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This week, President Trump’s first address to congress of his second term.
Then, we talk about Third Way leading the charge as Democrats rethink not only their brand but their positions as they plan for the future of the party.
Next, we turn our attention to AI for some provocative, non-technical considerations that are neither theoretical nor distant.
Finally, we head to Politicology+,where we’ll go behind the scenes of the White House’s accelerating plans to create a strategic crypto reserve.
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Matt Bennett (Founder & Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Third Way)
Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica)
Segments this week:
(03:06) Trump’s Speech
(39:18) Democrats Comeback Retreat
(41:55)Artificial General Intelligence
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (703) 239-3068
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/ThirdWayMattB
https://x.com/AndyKroll
Related reading:
Segment 2:
Politico - Centrist Dem group rails against leftist identity politics and purity tests - POLITICO
Third Way - Comeback Retreat Takeaways
Segment 3:
NYT - Opinion | The Government Knows A.G.I. Is Coming - The New York Times
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Marc Polymeropoulos on that Oval Office Disaster and the Trump Admin’s Abandonment of Ukraine
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Susan Del Percio and host Ron Steslow discuss a piece in The Atlantic calling for Democrats to clean house.
Related reading:
The Atlantic - Democrats Need Their Own DEI Purge - The Atlantic
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This week, we discuss the Trump Administration’s 180 degree turn on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Then, we talk about why housing prices keep climbing even with higher interest rates—and why we should be thinking about a paradigm shift in how we think about owning a home.
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we’ll talk about a piece in The Atlantic calling for Democrats to have a DEI purge
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert)
Marc Polymeropoulos (Former CIA Official)
Segments this week:
(03:06) Russia and Ukraine
(39:18) Housing
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/DelPercioS
https://x.com/Mpolymer
Related reading:
Segment 1:
CNN - Trump falsely calls Zelensky ‘a dictator’ after Ukraine’s leader accuses him of living in ‘disinformation space’ | CNN
MSNBC - I’m a former U.S. intelligence officer. Trump's Ukraine betrayal will have terrible consequences.
Segment 2:
WSJ - Biden’s Mortgage ‘Relief’ Fuels Higher Housing Prices - WSJ
NBC - Toughest housing markets shifted toward Trump, data shows
NYT - A Democrat Who Is Thinking Differently - The New York Times
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James Kirchick joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington
(01:55) Why he wrote the book
(06:43) The interwoven political history and gay history in Washington
(14:33) The melting pot of the gay community and why it was seen as a threat
(19:55) The trope that whatever is bad must be gay
(31:51) The Lavender Scare
(35:53) The tension between the gay loyal foot soldiers of Ronald Reagan and courting the religious right
(49:00) What was challenging about writing the book
You should read Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington: http://bit.ly/3wgiORk
Follow James Kirchick and Ron on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jkirchick
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
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This week, we discuss DOGE’s complicated story, why we do need to cut spending, and whether they’re being realistic about what that will take
Then, we talk about the Trump plan to dismantle the federal Department of Education
After that, we talk about the European speech laws that are in the spotlight after a 60 Minutes segment and a speech from Vice President Vance
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we’ll talk about Democrats job approval tanking—with Democrats—and what they should be doing as an opposition party and to position themselves for the future
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Billy Binion (Reporter at Reason)
Zack Czajkowski (Fmr. Lincoln Project Political Director)
James Lynch (Communications Strategist)
Segments this week:
(03:03) DOGE
(22:53) Department of Education
(40:48) Free Speech in Europe
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/JamesGLynch
https://x.com/ZackCz
https://x.com/billybinion
Related reading:
Segment 1:
Reason - DOGE's complicated story
AP - A comprehensive look at DOGE's firings and layoffs so far | AP News
Axios - Musk says he'd look into DOGE stimulus checks
Segment 2:
Reason - Kill the federal Department of Education
AP - Trump's pick for education chief sketches a roadmap for dismantling the department
Segment 3:
FIRE - 60 Minutes and Vice President Vance put Europe’s worrying speech restrictions into the spotlight
CBS - Posting hateful speech online could lead to police raiding your home in this European country - CBS News
AP - JD Vance rails against 'excessive' AI regulation in a rebuke to Europe at the Paris AI summit | AP News
Lookaheads
Reason - Hawaii Can Auction Off Your Car Without Ever Convicting You
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This episode is a little bit different. And personal. Kristyn Komarnicki, director of dialogue and convening at Christians for Social Action, and Darren Calhoun, a justice advocate, worship leader, and Associate Fellow at CSA, join Ron Steslow to discuss intentional dialogue, and how we can use their techniques in the relationships that matter to us.
