The Politics Guys Michael Baranowski

Mike talks with Allen Guelzo, the Thomas W. Smith Distinguished Research Scholar in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. Professor Guelzo is a three-time winner of the Lincoln Prize, awarded annually for the finest scholarly work in English on Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War soldier, or a subject relating to their era. They discuss his latest book, Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment.
Topics Discussed Include:
- why Lincoln had such faith in democracy
- if Lincoln saw Blacks as truly equal
- Lincoln’s constitutionally questionable actions
- what current-day politicians could learn from Lincoln
- Lincoln’s cosmic optimism
Check out Mike’s other podcast, Sustainable Planet.
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Mike talks about the The Jordan Harbinger Show. Hope you enjoy it too.

Mike and May open the preview of this midweek supporters’ episode with a look at the Louisiana redistricting plan recently rejected by a three-judge panel. They get into the tension between the Voting Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause, partisan vs racial gerrymandering, and if there’s a better way to set up congressional districts.
Next is a discussion of the proposed federal rescheduling of marijuana. Mike thinks it’s long overdue and should lead to more and better research on the effects (both good and bad) of pot. May is more skeptical, though she agrees that we could use better medical research on cannabis’ effects.
They end with their thoughts on the extended interview Donald Trump recently gave to Time. Mike was surprised at how often Trump came off as a normal politician, while May was unsurprised at Trump’s agenda for a second term.
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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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