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. 4D AGO

    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
  2. 6D AGO

    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
  3. JAN 24

    Greenland U-Turn, Board of Peace, Gaza, House Budget ICE Warrants

    This week, Trey and Justin open the show by announcing The Politics Guys Presents: The U.S. Constitution. This is a new drop coming on Wednesdays, open to all listeners, to get a detailed understanding of the U.S. Constitution! After that, the pair move to Trump’s seeming U-Turn on Greenland. Trey argues that the goal isn’t Greenland necessarily, but rather to change the relationship with our former allies. He connects it to the United States exiting the World Health Organization. Justin argues Trump was trying to project strength and did not realize the extent of opposition he would face from Europe. Next, the pair moves to the Board of Peace, President Trump’s pet project. Justin sees the entire organization as a joke, but Trey tends to see it more seriously, arguing that it lays out the underlying Trumpian vision: himself in total control. They also discuss its empirically unique status and the weirdness of having a subscription model for an international organization. They also discuss the Board’s first deliverable: Jared Kushner’s 100-Day Gaza Plan. Then the guys move to the House budget bills. Here, they both largely agree that the defection of Republicans on spending items is due to the upcoming midterm elections and the realization that DOGE-like cuts cannot, and will not, solve the budget deficit. The guys close with a discussion of the new warrant policy with ICE and the decision to begin arresting children. The pair agree the tactics are designed to illicit fear, even among legal immigrants.  The Politics Guys on Facebook | X 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

    1h 2m
  4. JAN 20

    Trans Athletes, Housing Gimmicks, and Weaponizing Government

    Mike and Michael open with a deep dive into the Supreme Court cases involving Idaho and West Virginia bans on transgender girls participating in girls’ sports, unpacking why the Court is likely to uphold the laws while sharply distinguishing between what may be legally permissible and what constitutes sound or humane policy. Mike emphasizes administratability, original legislative meaning in Title IX, and the unavoidable reality that someone loses under any legal rule, while Michael argues the Court is ducking meaningful scrutiny, endorsing blanket exclusions, and turning vulnerable kids into symbolic casualties of a broader culture war. Next, the guys turn to housing affordability and the Trump administration’s proposals, including banning institutional investors from buying single-family homes and pushing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy massive amounts of mortgage bonds. Mike argues that both ideas ultimately protect current homeowners while leaving prices high, while Michael situates the moves in Trump’s broader pattern of populist gimmicks that acknowledge real problems but avoid the politically painful solution of dramatically expanding housing supply. After that, they revisit the “Don’t Obey Unlawful Orders” video fallout, focusing on the administration’s actions against Senator Mark Kelly and Senator Slotkin. Michael frames the investigations as straightforward weaponization of government, where the process itself becomes punishment, while Mike stresses the long-term danger of normalizing this logic, warning that even conservatives should fear the precedent it sets for democratic stability and the rule of law. 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

    18 min

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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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