The Politics Guys

This supporters’ exclusive midweek episode begins with a remarkable question: can a president sue his own government, negotiate with his own Justice Department, and call the result a legitimate settlement? Mike and Michael Levy unpack the judge’s ruling in Trump v. IRS, then turn to Marco Rubio’s campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court, Pete Hegseth’s removal of senior military leaders and push for testosterone screening, and the Democratic Socialists’ recent primary victories. Are Democrats facing their own Tea Party insurgency—or a movement whose appeal collapses outside deep-blue districts? Check out Michael Levy’s SubstackSt. Thomas, by Sonny RollinsBecome a new monthly supporter on Patreon and get your first month nearly free (90% off) with promo code 0943D, or become a new annual supporter and get an additional 10% off on top of the regular 10% annual supporter discount with promo code 9B50C. These offers are good until the end of July at patreon.com/politicsguysThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Donald Trump says America’s elections are dangerously vulnerable—but did his primetime speech offer evidence, or lay the groundwork to contest a Republican midterm defeat? Mike and Michael Levy dissect Trump’s election-security claims, the SAVE Act, and the gap between genuine cybersecurity risks and unsupported allegations of noncitizen voting. They also examine the renewed U.S.-Iran war, the collapse of the Strait of Hormuz agreement, and whether Trump’s pressure campaign has any plausible endgame. Then they debate Lindsey Graham’s legacy: pragmatic dealmaker preserving his influence, or cautionary tale of a senator who recognized Trump’s danger and enabled it anyway? Finally, they turn to Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination, Justice Department independence, Trump’s IRS settlement, and the Epstein files.Check out Michael Levy’s SubstackBecome a new monthly supporter on Patreon and get your first month nearly free (90% off) with promo code 0943D, or become a new annual supporter and get an additional 10% off on top of the regular 10% annual supporter discount with promo code 9B50C. These offers are good until the end of July at patreon.com/politicsguysThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Could a voter-approved law in Maine bring down the legal foundation of Super PACs without overturning Citizens United? Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig joins Mike to explain why he believes the lower-court ruling in SpeechNow v. FEC—not Citizens United—created today’s unlimited-contribution system, and why Maine’s overwhelmingly approved Super PAC contribution limits could give the Supreme Court a chance to correct that mistake. They discuss corruption, originalism, campaign coordination, democracy vouchers, public financing, and whether meaningful campaign finance reform remains politically possible.Lawrence Lessig on XBecome a new monthly supporter on Patreon and get your first month nearly free (90% off) with promo code 0943D, or become a new annual supporter and get an additional 10% off on top of the regular 10% annual supporter discount with promo code 9B50C. These offers are good until the end of July at patreon.com/politicsguysThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Political scientist Trey Orndorff and law professor Ken Katkin continue their ongoing Federalst Papers series. In this episode, Trey and Ken move past lofty philosophies of Federalist No. 10 to examine the raw mathematical, logistical, and financial realities that the Madison and Hamilton confronted as their argued for a more powerful national government. Topics covered include:Trey and Ken explore Madison at his most pragmatic. Facing fierce Anti-Federalist critiques that the American landmass was simply too large for a unified republic to function, Madison busts out the calculations to prove that no state representative is too far from the capital. The guys laugh at Madison's slightly (very) skewed size comparisons to Germany and a pre-partitioned Poland to make his point.Madison correctly predicting that future technological improvements will seamlessly shrink distances. Ken hooks this directly into modern constitutional law, analyzing how Justice Anthony Kennedy heavily channeled the spirit of Federalist 14 in his landmark concurring opinion in United States v. Lopez (1994) to explain the evolution of our integrated national economy.Hamilton argues that the U.S. has reached the final stage of "national humiliation," left with neither a unified treasury nor a standing military mechanism to enforce its own sovereignty. Trey and Ken trace Hamilton's fury back to his real-world experiences as an aide during the Revolutionary War and his deep financial roots as a founder of the Bank of New York, watching unpaid war bonds cripple the young nation’s global creditworthiness.And so much more!Don't forget that our July video campaign is in full swing! If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading your membership or extending your subscription, doing so this month gets you entered into a raffle for a free year of membership. Plus if 25 indiivudals subscribe or upgrade their support we launch video epsidoes of the show!90% Off Your First Monthly Month: Use code 0943DTXTAn Additional 10% Off Annual Support: Use code 9B50CThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podc

Trey Orndorff and Ken Katkin tackle the ongoing volatilty of the U.S. / Iran conflict and its month-old Memorandum of Understanding falling apart. Ken argues there is no hope for peace until the next presidential elections. Trey is not sure even that event will end the violence fully. The pair also discuss the Friday morning mystery of the unclaimed bombs and who might be responsible.Next they discuss NATO and the discordent tone between Trump's demands to halt all U.S. trade with Spain and for Greenland to be purchased from Denmark. Trey and Ken look under the hood and find the real reasoning: Madrid's locking its airspace to American warplanes bound for Iran.They close with a discussion of the collapse Grahm Platner as a result of harrowing allegations of rape and domestic abuse. Trey argues that Democrats should have jumped ship long ago just on the basis of his written comments and his likely Nazi tattoo. Trey and Ken break down the strict state statutory deadlines for the Maine Democratic Committee to salvage the ballot, clash over whether a centrist replacement actually helps or hurts against incumbent Susan Collins, and dissect why primary voters are increasingly willing to overlook massive personal red flags to back an aggressive "fighter."We hear you! Everyone wants to know when The Politics Guys are finally launching video episodes on YouTube. We’ve got a promise for you: If 25 new supporters join or existing supporters increase their tier this month, we will officially start releasing some video episodes. Plus, anyone who signs up or upgrades in July will be automatically entered into a raffle to win a free year of membership at their current tier!90% Off Your First Monthly Month: Use code 0943DAn Additional 10% Off Annual Support: Use code 9B50CThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Michael Levy talks with California State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco, one of the country’s leading Democratic voices on housing policy, artificial intelligence, the abundance movement, LGBTQ rights, and sexual health policy. Wiener discusses how California’s housing crisis became a governance failure, why simply blaming Airbnb or corporate investors misses the larger supply problem, and what Democrats need to confront if they want to make blue-state government work. Michael and Scott also dig into San Francisco’s AI boom, the risks of frontier AI, job displacement, public transit, homelessness, California’s slow ballot counting, Jewish and LGBTQ politics, Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat, and why Wiener thinks Democrats need to use power more aggressively if they return to control in Washington. Follow Scott on XBecome a new monthly supporter on Patreon and get your first month nearly free (90% off) with promo code 0943D, or become a new annual supporter and get an additional 10% off on top of the regular 10% annual supporter discount with promo code 9B50C. These offers are good until the end of July at patreon.com/politicsguysThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

This supporters’ exclusive midweek episode digs into three major Supreme Court rulings with big implications for elections, transgender athletes, and campaign finance. Mike and Jay start with Watson v. Republican National Committee, where the Court upheld Mississippi’s post-election mail ballot receipt window and debated whether “Election Day” means ballots must be received — or merely cast — by then. They then turn to the Court’s ruling allowing West Virginia and Idaho to restrict girls’ and women’s sports to biological females, with Mike and Jay unpacking Title IX, equal protection, intermediate scrutiny, and the hard factual questions around transgender athletes who never underwent male puberty. Finally, they take on National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, where the Court struck down limits on coordinated party spending with candidates, raising familiar but still combustible questions about money, speech, corruption, political parties, Super PACs, and whether campaign finance law is mostly just constitutional whack-a-mole.Become a new monthly supporter on Patreon and get your first month nearly free (90% off) with promo code 0943D, or become a new annual supporter and get an additional 10% off on top of the regular 10% annual supporter discount with promo code 9B50C. These offers are good until the end of July at patreon.com/politicsguysThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Mike and Jay kick off the Fourth of July weekend with a quick reflection on America at 250 before turning to a packed week of constitutional conflict: renewed U.S.-Iran tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, Trump’s failed attempt to limit birthright citizenship, and two major Supreme Court fights over presidential power. They dig into whether birthright citizenship is now truly settled, why the Court let Trump fire FTC commissioners, and why the Federal Reserve may be different — or at least too important for the Court to treat like every other agency.Become a new monthly supporter on Patreon and get your first month nearly free (90% off) with promo code 0943D, or become a new annual supporter and get an additional 10% off on top of the regular 10% annual supporter discount with promo code 9B50C. These offers are good until the end of July at patreon.com/politicsguysThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Mike talks with Tom Carroll, co-founder and CEO of Convos, a controlled AI-powered texting platform designed to turn campaign texting from one-way blasts into two-way voter conversations. They discuss why campaign texts feel so spammy, how AI could help campaigns answer voter questions at scale, and whether conversational campaign texting is a useful democratic tool or just a more sophisticated form of political manipulation. Mike and Tom also dig into AI disclosure, hallucination risks, voter privacy, campaign data, banned topics, regulation, and why emerging AI campaign tools may be adopted differently by progressive, conservative, grassroots, and major-party campaigns. The Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

In this supporter-exclusive midweek episode, Trey is joined by Justin, and they cover multiculturalism as an ideology.On this week’s show, Trey and Justin discuss:Core principles of multiculturalismWhat differentiates multiculturalism the ideology from the empirical reality of cultures living side by side inside one stateThe attacks on multiculturalism from liberalism, feminism, and marxismThe conflicted nature of thinking of culture and ethnicity as only belonging to "the other"The difficulty of crafting laws that account for all potential cultural exceptions⁠Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers⁠The Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Political scientists Trey Orndorff (Oklahoma Christian University) and Justin Holmes (University of Northern Iowa) break down a wildly volatile week in American governance, focusing heavily on the expanding boundaries and realities of modern presidential power. From a shocking last-minute executive shutdown of a bipartisan housing bill to the unprecedented face-to-face shouting match on Capitol Hill and two major immigration overhauls at the Supreme Court, Trey and Justin get into the details of the relationship of the the branches of government. Topics covered include: The 90-Minute Housing Act U-Turn: Trey and Justin detail the sudden collapse of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a sweeping bipartisan bill that sailed through the Senate 85–5 and the House 358–32. The bill was designed to block municipalities from stopping office-to-housing conversions and cap Wall Street mega-investors from aggressively buying up single-family homes. Yet, just 90 minutes before a scheduled noon signing ceremony, President Trump canceled the event on Truth Social, labeling the popular bill "of minor importance" and too "Elizabeth Warren-centric". The War Powers Showdown & The Great Senate Flip-Flop: The Senate initially passed a War Powers resolution by a razor-thin 50–48 margin to rein in executive military actions. The vote came directly after Secretary Hegseth requested a massive $80 billion for military expenditures related to Iran. After Trump face-to-face berated Senate Republicans the Senate took the step of completely reversing its vote. Senator Cassidy flipped his vote, and non-interventionist Senator Rand Paul shifted to a present vote. Trump’s Double Victory at the Supreme Court: An analytical breakdown of two monumental 6–3 conservative majority rulings penned by Justice Alito handing the executive branch sweeping control over immigration policy.The Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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 political opponents, how outrage media works on both the left and right, why more information doesn’t necessarily make us more reasonable, and how social media creates false consensus and rewards the most extreme voices. Mike and David also discuss the deeper civic problem: Americans often misunderstand not only the “other side,” but the political system itself—checks and balances, coalition-building, compromise, and the messy realities of governing. The conversation ends with practical ways to resist outrage overload without pretending that genuinely outrageous things don’t exist.The Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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 newest AI models, asking whether this is a real national-security intervention or political retaliation dressed up as safety policy. They then turn to the U.S. strike that killed Tren de Aragua leader Niño Guerrero in Venezuela, and whether treating cartel members as wartime enemies blows past constitutional limits, due process, and congressional authorization. Finally, they look at a federal judge’s order forcing the Interior Department to restore national park signs and exhibits removed under Trump’s “restoring truth and sanity” history order—and why the Administrative Procedure Act keeps coming back to haunt this administration. The Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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 the hardest nuclear questions. They debate whether the agreement was a pragmatic off-ramp, a capitulation, or a deal already collapsing under pressure from Iran, Israel, Hezbollah, and Trump’s own political incentives. Then they turn to Trump’s strange handling of Jay Clayton’s DNI nomination, Bill Pulte’s interim role, FISA Section 702 renewal, and the SAVE Act fight over documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. They also break down major 2026 primary results in Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma, including Trump’s mixed endorsement record, Mike Collins vs. Jon Ossoff, and Rick Jackson’s staggering spending in the Georgia governor’s race. Finally, they discuss the legality, symbolism, and tackiness of UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn—and the alleged plot to attack it. The Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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 system that makes public service nearly impossible. They discuss whether younger lawmakers really govern differently, how Future Caucus tries to build bipartisan trust without sanding away ideological disagreement, and why under-resourced state legislatures often end up empowering governors, lobbyists, and interest groups instead of elected representatives. They also dig into Future Caucus’s Exit Interview report, including the biggest reasons young lawmakers leave office: political violence, low pay, lack of staff, weak institutional support, unpredictable schedules, and the difficulty of serving without personal wealth or family flexibility. The conversation closes with a blunt but hopeful argument: if state legislatures are the farm system for national leadership, neglecting them is a long-term democratic failure. Future Caucus on XThe Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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 as an unconstitutional tax, the furor over California’s slow vote count, mail ballots, and Trump’s fraud claims, the Broadview Six grand-jury scandal and what it says about DOJ misconduct and the courts’ usual “presumption of regularity,” and the messy question of who gets tariff refunds after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s IEEPA tariffs.The Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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.S. has more leverage as the war drags on. Then they turn to Maine’s high-stakes 2026 races, including Graham Platner’s landslide Democratic Senate primary win, Susan Collins’s durability, the role of character in candidate evaluation, and why Maine’s 2nd District could be one of the most competitive House races in the country. Finally, Mike and Ken dig into Trump’s move to nominate Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence, the statutory requirement that the DNI have “extensive national security experience,” Bill Pulte’s controversial stint as acting DNI, and the fight over whether to renew FISA Section 702 surveillance authority. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast The Politics Guys on Facebook | XListener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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’s strategy. Jay argues that Iran remains a serious long-term threat and that Trump may be right to exhaust negotiations before escalating, while admitting that much of the battlefield reality is impossible to judge from public reporting. Mike is far more skeptical, arguing that Trump’s shifting claims, high economic costs, and apparent lack of clear war aims suggest a war of choice that may leave the U.S. worse off than before. Next, they turn to the Trump administration’s abandoned “anti-weaponization” fund, the IRS settlement with Trump, and the Senate’s immigration funding bill. Jay sees the proposed fund as politically toxic and potentially slush-fund-like, and says claims of government wrongdoing should be handled through ordinary legal channels such as the Federal Tort Claims Act. Mike focuses on the deeper institutional problem: Trump effectively settling with his own administration, ending presidential IRS scrutiny, and putting Senate Republicans in the position of defending a deal that looks collusive even if it may be legally hard to stop. After that, they discuss the reconciliation bill’s move to fund ICE and Border Patrol through mandatory spending for the next three years. Jay says he would normally dislike bypassing annual appropriations, but thinks the current politics of immigration funding make the maneuver understandable. Mike worries that removing such consequential enforcement funding from regular congressional scrutiny is a bad precedent, even if it is constitutionally permissible. The guys close with the recent California and Iowa primaries and what they suggest about 2026. Jay argues that Steve Hilton’s strong showing in California highlights the democratic weakness of top-two primaries when a large minority party can be shut out of the general election, while Mike sees Hilton’s vote share as mostly a reflection of California’s existing Republican floor rather than a sign of GOP momentum. On Iowa and the Senate map, Mike thinks Democrats may have more plausible paths but are still unlikely to flip control, while Jay sees Trump’s influence as powerful but potentially less transferable once he is no longer on the ballot. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patr

This episode explores the constitutional powers of the U.S. President as outlined in Article II, Section 2, including the roles of Commander-in-Chief, treaty-making, appointments, and removal of officials. Topics covered include: Explicit presidential powers The role of the Commander-in-Chief Treaty-making process and Senate advice and consent Appointments and the Senate confirmation process Recess appointments and the Noel Canning case Removal of federal officials and impeachment ⁠⁠Read Trey's Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the excellent ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sustainable Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcast. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Democracy Group⁠⁠⁠⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, industries, and politics. The conversation ranges from the Founding Fathers, Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr. to World War II mobilization, Silicon Valley, Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, AI, China, and the tension between creative disruption and institutional stability. Arthur Herman on X The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part ofThe Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This supporters’ exclusive midweek episode opens with Mike, Michael, and Russ discussing Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, which uses artificial intelligence as a lens for broader questions about human dignity, labor, power, and technological change. The conversation focuses on the document’s connection to Catholic social teaching, its warning against autonomous lethal decision-making, and its broader critique of systems that reduce people to instruments of power. The guys also consider the presence of an Anthropic co-founder at the encyclical’s rollout, as well as the deeper question of whether AI is already reshaping human agency, work, and judgment. Then they turn to the Democratic National Committee’s long-delayed 2024 election autopsy. The report argues that Kamala Harris failed to give voters a clear affirmative case for her candidacy, that Democrats’ problem was message rather than money, and that the party’s erosion among male and working-class voters was not inevitable. But the hosts are sharply critical of what the report omits: Biden’s decision to stay in the race, the handoff to Harris, Gaza, and deeper institutional failures inside the party. The discussion broadens into the Democratic Party’s decline since its 2009 high point, when Obama entered office with unified Democratic control and large congressional majorities. Mike, Michael, and Russ examine the party’s loss of rural and working-class voters, the diploma divide, the hollowing out of party institutions, the right’s alternative media ecosystem, and the difficulty Democrats face in balancing institutionalism, rule-of-law commitments, and the temptation to fight harder against Republican norm-breaking. Get 20% off ProTek watches with code Mikeb here. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike, Michael, and Russ open with the tentative U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and whether it amounts to a real end to the war or just a pause. Michael argues that the deal mostly returns the conflict to where it began while leaving the hardest nuclear questions unresolved. Russ is skeptical that either side is treating the deal with the seriousness it deserves, seeing mostly clashing egos and weak incentives. Mike argues the deal may be worse than the old Iran nuclear agreement because Iran now has stronger reasons to pursue a weapon and fewer reasons to trust U.S. guarantees. Next, the guys turn to Texas, where Ken Paxton’s decisive runoff win over John Cornyn raises questions about Republican Senate prospects and Democratic opportunities. Russ sees Paxton’s win less as pure Trump power than as a sign that Cornyn’s voters lacked enthusiasm while Paxton’s stayed engaged. Mike argues Trump likely endorsed the probable winner to preserve his image of party control, even if Paxton is a weaker general-election candidate. Michael says Paxton may force Republicans to spend heavily in Texas, which could indirectly help Democrats elsewhere even if Texas itself remains a long shot. The guys close with the escalating redistricting fight after new developments in Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Mike argues Republican gains from mid-decade redistricting probably will not be enough to save the House if the national environment stays hostile to Trump. Russ says Democrats remain too attached to moral restraint while Republicans are pressing every institutional advantage available. Michael warns that the country is entering a destabilizing race to the bottom, where both parties may keep redrawing maps whenever power shifts. Get 20% off ProTek watches with code Mikeb here. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. The guys close with the escalating redistricting fight after new developments in Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, Flor

This episode explores the intricacies of Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution, focusing on the presidency, electoral processes, and historical debates that shaped the office. Topics covered include: Vesting clause and inherent executive powers Electoral College origins and evolution The 12th Amendment and its impact Presidential qualifications and natural-born citizen requirement Succession and the 25th Amendment ⁠⁠Read Trey's Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the excellent ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sustainable Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcast. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Democracy Group⁠⁠⁠⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks with Thomas Berry, director of the Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies and editor in chief of the Cato Supreme Court Review, about how to understand the Supreme Court beyond simple liberal/conservative scorekeeping. They discuss originalism, precedent, executive power, independent agencies, and the emergency docket. Berry defends a text-and-history approach to judging, criticizes presidents of both parties for stretching old statutes to justify new policies, and argues that Congress’s weakness has pushed too much power into the executive branch. The Cato Institute on X Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this supporter-exclusive midweek episode, Trey is joined by Justin, and begin their discussion of modern ideologies with a deep dive into Environmentalism. On this week’s show, Trey and Justin discuss: Core principles of environmentalism (ecocentrism, holism, limits to growth, multi-generation ethics) The relationship between environmentalism and American political culture The limited appeal of true ideological environmentalism The expression of environmentalism in other political ideologies Christianity and Environmentalism  The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers⁠ Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠⁠ or⁠⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠⁠ The Democracy Group⁠⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Justin kick off this week’s episode by examining the shifts in this week’s primary elections. Trey argues the GOP has firmly solidified into a MAGA populist party. They highlight the historic and incredibly expensive defeat of long-time incumbent Representative Thomas Massie in Kentucky to a Trump-backed challenger, alongside Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy placing a distant third in his own state's primary race. The pair also discuss the increase in party-line voting.  Next, the pair dive into a staggering one-page settlement published by the DOJ which permanently bars the government from ever auditing or pursuing tax claims against Donald Trump or his family. Arising from a lawsuit over leaked tax data, Trump bypassed a cash payout to establish a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded "anti-weaponization fund" that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified features no limitations, potentially directing funds to individuals convicted in the January 6th Capitol riots. While Justin details the profound corruption and the constitutional objections raised under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause, Trey emphasizes that the fund will likely prove highly popular among a dedicated third of the American electorate. After that, they move to the Senate where the Trump administration suffered a symbolic 50 to 47 loss on a War Powers Resolution aimed at forcing a halt to all unauthorized military operations in Iran. Fresh off his primary defeat, Senator Cassidy joined a handful of Republicans to cross party lines, though House leadership subsequently denied a vote on the measure to stall it until after the Memorial Day recess. Both hosts agree the measure is ultimately a toothless piece of political theater destined for a presidential veto, reflecting less of a seismic shift in congressional backbone and more of an electoral panic among marginal swing-district Republicans facing $4.50 gas prices and a multi-billion dollar war toll. Finally, the duo analyzes the newly unsealed federal criminal indictment charging 94-year-old former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder and conspiracy stemming from the 1996 attack on two civilian aircraft. Trey and Justin question whether this legal maneuver provides genuine justice or functions merely as a ham-fisted pretense for military intervention to topple a new regime. Check out the ⁠⁠Future of Our Former Democracy⁠⁠ podcast  Read ⁠Trey's Substack⁠ for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ Listener support helps make T

Mike talks with former Tennessee governor, U.S. senator, education secretary, and presidential candidate Lamar Alexander about his new book, The Education of a Senator, and what his long career reveals about how American politics actually works. Alexander argues that while Washington’s “dysfunction screen” gets most of the attention, the Senate can still produce major bipartisan accomplishments when members build trust, respect institutional roles, and accept the slow work of compromise. The conversation covers the difference between executive and legislative leadership, the decline of social relationships in Congress, the rise of social media incentives, the erosion of Article I congressional power, the filibuster, federalism, impeachment, presidential relationships, and why Alexander still believes “the republic will survive” if more people choose to be builders rather than performers. Senator Alexander on X. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Topics discussed include: Hamilton's views on commerce and a singular American navy The advantages of economic unity The importance of unity for revenue generation The importance of unity for efficiency Hamilton's predictions about America's global influence The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers⁠⁠ Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠⁠⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠⁠⁠ The Democracy Group⁠⁠⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 nomenclature to bypass Congressional oversight and stabilize financial markets. The conversation then shifts to Trump's high-stakes visit to Beijing, where President Xi Jinping warned that Taiwan’s independence cannot continue, while intelligence reports suggest Chinese companies are masking arms transfers to Iran. Ken and Trey debate whether the U.S. remains a credible counterbalance in the region or if Trump is signaling a willingness to deal away Taiwan. The duo then tackles the Supreme Court's controversial shadow docket ruling allowing Alabama to proceed with a congressional map previously found to dilute Black voter influence. Ken labels the Court’s reliance on the Purcell principle as raw political corruption, prompting a deep dive into potential Democratic reforms should they regain power. They explore the possibility of reigning in the court on voting rights via Article 3, though Trey remains skeptical of the political appetite for such a move. This leads to a broader discussion on the Senate filibuster, which Ken argues must be eliminated now that it has been routinized to block virtually all legislation. Turning to domestic scandals, Trey highlights the resignation of Arcadia Mayor Wang after federal charges revealed she acted as an unregistered agent for the People’s Republic of China. Ken views this specific case as a relatively minor technical violation of the Foreign Agent Registration Act, while Trey wonders if it represents a beta test for deeper Chinese infiltration into local U.S. politics. Finally, the pair discusses the great grape vape resignation of FDA head Dr. Marty McCary, who lasted only 13 months before clashing with the White House over fruit-flavored vaping products. Ken and Trey speculate on whether McCary's departure signals a shift toward tobacco as health or to a larger break with Kennedy. Check out the ⁠Future of Our Former Democracy⁠ podcast  Read Trey's Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠ patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. Th

This episode provides an in-depth analysis of Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution, exploring the limitations it places on states and the historical context behind these provisions. Key topics covered include Limits on state powers in treaties, currency, and military Historical context of Article 1, Section 10 The Contracts Clause and property rights Case studies: Dartmouth College and Minnesota Mortgage Federalism and the role of Congress versus states ⁠⁠Read Trey's Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the excellent ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sustainable Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcast. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Democracy Group⁠⁠⁠⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 reduction itself is not strategically decisive, but looks more like retaliation than planning. Trey sees it as part of a broader Trump effort to demote NATO and reorder U.S. alliances, while Mike worries that America may be giving up a relatively inexpensive source of leverage, deterrence, and global reach. Next, they turn to the Senate reconciliation package, the parliamentarian’s limits on what can be included, and the huge increase in funding for immigration enforcement. Trey explains why reconciliation has become central in a Senate where ordinary legislating is increasingly blocked by the filibuster. Mike focuses on the institutional damage of Congress pre-funding executive priorities for years at a time, while Terry argues that although the congressional abdication is real, Trump is delivering the immigration crackdown he openly campaigned on. After that, the guys discuss Florida’s new congressional map and the escalating national gerrymandering war. Trey lays out how DeSantis is trying to maximize Republican seats while framing the map as race-neutral after the Callais decision. Mike argues that Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment should make this kind of map legally vulnerable, though he suspects the state supreme court may find a way to uphold it. Terry emphasizes that both parties are abandoning anti-gerrymandering principles when power is at stake, while also warning that Republicans may be overreading recent Hispanic voting trends. They close with Republican efforts to flip John Fetterman and what his alienation from Democrats means for the Senate. Terry thinks Fetterman has little reason to switch parties now and give up leverage. Trey notes that Fetterman still votes with Democrats most of the time and argues that party activists now treat even modest dissent as betrayal. Mike sees Fetterman as politically stranded: far too liberal to be a real Republican, too estranged from Democrats to be effective, and likely headed for a very difficult 2028 primary. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. </p

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’s attempt to frame military pressure and uncertain negotiations as progress. Trey argues that the administration still lacks a clear win condition and may be trying to avoid admitting failure. Terry counters that a U.S. win is possible, but only at costs Trump may not be willing to pay. Mike suggests Iran may be playing for time, betting that Trump’s fear of midterm damage and rising gas prices will push him toward a face-saving retreat. Next, the guys turn to this week’s elections, including Trump-backed primary challenges in Indiana, a Democratic special-election win in Michigan, and turnout signals in Ohio. Trey sees Trump’s successful targeting of dissenting Republicans as evidence of his continuing grip on the GOP, while warning that special elections are imperfect predictors of November. Mike argues that the Indiana results may show the power of massive money in low-turnout races more than Trump’s personal power alone. Terry adds a ground-level view from Indiana, where one anti-Trump-targeted incumbent survived by emphasizing local politics against a challenger whose entire message was Trump’s endorsement. After that, the guys examine the Fifth Circuit’s order restricting access to mifepristone, Justice Alito’s temporary administrative stay, and the broader clash over abortion, FDA authority, standing, and state power. Trey thinks the Supreme Court will likely look for a procedural way to avoid a sweeping merits ruling, while worrying that post-Dobbs litigation keeps compounding the loss of individual liberty. Terry presses the harder federalism question: if states can ban abortion, why can’t they block abortion drugs from being shipped into the state? Mike argues that the standing issue is not a mere technicality, because accepting Louisiana’s theory could dramatically expand state challenges to federal regulation. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can

