825 episodes

The Politics Guys is an independent, bipartisan, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, practicing attorneys, and former government officials. 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. In addition to our weekly news discussion, we feature regular interviews with leading figures from across the ideological spectrum. Past guests include Representatives Jim Jordan, Thomas Massie, and Rob Wittman; Jeffrey Sachs; Tyler Cowen; Bryan Caplan; Dan Carlin; Larry Sabato; and Lawrence Lessig. 

The Politics Guys Michael Baranowski

    • News
    • 4.5 • 725 Ratings

The Politics Guys is an independent, bipartisan, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, practicing attorneys, and former government officials. 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. In addition to our weekly news discussion, we feature regular interviews with leading figures from across the ideological spectrum. Past guests include Representatives Jim Jordan, Thomas Massie, and Rob Wittman; Jeffrey Sachs; Tyler Cowen; Bryan Caplan; Dan Carlin; Larry Sabato; and Lawrence Lessig. 

    ICJ and Israel, British Elections, Presidential Primaries, Racial Gerrymandering

    ICJ and Israel, British Elections, Presidential Primaries, Racial Gerrymandering

    Trey & Ken start the show by delving into the International Court of Justice’s Friday ruling against Israel. Trey and Ken disagree over the scope of the decision as to whether it prohibits further offensive action. Ken believes the ICJ is offering wiggle room and Trey does not.
    Staying overseas, the guys talk about the surprising call for snap elections in the United Kingdom. The hosts focus on the motivations behind this decision, especially given recent poll numbers for Conservatives, the potential outcomes, and the impact it could have on British politics.
    Next, attention turns to the primary elections in Georgia, Oregon, and Kentucky along with the special election in California. The focus is primarily on the presidential election. Trey believes it points to a low turnout election and Ken is more optimistic.
    In Supreme Court news, Trey and Ken finish the show over the landmark ruling on racial gerrymandering. Here Ken believes that Justice Alito is overtly racist and inconsistent. Trey pushes back hard and argues that Ken fundamentally misunderstands Alito’s ruling. They dive deep into the details of the decision. They also address the recent Alito flag controversy.
    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

    • 1 hr 13 min
    Introducing The Kevin Rose Show

    Introducing The Kevin Rose Show

    Mike talks about the The Kevin Rose Show. Hope you enjoy it too.

    • 2 min
    Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace

    Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace

    Trey talks with Elizabeth Neumann, former Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, about her recently released book Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace. 
    Topics Trey and Elizabeth Cover Include

    from foreign extremism to domestic extremism

    the Christian case against extremism

    the evolution of religion and politics

    how left and right differ in extremist activities


    Follow Elizabeth on X, and check out Kingdom of Rage
    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
    CFPB Survives, AT&T Bribery, Stadium Subsidies, Supporting Israel

    CFPB Survives, AT&T Bribery, Stadium Subsidies, Supporting Israel

    Mike and Trey kick off the previeww of this midweek supporters’ episode with a look at the Supreme Court’s upholding the funding structure for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Mike and Trey think this was the right call, with Trey arguing that Justices Alito and Gorsuch are conflating the unconstitutional with what they may believe to be unwise public policy.
    Next, they discuss how AT&T improperly influenced the Illinois legislature into passing bills favorable to the company. This turns into a broader discussion of the problem of state and local-level corruption and why it may be worse today than it has been in the recent past.
    Following that they turn to stadium subsidies – why voters approve them, why economists hate them, and what can be done to make it harder for pro sports owners to tell cities, ‘pay up or we’re moving’.
    They close with Trey discussing why many evangelicals support Israel, and how his support differs. Before long, they end up in some deeper theological and philosophical waters.
    Mike’s other podcast is Sustainable Planet.
    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
    China Tariffs, Presidential Debates, Redistricting, Israel Aid

    China Tariffs, Presidential Debates, Redistricting, Israel Aid

    Mike and Trey open with a discussion of the Biden administration’s recently announced tariffs on China. Trey is no fan of protectionism, but he understands Mike’s points concerning US issues with China’s trade practices. They both agree that Donald Trump’s approach to China would almost certainly be more tariff-heavy than Biden’s.
    Then they turn to presidential debates, which will happen without the Commission on Presidential Debates. Trey points out how early the first of the two scheduled debates will be, which Mike attributes to Biden wanting to give debating Trump a try far enough ahead of the election that it won’t do much damage if things go off the rails.
    From there they move to the Supreme Court allowing Louisiana’s congressional redistricting map to go into effect. Trey points out the difficult position Louisiana’s legislature is in, caught between the Equal Protection Clause and the Voting Rights Act. Mike is most sympathetic to the view of Justice Jackson, who felt that the Court shouldn’t have gotten involved at this point.
    They close with a discussion of US aid to Israel. Mike doesn’t think it unreasonable for the US to put conditions on its support of Israel, or to withhold support entirely if aid is being used in a way we believe to be morally unacceptable. Trey points out that were neighboring countries more willing to take in Palestinians, the situation might be far less dire than it currently is.
    Check out Let’s Find Common Ground.
    Mike’s other podcast is Sustainable Planet.
    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

    • 1 hr
    Why Tulsi Gabbard Left the Democratic Party

    Why Tulsi Gabbard Left the Democratic Party

    Mike talks with Tulsi Gabbard, a military veteran and four-term member of Congress who was Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee. She caused a major stir when she left the party, which she’s written about in her recently released book, For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind, which is the focus of their conversation.
    Topics Mike & Tulsi Discuss Include:
    - what drew Tulsi to the Democrats in the first place
    - how she realized she no longer was a Democrat
    - if Democratic Party elites are warmongers
    - foreign policy and isolationism
    - the ‘wokeism’ of contemporary Democrats
    - the Democratic Party and free speech
    Check out Tulsi’s Website and follow her on X
    The Politics Guys on Facebook | X
    Mike’s other podcast is Sustainable Planet.
    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

    • 45 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
725 Ratings

725 Ratings

Elenasd10 ,

Excellent bipartisan politics podcast

I am neither a Democrat or a Republican but I listen to a lot politics podcasts. The Politics Guys is one of my “must listen” podcasts. Most of the rotating set of hosts, the episodes typically pair a liberal and a conservative, genuinely want to understand the other persons view of political issues. I enjoy the way they discuss issues and are open but civil about their disagreements.

stickmoji man ,

This podcast rocks.

I am a young college student and this is my favourite podcast. I love Mike and Jay's sage wisdom and Trey and Ken's green enthusiasm. I am not a social or political science major, but as a self-proclaimed political aficionado this podcast gives me the opportunity to not only question my own beliefs and eternally present bias, but to learn to form my own opinions as a well informed civic societal member.

Often I will find myself thinking of a response to someone's argument, on the edge of my seat, yearning for my voice to be heard, and mike or jay will voice it for me. That's my "EXACTLY!" moment, which is always satisfying.

Overall, I believe that bipartisan news and media is not only necessary and vital, but a tenet of our great American democracy. As our world becomes filled with programs that are more entertainment than news, I am grateful to the politics guys for keeping the scales balanced.

Best, Silas

Robbie-ProAudioMixer ,

May is frustrating

Im a listener since you began this podcast. May. I’m trying to like her but her combative tone towards the other side and vocal fry is so off putting that I cannot listen to those episodes. I want the female perspective but when a host is a female Trump, you lost me. Rational and Civil debate please.

Top Podcasts In News

The Daily
The New York Times
Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times
The Tucker Carlson Show
Tucker Carlson Network
Up First
NPR
Pod Save America
Crooked Media
The Megyn Kelly Show
SiriusXM

You Might Also Like

FiveThirtyEight Politics
ABC News, 538, FiveThirtyEight, Galen Druke
Slate News
Slate Podcasts
The NPR Politics Podcast
NPR
PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show
Washington Week
Playbook Deep Dive
POLITICO
KCRW's Left, Right & Center
KCRW