812 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 • 723 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. 

    Bryan Caplan Will Not Be Stampeded!

    Bryan Caplan Will Not Be Stampeded!

    Mike welcomes back to the show Bryan Caplan, a Professor of Economics at George Mason University, prolific author, and blogger at Bet on It. They discuss his latest essay collection, You Will Not Stampede Me: Essays on Non-Conformism.
    Topics Mike and Bryan Discuss Include
    - disobedience to authority
    - why the world is wrong and the weird is right
    - herding and hysteria
    - the ubiquity (and danger) of crusades
    - what the world got wrong about COVID
    - combining cynicism and idealism
    Bryan Caplan on X
    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

    • 59 min
    Introducing The Jordan Harbinger Show

    Introducing The Jordan Harbinger Show

    Mike talks about the The Jordan Harbinger Show. Hope you enjoy it too.

    • 2 min
    The Sixth Amendment

    The Sixth Amendment

    Trey and Ken dive into the Sixth Amendment and the unique protections it provides defendants. Topics of conversation include:

    The advent of professional police and prosecutors

    The modern plea bargaining system

    The right to a prosecutor

    The ability to produce evidence in your defense


    The Politics Guys on Facebook | X 
    Mike and Kimberly's new show splanetpod.com
    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

    • 10 min
    Israel, Johnson's Foriegn Aid, Uri Berliner, the 1st Amendment

    Israel, Johnson's Foriegn Aid, Uri Berliner, the 1st Amendment

    Trey and Ken open with breaking news on Israel’s attack on Iran and Syria. They discuss the appropriateness of the response, the likely message behind the response, and the political implications for U.S. politics. They also briefly consider the timing of the U.S.’s blocking of Palestinian United Nations membership in the Security Council.
    Next, they move to Congress and the ongoing debate inside the Republican Party over foreign aid. Trey believes Speaker Johnson has a deal already struck with Democrats, which also allows some Democrats to vote no on Israeli aid, while Ken thinks if there is a deal it is more comprehensive for Democrats. 
    After that, they discuss the suspension and ultimate resignation of Uri Berliner from his role at NPR. Here the hosts take very different views. Ken views Uri as striking a Trumpian tone and is rightfully criticized and ousted. Trey disagrees, arguing that divergent viewpoints help media be thoughtful in the ways that frame, prime, and agenda setting. Objectivity is not impossible, but it doesn’t mean that viewpoint diversity is a bad thing. 
    They close with a look at the newest Supreme Court decision in the case of Mckesson v Doe, the case determining if the organizer of an event can be held liable for activity he did not directly cause or promote.
    The Politics Guys on Facebook | X 
    Mike and Kimberly's new show splanetpod.com
    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 2 min
    The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age

    The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age

    Trey talks with author Sasha Issenberg about his new book The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age, in which he talks about the left's campaign strategies to combat "disinformation" and "misinformation."
    Topics Trey and Sasha Cover Include
    - why the left is primarily interested in disinformation
    - the campaign strategies of Democrats online
    - the focus on engagement in political persuasion
    - how overseas democracies have faced similar disinformation strategies
    - Brazilian cautions for some leftwing approaches to disinformation
    Follow Sasha on X, and check out The Lie Detectives
    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
    Guns, Table Saws, America Divided (or maybe not)

    Guns, Table Saws, America Divided (or maybe not)

    Mike and Jay open the preview of this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of the Biden administration’s move to close the ‘gun show loophole’. Mike argues that it’s a good move and, to his surprise, Jay doesn’t really disagree.
    From there they move on to a more contentious regulatory issue – whether the government should require all new table saws to have a finger-sensing blade brake. Mike thinks the benefits outweigh the costs, but Jay isn’t too sure that’s the case.
    Following that, they consider whether the country is as divided as many people believe, in light of a recent AP/NORC poll that suggests most Americans agree on fundamental issues. Jay thinks the devil (and division) is in the details, while Mike points out some fairly significant differences between Democrats and Republicans.
    They close by responding to a listener's question about extremists in their respective parties. (Giving Jay the opportunity to break out the very William F. Buckley-ish word apotheosis.)
    Check out Mike’s new podcast, 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

    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
723 Ratings

723 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.

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