofit organization that develops and conducts education and policy programs for unions, environmental organizations, community groups, and immigrant worker centers on workplace health and safety, the environment, economics, and movement building. He’s also the author of multiple books. His latest is Wall Street’s War on Workers: How Mass Layoffs and Greed are Destroying the Working Class and What to Do About It, which they talk about in this episode. Topics Mike & Les Discuss Include: - if Wall Street is really at war with workers - how to understand ultra-low unemployment rates - technology, globalization, and US workers - the economic and psychological toll of mass layoffs - the decline of public sector unions in the US - how government policy can make things better for workers The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet. 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 supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of the Supreme Court’s decision in NRA v. Vullo, a case in which Jay submitted an amicus brief to the Court. The Justices unanimously agreed with (most of) Jay’s reasoning, as does Mike. From there, they move on to the decision by the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to use US weapons to strike inside Russia, which they both agree with, but wish were less limited. Following that is a discussion of the Libertarian Party presidential nominee Chase Oliver, the fairly extreme planks in the Texas Republican Party’s platform, and how the lack of enthusiasm of Black voters for Biden could affect his reelection chances. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet. 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 & Jay open with a discussion of Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Mike isn’t crazy about the law but believes that the prosecutor, judge, and jury acted reasonably in applying it. Jay discusses possible grounds for appeal. They agree that the effect of the conviction won’t be great, but that any small political benefit should be to Biden. Then they move to calls for Justice Samuel Alito’s recusal. Mike starts with some comments concerning Ken’s characterization of Alito as corrupt and racist on last week’s show with Trey. On the issue of recusal, neither Mike nor Jay think Alito should step back, though Mike is somewhat more troubled by self-recusal at the Supreme Court level. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out How Do We Fix It and Mike’s other podcast - Sustainable Planet. 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 Corey Nathan, host of the most excellent podcast, Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other. Corey shares his unique perspective as a "born-again Christian with a thick Jewish accent" and how his background has influenced his approach to discussing sensitive topics like politics and religion. Topics Mike & Corey Discuss Include: - how and why Corey doesn’t fit the ‘Evangelical Christian’ stereotype - discussing politics with evangelical Christians - a Biblical approach to political issues like immigration and LGBTQ rights - searching for the truth, as opposed to trying to ‘win’ every argument - the value of regularly engaging with people with whom we disagree Follow Corey on X The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s other podcast is Sustainable Planet. 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 Becca Block, author of Can You Help Me Give a Sh*t, in which she discusses the surprising policy implications of listening to student's voices in public education. Topics Trey and Becca Cover Include are we asking too much of the public school system? what it means to listen deeply to student voices the competing policy desires of parents, teachers, and students the intersection of race and gender on educational policy are libertarians right when it comes to public education? Follow Becca on her website, and check out Can You Help Me Give A Sh*t 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 dive into the 7th and 8th Amendments. Topics include: The historic origins of jury trials The lack of contemporary 7th Amendment cases Excessive bail Excessive fines and civil forfiture Cruel and unusual punishment The death penalty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey & Ken start the show by delving into the International Court of Justice’s Friday ruling against Israel. Trey and Ken disagree over the scope of the decision as to whether it prohibits further offensive action. Ken believes the ICJ is offering wiggle room and Trey does not. Staying overseas, the guys talk about the surprising call for snap elections in the United Kingdom. The hosts focus on the motivations behind this decision, especially given recent poll numbers for Conservatives, the potential outcomes, and the impact it could have on British politics. Next, attention turns to the primary elections in Georgia, Oregon, and Kentucky along with the special election in California. The focus is primarily on the presidential election. Trey believes it points to a low turnout election and Ken is more optimistic. In Supreme Court news, Trey and Ken finish the show over the landmark ruling on racial gerrymandering. Here Ken believes that Justice Alito is overtly racist and inconsistent. Trey pushes back hard and argues that Ken fundamentally misunderstands Alito’s ruling. They dive deep into the details of the decision. They also address the recent Alito flag controversy. 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 Elizabeth Neumann, former Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, about her recently released book Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace. Topics Trey and Elizabeth Cover Include from foreign extremism to domestic extremism the Christian case against extremism the evolution of religion and politics how left and right differ in extremist activities Follow Elizabeth on X, and check out Kingdom of Rage 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 kick off the previeww of this midweek supporters’ episode with a look at the Supreme Court’s upholding the funding structure for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Mike and Trey think this was the right call, with Trey arguing that Justices Alito and Gorsuch are conflating the unconstitutional with what they may believe to be unwise public policy. Next, they discuss how AT&T improperly influenced the Illinois legislature into passing bills favorable to the company. This turns into a broader discussion of the problem of state and local-level corruption and why it may be worse today than it has been in the recent past. Following that they turn to stadium subsidies – why voters approve them, why economists hate them, and what can be done to make it harder for pro sports owners to tell cities, ‘pay up or we’re moving’. They close with Trey discussing why many evangelicals support Israel, and how his support differs. Before long, they end up in some deeper theological and philosophical waters. Mike’s other podcast is Sustainable Planet. 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 with a discussion of the Biden administration’s recently announced tariffs on China. Trey is no fan of protectionism, but he understands Mike’s points concerning US issues with China’s trade practices. They both agree that Donald Trump’s approach to China would almost certainly be more tariff-heavy than Biden’s. Then they turn to presidential debates, which will happen without the Commission on Presidential Debates. Trey points out how early the first of the two scheduled debates will be, which Mike attributes to Biden wanting to give debating Trump a try far enough ahead of the election that it won’t do much damage if things go off the rails. From there they move to the Supreme Court allowing Louisiana’s congressional redistricting map to go into effect. Trey points out the difficult position Louisiana’s legislature is in, caught between the Equal Protection Clause and the Voting Rights Act. Mike is most sympathetic to the view of Justice Jackson, who felt that the Court shouldn’t have gotten involved at this point. They close with a discussion of US aid to Israel. Mike doesn’t think it unreasonable for the US to put conditions on its support of Israel, or to withhold support entirely if aid is being used in a way we believe to be morally unacceptable. Trey points out that were neighboring countries more willing to take in Palestinians, the situation might be far less dire than it currently is. Check out Let’s Find Common Ground. Mike’s other podcast is Sustainable Planet. 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 Tulsi Gabbard, a military veteran and four-term member of Congress who was Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee. She caused a major stir when she left the party, which she’s written about in her recently released book, For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind, which is the focus of their conversation. Topics Mike & Tulsi Discuss Include: - what drew Tulsi to the Democrats in the first place - how she realized she no longer was a Democrat - if Democratic Party elites are warmongers - foreign policy and isolationism - the ‘wokeism’ of contemporary Democrats - the Democratic Party and free speech Check out Tulsi’s Website and follow her on X The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s other podcast is Sustainable Planet. 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 preview of this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem revealing in her new book that she shot a dog and lied about meeting Kim Jong Un. They discussed why someone would put that in a book, what this means for the VP contest, and ultimately proposed a third political party whose platform mostly consists of not shooting dogs. Next, they talk about the Supreme Court ruling in Culley v. Marshall, dealing with a civil forfeiture case from Alabama. While the Court sided with the state, they seem open to the idea of revisiting the issue of forfeiture in the future. In their discussion, Justin and Jay consider constitutional issues, perverse incentives, and English common law from before the Norman invasion. They close with a look at recent swing state polling, which shows a statistical dead heat, but with Trump up slightly in all seven of the polled states. How have these states become the ones that matter? Are there others? Will journalists continue pushing the idea that Ohio is a swing state just so they can go to diners and talk to average Americans? Check out Mike’s other podcast, Sustainable Planet. 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 start off discussing President Biden’s proposed pause in sending certain offensive weapons to Israel if they attack Rafah, including the impact on the conflict, potential reverberations in the international community, and the domestic political implications of conflict over Israel within the Democratic party. Next, they turn their attention to Marjorie Taylor Green’s failed attempt to oust Speaker Mike Johnson. Why did the Democrats stick by him, what does this say about the state of the Republican party, and what institutional factors got us here in the first place? Following that, they discussed the delay in former President Trump’s documents case, after Judge Cannon postponed the start of the trial indefinitely pending hearings on a number of motions. Was this the right call? What does it mean for the upcoming election? They close with a discussion of Representative Henry Cuellar’s indictment on bribery and money laundering charges from his dealings with Azerbaijan and Mexico. Is there an Azerbaijan caucus in Congress? What does the case against Cuellar look like? What does this hold for control of the House in November? Check out Mike’s other podcast, Sustainable Planet. 