Politicology

We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it?  In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships? Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise (02:33) Leigh and Justin’s backgrounds  (07:04) Why they began practicing silence in their own lives (12:50) Why silence feels scary (18:30) What is noise?  (22:12) Internal silence is what people think it is (30:19) The connection between noise and rigid thinking (37:27) The historical significance of silence You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2 FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinZorn https://twitter.com/LeighMarz https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode Ron talks to Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) about Ukraine’s resilience and global fatigue 3.5 years into Russia’s invasion.  They discuss: (07:56) The Ukrainian refugee murdered in Charlotte(09:52) Ukrainian morale and shifting public opinion  (20:37) Russia’s strategy  (27:11) Trump and Putin’s meeting  (32:41) The Allies meeting  (42:14) Europe’s internal politics and security challenges  (46:50) European security dynamics  (51:09) China’s military parades and global alliances  (53:39) India’s positioning  (1:09:22) Ukraine moving forward  Read Molly’s work: https://www.greatpower.us/ Read Molly’s piece ‘Half-Baked Alaska: https://bit.ly/4n1nnHX Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow Ron and Molly  on X: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/MollyMcKew Email your questions to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪‪(703) 239-3068‬ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men.  (02:04) The toxicity of “toxic masculinity” (08:00) The “right” at war and the “left” in denial (13:00) How negative partisanship only increases the problem (15:00) The differences in funding and institutional support for men and women  (23:00) Redshirt the boys  (28:00) The criticism Richard has faced for his writing on boys and men You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/ Follow Ron and Richard  on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) discuss information warfare and the biased reporting about Israel ahead of their ground offensive in Gaza City.    Then, the backlash against parties in power in Europe and why Americans need to care about it. In Politicology+ they discuss China’s military parade, the meetings between the leaders of China, Russia, and India and why it matters so much right now. Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/HagarChemali Related Reading:  TOI - Tens of thousands of reservists drafted ahead of Gaza City takeover, but turnout down | The Times of Israel TOI - At stormy cabinet meet, IDF chief said to warn Gaza op will lead to full-fledged occupation | The Times of Israel FP - WATCH: Gazan Journalists Say Al Jazeera Works Hand in Glove with Hamas FP - They Became Symbols for Gazan Starvation. But All 12 Suffer from Other Health Problems. The Dispatch - White Hats and Black Hats in the Middle East WSJ - Populist Right-Wing Parties Lead Polls in Europe’s Biggest Economies The Spectator - Migrant protests and the twilight of luxury beliefs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men. (02:13) Richard’s work and how it led to studying boys and men (04:00) The risks if the problems are not addressed (07:30) The gendered education gap(0z8:20) How economic shifts have impacted men(11:20) Intersectionality in the research on gender (30:30) Recognizing these problems as structural and not individual(34:40)  Weighing the biological differences between women and men You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/Follow Ron and Richard  on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/RichardvReeves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (Author of The Latino Century) unpack President Trump’s move to remove a sitting Federal Reserve governor,  the overt politicization of the Fed, and how it raises questions about whether it even makes sense for an institution this powerful to exist as it does.    Then, the administration’s deal for a 10% stake in Intel and what it signals about a turn toward state capitalism. In Politicology+ they discuss Trump’s flag-burning executive order and the use of popular moves to erode civil liberties. Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/madrid_mike Related Reading:  CNN -How an obscure housing director launched Trump’s firing of Fed governor Lisa Cook | CNN Politics NBC News - Trump tampering with Fed independence is risky for the economy, experts say WP - Opinion | The Trump-engineered government stake in Intel is a dangerous move - The Washington Post Reason - Trump Says He 'Paid Zero' for the Government's $11 Billion Stake in Intel. Here's the Downside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron Steslow and Katherine Mangu-Ward discuss surveillance pricing, the role of government in data collection, the third-party doctrine that allows the government to buy personal data, and the marriage of corporate and state centralized power. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  ⁠https://www.oneskin.co/⁠ #oneskinpod Related Reading:  Vox - Delta is using AI to give you a personalized airfare. It could be the future of pricing. NBC News - This congressman wants to ban companies from using your search history to set personalized prices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ron Steslow and Olivier Knox (Senior National Political Correspondent at U.S. News & World Report) talk about Trump's federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department and the longstanding crime problem in Washington, D.C.  Later, they discuss the tensions between local and federal law enforcement nationally, the increasing surveillance and privacy concerns in society, and rediscovering the value of privacy.  Then, in Politicology+ they discuss whether thinking is becoming a luxury good. They explore the alarming trend of declining literacy and the implications of digital media and AI on human thought and social interaction. Later, they discuss how the shift towards a post-literate society, characterized by short-form content and algorithmic reading, threatens the foundations of democracy and critical thinking. Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/OKnox Related Reading:  AP - Trump's takeover of Washington law enforcement begins as National Guard troops arrive NY Post - Minors account for half of DC’s carjacking arrests since 2023 — including pint-sized perps as young as 12: police data WP - Pentagon plan would create National Guard ‘reaction force’ for civil unrest - The Washington Post 404 Media- ICE Is Buying Mobile Iris Scanning Tech for Its Deportation Arm WIRED - What Does Palantir Actually Do? U.S. News - Gomez on Drone Use: 'We're Treating Civilians as … Enemy Combatants' | U.S. News Decision Points Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode, Ron Steslow and Isaac Stone Fish (founder and CEO of Strategy Risks) discuss China's influence and the risks associated with corporate exposure to the Chinese Communist Party They explore the shifting public perception of China, the implications of leadership conflicts in major companies like Intel, and the strategic decisions surrounding chip sales by Nvidia and AMD.  Then, they delve into the significant cybersecurity threats posed by China which have targeted U.S. infrastructure.  They discuss the vulnerabilities of the U.S. in the face of potential military conflicts and the broader implications of modern warfare, including economic and information warfare.  Later, Isaac dives into how Hollywood's portrayal of China and Chinese people impacts  public perception. They discuss: (3:00) Corporate exposure to China (5:50) Business and the CCP  (8:55)Shifting public views on China  (11:59) Intel Chief’s conflicts in China (15:02) Nvidia and AMD (18:02) Supply chain risks  (20:58) China’s global strategy and U.S. response (31:07) Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon (34:07) The vulnerability of U.S. infrastructure (38:01) Rethinking modern warfare (40:35) Hollywood’s role in perception of China  (46:28) Decoupling from China  (54:14) The TikTok dilemma  Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow Ron and Isaac on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/isaacstonefish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (Author of The Latino Century) talk about the threats of the escalating, mid-decade redistricting war that Texas and California are kicking off. Later, they discuss some of the shocking, but not surprising, news on the Epstein scandal. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss the major jobs number revision from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump firing the agency’s head, and what the erosion of trust in economic data means—especially for government institutions. Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/madrid_mike Related Reading:  The Great Transformation - Will Redistricting Become the Trigger for National Breakdown Chuck Todd - Stop Fearing the Voters: The Lazy Death Spiral of American Representation Politico - ‘If this fails, he'll have egg on his face’: Gavin Newsom bets political future on redistricting power play WP - Ghislaine Maxwell’s move to ‘country club’ prison smacks of special treatment, experts say - The Washington Post ABC News - Ghislaine Maxwell told DOJ Trump never did anything concerning around her: Sources - ABC News CNN - Top Trump officials will discuss Epstein strategy at Wednesday dinner hosted by Vance | CNN Politics NYT - Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan Townhouse: Birthday Letters, First Edition ‘Lolita’ and More - The New York Times NPR - House Oversight Committee subpoenas the Justice Department for Epstein files Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices