Episodes
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Journalist, Public Speaker and Author Celeste Headlee (@CelesteHeadlee) joins host Ron Steslow (@RonSteslow) to reveal the science and history behind human communication, share keys to unlock deeper conversations, and explain how critical empathy is for our ability to listen and connect. For more information, to contact us, or to contribute to Politicology, visit Politicology.com
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This week, we dive into the fandom that’s developed around the assassin who killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Then, we’ll look at how Donald Trump’s team pulled the Pete Hegseth nomination back from the brink in the Senate.
Later, we talk about the younger Democrats pushing for generational change in House committee leadership positions.
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss how Citizens United moved the balance of power toward rich donors and pulled the Democratic party to the left.
Joining guest host Zack Czajkowski on this week’s panel:
David Weigel (politics reporter at Semafor)
James Lynch (Communications Strategist)
Segments this week:
(02:19) Assassin fandom
(31:54) Hegseth Nomination saved in the Senate
(45:48) Generational change in the Democratic Party
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
Get David’s Newsletter “Americana”: https://bit.ly/4iB6HFd
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://x.com/ZackCz
https://x.com/JamesGLynch
https://x.com/daveweigel
Related reading:
Segment 1:
CNN- 1-star McDonald’s reviews and sympathetic merch: Companies try to stop online support for CEO killer suspect | CNN Business
Wired - The Internet’s Obsession With Luigi Mangione Signals a Major Shift | WIRED
Yahoo News - Black Lives Matter activist calls on ‘black vigilantes’ after Daniel Penny’s acquittal: ‘F—k America’
Segment 2:
Politico - Ron who? How Trump brought Hegseth back from the brink - POLITICO
NYT - Ernst Suggests She Will Not Oppose Hegseth for Defense Secretary - The New York Times
Segment 3:
NBC News - 'The end of seniority': Younger Democrats are challenging elders for powerful positions
AP - Rep. Ocasio-Cortez announces bid for top Oversight job as Democrats push for generational change
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Poler Family Professor and chair of the psychology department at Amherst College Dr. Catherine Sanderson joins Ron Steslow to talk about how giving can make you happier.
(02:08) What is happiness and how can we measure it?
(08:31) Does giving make you happy or do happy people give more?
(10:20) Types of giving and the impact on happiness
(14:50) The effect of giving on bad moods
(28:58) Gratitude letters
The Positive Shift by Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://benbellabooks.com/shop/the-positive-shift/
Politicology - March 10: Becoming Moral Rebels with Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://politicology.com/episodes/dr-catherine-sanderson-becoming-moral-rebels/
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This week, Ron Steslow calls Hagar Chemali to talk about some of the most important stories going on around the world:
First, we discuss President Biden pardoning his son, Hunter, and weighing other preemptive pardons
Then, we talk about what Trump’s defense, intelligence, and national security nominations could mean
Next, we look at South Korea’s president invoking martial law
After that, we break down the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal
Finally, for our Politicology+ subscribers, we keep going around the world to talk about Iranian assassination plots (including one against a famous Iranian women’s rights activist), the pros and cons of an undisciplined and unpredictable Donald Trump, why Russian propaganda is using AI TV commentators, how the incoming administration might try to end the war in Ukraine, and more.
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.
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/HagarChemali
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Host Ron Steslow welcomes Alex Gladstein (Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation) to discuss the significant and often misunderstood role of Bitcoin in protecting human rights and fighting against authoritarians around the world.
Segments to look forward to:
(02:07) Alex’s background in human rights work and why he became interested in Bitcoin
(16:18) Bitcoin vs other cryptocurrencies
(26:04) Financial privilege
(38:35) Bitcoin in action
(45:50) Bitcoin creating financial independence for women in Afghanistan
(56:25)How a human rights activist uses Bitcoin to free hostages
(59:10) Bitcoin as a tool against monetary colonialism in west Africa
(1:00:10) The importance of peer-to-peer transactions
(1:07:50) How Bitcoin mining can bring electricity to remote areas and support sustainable energy projects
(1:19:40) Why Bitcoin matters for everyone
Follow Ron and Alex on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://twitter.com/gladstein
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative and advisor to the Forward Party), Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP), and Ron Steslow respond to your feedback and answer your questions on our latest mailbag episode.
