The Politics Guys

Michael Baranowski

The Politics Guys is an independent, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, and practicing attorneys with government experience. 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.

  1. 2D AGO

    U.S. / India Trade Deal, Trump Sues the IRS, EPA Calculation of Human Life

    In this supporter’s exclusive midweek show, Trey and Mike open with a discussion of the U.S.-India trade deal. The discussion focuses on the relationship to the potential deal and its effects on Russia. Trey argues that current fiscal policy is well outside the empirical truth understood by the most recent scholarship, and Mike wonders if a deal will ever occur. Next, they discuss the unusual Trump vs. Trump case where Trump is suing the IRS for $ 10 billion. Trey argues that if Trump was serious about the injury, he would have sued for just $1. Mike tries to come at it from the point of view of MAGA and argues that many would rather see President Trump with $10 billion rather than the state. They close the show discussing the way in which the EPA is shifting from using a calculation of the value of human life. Trey argues the measure isn’t perfect, but it helps us understand and quantify the effects. Mike largely agrees, but understands the fuzzy nature of the metric currently used. ⁠Read Trey’s Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers⁠ The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Check out the excellent ⁠Sustainable Planet⁠ podcast. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.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

    22 min
  2. 5D AGO

    DHS Funding, Midterm Election (In)Security, Epstein

    In this weekend episode, Trey and Mike discuss the recent government shutdown and budget negotiations, focusing on the implications of Democratic proposals regarding ICE and law enforcement. Mike argues that Democrats have a fine opening bid, but their list is not going to get met. Trey agrees, but they disagree deeply over what ought to be implemented. Trey is firmly for the unmasking of ICE agents along with true warrants. Mike believes the dangers to ICE agents outweigh libertarian and liberal ideals. Next, they dive into so-called midterm election integrity with a focus on the Save America Act and the Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act. Here, Trey is more sympathetic to compromise and the need for ID’s in elections, but Mike worries that ICE agents even being threatened will decrease voter turnout. Trey counters that if that is the case, then it is time to push for more ICE reform. They end the show discussing the Epstein-related document dump, the remaining redactions, and the fundamental problem of elite accountability. 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

    1h 1m
  3. FEB 3

    Carney’s Davos Speech, A.I. in Government

    Mike, Trey, and Russ open with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Davos speech arguing that the rules-based international order has ruptured and that middle powers should loosen their reliance on U.S. hegemony. Mike frames the debate around the long-term benefits versus short-term costs of American dominance, Trey agrees with Carney’s realist diagnosis but rejects his prescription to abandon liberal institutions, and Russ emphasizes the symbolic importance of a Western leader openly challenging U.S. power even if the material constraints make real independence unlikely. Next, the guys turn to the Trump administration’s plans to use AI in government, from Google’s Gemini drafting DOT regulations to the Pentagon exploring AI-assisted battlefield decision-making. Mike distinguishes between limited gains from AI-generated draft rules and much deeper risks from long-term dependence on private AI models, Trey focuses on the danger of outsourcing judgment rather than using AI as a narrow tool, and Russ argues that autonomous decision-making represents a disturbing further distancing of humans from moral responsibility, especially in warfare. Canadian PM Mark Carney’s Davos Speech (video and transcript) 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

    19 min
  4. JAN 31

    Omar Attack, ICE De-escalation?, Trump’s Fed Pick

    Mike, Trey, and new-to-the-show cohost Russ Gifford open with the January 27 assault on Rep. Ilhan Omar at a Minneapolis town hall. Trey frames the incident as crossing a line but notes it was closer to an “enhanced protest” than a lethal attack, stressing that it could have been far worse. Russ draws a parallel to symbolic political assaults like the shoe thrown at George W. Bush, while Mike emphasizes that President Trump’s response—suggesting Omar staged the attack—says more about the coarsening of political norms than about the physical harm involved. Next, the guys turn to the escalating ICE controversy in Minneapolis following the killing of Alex Pretti, with video evidence undermining the official account and intensifying public backlash. Trey argues that the administration’s actions have perversely handed Democrats a political win, while underscoring due-process concerns and warning against shifting legal standards based on a suspect’s past behavior. Russ criticizes both federal and local leadership, portraying the administration’s approach as driven by spectacle rather than policy coherence, while Mike focuses on structural issues—especially the use of administrative warrants and the Fourth Amendment implications — suggesting that any de-escalation will hinge on whether Congress meaningfully reins in ICE authority. They close with a look at President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve. Trey contends Warsh is a serious, experienced figure rather than a crank, though the politics of confirmation remain fraught. Mike highlights the tension between Warsh’s past inflation hawkishness and his current openness to rate cuts. Both agree that Trump’s broader economic agenda—especially tariffs—sits uneasily with calls for lower rates and risks undermining institutional credibility. 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

    58 min

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4.4
out of 5
748 Ratings

About

The Politics Guys is an independent, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, and practicing attorneys with government experience. 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.

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