The Rational Policy Podcast

Mike Coté
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  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

A historical perspective on policy, international affairs, and geopolitics. Talking current events weekly, ranging from the serious to the absurd, all with a dash of good humor. www.rationalpolicy.com

  1. 2d ago

    Episode 40 - Ramble On

    Episode 40 of the Rational Policy Podcast is here! In this freewheeling episode, hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay skip the usual news of the week for a series of digressions and tangents that actually ended up being one of our better podcast installments. In this semi-rambling hour or so, we hit on everything from American patriotism and the UFC fight on the White House lawn to the uselessness of the DNI position and how Trump’s second-term Cabinet compares to his first-term team. We also talk about how Trumpism was an outgrowth of the 2008 financial crisis and what that might mean about the long political tail of the Covid pandemic, lay out a counterfactual about how the George W. Bush administration would’ve been very different had 9/11 not happened, and interrogate why politics attracts all the worst people, while repelling the best our nation has to offer. And be sure to stay tuned for some great pop culture references, including a nod to the classic Mike Judge flick Office Space. Check it out, follow us on Twitter/X (Mike / Art), and share the podcast with anyone you think might appreciate it. Thanks for listening. We’re taking next week off, but we shall return in mid-June. And there will be a Very Special Episode coming soon, too. Until then, enjoy the fascinating cultural spectacle of UFC 250 next weekend. Cheers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rationalpolicy.com

    1h 15m

  2. May 29

    Episode 39 - AI-pocalypse Now?

    Episode 39 of the Rational Policy Podcast is here! Join hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay for a breakdown of the most important topics in policy and politics - this time with a focus on everything AI. The subject is nigh-inescapable, impacting essentially all aspects of life today, from the economy to the dinner table. On this episode, we discuss the topic, both in broad and narrow terms. Are the controversies over things like data centers reasonable? Is AI going to destroy productive human employment? Will AI ever do anything but make slop Instagram videos? Are tech moguls the new robber barons? And what role - if any - should government have in the development and regulation of this burgeoning industry? Plus, tune in for digressions on the positive impact of Big Pharma, the future of foreign far-left funding in US politics, and whether there will ever be a deal with Iran. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rationalpolicy.com

    1h 3m

  3. May 23

    Episode 38 - Corruptio ad Absurdum

    Welcome to Episode 38 of the Rational Policy Podcast! In this installment, hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay break down the news of the week, both foreign and domestic. We start with the latter, discussing the White House’s announcement of a $1.776 billion fund to compensate the purported victims of a politicized, abusive, and vindictive Justice Department – essentially, an unregulated pot of money through which the president could pay his most vitriolic supporters. We talk about this nakedly corrupt abuse of power, how it could hurt Republicans politically, and what it says about the abject self-marginalization of Congress. We then move on to a lightning round on foreign affairs, hitting developments and predictions on Iran, the resignation of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the outcome of last week’s Trump-Xi summit, and the future of the Cuban regime under increasing American pressure. Check it out, follow us on Twitter/X (Mike / Art), and share the podcast with anyone you think might appreciate it. Thanks for listening. We’ll be back next week. Until then, enjoy the long weekend and be sure to remember our fallen troops this Memorial Day. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rationalpolicy.com

    1h 16m

  4. May 14

    Episode 37 - Summitry Punditry

    Episode 37 of the Rational Policy Podcast is live! In this installment, hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay dive into the news of the week, touching on global, domestic, and media affairs. We start with an update on the progress (or lack thereof) of the Iran War, exploring how things have changed and what might come next for the conflict. Most of the show, however, is dedicated to a different topic entirely: the Trump-Xi summit in China. We explain what is happening, why it shouldn’t be happening, and our concerns for the outcome of this trip. We discuss what it means for US-China relations and whether this approach is a useful one. Along the way, we touch on various semi-related issues, ranging from the future of the Cuban regime to the economics and geopolitics of tariffs and decoupling from Beijing. Finally, we shift to the media, lambasting a disgraceful antisemitic blood libel published by the New York Times, claiming that Israel uses sexual violence as a tool of state power. These claims not only fly in the face of reality, the timing of their publication - immediately prior to the release of a full report from the Israeli commission investigating the mass Hamas sexual violence of October 7 - speaks to the nefarious intent behind the piece. Check it out, follow us on Twitter/X (Mike / Art), and share the podcast with anyone you think might appreciate it. Thanks for listening. We’ll be back next week. Until then, let’s hope that Trump’s Chinese vacation ends with very few souvenirs. Cheers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rationalpolicy.com

    1h 10m

  5. May 8

    Episode 36 - Ballgame Over?