(02:04) Would compulsory voting be good for the United States?
(14:22) Matt Gaetz withdrawals as A.G. nominee
(26:46) How do you feel about the Trump re-election and fears of retribution?
(39:18) The push against disaffected Republicans within the Democratic coalition
Have a question for a future Mailbag episode? Send it over to us at [email protected]!
You can also leave us a voice message at (202) 455-4558
Follow Ron, Lucy, and Liam on X:
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You may know him from his dazzling dishes showcased on the hit Netflix TV series, “Chef’s Table,” but three-Star Michelin Chef Dan Barber (Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Blue Hill NYC) has a relationship with ingredients far deeper and more complex than pretty plates of food. In this episode, Chef Dan joins Ron Steslow to discuss the politics and future of food and the consequences of how America feeds itself.
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus
(02:32) The current state of American agriculture
(06:15) What is the Third Plate?
(11:44) The connection between flavor and nutrition
(14:24) The importance of crop rotation
(34:14) Lab grown meat
Politicology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?
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Mike Madrid, Liam Donovan, Lucy Caldwell, and Ron Steslow discuss the national security risks that data harvesting presents, the need for stronger protections for privacy, and how privacy is necessary for other rights in the digital age.
Related reading:
Wired-Anyone Can Buy Data Tracking US Soldiers and Spies to Nuclear Vaults and Brothels in Germany | WIRED
Extreme Privacy by Michael Bazzell - https://inteltechniques.com/book7.html
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This week, we discuss whether Donald Trump and the Republicans have a mandate.
Next, we discuss whether America has a cohesive “working class.”
Finally, in our separate Politicology+ episode we talk about the national security risks that data harvesting presents—and how we might use it to get better privacy protection for all of us.
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder, author of The Latino Century)
Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative and advisor to the Forward Party)
Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP)
Segments this week:
(02:36) The M Word
(32:16) Working class?
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://twitter.com/lucymcaldwell
https://twitter.com/madrid_mike
https://twitter.com/LPDonovan
Related reading:
Segment 1:
Politico - Trump claims ‘unprecedented and powerful mandate’ - POLITICO
NYT- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Wants Fellow Democrats to Look in the Mirror - The New York Times
NYT - Why Are Latinos Fleeing Democrats? Arizona’s New Senator Offers Answers. - The New York Times
WP - GOP senators say RFK Jr. must ‘explain’ vaccine criticism, other views - The Washington Post
Segment 2:
Noah Smith -America doesn't really have a working class - by Noah Smith
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Over two decades ago, Ruy Teixeira predicted that America was on its way to a bright blue future, thanks to an inevitable demographic shift that would deliver the Party a dominant, durable political coalition.
“Demography is destiny” became the mantra of the Democratic Party—proven out by Obama’s decisive 2008 electoral college win.
But then, in 2016, Trump upended that coalition, and, consequently, anti-Trumpism naturally became a defining feature of the Democratic Party.
But—beyond its opposition to Trump—what does the Democratic Party stand for today?
With the Republican Party infected with extremism and so embarrassingly unable to govern, why aren’t Democrats winning sustainable majorities?
And why is the Democratic party still losing ground with some of the core parts of its base?
In the second part of this two-part conversation, former Center for American Progress senior fellow Ruy Teixeira joins Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Where Have All the Democrats Gone? The Soul of the Party in the Age of Extremes.
In part 2:
(01:06 ) The shift towards identity politics and how it’s changing the party’s approach to race and civil rights
(08:40) Radical approaches to transgender rights
(16:50) The change in environmental policy from responsible stewardship to the more extreme positions of the Green New Deal
(41:14) The rise in independent voters, what it really means, and how it should impact political strategy
(45:45) Whether it’s even possible for structural reforms in our political system to improve the health of our democracy
Read Where Have All the Democrats Gone?: https://bit.ly/3P8hpGm
Check out The Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/
Follow Ron on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558.
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Over two decades ago, Ruy Teixeira predicted that America was on its way to a bright blue future, thanks to an inevitable demographic shift that would deliver the Party a dominant, durable political coalition.
“Demography is destiny” became the mantra of the Democratic Party—proven out by Obama’s decisive 2008 electoral college win.
But then, in 2016, Trump upended that coalition, and, consequently, anti-Trumpism naturally became a defining feature of the Democratic Party.