(07:06) What is dialogue? How is it different from everyday conversations?
(8:19) What does a curated dialogue look like?
(20:23) How do you prepare for something like this?
(27:34) Why lean into conflict, even when you don’t like conflict?
(32:28) Political fights vs dialogue—what is our role in specific conversations?
(40:44) How important is “grace” in having dialogue that allows for growth?
Would you like to support Kristyn’s and Darren’s work? The “Oriented to Love” dialogue program is funded by tax-deductible donations like yours. To ensure your contribution goes directly to their work, use this dedicated link: https://christiansforsocialaction.salsalabs.org/mainotldonationpage/index.html
For more information about the “Oriented To Love” program, visit https://christiansforsocialaction.org/programs/oriented-to-love/
Listen to our conversation with Celeste Headlee: https://link.chtbl.com/zm8RwNPm
Follow Darren and Ron on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/heyDarren
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
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Host Ron Steslow welcomes Mike Brock, CEO of TBD, a subsidiary of Block Inc. (formerly Square), the financial technology firm led by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey.
The Internet is dominated by massive, corporate walled gardens like Google, Facebook, and Twitter (now X), where centralized control makes their users (us!) vulnerable to censorship and manipulation.
In this episode, we explore how the movement to decentralize technology empowers individuals, protects against corporate and government abuse, and addresses real problems in finance and social media.
We’ll also discuss how decentralized technology can enhance financial access and freedom, bypassing intermediaries and censorship, and shifting power from financial corporations to individuals.
Finally, we turn to the political landscape, focusing on the Democratic party’s approach to decentralized technology and early signs it may be changing.
Segments to look forward to:
(04:45) Mike’s background
(10:50) Empowering individuals through decentralized finance and identity
(15:45) Building infrastructure for a decentralized future
(19:10) The potential of decentralized identity
(29:49) The importance of Bitcoin’s decentralization
(31:31) Financial Access and Freedom
(34:27) Preserving agency
(44:44) Changing the balance of power
(50:54) The varied stance of the Democratic party
Follow Ron and Mike on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/brockm
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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In this episode, Ron talks to Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) about Russia’s ongoing attack on Ukraine, the status of the war, and what comes next for Ukraine.
They discuss:
(01:56) Understanding the current state of the war
(05:26) The Evolution of the conflict
(12:06) U.S. support and military aid to Ukraine
(26:14) Comparing U.S. support to other allies
(33:08) The occupation in Ukraine and the Humanitarian Crisis
(35:16) What the countries will want and be willing to accept in a negotiation
(50:53) America’s interests in Ukraine’s survival
(53:27) The role of soft power in global influence
(63:03) The key developments to watch
Read The Atlantic article:’ The Crumbling Foundation of America’s Military’: https://bit.ly/40O0ihK
How Much U.S. Aid is Going to Ukraine: https://bit.ly/4hxEE8V
Follow Ron and Nick on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/MollyMcKew
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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This week, we discuss the whirlwind around tariffs, the politics and the optics, and why the tariffs on China are moving forward
Then, we talk about a Chinese AI startup that’s making shockwaves and how it’s impacting the U.S.-China Tech war
After that, we talk about immigration and how the Laken Riley Act vote is a sign of the growing gap in Latino politics
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss the Department of Government Efficiency and the fight over USAID
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN)
Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder, author of The Latino Century)
Segments this week:
(03:52) Tariffs
(25:58) The AI war
(45:25) Immigration
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/HagarChemali
https://x.com/madrid_mike
Related reading:
Segment 1:
AP - Fast fashion, laptops and toys are likely to cost more due to US tariffs on Chinese imports
WP - Did Trump cave on his Canada and Mexico tariffs? - The Washington Post
The Dispatch - The Markets Can’t Be Bullied
The Dispatch - Lessons From the Great Almost Trade War of 2025
Segment 2:
CNN - A shocking Chinese AI advancement called DeepSeek is sending US stocks plunging | CNN Business
Global Finance Magazine - Stakes Rising In The US-China AI Race | Global Finance Magazine
WP - Google drops pledge not to use AI for weapons or surveillance
Segment 3:
The Great Transformation - Immigration and the Growing Divide in Latino Politics
CBS News - ICE releases some migrant detainees as its detention facilities reach 109% capacity - CBS News
538 - Do Americans support Trump's mass deportations? - ABC News
NYT - Trump Says He Would Jail Americans in El Salvador ‘in a Heartbeat’ - The New York Times
