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Politicology

Politicology
  • 4.8 (16K)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. 16H AGO

    The ICE Blowback—The Weekly

    Americans largely agree on two immigration goals: securing the border and deporting people here illegally who have committed violent crimes.  But inside the United States, enforcement has become a political flashpoint. Guest Host Susan Del Percio is joined by Jeh Johnson (Former Secretary of Homeland Security) to discuss why border crossings can fall quickly based on deterrence and perception and why interior enforcement works very differently.  Then, they break down how quota-driven, “numbers-first” tactics incentivize sloppy operations and high-profile street encounters that alienate local governments, undermine cooperation with law enforcement, and ultimately make it harder to remove the “worst of the worst,” eroding public trust and public safety in the process. Then, in Politicology+ they dig into why the Trump Administration wants states’ unredacted voter rolls. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/DelPercioS Related Reading:  Axios - Trump's mass deportations are in big trouble NYT - ICE Expands Power of Agents to Arrest People Without Warrants - The New York Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min

  2. 1D AGO • POLITICOLOGY+ ONLY

    [+] Why Does Trump Want the Voter Rolls? [Members Only]

    Susan Del Percio and Jeh Johnson dig into why the Trump Administration wants states’ unredacted voter rolls. Related Reading: NYT - Why Is the Trump Administration Demanding Minnesota’s Voter Rolls? - The New York Times

    7 min

  3. 2D AGO

    ENCORE: Democracy’s Christian Enemies — Part 2

    Are there tendencies within Christian tradition that put some versions of the faith in tension with core principles of democracy? What is “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity?” How can a pluralistic society guard against the rise of political figures—including Donald Trump—aiming to weaponize this phenomenon? In this two-part conversation, we dive into these provocative questions with the Rev. Prof. David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) and discuss his book Defending Democracy From Its Christian Enemies. Segments to look forward to in part 2: (02:12) Christianity in the reactionary politics of France and Germany in the 20th century   (07:54) The allure of authoritarian leaders who promise to fix cultural issues  (13:06) The idealization of a past Christian nation and the ubiquitous use of anti-LGBT rhetoric in policial mobilization (18:20) The difficulty of appealing to authoritarian-leaning Christians and the influence of leaders in those communities (32:30 ) “Covenantal democracy” rooted in the Baptist tradition (35:18) The importance of civic literacy and political ethics education among Christians to inoculate against authoritarian tendencies (40:00) The importance of long-term cultural and interpersonal work to build stronger democratic norms. For more of David’s work visit his website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/ Follow Ron  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Email your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min

  4. JAN 30

    Doomsday Prep—The Weekly

    Guest Host Lucy Caldwell and Dmitri Mehlhorn (Founder, The Atoll Society) have a conversation about political risk, institutional blind spots, and what scenario-based thinking reveals that conventional analysis often misses. They discuss the Atoll Society’s simulation salons, which use scenario-based exercises to test assumptions about power, institutions, and the rule of law. Rather than predict outcomes, the goal is to surface blind spots: where existing frameworks for understanding democracy, law, and political behavior may no longer fully apply. The conversation turns to the violence in Minnesota, the uneven application of state power, and the idea that political systems often change less through dramatic breaks than through accumulation—small decisions that reshape incentives and expectations over time.  They examine why political leaders and institutions tend to emphasize reassurance, even in periods of uncertainty, and how that instinct can limit honest discussions about risk. Along the way, they consider how history, founding-era debates, and comparative examples can help anchor difficult conversations without resorting to speculation. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/lucymcaldwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 12m

  5. JAN 29

    ENCORE: Democracy’s Christian Enemies — Part 1

    Are there tendencies within Christian tradition that put some versions of the faith in tension with core principles of democracy? What is “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity?” How can a pluralistic society guard against the rise of political figures—including Donald Trump—aiming to weaponize this phenomenon? In this two-part conversation, Ron Steslow and Rev. Prof. David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) discuss these provocative questions and more as they dive into David’s book, Defending Democracy From Its Christian Enemies. In part 1: (04:40) Ron shares a personal note with David about the impact he’s had on Ron’s journey   (07:24) David discussed a few of the transformative moments in his career  (13:08) The historical and current challenges Christianity poses to democratic values  (16:30) Why some Christians are skeptical of democracy and the nuanced reasons behind it (22:02 ) Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity and why it’s a better term for what we’re seeing  than Christian Nationalism  (28:38) How certain Christian groups prioritize their beliefs over democratic norms and values  (34:02) The cycle of secular revolutions followed by religious counter-revolutions  For more of David’s work visit his website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/ Follow Ron  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Email your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min

  6. JAN 24

    The Real America—The Weekly

    As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Guest Host Mike Madrid and Susan Del Percio (MS NOW political analyst and crisis communications expert) grapple with a central question: when Americans say “this isn’t who we are,” are we describing an aspiration—or denying a reality? They confront the collision between ideals and reality, examining government overreach, due process, and what it means when executive power stretches beyond long-standing constitutional limits. The conversation moves through voter exhaustion, institutional breakdown, and why secrecy inside government is often the clearest warning sign that something has gone wrong. They look deeper than just the crisis of “democracy” in the abstract, and discuss how Americans are losing freedom itself, the right to privacy, bodily autonomy, and protection from arbitrary state power. The episode ends with an unsettling possibility: if the American experiment depends on restraint and shared belief, what happens when those beliefs fracture—and no institution is strong enough to hold the line? Then, in Politicology+ they dig into why housing affordability has become the central economic and political problem heading into the midterms. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/madrid_mike https://x.com/DelPercioS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min

  7. JAN 23 • POLITICOLOGY+ ONLY

    [+] Home Economics [Members Only]

    Mike Madrid and Susan Del Percio dig into why housing affordability has become the central economic and political problem heading into the midterms. They discuss how housing and cost of living concerns are driving the anxiety voters are feeling. Then, they look at populism on both sides of the aisle, from Trump’s embrace of “no tax on tips” and credit card caps to Mamdani’s promises to freeze the rent, and why neither party is being honest about the long-term supply problem at the heart of the housing crisis. Then, they break down what actually moves the needle—regulation, infrastructure, public housing maintenance, and local governance—and why Democrats are ceding the affordability debate while Republicans struggle to reconcile Trump-era rhetoric with conservative orthodoxy. Finally, Susan lays out the tactical reality: national messaging won’t fix this, the economy won’t turn around quickly, and the candidates who win will be the ones who can translate affordability into concrete, local results voters can actually feel.

    23 min

  8. JAN 17

    Iran on the Brink—The Weekly

    Iran is erupting in protests—and the regime is cracking down with extraordinary violence.  Guest Host Hagar Chemali sits down with Jay Solomon (investigative reporter at The Free Press) to unpack why protests are surging nationwide, what the regime’s economic rot reveals about its fragility, and what (if anything) the U.S. and Israel might do next. They dig into a bank-collapse story that helped ignite the unrest, the regime’s deteriorating proxy network after October 7, and the strategic debate inside Washington over strikes, cyber operations, and financial pressure. Then they turn to the American political fringes—left and right—and why some activists echo Islamic Republic propaganda about the protests being “astroturfed.” Finally, in Politicology+, they unpack how Qatar, a tiny Gulf nation with just 350,000 citizens, has built one of the most wide-reaching influence networks in the world. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/HagarChemali https://x.com/FPJaySolomon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 9m
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4.8
out of 5
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Politicology
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    917
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ℗ & © 2021 Politicology
  • Show Website
    Politicology
  • Provider
    Politicology, LLC

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