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 the agreement for now. Mike argues that Democrats didn’t get the statutory limits on raids, masks, and body cameras they wanted, but may still have forced some moderation in enforcement tactics after Minneapolis. Justin sees the deal as a likely temporary fix and argues that the bad optics of aggressive enforcement gave Democrats more room to hold out. Kirby thinks the shutdown exposed poor strategic thinking on both sides, with Republicans taking an issue where they had an advantage and damaging themselves through overreach. Next, the guys turn to the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over his Instagram post showing seashells spelling out “8647.” Mike argues that the indictment is legally thin because true-threat doctrine requires evidence that Comey intended, or at least recklessly disregarded, that the message would be understood as a threat. Kirby sees the case as unserious on the merits but serious as a signal that the Trump DOJ is using process itself as punishment. Justin agrees that the case is unlikely to lead to conviction and argues that Republicans are trying to redefine ordinary political language while ignoring far more aggressive rhetoric from Trump and his allies. After that, the discussion broadens to whether Trump’s choices are weakening the MAGA coalition and damaging the Republican brand heading into the midterms and beyond. Mike points to Trump’s poor approval numbers, economic dissatisfaction, the Iran war, and the failure of some GOP structural advantages to materialize as signs that Republicans may be heading into serious trouble. Kirby argues that Trump still owns the party, but a major midterm loss could open the fight between MAGA and post-MAGA Republicans over the party’s future. Justin thinks Trump’s biggest problem is his habit of promising transformation and then delivering something closer to continuity, especially on the economy, while also noting that post-Trump Republican policy may not change as much as Trump’s critics hope. Listen to Kirby’s Inside Political Science podcast here. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  Curious about what sort of POTUS you’d be? Find out in the Fantasy President presidential simulator. The Politics Guys on Facebook | <a href="https://twitte

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 gerrymandering, and the future of congressional redistricting. Justin argues that the ruling effectively makes racial vote-dilution claims nearly impossible to prove, especially when courts allow states to hide behind partisan explanations. Kirby pushes past the immediate partisan implications, suggesting that while the decision may hurt descriptive representation, its long-term effects on substantive representation are harder to predict. Mike is more sympathetic to the Court’s reasoning than expected, arguing that once race and party become highly correlated, Section 2 enforcement can begin to look like court-ordered Democratic gerrymandering. Next, the guys turn to the latest alleged assassination attempt against President Trump, the security response, the immediate political spin, and the administration’s argument that it strengthens the case for a new White House ballroom. Mike argues that the security system largely worked, while calling the ballroom justification legally and politically opportunistic. Justin focuses on the rise of lone-wolf political violence and the broader collapse of trust that makes conspiracy thinking almost automatic after events like this. Kirby emphasizes how quickly both parties convert crises into talking points and argues that political violence today is serious but should not be exaggerated beyond historical context. They close with the war against Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the War Powers Resolution deadline, and whether Congress still has any meaningful role in authorizing sustained military conflict. Kirby argues that Congress has effectively surrendered much of its war-making authority and is unlikely to reclaim it unless the war becomes politically unbearable. Justin sees the conflict as strategically underdefined and politically dangerous for Republicans, especially if it fractures the MAGA coalition or keeps driving up fuel prices. Mike argues that Iran may actually have the stronger position over time, because Trump’s demand for something close to unconditional surrender is not a real negotiation strategy and may collide with public anger over the war’s economic costs. You can listen to Kirby’s Inside Political Science podcast here. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  Curious about what sort of POTUS you’d be? Find out in the Fantasy President presidential simulator.</stro

Mike is joined by special guest Corey Nathan, creator and host of the Talkin’ Politics Corey emphasizes concerns about election integrity and democratic norms, along with a desire for accountability and constitutional order, while also expressing cautious optimism about independent-minded legislators and cross-partisan cooperation emerging at state and local levels, whereas Mike stresses deeper systemic forces that reward conflict, discourage reform, and make Congress resistant to change; together they explore possible but unlikely paths to less disappointing outcomes—from weakening the filibuster to institutional reforms—while ultimately converging on a modest, process-oriented hope that incremental progress, civic engagement, and good-faith dialogue may be the most realistic way forward in a system structurally biased toward frustration.  Check out Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Feminism  The evolution of Feminism from an early struggle for political recognition and personhood to a focus on social structures and intersectionality Fascism’s rejection of reason and its rejection of Enlightenment rationality. The radical vs. liberal divide in Feminism An examination of how contemporary feminism interacts with trans rights The expanding nature of who counts as a Feminist and its intersection with race, class, and gender The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 blockade. They also point to the not-well-publicized 30-day sanctions relief granted to Russia to mitigate global oil shortages. Next, they turn to Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh. The discussion covers the recent news of the ending of the 12-12 committee deadlock, along with a bit of disagreement over how much latitude Warsh has from President Trump. Mike and Trey agree there are positive aspects to Warsh’s positions while Justin is more hesitant, but Trey is worried Warsh was not willing to call out the winner of the 2020 election. After that, they move to the Southern Poverty Law Center and the groups’ alleged shell companies to fund informants. While those in MAGA see this as a way for SPLC to manufacture extremism, the guys agree that the bigger issue is with the way that SPLC has had mission creep and slowly expanded a more fully left-vision of hate. They close the show with a discussion on Virginia’s new voter-approved congressional map that could grant Democrats a 10-1 seat advantage in a state where roughly 46% of voters chose Donald Trump in 2024. Mike gets deep into the problematic misleading of the ballot language, and Justin discusses how redistricting plans in Texas might backfire in a wave election. Check out the ⁠Future of Our Former Democracy⁠ podcast  Curious about what sort of POTUS you’d be? Find out in the ⁠Fantasy President⁠presidential simulator. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠ patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Ken explore Federalist Papers No. 9 and 10, focusing on the arguments for a large republic and the dangers of faction. Topics discussed include: The role of factions in democracy Montesquieu and the Anti-Federalist arguments for small republics Hamilton and Madison’s overview of the advantages of a large republic Madison's theory of interest checking interest Hamilton's deep dive into the history of Greece The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers⁠ Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠⁠ or⁠⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠⁠ The Democracy Group⁠⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Trey & Ken begin with Representative Eric Swalwell’s resignation from Congress and his suspended gubernatorial bid. Ken and Trey find themselves at odds over the institutional response. Ken argues that if Swalwell maintains his innocence, he should have stayed to fight the charges, suggesting his presence was a net positive for the Democratic caucus. Trey, however, contends that the resignation is a necessary consequence of his actions and that the party must prioritize moral clarity over political utility. Next, the pair turn to Viktor Orbán and the Fidesz party, conceding defeat to the Tisza party. The guys analyze the ripple effects of this election, particularly the role of Vice President JD Vance’s recent stumping for Orbán. Ken offers a provocative take: that the President used Vance’s Hungarian visit as a tactical maneuver to neutralize a VP who has been quietly skeptical of the ongoing war in Iran, at least behind the scenes. Then, the guys turn to the 10-day ceasefire now in place between Israel and Lebanon and the ongoing maritime landscape shift in response. While there are hopes for reopening the Strait to international commerce, the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in full effect. Trey and Ken examine the legal and strategic friction of maintaining an active blockade during a nominal ceasefire, along with the possibility of continued peace after the ceasefire period ends. They also discuss the close war powers vote that occurred in the House. Finally, they close in a moment of agreement. Both Trey and Ken argue that FISA Section 702, despite the President’s recent calls for renewal, has become incompatible with American civil liberties. They discuss why they believe the program, plagued by a history of abuse and the potential for future overreach, belongs in the dustbin of history. Check out the ⁠Future of Our Former Democracy⁠ podcast  Curious about what sort of POTUS you’d be? Find out in the ⁠Fantasy President⁠ presidential simulator. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠ patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how w

In this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode, Mike and Michael examine political behavior through coalition dynamics rather than broad public opinion, using Fenno’s framework of multiple constituencies to show why smaller, more engaged groups—especially base voters, donors, and close advisors—often exert disproportionate influence. The discussion explores how electoral incentives like primaries, safe seats, turnout differences, and the Electoral College push politicians toward electoral efficiency, targeting the voters and funders who matter most rather than maximizing overall support. It also analyzes complications such as misjudging coalition strength, managing internal divisions, the growing role of out-of-district money, and the tension between acting as a delegate versus a trustee, concluding with the importance of negative partisanship and offering a simple heuristic: political choices are largely driven by who politicians need to keep satisfied to win and maintain power. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jay open with the Iran conflict, debating whether the U.S.-Israel war achieved meaningful strategic gains or left America in a weaker position. Mike argues the ceasefire looks like a premature declaration of victory that strengthened Iran’s leverage, while Jay contends degrading Iran’s military and leadership are meaningful steps toward long-term goals like regime change or limiting its regional power. Next, they turn to the Trump administration’s rollback of transgender student protections, focusing on whether Title IX legally covers gender identity. Mike emphasizes that both statutory text and legislative history point clearly to biological sex, though he’s open to updating the law legislatively, while Jay agrees the prior interpretation was legally unsound but warns that aggressive federal enforcement against local districts risks overreach beyond core issues like sports. After that, the guys discuss recent elections in Wisconsin and Georgia and the broader pattern of Democratic overperformance in special elections. Mike argues the results largely track historical midterm dynamics rather than signaling a historically large wave, while Jay cautions against overinterpreting low-turnout, high-spending special elections but agrees Republicans should view the trend as a warning sign. Finally, they close with the Justice Department’s claim that the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, raising deeper separation-of-powers questions. Mike suggests the law may improperly intrude on executive authority, especially given its record-creation requirements, while Jay agrees the executive can challenge such statutes but emphasizes the courts will ultimately decide, highlighting the tension between transparency norms and constitutional structure. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast  Curious about what sort of POTUS you’d be? Find out in the Fantasy President presidential simulator. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi

In this supporter-exclusive midweek episode, Trey is joined by Justin, and they conclude their exploration of the classic political ideologies with a deep dive into Fascism. On this week’s show, Trey and Justin discuss: Fascism’s rejection of reason and its rejection of Enlightenment rationality. The centrality of violence and struggle as an enduring premise of fascism. How fascism holds the past as idyllic goal that that will lead to greatness in response to a degenerate modernity. Fascism’s rejection of democracy with a specific focus on Carl Schmitt’s critique parliamentary democracy in which Schmitt argues that a singular leader can be more authentic to a peoples will than a process of voting. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Good Friday edition of the Politics Guys, Trey is joined by Justin, and the duo dives into a chaotic week of personnel changes at the Justice Department and Pentagon, significant Supreme Court rulings, and the President's personal appearance at the high court. First, the guys open with the sudden firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi after a 14-month tenure. Despite her loyalty, Trey argues that President Trump is trying to create a far more unitary executive branch. The pair also includes a discussion of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent firings, which include Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and General David Honder. Justin argues that the strategy is clear: bomb things. They both also laugh about Hegseth getting involved in a flyby of Kid Rock’s house. Next, they move to the Supreme Court’s 8-1 ruling in Chile v. Solars, which challenged Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for licensed counselors. While the law wasn't fully struck down, Trey outlines how the Court directed lower courts to apply the strict scrutiny standard. Justin and Trey debate the boundary between regulating medical practice and protecting professional speech. After that, they move to a historic first: a president personally attending oral arguments at the Supreme Court. In this case, it was President Trump personally attending regarding his executive order to end birthright citizenship. Trey highlights the President's post-hearing comments where he labeled the justices "stupid people" for insisting on their independence from the man who appointed them. The pair discuss the tension between this action and the constitutional separation of powers. Then it is a move to the executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and the Postal Service to create a master list of confirmed citizens. The order threatens election workers with prosecution if they issue ballots to those deemed ineligible by the federal government. Justin explores the federalism concerns of the executive branch intervening in state-run elections. They close the show by reviewing President Trump’s Wednesday night address on the conflict in Iran. Trump claimed military success and suggested operations could conclude in two to three weeks, despite the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a proposed trillion-dollar defense budget. Trey ends the show discussing the challenges of modern warfare, asymmetric warfare, where drones and missiles often bypass traditional air superiority. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change y

