The 2025 News Stories that Just Won't Die (with Kevin Ryan)

The 2025 News Stories that Just Won't Die (with Kevin Ryan)

Author: Justin Robert Young August 12, 2025 Duration: 1:01:22

A short update this week while I’m on the road. Trump will join European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for an emergency virtual summit Wednesday ahead of his Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The talks, organized by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, will focus on pressuring Russia, addressing seized Ukrainian territory, securing guarantees for Kyiv, and sequencing peace talks. Merz insists on a ceasefire before any negotiations or land swaps, and Europe is pushing for stronger sanctions on Russia’s banking sector. Three sessions will bring together EU leaders, NATO chief Mark Rutte, Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukraine’s military backers. I’ve been struck by how closely Europe and NATO are aligned with Trump here — but we’ve been down this road with Putin before. He’s not a trustworthy guy. My bet is Zelensky ends up in the summit, and Trump pushes for a wrap-up.

Meanwhile, the Teamsters Union, long a Democratic stronghold, is broadening its political giving under President Sean O’Brien, donating to Republicans as well. It’s a big story — a sign that Democrats’ hold on organized labor’s money and loyalty is eroding, and it’s going to be something we need to watch as we move forward.

Finally, a judge denied the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury material in the Ghislaine Maxwell case, saying the public would learn little new. The DOJ’s handling — including interviewing Maxwell, transferring her to a less restrictive prison, and not notifying victims — has sparked outrage. The public want more answers, but it’s unclear what new revelations could satisfy that demand. Would naming names in exchange for a pardon be worth it? That’s the moral trade-off now on the table.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:00 - Interview with Kevin Ryan, pt. 1

00:30:00 - Update

00:34:24 - Interview with Kevin Ryan, pt. 2

00:57:46 - Wrap-up



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

In a media landscape often defined by partisan shouting, Politics Politics Politics offers a different kind of conversation. Host Justin Robert Young brings a clear-eyed focus on the mechanics of power, cutting through the noise to examine the strategies, historical patterns, and personal ambitions that actually determine outcomes. This isn't about rehearsing talking points or telling you which side to be on. Instead, each episode digs into the tangible factors that signal who is positioned to succeed in a given race or policy fight and, crucially, the reasons behind that momentum. You'll find a blend of current news dissection and historical context, treating today's headlines as part of a longer story about how political power operates. The analysis aims for a straightforward clarity that feels increasingly rare, providing listeners with a foundational understanding of events that goes beyond the day's reactive hot takes. For anyone trying to make sense of the constant churn, this podcast serves as a reliable guide to the underlying forces at play.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Politics Politics Politics
Podcast Episodes
Let's Talk All About Immigration (with Anna Gorisch) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:08
The resignation of Madison Sheahan, an ICE deputy director to run for Congress might look like a routine political move, but it says more about the internal state of immigration enforcement than any press release. ICE is…