816 episodes

The Politics Guys is an independent, bipartisan, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, practicing attorneys, and former government officials. Our mission is to give listeners a much-needed break from conservative and liberal echo chambers through civil, rational, and evidence-based discussion of American politics and policy from multiple perspectives. In addition to our weekly news discussion, we feature regular interviews with leading figures from across the ideological spectrum. Past guests include Representatives Jim Jordan, Thomas Massie, and Rob Wittman; Jeffrey Sachs; Tyler Cowen; Bryan Caplan; Dan Carlin; Larry Sabato; and Lawrence Lessig. 

The Politics Guys Michael Baranowski

    • News
    • 4.2 • 20 Ratings

The Politics Guys is an independent, bipartisan, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, practicing attorneys, and former government officials. Our mission is to give listeners a much-needed break from conservative and liberal echo chambers through civil, rational, and evidence-based discussion of American politics and policy from multiple perspectives. In addition to our weekly news discussion, we feature regular interviews with leading figures from across the ideological spectrum. Past guests include Representatives Jim Jordan, Thomas Massie, and Rob Wittman; Jeffrey Sachs; Tyler Cowen; Bryan Caplan; Dan Carlin; Larry Sabato; and Lawrence Lessig. 

    Campus Protestors, Antisemitism Awareness, Marijuana Rescheduling

    Campus Protestors, Antisemitism Awareness, Marijuana Rescheduling

    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.
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    • 59 min
    Introducing The Jordan Harbinger Show

    Introducing The Jordan Harbinger Show

    Mike talks about the The Jordan Harbinger Show. Hope you enjoy it too.

    • 2 min
    Can Capitalism Save the Planet?

    Can Capitalism Save the Planet?

    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

    • 32 min
    SCOTUS on Homelessness, Trump Immunity, FTC Bans Noncompetes

    SCOTUS on Homelessness, Trump Immunity, FTC Bans Noncompetes

    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

    • 19 min
    Ukraine Aid, TikTok Ban, Campus Protests

    Ukraine Aid, TikTok Ban, Campus Protests

    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

    • 1 hr
    Bryan Caplan Will Not Be Stampeded!

    Bryan Caplan Will Not Be Stampeded!

    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

    • 59 min

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5
20 Ratings

20 Ratings

Wawanosh1 ,

A very good podcast except...

Maybe I am showing my liberal leanings but Jay is smart and we need to listen to conservative voices, however unfortunately he is much like the right wing commentators on CNN who seem to have been given a list of talking points. He is knee jerk while everyone else there is thoughtful and considers all sides.

mrshiggison ,

Bi-partisan & easy to listen to

A liberal & a conservative, both informed & reasonable, discussing current political issues in accessible language, answering listener questions, assessing what's actually happening. I like!

MattFromBC ,

Great podcast

Hey ya'll, really enjoying your show. I've been looking for a politcal podcast that keeps up with the race for president and also current political news and your show comes through every time. I like the calm nature of the show, makes it nice and easy to listen to. Oh ya, good luck on your own presidential run! Keep up the good work fellas.

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