Trey and Ken transition from the writings of John Jay to Alexander Hamilton in this week’s midweek Federalist Papers show. Topics discussed include: Hamilton’s deeply pessimistic view of human conduct and his response to the idea that democracies or commercial republics are inherently peaceful.  A deep dive into the four specific triggers Hamilton believed would afflict a disunited America, including the massive Revolutionary War debt. Hamilton’s warning that disunion would force states to adopt the fortified borders and standing armies of Europe.  The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s show, Trey and Ken discuss why the Senate funded the TSA while excluding ICE, along with the legality of President Trump’s plan to pay workers using a slush fund from last year’s tax bill.  Next, they move to Iran’s rejection of the U.S.’s 15-point peace plan and the administration's controversial preventative self-defense justification filed with the UN. After that, they turn to the allegations of insider trading, including a $580 million spike in oil bets placed minutes before President Trump’s social media posts and the rise of the prediction markets as a feature of modern warfare.  The pair then moves to the Mar-a-Lago upset, which saw Democrat Emily Gregory’s 19-point flip of Florida House District 87, and how the shift in suburban voters may stall Florida’s gerrymandering efforts.  Trey and Ken close the show looking at how the FBI has potentially used a loophole in the Fourth Amendment to bypass warrants by purchasing bulk location data from commercial brokers. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode, Mike and Michael discuss the first New Rule of Politics (which is also an old rule of politics): follow the money. Mike contends that money is the most visible and measurable driver of political incentives, arguing that while it rarely buys votes outright, it is essential for viability and influence. Mike emphasizes how campaign finance evolved into a system where legal, structural incentives prioritize access and donor influence over outright corruption, while Michael highlights how massive spending, small-donor dynamics, and technological targeting reinforce polarization and keep the system escalating. The guys close with the practical implications: money signals who is viable, shapes which issues get attention, and determines who gets access to policymakers. Mike argues that donors—especially large ones—buy influence rather than outcomes, while Michael underscores that even well-intentioned politicians are constrained by these incentives, leaving ordinary citizens with limited direct influence. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Russ open with a discussion of the ongoing U.S.–Israel war with Iran, focusing on rising costs, limited military capacity, and unclear strategic objectives. Mike frames the conflict as a mix of presidential preference for displays of strength and structural constraints, while Russ argues the war exposes a disconnect between public opinion and foreign policy, emphasizing skepticism of regime change and questioning whose interests are actually being served. Next, they turn to the Illinois primary elections, highlighting progressive Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton’s Senate primary win and the mixed results for progressive candidates in House races amid heavy outside spending. Mike sees the results as favoring institutionally backed “pragmatic progressives” and boosting Governor Pritzker’s national profile, while Russ views the outcomes as evidence of growing grassroots progressive momentum despite financial disadvantages and electoral losses. The guys close with a broader reflection on political incentives and public perception, with Mike emphasizing how narratives around voter fraud can be politically useful regardless of factual basis, and Russ warning that the success of such narratives points to deeper issues in political literacy and the ability of leaders to shape reality for their supporters. Check out the Future of Our Former Democracy podcast The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey and Ken unlock Jay’s the Federalist Papers' No 2 - 5.  In this episode, the pair examine how Jay envisioned a unified nation's path to peace, strength, and global influence. Topics include Jay’s Hobbesian vision and perspective of a war where decentralized American states invites chaos, while a united America deters foreign aggressors from Europe. The hosts also overview Jay’s views on the need for a singular national identity and how he saw a powerful national government as being more likely to obey international law. Join Trey and Ken as they explore the details of why Jay was in favor of a strong, centralized leadership to secure America’s future internationally. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Trey and Ken delve into Iran's leadership transition and the strategic impact of recent U.S. and Israeli military actions. They explore the internal dynamics of Iran's regime and the role of Jared Kushner's shadow diplomacy in escalating tensions, potentially sparking new conflicts with Cuba. The discussion shifts to domestic terrorism, examining links to recent radicalized attacks on U.S. soil and debating the potential necessity of reopening the DHS amid heightened security risks. The episode concludes with an analysis of Trump's legislative strategy, focusing on the implications of the Save America Act. The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Trey’s Substack on the Federalist Papers Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at⁠patreon.com/politicsguys⁠ or⁠ politicsguys.com/support⁠. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of⁠ The Democracy Group⁠, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this preview of the midweek supporters' exclusive show, Mike and Michael introduce The New Rules of Politics, a new series aimed at explaining modern American politics through incentives, institutions, and systemic dynamics rather than personalities. Mike argues that many traditional ways of interpreting politics no longer work because the broader environment—especially technology, media, and political rules—has changed faster than the institutions governing politics can adapt. The conversation explores how structural factors such as low-turnout primaries, the nationalization of politics, changes in media business models, and the growing influence of money in campaigns shape who succeeds in politics and how they behave once in office. They also discuss declining public trust in institutions, the possibility that figures like Donald Trump are products of modern political incentives rather than unique anomalies, and the difficulty of meaningful constitutional or institutional reform in an era of deep polarization. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices