Introducing Explain Like I'm 5

Introducing Explain Like I'm 5

Author: Michael Baranowski June 6, 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: 100

The Politics Guys
Podcast Episodes
Federalist Papers 11 - 13 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:13
In this episode Trey and Ken explore Federalist Papers No. 11, 12, and 13, focusing on Hamilton's arguments for a strong federal government, economic unity, and the importance of a unified military and trade system. Topi…
China and Iran, Alabama’s Shadow, Eileen Wang, Dr. Marty Makary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:04
Trey Ken opens this week’s episode by dissecting the deteriorating situation in the Persian Gulf, where a nominal ceasefire is currently on life support. Ken argues that the administration is merely using ceasefire nomen…
Germany Drawdown, ICE Budget, Redistricting, Flipping Fetterman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:30
Mike, Trey, and Terry open this supporters' exclusive midweek episode with Trump’s planned troop drawdown from Germany and what it says about America’s shifting posture toward Europe. Terry argues the 5,000-troop reducti…
Trump’s Iran Gamble, MAGA Primaries, Abortion Pill Fight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:47
Mike, Trey, and guest host Terry Casey, a political scientist at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, open with the still-unresolved U.S. conflict with Iran, the closed Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration’…
DHS Funding, Comey Indictment, GOP Crack-Up? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:00
Mike, Justin, and Kirby open this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode with the fight over DHS funding, where a bipartisan deal appears to keep most of the department funded while leaving ICE and Border Patrol outside t…
Voting Rights, Political Violence, Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:36
Mike, Justin, and special guest Kirby Goidel, a professor of political science at Texas A&M, open with the Supreme Court’s latest Voting Rights Act decision and what it means for racial representation, partisan gerrymand…
Why The Midterms Will Be Disappointing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:41
Mike is joined by special guest Corey Nathan, creator and host of the Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other podcast. They discuss why the coming midterm elections are likely to leave most Americans dissa…
Political Ideologies: Feminism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:33
In this supporter-exclusive midweek episode, Trey is joined by Justin, and begin their discussion of modern ideologies with a deep dive into Feminism. On this week’s show, Trey and Justin discuss: The different waves of…
Blockades, Warsh, SPLC Bank Fraud, Battle for the Ballot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:25
In a rare three-person show, Trey is joined by Justin and Mike. They start by looking at the United States’ standoff with Iran. The trio explores the strategic confusion of mission accomplished with the ongoing naval blo…