The Politics Lab

The Politics Lab
  • 4.9 (42)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Politics isn’t always black and white. Dr. Bill Muck and Dr. Phil Barker, professors of political science and longtime friends, talk through the week’s news and discuss how political science might help make sense of things. In The Politics Lab, we put politics under the microscope.

  1. 5D AGO

    Our 250th!

    This week, Bill and Phil breakdown Marco Rubio‘s big week of diplomacy, ponder whether George W. Bush was trolling Donald Trump in a recent essay about George Washington, and discuss whether Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito may soon retire.

    50 min

  2. FEB 11

    Speed Round Returns!

    This week, Bill and Phil are heading into a speed round — quick hits on big topics: the 2026 midterms and election legitimacy, Trump’s latest social media controversy, the expiration of the last U.S.–Russia nuclear arms treaty, the pace of democratic backsliding, America’s declining soft power, tensions with Canada over a new border bridge, and yes… even a little Bad Bunny.

    49 min

  3. JAN 28

    The Rupture

    This week, Bill and Phil react to the escalation of political violence in Minneapolis and then discuss the rupture of the liberal international order in the aftermath of the World Economic Forum.

    46 min

  4. JAN 20

    A Return to Power Politics

    This week, Bill and Phil discuss Trump’s return to Great Power politics - threats to Greenland, intervention in Venezuela, and potential regime change in Iran - then turn to the unrest in Minneapolis in response to ICE’s lethal tactics.

    48 min

  5. 12/30/2025

    2025 Year in Review

    This week, Bill and Phil look back at the significance of 2025 and discuss the many ways that it broke precedents - both good and bad, and then make some predictions for 2026.

    51 min

  6. 12/10/2025

    Remaking National Security

    This week, Bill and Phil discuss the release of the Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy and it’s claim that Europe is facing a civilization erasure and then play a new game we’re calling “This Week in Political Cringe”.

    48 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    Law, War, & Politics

    This week, Bill and Phil explore the legality and political fallout from the Venezuelan boat strikes and then reflect on the state of Donald Trump’s agenda and what that means for the future of the Republican Party.

    46 min

  8. 11/26/2025

    2025 Turkey of the Year!

    On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil celebrate Thanksgiving by handing out the highly coveted Turkey of the Year awards.

    46 min
See All (254)

4.9
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Politics isn’t always black and white. Dr. Bill Muck and Dr. Phil Barker, professors of political science and longtime friends, talk through the week’s news and discuss how political science might help make sense of things. In The Politics Lab, we put politics under the microscope.

Information

  • Creator
    The Politics Lab
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    254
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Politics Lab

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