But—beyond its opposition to Trump—what does the Democratic Party stand for today?
With the Republican Party infected with extremism and so embarrassingly unable to govern, why aren’t Democrats winning sustainable majorities?
And why is the Democratic party still losing ground with some of the core parts of its base?
In this two-part conversation, former Center for American Progress senior fellow Ruy Teixeira joins Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Where Have All the Democrats Gone? The Soul of the Party in the Age of Extremes.
In part 1:
(01:50 ) Ruy’s background
(05:00) How the Democrats became the party of the elites
(10:10)The impact of the 2016 election
(23:23) The importance of working class voters in the Democratic party’s victories
(30:20) The party’s increasingly liberal stance on immigration
Read Where Have All the Democrats Gone?: https://bit.ly/3P8hpGm
Check out The Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/
Follow Ron on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558.
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To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus
*NOTE: Upcoming Mailbag Episode! Send us your questions to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (202) 455-4558*
This week, we discuss Senate Republicans picking a new leader, Trump’s push for recess appointments, named cabinet nominees, and White House staffing.
Next, we discuss reporting that FEMA workers were told to skip houses with Trump signs, and the allegations it was a widespread practice.
Finally, in our separate Politicology+ episode we talk about a House hearing about UFOs and the former military leaders sounding alarms that we are unprepared this technology.
Joining 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:
(02:56) The Senate and recess appointments for Cabinet positions
(28:34) FEMA skips Trump supporters
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.
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 - John Thune wins Senate Republican leader race
Politico-Tracking Trump’s Cabinet picks
Axios - Republicans "stunned and disgusted" as Trump taps Matt Gaetz for AG
WP - Trump demanded senators allow recess appointments. Here’s what that means.
NY Post - Progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal reneges on support for axing filibuster after Republicans flip the Senate
Segment 2:
Daily Wire - EXCLUSIVE: FEMA Official Ordered Relief Workers To Skip Houses With Trump Signs
Fox News - Fired FEMA employee says instructions to skip Trump homes were part of ‘colossal avoidance’ policy
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Alua Arthur (Death Doula) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss the importance of embracing mortality, talking about death, and her new book, Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life and Getting Real About the End.
Segments to look forward to:
(02:31) What is a death doula?
(05:39) Alua’s journey and embracing mortality
(07:28) The impact of avoiding conversations about death
(10:33) Practical ways to approach contemplating death
(26:00) Having conversations about death with your loved ones
(28:10) Supporting loved ones facing end-of-life challenges
(30:30) Reframing our language about death and disease
(32:19) The desire for “more time” at the end of life
(38:10) The importance of quality of life in end of life care
(40:00) Assisted Suiceide and personal autonomy
(43:40) Meaningful rituals for death
(47:14) Mourning people with troubled legacies
(51:10) Being briefly, perfectly human
Read Briefly Perfectly Human: https://bit.ly/4a5UYJb
Check out Going With Grace: https://goingwithgrace.com/
Follow Ron on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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This week, we discuss the presidential election results, what the early exit polling numbers could mean, and what Democrats will need to do moving forward after losing the popular vote for the first time in two decades
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we talk about the questions Trump’s electoral victory raises for and about the media.
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Zack Czajkowski (Fmr. Lincoln Project Political Director)
Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica)
Hans Nichols (White House Reporter at Axios)
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/ZackCz
https://x.com/AndyKroll
https://x.com/HansNichols
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Poler Family Professor and chair of the psychology department at Amherst College Dr. Catherine Sanderson joins Ron Steslow to talk about happiness and how to harness the power of a positive mindset.
(02:49) The negative connotation of the “power of positive thinking” and adopting a growth mindset
(11:32) Revisiting the myth of monsters
(13:13) Redemption and reconciliation, and applying a growth mindset to others: the “fundamental attribution error”
(20:05) Let’s talk about stress
(22:43) Grieving shared loss and uncertainty
(28:20) Adequate sleep and happiness
(32:04) Smiling through the pain...and other methods
(36:17) Importance of conversations and meaningful relationships
(39:10) Bringing people together for political engagement
The Positive Shift by Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://benbellabooks.com/shop/the-positive-shift/
Politicology - March 10: Becoming Moral Rebels with Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://politicology.com/episodes/dr-catherine-sanderson-becoming-moral-rebels/
The Victory Lab by Sasha Issenberg https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215192/the-victory-lab-by-sasha-issenberg/
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805073690
Are you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donate!
