The Politics Guys

The Politics Guys

Author: The Politics Guys - Government Democracy & News Language: English Episodes: 50
Tired of political conversations that feel more like shouting matches? The Politics Guys offers a different space, one built on civility and genuine expertise rather than partisan performance. Host Michael Baranowski guides discussions with a rotating panel of knowledgeable voices-political scientists, law professors, and attorneys who've worked within government. These aren't just pundits; they're practitioners and scholars who bring evidence and experience to the table. Each episode digs into the nuances of American policy and the political landscape, ensuring multiple perspectives are heard not as debate points, but as integral parts of a complex whole. You'll find the analysis here is grounded and deliberate, a conscious step away from the reactive news cycle. This podcast thrives on the principle that understanding different viewpoints is the foundation of a healthier democracy, not a compromise of one's own. It’s for anyone seeking depth over drama, and substance over soundbites, in their political listening.
Episodes
Outrage Overload: Why Politics Keeps Us Mad—and Who Benefits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:50
Mike talks with David Beckemeyer, fellow Democracy Group podcaster and host of Outrage Overload, about why American politics so often feels like a permanent rage machine. They dig into why people badly misread their poli…
When “National Security” Becomes a Blank Check [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:56
This supporters’ exclusive midweek episode takes on three fights over executive power, national security, and the rule of law. Mike and Jay dig into the Trump administration’s export-control crackdown on Anthropic’s newe…
Did Trump Capitulate to Iran? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:16
Mike and Jay dig into a chaotic week in politics, starting with the Trump administration’s memorandum of understanding with Iran—a deal meant to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the war, waive oil sanctions, and postpone…
Why Young Lawmakers Are Quitting — and It’s Not Just Salary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:27
Mike talks with Layla Zaidane, president and CEO of Future Caucus, the largest nonpartisan organization of young lawmakers in the United States, about why the next generation of political leaders may be running into a sy…
$100k Visa Tax, California's Slow Count, Do Courts Trust Trump? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:54
In this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode, Mike and Ken work through four fights over executive power, legal process, and institutional trust: Judge Leo Sorokin’s ruling striking down Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee a…
Iran War Whiplash, Maine’s Risky Bet, and Trump’s DNI Workaround [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:09
Mike and Ken discuss another volatile week in U.S. politics, starting with the escalating conflict with Iran, Trump’s claims of a looming peace deal, the inflationary fallout from energy shocks, and whether Iran or the U…
Trump’s War, Trump’s Settlement, Trump’s Shadow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:20
Mike and Jay open with the increasingly strange U.S. war with Iran, where a still-closed Strait of Hormuz, murky ceasefire claims, stalled negotiations, and a House war powers vote have raised major questions about Trump…
Founders’ Fire: From 1776 to the Age of Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:14
Mike is joined by historian Arthur Herman to discuss his new book Founders’ Fire, which argues that America’s recurring strength comes from founders: risk-takers with the vision and drive to remake institutions, industri…