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 Allen Guelzo, the Thomas W. Smith Distinguished Research Scholar in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. Professor Guelzo is a three-time winner of the Lincoln Prize, awarded annually for the finest scholarly work in English on Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War soldier, or a subject relating to their era. They discuss his latest book, Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment. Topics Discussed Include: - why Lincoln had such faith in democracy - if Lincoln saw Blacks as truly equal - Lincoln’s constitutionally questionable actions - what current-day politicians could learn from Lincoln - Lincoln’s cosmic optimism Check out Mike’s other podcast, Sustainable Planet. 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 the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode with a look at the Louisiana redistricting plan recently rejected by a three-judge panel. They get into the tension between the Voting Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause, partisan vs racial gerrymandering, and if there’s a better way to set up congressional districts. Next is a discussion of the proposed federal rescheduling of marijuana. Mike thinks it’s long overdue and should lead to more and better research on the effects (both good and bad) of pot. May is more skeptical, though she agrees that we could use better medical research on cannabis’ effects. They end with their thoughts on the extended interview Donald Trump recently gave to Time. Mike was surprised at how often Trump came off as a normal politician, while May was unsurprised at Trump’s agenda for a second term. Check out Mike’s other podcast, Sustainable Planet. 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 & May open with a discussion of the escalating pro-Palestine protests on college campuses. May things other schools can learn from Florida’s handling of protests at state institutions. Mike wonders if ‘outside agitators’ are necessarily a bad thing, and if we should be glad that so many people are in a position to protest what they view as significant injustice. Next is a look at the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support. May thinks it’s largely fine, whereas Mike believes it’s too restrictive of legitimate expression. They close with the proposed rescheduling of marijuana by the Biden administration. Mike thinks it’s long overdue and should lead to more and better research on the effects of marijuana. May believes it won’t do all that much, and is another example of the Biden administration of attempting to energize the youth vote ahead of the 2024 elections. Listen to Future Hindsight, and check out Mike’s other podcast, Sustainable Planet. 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

As a cross-interview with Sustainable Planet, Kimberly Weir, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Northern Kentucky University and co-host of Sustainable Planet talks with Akshat Rathi, award-winning senior reporter for Bloomberg News and the host of Zero, a climate-solutions podcast for Bloomberg Green and author of Climate Capitalism: Winning the Race to Zero Emissions and Solving the Crisis of Our Age. Topics Kimberly & Akshat discuss include: How a misinformed campaign marketing slogan about ‘clean coal’ led Akshat into the year-long pursuit of uncovering the truth about climate technology Why economists feel the way to address climate change is to put a price on carbon How to achieve negative carbon emissions since zero emissions alone isn’t enough Why, when it comes to electric cars, you’ve never heard of Wan Gang, though Elon Musk is a household name Why the very industries that created lithium-ion batteries, solar cells, and carbon capture and storage are so resistant to employing that technology How private capital from billionaires like Bill Gates and anyone with a 401K plan is a key part of pursuing climate technology That climate justice is both ethically the right path but also reaps global economic benefits The need to shift from ‘shareholder’ to ‘stakeholder’ if we’re going to meet the less-ambitious Paris Conference climate change goals Akshat Rathi on X Listen to Part 2 of the interview on Sustainable Planet. 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 supporters’ exclusive episode with a discussion of oral arguments in Grants Pass v. Johnson, where the Supreme Court is considering the constitutionality of a local ordinance that bans sleeping outdoors. Mike has more of a problem with the ordinance than does Jay, and they agree that the Court is likely to issue an opinion that gives cities clearer guidance. They also discuss the underlying issue – the growing homelessness problem in the United States. After that, they turn to oral arguments in Trump v. United States, where the Court is taking up the issue of post-presidential criminal immunity for official acts. Mike doesn’t think there should be any immunity for illegal acts, while Jay argues that it’s not always entirely clear where that line is. They close with a look at the FTC’s new rule banning noncompete agreements. Mike argues that it’s a good idea that is in keeping with market principles, though he doesn’t think the FTC has the legal authority to make the rule. Jay agrees with the lack of authority, and questions whether a ban is all that good of an idea in any case. Check out Mike’s other podcast, Sustainable Planet. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After some brief comments on the ongoing criminal trial of Donald Trump, Mike and Jay discuss the Ukraine aid package, considering how it got to the floor, what it says about the Republican Party, and the arguments against extending more aid to Ukraine. Next, they turn to the recently passed TikTok ban, which would require parent company ByteDance to either sell the company to an approved buyer within a year or no longer be able to do business in the United States. Both Mike and Jay are skeptical of the constitutional arguments against the ban and think there are solid national security reasons for the legislation. They close with a look at the growing pro-Palestine demonstrations on college campuses across the country. Mike is more sympathetic to the protestors' viewpoint than Jay is, but they both support reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on students’ (and non-student protestors) exercise of speech. Check out Mike’s other podcast, Sustainable Planet as well as TPG’s fellow Democracy Network show, The Bully Pulpit. 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 to the show Bryan Caplan, a Professor of Economics at George Mason University, prolific author, and blogger at Bet on It. They discuss his latest essay collection, You Will Not Stampede Me: Essays on Non-Conformism. Topics Mike and Bryan Discuss Include - disobedience to authority - why the world is wrong and the weird is right - herding and hysteria - the ubiquity (and danger) of crusades - what the world got wrong about COVID - combining cynicism and idealism Bryan Caplan 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

Trey and Ken dive into the Sixth Amendment and the unique protections it provides defendants. Topics of conversation include: The advent of professional police and prosecutors The modern plea bargaining system The right to a prosecutor The ability to produce evidence in your defense The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike and Kimberly's new show splanetpod.com 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 with breaking news on Israel’s attack on Iran and Syria. They discuss the appropriateness of the response, the likely message behind the response, and the political implications for U.S. politics. They also briefly consider the timing of the U.S.’s blocking of Palestinian United Nations membership in the Security Council. Next, they move to Congress and the ongoing debate inside the Republican Party over foreign aid. Trey believes Speaker Johnson has a deal already struck with Democrats, which also allows some Democrats to vote no on Israeli aid, while Ken thinks if there is a deal it is more comprehensive for Democrats. After that, they discuss the suspension and ultimate resignation of Uri Berliner from his role at NPR. Here the hosts take very different views. Ken views Uri as striking a Trumpian tone and is rightfully criticized and ousted. Trey disagrees, arguing that divergent viewpoints help media be thoughtful in the ways that frame, prime, and agenda setting. Objectivity is not impossible, but it doesn’t mean that viewpoint diversity is a bad thing. They close with a look at the newest Supreme Court decision in the case of Mckesson v Doe, the case determining if the organizer of an event can be held liable for activity he did not directly cause or promote. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike and Kimberly's new show splanetpod.com 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 author Sasha Issenberg about his new book The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age, in which he talks about the left's campaign strategies to combat "disinformation" and "misinformation." Topics Trey and Sasha Cover Include - why the left is primarily interested in disinformation - the campaign strategies of Democrats online - the focus on engagement in political persuasion - how overseas democracies have faced similar disinformation strategies - Brazilian cautions for some leftwing approaches to disinformation Follow Sasha on X, and check out The Lie Detectives 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 supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of the Biden administration’s move to close the ‘gun show loophole’. Mike argues that it’s a good move and, to his surprise, Jay doesn’t really disagree. From there they move on to a more contentious regulatory issue – whether the government should require all new table saws to have a finger-sensing blade brake. Mike thinks the benefits outweigh the costs, but Jay isn’t too sure that’s the case. Following that, they consider whether the country is as divided as many people believe, in light of a recent AP/NORC poll that suggests most Americans agree on fundamental issues. Jay thinks the devil (and division) is in the details, while Mike points out some fairly significant differences between Democrats and Republicans. They close by responding to a listener's question about extremists in their respective parties. (Giving Jay the opportunity to break out the very William F. Buckley-ish word apotheosis.) Check out Mike’s new podcast, Sustainable Planet. 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 ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court upholding a near-total ban on abortions passed in 1864. They consider the legal reasoning behind the decision, what’s likely to happen next, and how they see it playing out politically, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s recent announcement that he believed abortion rights should be left up to the states. Next, they discuss the latest Biden administration efforts to forgive student loan debt. Mike and Jay disagree as to whether the moves are legally and constitutionally permissible, but they do agree that the current system of higher education funding needs major reform – though they favor very different paths for that reform. They close by discussing the many delays in legal proceedings involving Donald Trump, the seriousness of the cases against him, political bias, and what the voters should know before they vote in November. 