Stubborn Things

AEI Podcasts

John Adams famously said: “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." In this era of knee-jerk partisanship and ideological posturing, Adams's warning is as important as ever. Tune in every other week as AEI's Jay Cost and Sean Trende draw on their wide-ranging base of knowledge and stubborn commitment to the evidence to understand what is happening in the world of American politics.

  1. 1d ago

    Gordon Wood and the History of the Founding at 250

    This episode of Stubborn Things comes out a week ahead of schedule, and this one’s for the historiography nerds. This week, Jay and Sean discuss the legacy of historian Gordon Wood, who passed away earlier this month, and the historiography of the American founding. Our hosts lead us on a tour from Charles Beard’s economic interpretation of the founding and framing of the constitution to the “consensus historians” of the mid-20th century who responded to Beard’s theory. Then, they address the shift in the way history was done, with the emergence of Bernard Bailyn, Gordon Wood, and others, all of whom emphasized that the American founding was ideological in nature. Jay and Sean also analyze new histories of the founding, including social histories and critical histories, like the 1619 Project. The episode concludes with a dialogue on how to think about the founders and the founding, 250 years on. Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org. Show notes: Gordon S. Wood, a Historian Who Loved America Gordon Wood Accepts the 2025 Irving Kristol Award, AEI Annual Dinner 2025 George Bancroft’s History of the United States of America Charles Beard’s An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States Bernard Bailyn’s The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution Gordon Wood’s The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787 and The Radicalism of the American Revolution Joyce Appleby’s Capitalism and a New Social Order: The Republican Vision of the 1790s and Liberalism and Republicanism in the Historical Imagination Lance Banning’s The Sacred Fire of Liberty: James Madison and the Founding of the Federal Republic Rogers Smith’s Civic Ideals: Conflicting Visions of Citizenship in U.S. History

    1h 8m

  2. Jun 15

    The Identity of the GOP with Patrick Ruffini

    This week, Jay and Sean welcome Echelon Insight’s Patrick Ruffini to Stubborn Things to talk about how the GOP went from the party of Reagan to the party of Trump. Patrick discussed the Republican Party’s demographic shift and how Trump began to appeal to working class voters during the 2016 election. Jay, Sean, and Patrick also touched on the idea of economic aspiration, potential reversions in the GOP’s demographic gains, and economic and educational indicators of voting patterns. Plus, hear Patrick’s thoughts about the future of the GOP post-Trump and what to watch for in the midterms. Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org. Show notes: Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior

    1h 3m

  3. Jun 1

    Return of the Tiers

    The last Stubborn Things episode was so popular that we couldn’t resist doing yet another presidential tiers episode. Take a listen to hear how Sean and Jay rank the first presidents of the twentieth century, from Theodore Roosevelt through Hebert Hoover. And let us know where you’d place these presidents on your own tiers! Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.

    1h 6m

  4. May 18

    More Presidential Tiers!

    Back by popular demand, this week, Sean and Jay continue their rankings of America’s presidents. After harshly grading the antebellum presidents, our Stubborn Things hosts sprinkle in a few good grades for the presidents of the latter half of the 19th century. Still, failing grades abound, as Stubborn Things has a strict policy against grade inflation! Let us know in the comments where you agree and where you disagree with Sean and Jay’s tiers. Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.

    1h 3m

  5. May 4

    Bayou Ballots

    This week, Stubborn Things is laser-focused on the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. Our hosts discuss the history of the Voting Rights Act, as well as the Gingles test which the majority updated last week. Sean and Jay evaluate how far-reaching the Court’s decision will prove to be, and they correct some of the narratives that have emerged in the wake of the decision. What do they think of Justice Alito’s argumentation? What about Justice Kagan’s dissent? Take a listen to find out! Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org. Show notes: Louisiana v. Callais Amy Coney Barrett’s Precedent and Jurisprudential Disagreement

    58 min

  6. Apr 20

    The Evolution of the Democratic Party with Ruy Teixeira

    Jay and Sean are joined this week by Ruy Teixeira, Nonresident Senior Fellow at AEI and longtime analyst of Democratic politics. Our hosts interview Ruy about the evolving relationship between the Democratic Party and organized labor, whether Democrats can learn from their past mistakes to form a durable electoral coalition, and more. Along the way, Jay, Sean, and Ruy discuss the “Abundance" movement, immigration, class, and if there are any heterodox Democrats who can make waves in future elections. Take a listen! Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org. Show notes: America's Forgotten Majority The Emerging Democratic Majority Where Have All the Democrats Gone? Ruy's last article in The Liberal Patriot

    1h 3m

  7. Apr 7

    Special Edition: Presidential Tiers

    This week, our hosts take a break from talking about the drama of 21st century American politics and turn back the clock. In this very special edition of Stubborn Things, Jay and Sean start the Very Official Stubborn Things Presidential Tiers List. They start, of course, with Washington and make it all the way through Buchanan. See where Jay and Sean agree and where their lists diverge. Take a listen and let us know what you think about our tiers! Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org. Show notes: Jay’s biography of James Madison

    1h 3m

  8. Mar 27

    SAVEing the Voting Discourse

    Our Stubborn Things hosts this week talk voting and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a.k.a. the SAVE Act, a.k.a. the SAVE America Act, currently making its way through Congress. Jay and Sean discuss how the bill would change voting, the advantages and challenges with requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and the bad faith arguments each camp makes about the bill. Then, they go back in time to review the 2021 Democrat-led For the People Act, and Sean calls Jay old. Finally, the episode wraps with a focus on campaign finance and the role of big money in elections. Take a listen and let us know what you think! Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org. Show notes: H.R.22 – SAVE Act Yuval Levin’s National Review article NYT article about campaign finance

    55 min
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About

John Adams famously said: “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." In this era of knee-jerk partisanship and ideological posturing, Adams's warning is as important as ever. Tune in every other week as AEI's Jay Cost and Sean Trende draw on their wide-ranging base of knowledge and stubborn commitment to the evidence to understand what is happening in the world of American politics.

Information

  • Creator
    AEI Podcasts
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 AEI Podcasts
  • Show Website
    Stubborn Things

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