Follow Catherine and Ron on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SandersonSpeaks
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
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Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It) joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men.
(02:04) The toxicity of “toxic masculinity”
(08:00) The “right” at war and the “left” in denial
(13:00) How negative partisanship only increases the problem
(15:00) The differences in funding and institutional support for men and women
(23:00) Redshirt the boys
(28:00) The criticism Richard has faced for his writing on boys and men
You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/
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https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves
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This week, we discuss the huge gap between college-educated women and non-college educated men, what it could mean in the election and moving forward.
Later, we look at how attention has shifted away from the White House after Biden dropped out of the presidential race.
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we dive into why the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission has become a hot-button presidential campaign issue and whether a Harris administration would change their approach to crypto.
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP)
Alex Thompson (National Political Correspondent for Axios)
Segments this week:
(02:18) The gender gap
(37:12) Covering Biden after he dropped out
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/AlexThomp
Related reading:
Segment 1:
NYT- Opinion | We Poll for Democrats and Republicans. We Agree on Where This Election Is Heading. - The New York Times
Axios -MAGA speakers unleash ugly rhetoric at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally
NYT - In Closing, Harris Casts Herself as the Unifier and Trump as a ‘Petty Tyrant’ - The New York Times
Axios - America's youngest voters become major election liars
Politico - Opinion | Democrats’ Problem With Male Voters Isn’t Complicated
The Dispatch - Can Governing Norms Hold? - Dispatch Contributors
Segment 2:
Axios - Biden sets off election firestorm with "garbage" comment
Axios - Harris stiff-arms Biden in final stretch
Axios - For Harris, remaking Biden's White House could be the best revenge
Alex Twitter Thread on “lock him up”
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Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It) joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men.
(02:13) Richard’s work and how it led to studying boys and men
(04:00) The risks if the problems are not addressed
(07:30) The gendered education gap
(0z8:20) How economic shifts have impacted men
(11:20) Intersectionality in the research on gender
(30:30) Recognizing these problems as structural and not individual
(34:40) Weighing the biological differences between women and men
You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/
Follow Ron and Richard on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves
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This week, we dive into Donald Trump’s trip to McDonalds and how both campaigns are trying to position themselves with working class voters.
Then, we’ll look at Trump plans to sit down with Joe Rogan and Harris joining Brené Brown, and what the “podcast election” is revealing about the changing media landscape.
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss Trump’s longest-serving Chief of Staff, John Kelly, speaking out and warning that Trump would rule like a dictator.
Joining guest host Hagar Chemali on this week’s panel:
Zack Czajkowski (Fmr. Lincoln Project Political Director)
James Lynch (Communications Strategist)
Segments this week:
(04:29) The McDonald’s Photo Op
(25:26) The Podcast Election
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
Check out Oh My World!: https://www.ohmyworld.tv/
Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):
https://x.com/HagarChemali
https://x.com/ZackCz
https://x.com/JamesGLynch
Related reading:
Segment 1:
NYT - Kamala Harris and McDonald’s: A College Job, and a Trump Attack - The New York Times
WP - Trump serves McDonald’s fries to supporters in stage-managed campaign stop
NBC - Trump attempts to troll Harris by serving french fries at a Pennsylvania McDonald's
Segment 2:
Axios - Joe Rogan to interview Trump on his podcast
WP - Opinion | Podcasts are dominating the 2024 election. Why?
Forbes -Here Are The Biggest Moments From Trump’s ‘Bro’ Podcast Tour Ahead Of Joe Rogan Appearance
NYT - Harris Will Campaign in Texas to Call Attention to Abortion Rights - The New York Times
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Mike Madrid and Ron Steslow talk shop about the state of the race in the final stretch:
-Warning bells for Harris in Nevada
- GOP defections and the “permission structure” fantasy
- Why the Blue Wall might fall
- Latino voters
- The global anti-incumbent election trend
- Harris’ attempt to be both a change candidate and a continuity candidate, and the importance of contrast
- Why immigration is a more potent issue than Dobbs/abortion
Follow Ron and Mike on X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
https://x.com/madrid_mike
Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (202) 455-4558
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