Politicology

Really like the new Friday format and listening to Ron and guests geeking out. I learn something new every week and appreciate the diversity of guests. I also appreciate that they don’t always agree but can speak respectfully and back up opinions with data. I don’t always agree with the views expressed but like being nudged outside my comfortable bubble to see a different perspective.

I had to delete this podcast from my library when Ron Steslow put forth the galaxy-brain notion that the Trump admin is purposely tanking the economy with tariffs so that the US can pay down its debt. Ron, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar and an idiot is just an idiot.

I’ve listened to this show for years, tolerating the host in order to listen to the usually excellent guests he was able to secure. I do not care for Ron. I do not like his frankly incomprehensible, bewildered astonishment when Republican lawmakers attack women’s healthcare. I did not like it when one of his guests said appallingly ignorant and insulting things about trans people and Ron didn’t challenge those statements. I did not like his thinly veiled disdain for Kamala Harris. And I do not like it when he maunders on about crypto and bores me to tears. But again, I put up with it for the multi-guest format which ensured that Ron did very little of the talking. But if this is now becoming a vanity project, like listening to a conversation between Ron and a friend (as I believe he described it), I’m out. You’ve just lost a listener.

As requested in the episode, wanted to share my listener experience with the new Weekly Round-up format. It’s exactly what’s needed! Acknowledging the stage we are at with social media news saturation while keeping up with this administration’s misdirection strategies; I found the discussion to keep a beat on the key events with expert analysis of the Politicology team that helped me see the through-line developing. Huge! Thank you. Refreshing to hear nuance when discussing the good, bad, and neutral views and decisions on all sides on the political spectrum. Among my favorite show regulars, Mike Madrid masterly weaved the past, present, and provided insights for potential consequences and where we can focus to influence our future.