Introducing Explain Like I'm 5

Introducing Explain Like I'm 5

Author: The Politics Guys - Government Democracy & News August 13, 2026 Duration: 1:51
Mike talks about the Explain Like I'm 5 podcast. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Politics Guys
Podcast Episodes
The Trump Realignment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:50
Mike talks with political scientists Kirby and Spencer Goidel about their new book, The Trump Realignment, and their argument that Donald Trump didn’t simply take over the Republican Party—he fundamentally changed the Am…
Are the Democrats in Trouble, or Building for the Future? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:03
This bonus midweek episode begins with the Democratic National Committee’s precarious finances: the DNC is spending heavily on state parties, organizers, and long-term infrastructure while the Republican National Committ…
Anarchy vs Tyranny: Federalist Papers No. 17, 18 and 19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:41
On this midweek supporters-exclusive episode of The Politics Guys, Trey Orndorff (Oklahoma Christian University) and Ken Katkin (NKU Chase College of Law) continue their ongoing deep-dive series through The Federalist Pa…
Trump’s Wars, Voting Rules, and Fauci Takes the Fifth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:49
Mike and Jay debate whether Donald Trump has a coherent strategy for the wars in Ukraine and Iran—or is improvising while weapons stockpiles, alliances, and political pressures narrow his options. They examine a major Ru…
Can Open Primaries Break the Two-Party Cartel? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:14
Open Primaries founder John Opdycke joins Mike to argue that America’s primary system gives political parties too much control while shutting out millions of independent voters. They discuss taxpayer-funded closed primar…
Religion as a political ideology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:57
On this midweek supporters-exclusive episode of The Politics Guys, Trey Orndorff (Oklahoma Christian University) and Justin Holmes (University of Northern Iowa) continue their deep dive into political ideologies by tackl…
Who Controls AI—and Who Pays When It Goes Wrong? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:20
AI is advancing faster than Congress can regulate it—but leaving the industry to police itself carries enormous risks. Mike talks with former congressman and Pentagon official Brad Carson about mandatory safety testing,…