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Michele Gelfand (Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss culture, social norms, and her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World
(01:46) Why she decided to study culture
(04:34) What are tight and loose cultures
(06:12) Why tight and loose cultures evolve
(10:38) The tradeoffs between tight and loose and how different cultures responded to the Covid pandemic
(16:19) Tightness-looseness and willingness to change
(19:57) Red and Blue vs Tight and Loose
(30:36) Tightening around core values, even in loose cultures
(34:56) Real and manufactured threats
(44:15) How we we can put this framework into action
You should read Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: https://amzn.to/3Qy8DQc
Follow Michele and Ron on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MicheleJGelfand
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
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This week, we discuss the chaos that ignited after the White House pushed for a freeze in federal funding and the Trump Administration backing down
Then, we talk about Trump-supporting, young men and their desire to be recognized for greatness
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss the government-run snitch lines in seven states and localities
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Zack Czajkowski (Fmr. Lincoln Project Political Director)
James Lynch (Communications Strategist)
Segments this week:
(03:19) Funding Freeze Chaos
(39:15) The Last Boys
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/JamesGLynch
https://x.com/ZackCz
Related reading:
Segment 1:
The Dispatch - Impoundment and the Discretionary Presidency - The Dispatch
CNBC - White House says Trump funding freeze remains in effect despite rescinding OMB memo
Washington Post - Federal judge blocks Trump federal spending freeze after a day of chaos - The Washington Post
Segment 2:
The Point Magazine - Last Boys at the Beginning of History | The Point Magazine
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In this episode, Ron talks to Casey Michel (Director of the Combating Kleptocracy Program at the Human Rights Foundation) about his book Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World and how foreign money influences our politics.
They discuss:
(01:46) The shadow world of foreign lobbying
(03:45) Ivy Lee and Paul Manafort
(07:36) The First Amendment and foreign influence
(10:23) Understanding FARA
(13:28) How Paul Manafort shaped modern lobbying
(15:49) Legal loopholes and foreign influence in politics
(18:11) The case of Viktor Pinchuk
(22:13) The Trump Administration’s impact on foreign lobbying
(27:19) How Universities and Think tanks are the new frontier of influence
(33:05) Colorful characters in foreign lobbying
(41:39) The Biden Family and foreign influence accusations
(45:27) Contrasting foreign influence on Trump and Clinton
(49:00) Proposed reforms
Read Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World: https://bit.ly/4giHjBK
Check out the HRF’s Combatting Kleptocracy Program: https://bit.ly/4hAAQTJ
Follow Ron and Casey on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/cjcmichel
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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This week, we discuss Donald Trump’s broad pardons for January 6th and Joe Biden’s preemptive pardons for Trump critics and his own family members.
Then, we talk about Trump’s Executive Orders and whether there’s a growing appetite for something resembling a more monarchical presidency
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss Donald and Melania Trump launching memecoins (don’t worry, we’ll explain) and the serious ethical questions they raise
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP)
Marc Caputo (Senior Politics Reporter at Axios)
Segments this week:
(02:54) Pardons
(24:48) Executive Orders
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/LPDonovan
https://x.com/MarcACaputo
Related reading:
Segment 1:
Axios - "F--k it: Release 'em all": Why Trump embraced broad Jan. 6 pardons
Politico - There’s reason to be worried about the plethora of pardons from Trump and Biden - POLITICO
Politico - Biden said his pardon of family was meant to shield them from Trump. That’s not the full story. - POLITICO
Segment 2:
Reason - With executive order avalanche, Trump continues trend toward a monarchical presidency
NYT - ‘The Interview’: Curtis Yarvin Says Democracy is Done - The New York Times
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Liam Donovan, Marc Caputo, Brady Dale (Crypto Reporter at Axios), and host Ron Steslow discuss Donald and Melania Trump launching memecoins and the serious ethical questions they raise
Related reading:
Axios - Trump meme coin unsettles some blockchain leaders
NYT - Trump Begins Selling New Crypto Token, Raising Ethical Concerns
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In this episode, Ron talks to Nick Anthony (Policy Analyst at the Cato Institute and a Fellow at the Human Rights Foundation) about Central Bank Digital Curriences, their potential to invade privacy, alter the dynamics of financial control, how governments are trying to justify them, and why those arguments are insufficient .
