Should Donald Trump be pardoned if he’s convicted? Why are state legislatures trying to consolidate power and limit ballot referenda? What do spending decisions have to do with the Gerontocracy?

Join our host, Ron Steslow, as he explores these questions with guests Lucy Caldwell (Walsh 2020 Campaign Manager) and Zack Czajkowski (Principal at Title Fight).

Segments to look forward to:

(02:00) Why the election subversion case against Trump is harder to prove than the documents case and whether Trump should be granted clemency if convicted.

(21:21) Ohio voters defeat a measure to make amending the Constitution harder and what it says about the balance between direct democracy and the legislative system.

(38:38) Breaking down the Medicaid maintenance after Covid protections end, the challenge of reigning in deficits without political backlash, and how this relates to the gerontocracy.

[Politicology+] The lawsuit against Lizzo and “the narcissism of singular personalities.”

Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.

Follow this week’s panel on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/lucymcaldwell

Related reading:

Segment 1:

NYT—https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/08/us/politics/trump-indictment-fake-electors-memo.html

The Dispatch —The New Trump Indictment Is Less Clear Cut - The Dispatch

NYT—Opinion | The Trial America Needs - The New York Times

Segment 2:

NYT—Ohio Voters Reject Constitutional Change Intended to Thwart Abortion Amendment

Axios—Ohio referendum win for abortion rights sets stage for fights in other states

Politico—Ohio’s Abortion Ban Is Rekindling a Century-Old Battle Over Direct Democracy - POLITICO

Segment 3

Politico—Biden's health care wins are being undone — and at the worst possible time

Bloomberg—US Treasury Boosts Quarterly Borrowing Estimate to $1 Trillion

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6 PM ET: Biden wraps up NATO summit, cancer deaths preventable, Alec Baldwin trial & more