
The Politics Guys
1,115 episodes — Page 9 of 23

Gender Affirming Care, Constitutional Change, Social Media & Politics
Mike & May open the preview of this supporters-exclusive midweek episode by discussing May’s recent testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government’s hearing on gender-affirming care. They get into the legal authority for a recently proposed Department of Education regulation on sports participation as well as the larger issue of gender-affirming care. Next, they turn to a special election in Ohio that would raise the bar for approving state constitutional amendments. They discuss why this is coming up now, if it’s too easy for states to change their constitutions, and if the US Constitution is too difficult to change. They close with a discussion of recent research on the effects of social media on political knowledge, attitudes, and polarization, concluding that studies that Meta has argued absolve them of responsibility (at least in part) for coarsening political discourse in reality do no such thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump Indictment, 2024 Election, US Credit Downgrade
Mike & May open the episode with an in-depth discussion of the latest indictment against Donald Trump. Neither of them sees the case against the former president as particularly strong, with Mike expressing discomfort for using the criminal justice system to punish a political opponent who has done things that may be bad, dumb, and even unethical, but not clearly criminal. May thinks that, contrary to some theories on the right, special counsel Jack Smith is acting about how one would expect any special counsel to act. Next, they move to the 2024 election and a recent NYT / Sienna College poll that has Trump and Biden in a dead heat. May doesn’t believe Donald Trump has much of a chance to return to the White House, and while Mike hopes she’s right, he has his doubts after thinking the same thing in 2016. They close with a look at the recent downgrade of the US credit rating by Fitch. Mike argues that there aren’t likely to be significant short-term consequences, which both Mike and May see as a long-term problem for a political system that doesn’t have anything approaching the political will to address unsustainable spending. (May makes the case here that deficit spending is immoral.) What if We’re the Bad Guys Here? David Brooks, New York Times The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFOs, Harvard’s Legacy Admissions, Far-Right Movements
In the preview of this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode, MIke & Jay open with a discussion of the recent UFO hearings held by the House Oversight Committee. They get into the credibility and motives of the witnesses, the likelihood of a big government cover-up, and if government should let the public know about signs of alien life (assuming there are any). Then it’s a discussion of the Civil Rights investigation concerning Harvard’s legacy admission policies. Neither Mike nor Jay are fans of legacy admission preferences, but Jay thinks the government’s case is on weaker grounds than Mike does, and points out that the left was largely silent on legacy admissions until the recent Supreme Court affirmative action case didn’t go their way. They close the episode with a discussion of President Biden’s meeting with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and the larger phenomenon of nativist far-right movements gaining power in democracies all over the world. This gets into a discussion of class distinctions as well as Mike & Jay’s joint recommendation of the song Common People – both the Pulp and William Shatner versions.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump Indictment, Biden Plea Deal, Record Heat
Mike & Jay open the episode with a discussion of the new charges and additional defendant in the federal indictment related to Donald Trump’s retention of classified documents and alleged attempts to obstruct the documents investigation. Mike doesn’t think this will have much of an effect on Trump’s strong likelihood of winning the Republican presidential nomination. Jay, who is less certain of Trump being the eventual nominee, largely agrees on its minimal impact on GOP primary voters, but believes it could hurt Trump in the general election. Next, they move on to the Hunter Biden plea agreement, agreeing that the judge was right to not accept it. Mike contends that far from being a sweetheart deal, Biden may have been treated more harshly because his father is President. Jay somewhat agrees in relation to the gun charge but has more of an issue with Biden’s failure to pay taxes. They close with a discussion of record-setting heat and the Biden administration’s attempts to minimize its impact. While Jay doesn’t have big problems with any of the recently announced efforts, he’s more skeptical of some of the claims of climate scientists than Mike is, and has more faith in the ability of markets and technology to deal with the impact of climate change than Mike has. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Korberg on American Workers and Quality Jobs
Mike talks with Rachel Korberg, Executive Director and co-founder of the Families and Workers Fund, a coalition of philanthropies working to build a more equitable U.S. economy. She also serves as President of the Board at the Stonewall Community Foundation, one of the largest funders of LGBTQIA+ causes. Korberg has a Master’s in Public Policy from Yale, executive training in human-centered design from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, and has been a featured speaker at the Federal Reserve, United Nations, National League of Cities, Aspen Institute, and many universities. Topics Mike & Rachel Discuss Include: - unemployment & median wages - the three pillars of job quality - problems with measuring job quality - who should be collecting and publishing job quality information - how better information on job quality can help workers Rachel Korberg on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The U.S. Constitution: Article IV, Sections 3 and 4
Trey and Ken continue their journey through the U.S. Constitution. They finish up Article III looking at treason. Then the pair move on to Article IV, Section 1 and discuss full faith and credit. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Israel, Sea Grain Initiative, Cash Bail, Election Maps, RFK Jr
Trey & Ken start the show discussing Represenative Jayapal's remarks on Israel. It includes a discussion of President Isaac Herzog's speech. There is a historical overview of the modern Israeli state, along with a discussion of Palestine. Trey recognizes the inequality, but sees it coming from a historic battle for survival. Ken, while sympathetic, considers it apartheid. Next is the ending of the Sea Grain Initiative by Russia. Trey points out that this grain is headed primarily for Turkey and China, indicating a potential additional fissure among these aligned countries. Ken agrees and both consider how this may have played into last week's NATO meeting. After that the pair discuss the Illinois Supreme Court's ruling ending of cash bail. The discussion covers both the state law's legality, but the guys also talk about the policy of bail in general. Ken suggests in a world with crowdfunding, bail has less meaning. Then the guys cover the recent issue concerning the Georgia Congressional election map and speculate as to what might happen given the recent supreme court case of Allen v Milligan (2023). Trey & Ken close the show discussing RFK's testimony to Congress. Trey thinks RFK Jr represents a schism inside the Democratic Party that has not been noticed because of the tension in the Republican Party in the Trump era. Ken disagrees and sees RFK as effectively a sleeper agent for Republicans. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The U.S. Constitution: Article III, Section 3 and Article IV, Section 1
Trey and Ken continue their journey through the U.S. Constitution. They finish up Article III looking at treason. Then the pair move on to Article IV, Section 1 and discuss full faith and credit. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NATO, Sotomayor, Thomas, Inflation
Trey & Ken admit to taking over the show! After that they get started more seriously with a look at the NATO summit in Lithuania. The two main points of discussion are Turkey, as it relates to Swedish membership, and NATO’s relationship to Ukraine. They also discuss the decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine. Next it is on to a pair of related stories: Justices Sotomayor and Thomas. Here Trey outlines the AP’s findings into the use of staff to promote Sotomayor’s books in comparison to other justices book writing. The pair discuss what, if anything, this means ethically. Then it is a discussion of the new revelations about Justice Thomas as it relates to payments via Venmo and activities when he first came on the court. Trey & Ken close the show with an overview of June’s inflation data. This includes Trey noting that he was right in his long term inflation prediction and he makes additional predictions for the near term: specifically that there will be inflation variability over the course of the next few months. They also posit what this means for Biden, with both largely agreeing that it will not benefit Biden given that real wages are still depressed and any relief from inflation will not happen as soon as those numbers drop. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Constitution: Article III Sections 1 and 2
Trey and Ken continue their journey through the U.S. Constitution in Article III. This week they cover Sections 1 and 2 including topics on: Judicial power Judicial review Federal court jurisdiction The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
White House Social Media Influence, NAACP vs Legacy Admissions, China and Russia
Trey and Ken begin the first of a three week show hosting! They get things started with the recent injunction stopping the White House from unduly blocking information on social media in ways that would not pass constitutional muster if it were done via a law. Ken argues it is yet another example of a corrupt court, Trey pushes back that it is selective targeting inconsistent with their user platforms. Next it is on to NAACP’s lawsuit against legacy admissions in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard. Trey recaps the Mike and May’s positions from last week and then largely agrees. Ken agrees in policy, but doesn’t think it violates the Constitution. They then delve into the issue of legacy admissions and if it is Constitutional under the new framework or not. They close with a look at the relationship between China and Russia and how it may have been influenced by the recent Wagner uprising. They specifically look at The New York Times recent suggestions that a split may be emerging and agree such a split is less likely than is being predicted. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Voting Security, Russia, Listener Questions
In this preview of the supporters’ midweek episode, Mike & May open with a discussion of why a number of Republican-controlled states have decided to pull out of ERIC, the formerly bipartisan effort to check for voter registration issues across states and encourage voter registration. Following that they turn to international politics, considering events in Russia and the pros and cons of US support for the war effort. Unlike old Cold Warriors Mike & Jay, May is more skeptical of open-ended US security commitments. They close with a number of listener questions concerning the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in Groff v DeJoy, the extent to which the state should intervene to support certain values, and responsible gun ownership and gun regulations. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Supreme Court End of Term Extravaganza!
Mike and May open this all-SCOTUS episode with a discussion of the Court’s ruling in the big affirmative action case, Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard. Both Mike and May agree with the Court’s decision, with Mike pointing out that while like most liberals, he’s a big proponent of diversity, he doesn’t believe that Harvard and UNC’s diversity plans pass the strict scrutiny test that’s appropriately applied here. Next, they move to the LGBT / 1st Amendment ruling in 303 Creative LLC v Elenis. Mike sides with the dissenters who argued that Colorado’s antidiscrimination law only incidentally affects speech, while May believes that the majority got it right in viewing that the law unconstitutionally compels website designer Lorie Smith to promote views with which she disagrees. Then it’s the Court’s pronouncement on the independent state legislature theory in Moore v Harper. Mike doesn’t think the Court should have taken the case in the first place for reasons of mootness but believes that the coalition of three conservatives and three liberals in the majority were right to rule against the theory. May points out that the Court didn’t provide that much guidance as to the scope of state judicial review of election laws which likely means more lawsuits going forward. They close with Biden v Nebraska, in which the Court invalidated the Biden administration’s student debt relief plan. Mike is with the dissenters on this one, arguing that the administration was within the statutory authority granted by Congress, whereas May contends that the majority was correct in their view that the authority to ‘waive’ in the legislation does not give the administration the authority to simply forgive massive amounts of student loan debt. (More from May on that here.) The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Garrett Neiman on Rich White Men
Mike talks with Garrett Neiman, author of the recently released book Rich White Men: What it Takes to Uproot the Old Boys’ Club and Transform America. Mr. Neiman has a BA in economics from Stanford, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a master’s in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was a founding CEO of CollegeSpring, a national college access nonprofit, a co-creator of Liberation Ventures (a philanthropic fund focused on building power toward reparations), a Senior Fellow at Prosperity Now, and an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality. Topics Mike & Garrett Discuss Include: - the problem with rich white men (is there one?) - inequality and standards of living - the role of personal responsibility & culture - reverse discrimination and a colorblind Constitution - the reparations movement Garrett Neiman on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Article II, Sections 3 and 4
In this midweek episode Trey & Jay continue through the U.S. Constitution. The focus: Article II, Sections 3 and 4. The Guys focus on the State of the Union, faithfully executing the law, and the presidential impeachment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hunter Biden’s Plea Deal, Alito Revelations, Boebert’s Articles of impeachment, Florida Housing Ban
This week the conservatives, Trey and Jay, take over the show! They begin with the plea deal offered to Hunter Biden. Trey believes it shows that Hunter has engaged in a variety of bad dealings and the Biden’s should have stepped back from his support sooner. Jay goes a step further and things there may still be a smoking gun linking to President Biden. Next, they turn to the recent ProPublica report on Justice Alito. Trey was disappointed in Justice Thomas and his clear violation of ethics laws. He went in expecting a bigger story, but he sees this as pretty much a big nothing. Jay agrees and doesn’t think the ethics disclosures matter much and didn’t think Justice Thomas crossed a line. After that is a dive into Boebert’s articles of impeachment against President Biden. Neither Jay nor Trey think there is anything rising to an impeachable offense and Jay thinks it will do nothing but harm Republicans more generally. They close the show with a discussion of the recent ban on the sale of real estate to Chinese people to go into effect on July 1 in Florida. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free Expression in America
In the preview of this listener-chosen, listener-participation supporters’ midweek episode, Mike & Jay discuss free expression in America. They look at some important polling data on how Americans view free expression, discuss threats to free expression, consider whether free expression is always a good thing, and look at some big differences in how Democrats and Republicans view the issue. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voting Rights, Worker or Contractor, Pride Month, Unabomber, Presidential Field
Mike & Jay open the episode with their views on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Allen v Milligan, the big voting rights case that Trey & Ken discussed last week. They add to the conversation by focusing on the dissent, which Jay largely agrees with. Mike believes Justices Thomas and Alito make a reasonable, but unconvincing case in arguing that Alabama did not violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Next, they turn to a recent National Labor Relations Board ruling that makes it more difficult for employers to claim workers are independent contractors as opposed to employees. Mike sees this as a return to the less-politicized view that the Trump-dominated NLRB changed in 2019. Jay doesn’t disagree with the recent decision but feels that it, like the Trump-era move, was also in part politically motivated. After that, they discuss Pride Month. Mike notes that aside from a 2019 tweet from President Trump, no Republican president has formally acknowledged Pride Month since its inception in 1999. Jay believes that’s because a not-insignificant percentage of the population sees homosexuality and non-cisgender identification as choices that are incompatible with their values or religious beliefs. Then it’s a look back at the legacy of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, who recently committed suicide in federal prison. Mike argues that while Kaczynski’s methods were reprehensible and his balancing of the pros and cons of industrial society is incorrect, he makes some important points. Jay doesn’t entirely disagree but suggests that pulling the small amount of good from a far greater evil is counterproductive and that we can discuss the costs and benefits of industrial society without bringing domestic terrorists into the conversation. They close by considering the current presidential field, the likelihood that Donald Trump will be the GOP nominee, and the possibility of a viable No Labels ticket. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bryan Caplan on Voters as Mad Scientists
Mike has another conversation with one of his all-time favorite guests: Bryan Caplan. Bryan is an economist at George Mason University, a prolific author, and blogs at Bet on It. In this episode, they discuss Bryan’s latest collection: Voters as Mad Scientists: Essays on Political Irrationality. Topics Mike & Bryan Discuss Include: - Twitter & Nazis & Meth (oh my!) - why Bryan hates politics - social desirability bias - hyperbole and overconfidence - innumeracy - the irrationality of voters - if irrationality has gotten worse - why Bryan doesn’t vote - the case for DEI being worse than McCarthyism - politics as not utterly hopeless but “mostly hopeless” - some small reasons for cautious optimism Bryan Caplan on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Constitution: Article II, Section 2
In this midweek episode Trey & Ken continue through the U.S. Constitution. The focus: Article II, Section 2. Here The Guys discuss the issue of presidential treaty power, presidential appointment power, and presidential removal power. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trump’s Federal Indictment, Voting Rights Act Upheld, Republican House Revolt, Mike Pence
Trey & Ken begin the show with the breaking news of President Trump’s historic federal indictment. Although the story is unfolding, the guys look at what it means both legally and politically for Trump. They are in large agreement that it doesn’t change Trump’s likelihood of being nominated, but that it does decrease his ability to win the general election. Next, they turn the the U.S. Supreme Court’s upholding of the Voting Rights Act in Alabama. Here Trey & Ken deeply disagree. Trey argues that Ken’s Supreme Court predictions have consistently failed because his rubric is wrong. He presses that a purely ideological, or attitudinal, model of the court has long been found lacking in the scholarly community. Ken counters that his underlying model is still sound and that the court is by that measure corrupt. After that is a dive into the U.S. House of Representatives being effectively shut down. The pair discuss what led to the shutdown and the impact it may have on McCarthy’s speakership. Trey argues that there are upsides to outsider voices being heard and government being tightly split. Ken agrees in theory, but argues that Republicans are too extreme for the benefits of this kind of government. They close the show with a discussion of Mike Pence. Here Trey offers a unique insight into not only why Pence is running, but why he can’t win: the demographics of not just the United States but of the Republican Party have changed. Religiosity is no longer key. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Ward on The Decisive Decade in the US / China Relationship
Mike talks with Dr. Jonathan Ward, an internationally recognized expert on Chinese global strategy and US-China competition. He has a Ph.D. in China-India relations from the University of Oxford, has consulted for the Department of Defense, and is the founder of the Atlas Organization, a strategic advisory group on US-China global competition for business and government. Dr. Ward is the author of China’s Vision of Victory, as well as the recently released book The Decisive Decade: American Grand Strategy for Triumph Over China, which Jonathan and Mike discuss in this episode. Topics Covered Include: - what makes this the decisive decade - if it’s already too late to slow China’s advance - why we should view China as an adversary - if fears of Chinese dominance are overblown - the Chinese economic and military threat - what the US should be doing to counter China Jonathan Ward on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Partisanship, Civil Conflict, and Civil War
In this first-ever listener-chosen, listener participation segment (which turned into an entire episode), Mike & Jay start with a look at the differences between partisanship, civil conflict, and civil war. That takes them into a discussion of the main ideological and demographic cleavages in American society, how bad they think things are, if civil conflict – and even civil war – is sometimes a good thing, and whether we’re likely to see an escalation or de-escalation in coming years. Throughout the episode, the guys respond to questions from supporters who joined in on the Zoom call (a benefit available to all Patreon supporters at the $10 per month and higher level). Mike & Jay committed to doing at least one of these segments each month, and they’re hoping they’ll be able to do more. If you have any suggestions for future listener-choice segments, let us know! The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Debt Limit Deal, No Recession (Yet), Paxton Impeachment, SCOTUS Recusal
Mike & Jay open with a discussion of the bipartisan agreement to suspend the debt ceiling until after the 2024 elections in exchange for spending cuts and caps that the Congressional Budget Office says will cut the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade. The guys see this as a win for moderation, though they both argue that absent changes to tax policy and/or entitlement programs we aren’t likely to make much of a dent in the national debt. Next, they turn to some good economic news – the continuing resilience of the US economy and why the recession that so many have predicted (including Mike & Jay, back in January) hasn’t come about. After that is a look at the Texas House’s impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, despite Donald Trump’s urging against it. Mike & Jay consider the likelihood of Paxton’s removal by the Texas State Senate and what this says more broadly about the GOP in 2023. They close with a discussion of Justice Kagan’s decision to provide a brief explanation of her recent recusal and Justice Alito’s decision to not do so in a case shortly thereafter. Mike argues that the Court should be willing to do this small thing as a gesture toward the public’s decreasing lack of trust in the institution while Jay believes that it’s not necessary, could harm the dignity of the Court, and be a slippery slope toward an overly responsive Supreme Court, something the Framers never intended (and for good reason, Jay believes). The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Munger on Generation Gap Politics
Mike talks with Kevin Munger, an assistant professor of political science and social data analytics at Penn State University about his book Generation Gap: Why the Baby Boomers Still Dominate American Politics and Culture. Topics Mike & Kevin discuss include: - if generational cohorts really matter - the enduring power of the Boomers - when Boomer power peaked and when it will decline - social media, generational cohorts, and shared identity - political differences between Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z Kevin Munger on Substack The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Listener Questions: Right to Secede, Education, Biden's Record, Taxes
In this midweek show, Trey and Mike respond to listener questions on if states have the right to secede from the United States, if the modern state has a compelling interest in exposing children to ideas with which their parents may disagree, the hosts' thoughts on Biden’s record and how it will impact swing voters, and what the right level of taxation in the United States ought to be. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
DeSantis, Twitter Spaces, Tim Scott, No Debt Ceiling Increase, Sackett v EPA, Ukraine
Trey is joined by Mike this week. The show begins with a discussion of Ron DeSantis’ presidential announcement on Twitter Spaces. The discussion focuses both on the content of the announcement, DeSantis running against legacy media, and the the technical aspect of the announcement itself on Twitter. Next the pair discuss Tim Scott’s presidential announcement earlier in the week contrasting it with DeSantis. They also stack up all the candidates against Trump. Mike argues that Scott is angling for a vice-presidential slot and Trey is unconvinced. After that, they turn to the lack of a debt ceiling increase before Memorial Day. Both think a deal will get struck, but Trey thinks more Americans also want spending cuts than Democrats realize. Next, the duo discuss the Supreme Court case on the Clean Water Act in Sackett v EPA. What does this mean more immediately, but also the pair consider the ideological splitting of the conservative majority along with what it means to be conservative in the post-Trump era. They close the show with a brief update on Ukraine. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federalist Papers: What They Are & Why They Matter
In this supporters’ midweek show, Mike & Jay kick off a planned multi-part series on The Federalist Papers, covering what they are, why they were written, who wrote them, the ideals of the Federalists and their anti-Federalist opposition, and the continuing relevance of this great debate on the ratification of the Constitution. In this episode, they look at Federalist 1 & Federalist 2, as well as opposing arguments from John DeWitt (I and II) and Patrick Henry’s speech of June 5, 1788. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Durham Report, Title 42, GOP Presidential Field, SCOTUS Tech Decisions
Mike is joined this week by a new co-host, May Mailman, a Harvard Law graduate and former Trump White House staffer. Mike and May start off with a discussion of the Durham report and accountability in federal law enforcement. May argues that a core problem is federal law enforcement that does too much. Mike isn’t entirely sold on that, but he agrees with her that there should be greater accountability and more severe consequences for anyone in law enforcement who breaks the rules in an attempt to hurt an ideological opponent. Next, they discuss the end of Title 42 and the border surge that hasn’t happened – at least not yet. May agrees with Mike that Title 42 isn’t good immigration policy and makes a case for big changes to asylum status. She also points out that it may be too soon to know how well the Biden administration has done at preventing a surge, and says that in any case, current ‘non-surge’ numbers are concerningly high. After that, they turn to Mike Pence’s expected entry into the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Mike can’t quite figure out why Pence would enter the race unless it’s some Kamikaze attempt to keep Trump out of the White House. May suggests that a sort of overconfidence common to many politicians may be a factor, but agrees with Mike that there seems to be no viable path to the nomination for Pence. Even so, she’s glad he plans to enter the race, as she believes it will help test the eventual nominee before the general election. They close with a look at two related tech decisions announced by the Supreme Court concerning the liability of social media companies for terrorist attacks. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike & Jay Respond to Listener Questions
In this special bonus midweek episode of The Politics Guys, Mike & Jay answer listener questions on what an ‘acceptable’ level of gun deaths might be, when we’d consider abandoning our respective political parties, the verdict against Trump in E. Jean Carroll’s civil suit, negative political advertising, and how Trump in the White House in 2025 might affect the war in Ukraine. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Constitution: Article II, Section I
Trey & Ken continue their exploration of the Constitution. This week the pair begin looking at Article II, Section 1. Topics include: The historic origins of Article II The vesting clause The presidential selection process The election of 1800 The Presidential oath of office The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Title 42, Defamation, Trump Town Hall, Santos Indictment, EPA Rules, Dormant Commerce Clause
Trey & Ken open the episode with a conversation about the end of immigration policy under Title 42 and the beginning of it being handled under Title 8. Trey points out that Biden is likely to lose from both sides of the ideological divide on his policy, both the left and the right. Ken thinks the policy will help Biden come the election. Both agree that there needs to be more space for immigration, specifically asylum seekers, in the United States. Next is Trump’s loss of a defamation lawsuit to E. Jean Carroll. Trey & Ken discuss both what makes the civil trial unique and the political aftermath of it. Ken believes it might have a small effect. Trey doesn’t believe any actions will change the political landscape for Trump. After that Trey & Ken tackle Santos. In addition to his pending criminal charges in the U.S. he pled no contest in Brazil. Trey highlights both the unusual nature of Santos' lies, but takes hope in the fact that his inability to channel Trump indicates Trump’s uniqueness in the American political system. Then the pair turn to Trump’s CNN Town Hall. Trey believes that Trump was back in his element. Not worried about a larger narrative, Trump can play to a larger audience in his sound bites. Meanwhile Ken believes Trump is only harming himself with the larger public. Trey counters that current polling suggests otherwise. Following that Trey & Ken move to discussing the EPA rules. Trey outlines the pragmatic problems with the new rules, specifically the backlog of requests to the agency that already exist that will become exasperated by the policy. Ken believes the rules are still helpful because they allow for a kind of positive agency capture situation — even if they are ultimately found unconstitutional. The guys close discussing National Pork Producers Council v. Ross and the court’s messy approach to the dormant commerce clause. Trey points out that the the alignment of the judges once again doesn’t align with Ken’s views of the conservative members of the court. Ken agrees, especially as it comes to the split locations of the liberal justices. Ken explains the dormant Commerce clause and his surprise the decision wasn’t 9-0. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oklahoma Execution, Housing & Socializing Risk, Changing American Values
Mike, Jay, and Ryan kick off this supporters’ midweek episode examining why Oklahoma’s attorney general is asking the Supreme Court to stop the execution of a criminal Oklahoma sentenced to death. They follow that with a discussion of new federal mortgage fees and the massive housing shortage in the United States, and close with a discussion of some big changes in Americans’ views on values such as patriotism, religion, and tolerance. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Proud Boys Convictions, Debt Limit, The End of Chevron, Zooey Zephyr
Mike, Jay, and Ryan open this episode with a discussion of the conviction of four members of the Proud Boys for seditious conspiracy for their actions related to the January 6th Capitol breach. They’re all against sedition (not surprising) but Mike points out some elements of the case that Jay thinks could provide some grounds for appeal. Next they turn to the debt limit. Ryan starts things off with an historical overview of the debt ceiling, after which they discuss whether the 14th amendment’s ‘public debt’ clause means that the administration must honor its debts, regardless of any limit imposed by congress. They also get into the politics of debt ceiling negotiations and the potential ramifications of even a short-term default. Following that Ken joins the conversation as they look at a case in which the Supreme Court is almost certain to significantly constrain or eliminate outright Chevron deference, in which courts defer to administrative agencies’ reasonable interpretations of ambiguous legislation. The show closes with a look at the case of Zooey Zephyr, the transgender Montana legislator who was barred from the floor by the Republican majority. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Big Myth: Loathing Government and Loving the ‘Free’ Market
Mike talks with Harvard historian of science Naomi Oreskes and Cal Tech historian of science Erik Conway. They've -coauthored a number of books including Merchants of Doubt, and The Collapse of Western Civilization. Their latest book is The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market, which is the focus of this discussion. Topics Mike, Naomi, and Erik discuss include: - the Big Myth and the Tripod of Freedom - why power companies once argued against electric power - government regulation and fears of communism - Friedrich Hayek and the influence of The Road to Serfdom - fear of government vs fear of markets - the Big Myth and our response to COVID-19 - the Big Myth and climate change - combatting the Big Myth (for those who believe it’s a myth) Naomi Oreskes on Twitter Erik Conway on Twitter The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Carlson Out at Fox, Biden 2024, Trump Rape Trial, Supreme Court Ethics
Mike & Jay open this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of Tucker Carlson’s abrupt ouster at Fox and what it says about political media. They then turn to President Biden’s 2024 announcement, considering Biden’s likely opponent and chances of winning a second term. After that they get into the opening of Donald Trump’s rape trial and close the episode talking about what, if anything, should be done to improve transparency and ethical standards at the Supreme Court. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SCOTUS Mifepristone Ruling, House Debt Ceiling Bill, Disney Sues DeSantis
Mike & Jay open the episode with a discussion of whether the Supreme Court was right to issue a stay in the mifepristone case, a decisions that allows women to continue to have access to the abortion drug as the matter winds its way through the appeals process. Mike & Jay both agree that a stay was the right call, though Jay argues that Justice Alito makes some valid points in his dissent. Then they turn to the party-line passage of a debt ceiling increase (among many other things) by House Republicans. They agree that this bill isn’t going anywhere, and that President Biden will eventually negotiate with Republicans, even if he doesn’t quite admit that that’s what he’s doing. Mike argues that this could potentially hurt Biden’s reelection chances, but Jay feels that debt ceiling fights typically end up making Republicans look worse. They close by discussing Disney’s lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other top state officials. It seems almost unquestionable that this is a case of government retaliation, but whether that’s a violation of Disney’s 1st Amendment rights is less clear. Disney might have a better argument when it comes to the Contracts Clause, but even there it’s far from clear that Disney will prevail in court. Politically, Jay argues that DeSantis miscalculated in his battle with Disney and now finds himself stuck. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bud Light & Dylan Mulvaney, Justice Thomas & Corruption, Tax Day
Ryan & Mike open this supporters’ midweek episode with a look at the controversy over Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney, followed by a discussion of Justice Thomas’ integrity (which Mike defends) and his ethics (which both Mike and Ryan have serious issues with). They close with a Politics Guys tradition – talking taxes in honor (dishonor?) of Tax Day. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fox Settles, Should Feinstein Resign, SCOTUS & Religious Protection
Ryan & Mike kick off the show with a discussion of Fox’s $787 million settlement with Dominion over claims that the news network defamed the voting machine company. They get into why Fox felt compelled to settle, what this may mean for other defamation lawsuits, and if it will have a chilling effect on defamatory speech by the news media. Next they consider whether 89 year old California Senator Diane Feinstein should resign her seat after being away since February recovering from shingles and for several years showing clear signs of cognitive impairment. This leads into a discussion of Feinstein’s important role on the Senate Judiciary Committee and President Biden’s judicial appointments. They end by looking at Groff v. DeJoy, a case in which an evangelical Christian former USPS employee is arguing that the Postal Service discriminated against him because of his religion. Based on past precedent and oral argument before the Supreme Court this week, Mike expects the Court to rule for the Postal Service but to do so in such a way that may expand religious protection. Ryan wonders what sort of effect the ruling will have on protection for other religious practitioners and if media reports fearing the worst are overstated. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Constitution: Article I, Section 10
Trey & Ken finish up Article I this week by looking at all the powers denied to states. Article I, Section 10 of the constitution is a mishmash of prohibitions on states. This includes prohibitions on treaties, money, but with a special focus on the contract clause. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Justice Thomas, Mifepristone, Leaked Documents, Tennessee House, Trump’s Appeal
The 400th regular weekend episode of The Politics Guys! Trey & Ken start the 400th show with a long investigation into Justice Thomas’ undisclosed gifts from Harlan Crow. Trey, who was initially skeptical of the claims of impropriety, finds there is good reason to find issue. Ken agrees but goes further in his arguments for curruption. Next they turn to the recent rulings on Mifepristone by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal. The focus is primarily on what, if anything, the FDA can or should do in response to the rulings. Ken sees no functional difference between deference and ignoring the ruling. Trey sees a key difference in that one is a constitutionally consistent principle and the other is not. After that is a long conversation on the papers potentially leaked. Ken floats a novel idea: that the leak is a bit of counter espionage. Trey probes the idea to see if it holds up and works out what would have to continue to be found empirically for the thesis to be true. Then the pair turn to the expulsion of two African American Tennessee House members. The conversation between both focuses on the rightful, if any, action the legislature should have taken given that the rules were violated by three members of that body. Trey & Ken end the show discussing Trump’s latest legal appeals. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Elections in Wisconsin & Chicago, Transgender Policy
Mike, Jay, and Ryan discuss the ramifications of liberals taking control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the wake of the recent election to replace a retiring conservative justice, the recent mayoral election in Chicago, and a proposed rule from the Biden administration on transgender athletes. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abortion Pill Rulings, Net Neutrality, Trump Indictment
Mike, Jay, and Ryan open the show with a discussion of the dueling district court rulings on the FDA-approved abortion pill mifepristone, with a federal judge in Texas ordering a nationwide injunction against the drug and a federal judge in Washington State ruling the opposite way the same day. Because the story broke just before the show was recorded, the guys didn’t get into the specifics of the rulings, focusing their discussion on forum shopping and nationwide injunctions. Following that, Ryan clarified his remarks from last week on net neutrality, which led to a discussion of the pros and cons of the Obama-era FCC policy that was revoked in Donald Trump’s FCC. Then they turn to the 34 count indictment against Donald Trump, agreeing that legally it’s awfully thin. While it may make it harder to successfully prosecute Donald Trump in the future (Mike is less sure of this than Jay and Ryan are), it may help Bragg’s career and give Trump a boost in the GOP primary – which could be exactly what Joe Biden wants. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Supreme Court & Free Speech, Nebraska Filibuster, Iraq War 20th Anniversary
In this supporters’ midweek episode, Mike and Ryan open with a look at oral arguments in United States v Hansen, a case that could have a major effect on free speech rights, the filibuster in Nebraska’s unicameral state legislature in opposition that state’s anti-trans bill – the latest in a line of such legislation from Republican-controlled states, and a consideration of the costs and benefits of the Iraq war on the 20th anniversary of its start. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trump Indictment, Nashville School Shooting, Regulating A.I.
Mike welcomes a new co-host to the show: political scientist Ryan Teten. (Jay’s not going anywhere – he’s working on a special project for the podcast we hope to unveil sometime this spring.) Mike & Ryan open with a discussion of Donald Trump’s indictment on charges related to hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels. Neither Mike nor Ryan expect a conviction, and consider the wisdom of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg seeking an indictment in the first place. Next they turn to the tragic school shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee and why it seems so unlikely that this time will be any different when it comes to meaningful gun safety legislation. Following that they consider calls to pause development of AI, the ever growing gap between technological change and government’s response to that change, and whether the future will be the dystopian hellscape some are suggesting or if there might be more optimistic possibilities. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Constitution: Article I, Section 9, The Powers Denied States
Trey & Ken continue working through the U.S. Constitution working through the entirety of Article I, Section 9. This section of the constitution, coming immediately after the powers of Congress, outlines the limits on Congressional power. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trump Investigations, DeSantis, Xi Jinping & Vladimir Putin, TikTok, French Riots
Trey & Ken open discussing the major investigations into Trump, focusing on NY’s grand jury and recent developments in the crime and fraud exception for Trump lawyer Corcoran. Relatedly they discuss Ron DeSantis’ commentary on Trump. This leads to a discussion of the Republican primary. Next is a conversation about Xi Jinping and his visit to Russia and Vladimir Putin. Here Trey & Ken discuss the evolution of U.S. foreign policy in relation to China and how the hostility there has seemingly brought Russia and China closer. Then the focus turns to the TikTok hearings with CEO Shou Chew. This leads to more conversation about the emergent bipartisan support for a version of isolationism. The pair end the show with a brief conversation on the ongoing pension crisis in France. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Willow Oil Project, DeSantis & Trump on Ukraine, American Happiness
Mike & Jay open this supporters’ midweek episode with a look at the Biden administration’s approval of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope. Mike isn’t crazy about it due to environmental concerns but feels that the administration probably couldn’t have legally halted the project. Jay agrees, but would like to see even more drilling, as he doesn’t entirely share Mike’s environmental concerns. After that they turn to recent comments made by GOP presidential frontrunners Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump concerning Ukraine. Mike and Jay are both supporters of aiding Ukraine and find Trump’s and DeSantis’ positions troubling, though they wonder the extent to which the views are simply opposition to whatever the Biden administration supports and not necessarily an indication of what their policy would be if elected. Then it’s the next segment in their American Greatness series. This week, they consider how the United States does in world happiness & life satisfaction surveys as well as what our suicide rate says about the happiness of Americans. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SVB Failure & Socialism for the Rich, TikTok Ban
Mike & Jay open with an extended discussion of the recent failure of three banks, focusing on the largest of the three, Silicon Valley Bank. They discuss why depositors were made whole, banking regulation, and the importance of risk in capitalism. After that they turn to the growing threat of a US ban of the hugely popular TikTok app due to national security concerns. Jay has his own concerns that this might run afoul of the 1st Amendment whereas Mike is less inclined to see a platform ban as restricting speech. Mike’s Recommendation: Triangle of Sadness Jay’s Recommendation: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 (Cleveland Orchestra) The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
DeSantis v Disney, Newsom v Walgreens, CPAC, After School Satanists
Mike & Jay open this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of Ron DeSantis' continuing battle against "woke" Disney, as well as his efforts to rein in press freedom. They also look at California Governor Gavin Newsom's move to punish Walgreens for its policy on selling abortion drugs in states threatening lawsuits for doing so, what CPAC and recent polls say about the state of the GOP, and a public school district refusing to allow an After School Satan Club to meet on school grounds. The Politics Guys on Facebook | Twitter Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RedCircle, home of The Politics Guys. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-politics-guys/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices