The Politics Guys

Michael Baranowski
  • 4.4 (750)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 1D AGO

    Trump’s Iran Gamble, MAGA Primaries, Abortion Pill Fight

    Mike, Trey, and guest host Terry Casey, a political scientist at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, open with the still-unresolved U.S. conflict with Iran, the closed Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration’s attempt to frame military pressure and uncertain negotiations as progress. Trey argues that the administration still lacks a clear win condition and may be trying to avoid admitting failure. Terry counters that a U.S. win is possible, but only at costs Trump may not be willing to pay. Mike suggests Iran may be playing for time, betting that Trump’s fear of midterm damage and rising gas prices will push him toward a face-saving retreat. Next, the guys turn to this week’s elections, including Trump-backed primary challenges in Indiana, a Democratic special-election win in Michigan, and turnout signals in Ohio. Trey sees Trump’s successful targeting of dissenting Republicans as evidence of his continuing grip on the GOP, while warning that special elections are imperfect predictors of November. Mike argues that the Indiana results may show the power of massive money in low-turnout races more than Trump’s personal power alone. Terry adds a ground-level view from Indiana, where one anti-Trump-targeted incumbent survived by emphasizing local politics against a challenger whose entire message was Trump’s endorsement. After that, the guys examine the Fifth Circuit’s order restricting access to mifepristone, Justice Alito’s temporary administrative stay, and the broader clash over abortion, FDA authority, standing, and state power. Trey thinks the Supreme Court will likely look for a procedural way to avoid a sweeping merits ruling, while worrying that post-Dobbs litigation keeps compounding the loss of individual liberty. Terry presses the harder federalism question: if states can ban abortion, why can’t they block abortion drugs from being shipped into the state? Mike argues that the standing issue is not a mere technicality, because accepting Louisiana’s theory could dramatically expand state challenges to federal regulation. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  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

    55 min
  2. Introducing Explain Like I'm 5

    1D AGO

    Introducing Explain Like I'm 5

    Mike talks about the Explain Like I'm 5 podcast. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

    2 min

  3. 5D AGO

    DHS Funding, Comey Indictment, GOP Crack-Up?

    Mike, Justin, and Kirby open this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode with the fight over DHS funding, where a bipartisan deal appears to keep most of the department funded while leaving ICE and Border Patrol outside the agreement for now. Mike argues that Democrats didn’t get the statutory limits on raids, masks, and body cameras they wanted, but may still have forced some moderation in enforcement tactics after Minneapolis. Justin sees the deal as a likely temporary fix and argues that the bad optics of aggressive enforcement gave Democrats more room to hold out. Kirby thinks the shutdown exposed poor strategic thinking on both sides, with Republicans taking an issue where they had an advantage and damaging themselves through overreach. Next, the guys turn to the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over his Instagram post showing seashells spelling out “8647.” Mike argues that the indictment is legally thin because true-threat doctrine requires evidence that Comey intended, or at least recklessly disregarded, that the message would be understood as a threat. Kirby sees the case as unserious on the merits but serious as a signal that the Trump DOJ is using process itself as punishment. Justin agrees that the case is unlikely to lead to conviction and argues that Republicans are trying to redefine ordinary political language while ignoring far more aggressive rhetoric from Trump and his allies. After that, the discussion broadens to whether Trump’s choices are weakening the MAGA coalition and damaging the Republican brand heading into the midterms and beyond. Mike points to Trump’s poor approval numbers, economic dissatisfaction, the Iran war, and the failure of some GOP structural advantages to materialize as signs that Republicans may be heading into serious trouble. Kirby argues that Trump still owns the party, but a major midterm loss could open the fight between MAGA and post-MAGA Republicans over the party’s future. Justin thinks Trump’s biggest problem is his habit of promising transformation and then delivering something closer to continuity, especially on the economy, while also noting that post-Trump Republican policy may not change as much as Trump’s critics hope. Listen to Kirby’s Inside Political Science podcast here. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  Curious about what sort of POTUS you’d be? Find out in the Fantasy President presidential simulator. 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