They discuss:
(04:16) Intro to CBDCs
(07:58) How CBDCs would give unprecedented control over how you can spend money
(12:15) The Arguments for and against CBDCs
(19:53)The hidden assumptions behind CBDC arguments
(24:50) The real world privacy implications of CBDCs
(33:05) CBDCs around the globe
(36:21) The political dynamics in the U.S.
(47:47) Bitcoin vs CBDCs
Check out the HRF’s CBDC Tracker: https://bit.ly/3WtFb3g
Follow Ron and Nick on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/EconWithNick
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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This week, we discuss the devastating wild fires in California and the political earthquake that’s coming.
Then, we talk about the paradox of America’s dysfunction at home and unparalleled power on the global stage.
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss the TikTok ban set to go into effect and the “refugees” flocking to other China controlled apps.
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN)
Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder, author of The Latino Century)
Segments this week:
(02:04) The Wild Fires
(32:02) Dysfunction at home and power abroad
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/HagarChemali
https://x.com/madrid_mike
Related reading:
Segment 1:
NBC News - Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was out of commission when fire started
NYT - Newsom Suspends State Environmental Rules for Rebuilding After Fires - The New York Times
Cato - California Insurance Market: Another Victim of the War on Prices | Cato at Liberty Blog
Los Angeles Daily News -Misinformation about California fires is spreading like, well, wildfire – Daily News
Segment 2:
Foreign Affairs - The Strange Triumph of a Broken America
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In this episode, Ron talks to Senator Ron Wyden (Oregon) about his new book It Takes Chutzpah and leading the legislative charge for privacy in the digital age.
Segments to look forward to:
(01:48) What is Chutzpah
(06:06) Being the ‘Designated Driver’ in the Senate
(07:31) Why he’s committed to principled bipartisanship
(10:22) Why the fight for privacy is so important to him
(14:17) The “wild west” of data privacy
(18:35) Putting the “foreign” back in FISA
(19:43) Where the political battlelines are drawn on privacy
(24:57) Financial privacy
Read It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change: https://bit.ly/4fWL3st
Follow Ron and Sen. Wyden on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/RonWyden
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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This week, we discuss President-elect Trump’s push to get “one, big, beautiful bill” to get his campaign promises through congress.
Then, we talk about the proposals for a strategic Bitcoin reserve and the shifts in how legislators are thinking about crypto.
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss how we can and should talk about the January 6th attack after Trump’s re-election and as American attitudes about the attack have softened.
Joining host Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert)
Stef Kight (Politics Reporter at Axios)
Segments this week:
(02:17) Trump’s Mega-MAGA Moonshot
(32:14) Strategic Bitcoin reserve and shifting crypto politics
Watch “What’s The Problem?” (non-technical): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtFOxNbmD38
More on Bitcoin and the environment: https://x.com/DSBatten/status/1872879512620548308
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.
Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/DelPercioS
https://x.com/StefWKight
Related reading:
Segment 1:
Axios-Trump's mega-MAGA moonshot
Axios - Scoop: Trump plans to invite entire GOP Senate to Mar-a-Lago bash
NBC - Speaker Johnson's push to pass Trump's agenda in one massive bill faces big hurdles
Segment 2:
Crypto.news - Bitcoin Reserve Executive Order out after Trump meets crypto.com CEO Marszalek
Axios - 🦡 The BITCOIN bill
Axios - What will happen if Trump commits the U.S. to bitcoin like gold
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In this episode, Ron talks to longtime Washington D.C. public defender Heather Shaner about her work representing dozens of January 6th defendants. They’re joined by Liz Gilbert Cohen who worked as a consulting producer on the documentary about Heather’s work with January 6 defendents—Public Defender.
Segments to look forward to:
(02:41) The personal impact of January 6th
(05:43) The role of public defenders
(10:39) Understanding Heather’s clients’ perspectives
(18:04) Media representation and public perception
(30:53) The legal and ethical considerations
(43:42) The Trump factor
(48:41) American society and the way forward
Watch the documentary Public Defender: https://bit.ly/4gJCRgp
RSVP to the screening event at MLK Memorial library on Jan 9: https://bit.ly/424oDCw
Follow Ron on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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