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 historical anthropologist Nicholas Dirks, Chancellor of UC Berkeley from 2013-2017, about his book City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University. Topics Include: - the public’s decline of faith in higher education - if higher ed is focused on the right kind of diversity - free speech as privileging dominant views - what elite institutions are doing with their massive endowments - rising education costs and administrative bloat at universities - if public universities should take positions on political issues 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 & Ken discuss the five major elements of the 5th Amendment: Grand Juries Double Jeopardy Self-Incrimination Due Process Takings 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 & Ken start the episode with a deep dive into Israel’s airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria. This leads to a discussion of the differences between the northern conflict and the Gaza conflict. Next, the discussion moves to Biden’s newest demands of Israel and how Israel has responded. This also includes a discussion of shifting American attitudes on supporting Israel. After that, the duo look at the 6/15 week abortion ban in Florida. They discuss the Florida Supreme Court’s legal ruling, but also the political ramifications for both parties in terms of the November election. They close with a discussion of the valuation of Trump Media & Technology. 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, Jay, and Justin open the preview of this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of NBC’s decision to hire, and then quickly fire, former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel. Was it a bad business decision poorly implemented, an example of anti-Trump bias, or something more than that? Next, they consider whether Truth Social’s IPO makes any sense. Probably not from a strictly business sense, but as Mike points out, owning a share of DJT is likely to be more than a dollars and cents calculation to the MAGA faithful. They close with a look at RFK Jr’s campaign and running mate, as well as Chris Christie’s rejection of No Labels and a broader discussion of third parties in the American political 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, Jay, and Justin open with a look at the life and legacy of the recently deceased Joe Lieberman, agreeing that the Democrat turned independent is the sort of solutions-oriented moderate we don’t see much of in national politics anymore. Next is a discussion of oral arguments before the Supreme Court concerning access to the abortion drug mifepristone. It seems like a stretch to argue that those challenging the FDA even have standing, but there is a case to be made that mailing any drug to end a pregnancy is a violation of the 1873 Comstock Act. They close with a debate over whether attorney John Eastman should be disbarred for his efforts assisting Donald Trump in his attempt to stay in office following the 2020 presidential election. Jay argues that Eastman may have had bad arguments, but he shouldn’t be disbarred for making them. Mike points out that there is a line between pushing bad arguments and telling a client to break the law, though he ultimately agrees with Jay. Justin isn’t so sure that either Jay or Mike have it right in this instance. 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 constitutional law professor Maxwell Stearns about his new book Parliamentary America which argues the U.S. needs to adapt the U.S. House to include proportional representation. Topics Trey and Max Cover Include - how the median voter theory is inaccurate - why American parties are tending in extreme directions - proposals to double the size of the House of Representatives - proposals to transform the selection of president and vice president - proposals to change how to remove a president - the historic necessity of convincing relevant actors to agree to these changes. Follow Max on X, and check out Parliamentary America The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jay open the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of Texas’ SB 4, which allows state judges to deport migrants. Mike argues that it’s plainly unconstitutional and Jay largely agrees, though he makes the case that legislation should be given a presumption of constitutionality. They also discuss how this has moved through the federal court system and the slowdown at the Fifth Circuit. Following that they take a look at the latest presidential fundraising numbers (one area where Biden is beating Trump), consider Washington State’s new alternative to the bar exam, and address some listener questions. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jay open with a discussion of bipartisan agreement on a budget that averted a partial government shutdown. Jay thinks it’s good politics, emphasizing once again that Republicans don’t win government shutdowns, and pointing out that Speaker Johnson has a tiny majority to work with. Mike notes that Republicans got a number of things they should like, though he expects that we’ll be in a similar place in just over six months, when the deadline for passing next year’s budget comes up. Next, they discuss the lawsuit against Apple filed by the Department of Justice and 15 states. Neither Mike nor Jay thinks the government has a particularly strong case, but Mike argues that government pressure on big companies like Apple can serve as a useful check on corporate power. They close with what starts as a discussion of the Ohio Republican Senate primary, and ends up as a much broader discussion of Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and the media. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices