637 episodes
Politicology Politicology
-
- News
Politics in America is transforming. We’re embarking on a new series to deepen our understanding of who we are, how we got here, and how we rebuild without repeating the mistakes of the past. Ron Steslow hosts academics, behavioral economists, social psychologists, politicos, philosophers, anthropologists, journalists, poets, and storytellers—and more—to discuss America’s political present and future and dive into the deeper problems we face as a nation. Email us questions or comments: podcast@politicology.com.
-
The Primary Solution
Nick Troiano (Executive Director of Unite America) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss how our process for primary elections fuels the partisan doom loop and leaves more and more Americans disappointed about their choices, and Nick’s new book The Primary Solution: Rescuing our Democracy from the Fringes
Segments to look forward to:
(01:52) The Need for Primary Election Reform
(02:56) The Impact of Primary Reform on Elected Officials and Political Parties
(15:42) How Closed Primaries Disenfranchise Voters
(16:40) Structural Reforms and Cultural Change: Creating a Healthier Democracy
(21:14)Exploring Primary Reform Options
(30:50) Why We Should Abolish Partisan Primaries
(33:06) The Success of the Alaska System
(37:04) The Arguments Against Reforms (And Why They Don’t Make Sense)
(40:00) The Path Forward for Primary Reform
(51:39) Envisioning an Ideal Electoral System
Read The Primary Solution: https://www.uniteamerica.org/book
Check out Unite America: https://www.uniteamerica.org/
Follow Ron on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://twitter.com/NickTroiano
Email your questions to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The ‘Imperial Presidency’—The Weekly Roundup
To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.
This week, we look at the growing pessimism people are feeling about their money, their plans to spend less, and the monetary policy that’s driving that. Then we’ll discuss the dystopian preview of a second Trump term in the Time Magazine cover story, and Arizona’s move to repeal its 1864 Abortion ban.
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative and advisor to the Forward Party)
Olivier Knox (veteran politics and foreign policy reporter, most recently at The Washington Post )
James Lavish (co-managing partner of the Bitcoin Opportunity Fund)
Segments this week:
(04:50) Money
(39:00) Trump’s Time Magazine Story
(48:30) Arizona
[Politicology+] RFK Jr’s surprising performance with younger and Latino voters, what’s driving that appeal, and what it could mean for this election cycle.
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss the extra episodes on our private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Check out Olivier’s substack: https://olivierknox.substack.com/
Read James’s substack: https://jameslavish.substack.com/
Send your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://twitter.com/jameslavish
https://twitter.com/lucymcaldwell
https://twitter.com/OKnox
Related reading:
Segment 1:
CNN - Fears about stagflation are mounting in the US. It’s every central banker’s worst nightmare | CNN Business
Bloomberg - US Consumer Confidence Slumps to Lowest Level Since July 2022 - Bloomberg
Politico - Trump trade advisers plot dollar devaluation - POLITICO
Segment 2:
Time Magazine - Donald Trump on What His Second Term Would Look Like | TIME
WSJ - Trump Allies Draw Up Plans to Blunt Fed’s Independence - WSJ
Politico - Mitch McConnell continues to break with Trump on immunity claims - POLITICO
Segment 3:
NYT - Arizona Legislature Will Consider Repeal of 1864 Abortion Law - The New York Times
Politico-Arizona legislature repeals 1864 abortion law - POLITICO
NPR - Christian conservatives wrestle with shifting GOP stance on Arizona abortion ban : NPR
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
[+] It’s Time to Take RFK Jr. Seriously [Members Only]
Olivier Knox, Lucy Caldwell, and Ron Steslow discuss RFK Jr’s surprising performance with younger and Latino voters, what’s driving that appeal, and what it could mean for this election cycle.
Related reading:
NYT - RFK Jr.’s Campaign Says He Will Be Alongside Biden and Trump on California Ballot - The New York Times
Politico -RFK Jr. is all over conservative media. Trump’s camp is concerned. - POLITICO
NYT - The Ex-Bernie Sanders Pollster Raising Alarms About R.F.K. Jr.'s Appeal Among Latinos and Young Voters
NYT - Surprise Tactics and Legal Threats: Inside R.F.K. Jr.’s Ballot Access Fight - The New York Times
John Della Volpe - Exclusive: First look at SocialSphere survey of young voters for Snap
WSJ - Inside RFK Jr.’s Chaotic 2024 Election Campaign - WSJ -
Briefly, Perfectly Human
Alua Arthur (Death Doula) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss the importance of embracing mortality, talking about death, and her new book, Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life and Getting Real About the End.
Segments to look forward to:
(02:31) What is a death doula?
(05:39) Alua’s journey and embracing mortality
(07:28) The impact of avoiding conversations about death
(10:33) Practical ways to approach contemplating death
(26:00) Having conversations about death with your loved ones
(28:10) Supporting loved ones facing end-of-life challenges
(30:30) Reframing our language about death and disease
(32:19) The desire for “more time” at the end of life
(38:10) The importance of quality of life in end of life care
(40:00) Assisted Suiceide and personal autonomy
(43:40) Meaningful rituals for death
(47:14) Mourning people with troubled legacies
(51:10) Being briefly, perfectly human
Read Briefly Perfectly Human: https://bit.ly/4a5UYJb
Check out Going With Grace: https://goingwithgrace.com/
Follow Ron on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
Email your questions to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
“Safe Spaces” Campaign —The Weekly Roundup
To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.
This week, we look at the Ukraine and Israel aid package and whether Mike Johnson might actually be a capable speaker. Then we’ll discuss the anti-Israel encampments at college campuses across the country. Finally, we’ll talk about the “safe space” election and how Joe Biden and Donald Trump are only talking to friendly media
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Zack Czajkowski (Fmr. Lincoln Project Political Director)
Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP; host of The Lobby Pod)
Segments this week:
(02:32) Speaker Johnson puts country over crazy
(21:40) The anti-Israel encampments at college campuses
(40:21) Biden and Trump stick to friendly media
[Politicology+] Are you frustrated with non-stop fundraising text messages and emails? For this week’s Politocology+ episode, Zack and Ron dish on a few of the unsavory strategies and tactics campaigns and PACs use to raise money, share information, and skirt rules.
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss the extra episodes on our private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://twitter.com/ZackCz
https://twitter.com/LPDonovan
Related reading:
Segment 1:
The Atlantic - The Accidental Speaker
NYT - How Mike Johnson Got to ‘Yes’ on Aid to Ukraine - The New York Times
Politico - How McConnell and Schumer beat hardline conservatives on Ukraine - POLITICO
Vanity Fair - The Motion to Vacate Mike Johnson Seems Pretty Darn Motionless | Vanity Fair
Segment 2:
NYT - Universities Struggle as Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Grow
The Atlantic - The Unreality of Columbia’s ‘Liberated Zone’ - The Atlantic
NYT - Some Jewish Students Are Targeted as Protests Continue at Columbia - The New York Times
WP - Biden aims to strike careful balance as college protests spread - The Washington Post
FP - Among the Activists Plotting to Disrupt the DNC | The Free Press
Segment 3:
Axios - How Biden, Trump favor safe spaces
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
[+] Predatory Fundraising [Members Only]
Zack Czajkowski and Ron Steslow discuss the strategies and tactics campaigns and Super PACs use to raise money, share information, and skirt rules
Related reading:
Politico - Super PACs keep testing the limits of campaign finance law
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/08/super-pac-fec-limits-00150672
Example of Red-boxing: https://www.karencarterpeterson.com/what_voters_need_to_know/