    Welcome back to the Rational Policy Podcast! In Episode 36, hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay explore the week in news, delivering our hot takes on the key events of the past seven days. We spend much of the show diving into the seemingly-stable situation in Iran and detailing the developments (or lack thereof) emanating from Washington and Tehran. We explain what it all means, how to think about the ‘ceasefire’, and whether the economic battle may be more impactful than the military one. And in what may be something of a first for the show, we actually disagree and debate the merits of continued action. After the Iran segment, we preview the upcoming midterm elections - they’re only 6 months away, folks! - and discuss whether the potential blue wave will materialize for Democrats. Finally, we talk about the lives of two legendary media figures who passed this week, former Yankees radio announcer John Sterling and cable TV innovator Ted Turner. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rationalpolicy.com

    1h 15m

  6. May 1

    Episode 35 - Assassination Nation

    On Episode 35 of the Rational Policy Podcast, hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay return to our regularly scheduled show format, where we discuss a number of topics in the news this week. Naturally, we spend much of the podcast discussing the latest assassination attempt against President Trump – the fourth such attempt in less than two years. We explore the attempted assassin’s rationale, what it says about the apocalyptic rhetoric of the far-left vis a vis Trump, and how this particular attempt is especially worrisome. We also detail the security situation around the president – what worked and what needs to be changed – and how we may be able to move away from this growing cultural push to justify political violence. After that, we do a lightning round, hitting on a wide variety of topics in rapid succession. We talk about the war in Iran, focusing on the blockade and the news of the UAE leaving OPEC. We discuss the ideologically-suspect Spirit Airlines bailout. We touch on the bogus criminal case against James Comey. And we hit the Virginia gerrymander and the recently-decided Supreme Court voting rights case. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rationalpolicy.com

    1h 27m

  7. Apr 22

    Episode 34 - Ceasefire In Name Only

    Welcome back to the Rational Policy Podcast! In this episode, hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay once again plumb the depths of the events in the Middle East. We discuss the latest developments in the Iran War, including the escalating naval conflict and the potential for future negotiations with the regime in Tehran. Is this a lull in the war, or the start of a new phase? We explore the near-global American blockade, the continued Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz, and the impact on markets. We also talk about the increased prominence of American economic warfare in this conflict and the potential for success in this approach, continuing to drastically weaken the mullahcracy. We discuss the changes in Iranian leadership, the impact that has on negotiations, and how this conflict may end. The change in posture in the Gulf states, the American domestic political dimensions of the war, and the broader geopolitical implications of it all are detailed as well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rationalpolicy.com

    1h 15m

  8. Apr 17

    Episode 33 - Blockade Party

    Episode 33 of the Rational Policy Podcast sees your hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay deliver a sixth consecutive update on the Iran War. On this installment, we discuss the newly-implemented American blockade of Iranian ports, how it could impact the next steps of the conflict, and how it helps solve the biggest concern of critics thus far: the navigability of the Strait of Hormuz. We also talk about the possible endgame of the war, whether negotiations with the Iranians are ever worthwhile, and what may happen to the remaining nuclear material inside Iran. Other topics include the Lebanese front and the bilateral discussions between Beirut and Israel, the enormous economic pressure being put on Tehran, and even some talk about AI. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rationalpolicy.com

    1h 4m
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A historical perspective on policy, international affairs, and geopolitics. Talking current events weekly, ranging from the serious to the absurd, all with a dash of good humor. www.rationalpolicy.com

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