    17 min

  4. MAY 2

    Voting Rights, Political Violence, Iran

    Mike, Justin, and special guest Kirby Goidel, a professor of political science at Texas A&M, open with the Supreme Court’s latest Voting Rights Act decision and what it means for racial representation, partisan gerrymandering, and the future of congressional redistricting. Justin argues that the ruling effectively makes racial vote-dilution claims nearly impossible to prove, especially when courts allow states to hide behind partisan explanations. Kirby pushes past the immediate partisan implications, suggesting that while the decision may hurt descriptive representation, its long-term effects on substantive representation are harder to predict. Mike is more sympathetic to the Court’s reasoning than expected, arguing that once race and party become highly correlated, Section 2 enforcement can begin to look like court-ordered Democratic gerrymandering. Next, the guys turn to the latest alleged assassination attempt against President Trump, the security response, the immediate political spin, and the administration’s argument that it strengthens the case for a new White House ballroom. Mike argues that the security system largely worked, while calling the ballroom justification legally and politically opportunistic. Justin focuses on the rise of lone-wolf political violence and the broader collapse of trust that makes conspiracy thinking almost automatic after events like this. Kirby emphasizes how quickly both parties convert crises into talking points and argues that political violence today is serious but should not be exaggerated beyond historical context. They close with the war against Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the War Powers Resolution deadline, and whether Congress still has any meaningful role in authorizing sustained military conflict. Kirby argues that Congress has effectively surrendered much of its war-making authority and is unlikely to reclaim it unless the war becomes politically unbearable. Justin sees the conflict as strategically underdefined and politically dangerous for Republicans, especially if it fractures the MAGA coalition or keeps driving up fuel prices. Mike argues that Iran may actually have the stronger position over time, because Trump’s demand for something close to unconditional surrender is not a real negotiation strategy and may collide with public anger over the war’s economic costs. You can listen to Kirby’s Inside Political Science podcast here. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  Curious about what sort of POTUS you’d be? Find out in the Fantasy President presidential simulator. 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. Next, the guys turn to the latest alleged assassination attempt against President Trump, the security response, the immediate political spin, and the administration’s argument that it strengthens the case for a new White House ballroom. Mike argues that the security system largely worked, while calling the ballroom justification legally and politically opportunistic. Justin focuses on the rise of lone-wolf political violence and the broader collapse of trust that makes conspiracy thinking almost automatic after events like this. Kirby emphasizes how quickly both parties convert crises into talking points and argues that political violence today is serious but should not be exaggerated beyond historical context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m

  5. APR 29

    Why The Midterms Will Be Disappointing

    Mike is joined by special guest Corey Nathan, creator and host of the Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other podcast. They discuss why the coming midterm elections are likely to leave most Americans dissatisfied, even under optimistic partisan scenarios, arguing that while Democrats may plausibly retake the House and even have an outside shot at the Senate, structural realities—uncompetitive districts, polarized primaries, fundraising incentives, and institutional constraints like the filibuster—limit the likelihood of meaningful change; Corey emphasizes concerns about election integrity and democratic norms, along with a desire for accountability and constitutional order, while also expressing cautious optimism about independent-minded legislators and cross-partisan cooperation emerging at state and local levels, whereas Mike stresses deeper systemic forces that reward conflict, discourage reform, and make Congress resistant to change; together they explore possible but unlikely paths to less disappointing outcomes—from weakening the filibuster to institutional reforms—while ultimately converging on a modest, process-oriented hope that incremental progress, civic engagement, and good-faith dialogue may be the most realistic way forward in a system structurally biased toward frustration.  Check out Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other. 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

    56 min
  6. Political Ideologies: Feminism

    APR 28

    Political Ideologies: Feminism

    In this supporter-exclusive midweek episode, Trey is joined by Justin, and begin their discussion of modern ideologies with a deep dive into Feminism. On this week’s show, Trey and Justin discuss: The different waves of Feminism  The evolution of Feminism from an early struggle for political recognition and personhood to a focus on social structures and intersectionality Fascism’s rejection of reason and its rejection of Enlightenment rationality. The radical vs. liberal divide in Feminism An examination of how contemporary feminism interacts with trans rights The expanding nature of who counts as a Feminist and its intersection with race, class, and gender The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers 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

    12 min

  7. APR 24

    Blockades, Warsh, SPLC Bank Fraud, Battle for the Ballot

    In a rare three-person show, Trey is joined by Justin and Mike. They start by looking at the United States’ standoff with Iran. The trio explores the strategic confusion of mission accomplished with the ongoing naval blockade. They also point to the not-well-publicized 30-day sanctions relief granted to Russia to mitigate global oil shortages. Next, they turn to Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh. The discussion covers the recent news of the ending of the 12-12 committee deadlock, along with a bit of disagreement over how much latitude Warsh has from President Trump. Mike and Trey agree there are positive aspects to Warsh’s positions while Justin is more hesitant, but Trey is worried Warsh was not willing to call out the winner of the 2020 election. After that, they move to the Southern Poverty Law Center and the groups’ alleged shell companies to fund informants. While those in MAGA see this as a way for SPLC to manufacture extremism, the guys agree that the bigger issue is with the way that SPLC has had mission creep and slowly expanded a more fully left-vision of hate. They close the show with a discussion on Virginia’s new voter-approved congressional map that could grant Democrats a 10-1 seat advantage in a state where roughly 46% of voters chose Donald Trump in 2024. Mike gets deep into the problematic misleading of the ballot language, and Justin discusses how redistricting plans in Texas might backfire in a wave election. Check out the ⁠Future of Our Former Democracy⁠ podcast  Curious about what sort of POTUS you’d be? Find out in the ⁠Fantasy President⁠presidential simulator. 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 8m

  8. APR 21

    Federalist Papers 9 - 10

    Trey and Ken explore Federalist Papers No. 9 and 10, focusing on the arguments for a large republic and the dangers of faction. Topics discussed include: The role of factions in democracy Montesquieu and the Anti-Federalist arguments for small republics Hamilton and Madison’s overview of the advantages of a large republic Madison's theory of interest checking interest Hamilton's deep dive into the history of Greece The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers⁠ 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

    19 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.4
out of 5
750 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Baranowski
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.1K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Politics Guys

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