Politicology

Political strategist Mike Madrid delves into the essence of American identity, challenging the notion of ethnicity over ideas. He and Ron Steslow discuss historian Gordon S. Wood's view that the U.S. is founded on a shared creed, not bloodlines. They critique the rise of blood-and-soil nationalism and explore how a multi-ethnic democracy can thrive amidst demographic changes. Madrid emphasizes the need for active engagement in democracy, expressing cautious optimism for a non-white America that can uphold cherished values.

Hagar Chemali, a former U.N. spokesperson and national security expert, shares insights on the 2025 National Security Strategy, highlighting its mixed messages and the internal divide between isolationists and internationalists. The discussion spans the importance of U.S. credibility in diplomacy, a pivot toward Latin America, and the ongoing challenges with China and Taiwan. Chemali emphasizes the dangers of neglecting human rights issues, particularly in Hong Kong, and addresses the alarming rise of antisemitic violence, linking it to unchecked incitement.

Lucy Caldwell, a political strategist and tech founder, explores the Democratic Party's struggle with populism versus centrism. She highlights the misleading signals from recent elections and how primaries can favor charismatic insurgents over electable candidates. The discussion shifts to the disconnect between elite economic narratives and the real financial pressures faced by voters, emphasizing the need for Democrats to embrace populism constructively. They also touch on the challenges of decentralized organizing for Democrats compared to Republicans.

For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus Last weekend, eleven Politicology listeners from all over the country joined Ron and Mike in person for a salon style retreat called Unscripted: A Politicology Gathering. They explored big questions like “What is the point of America?” and “What does it mean to be a citizen in the digital age?”  In this episode, those same listeners share what they learned and how it’s changing how they think about the evolving world we’re all living in. Stay in the loop about Unscripted gatherings: https://bit.ly/3XK4tub 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 Mike on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging conversation, Kashmir Hill, a technology reporter and author focused on privacy issues, dives into the ethical dilemmas posed by facial recognition technology. She discusses the alarming trend of law enforcement skirting privacy laws and the impact of privacy regulations like GDPR. Hill reflects on the potential future of privacy, emphasizing individual actions to safeguard anonymity in an increasingly surveilled world. With examples of misuse and the chilling effects of technology, she presents a thought-provoking look at our changing societal norms.

Kashmir Hill, a tech reporter for The New York Times and author of *Your Face Belongs to Us*, delves into privacy and the implications of facial recognition technology. She discusses how anonymity is eroding in everyday activities and the dangers posed by companies like Clearview AI. The conversation highlights the history of facial recognition, the ethics of surveillance tools, and the unintended consequences of sharing personal data online. Hill also explores the role of platforms like Facebook in advancing this technology and the societal choices shaping our future privacy.

Molly McKew, a writer and lecturer specializing in Russian influence and information warfare, joins Ron to dissect alarming revelations about Trumpworld's connections with the Kremlin and their impact on Ukraine. She breaks down a leaked call that reveals how Russia was coached on influencing Trump, highlighting its deviation from diplomatic norms. Molly shares chilling firsthand accounts of drone saturation in Ukraine and emphasizes the urgent need for U.S. support. The discussion underscores that Ukraine's fight is a battle for democracy, requiring steadfast commitment from allies.

In this insightful discussion, Mike Madrid, a senior political advisor and expert on Latino civic trends, joins Ron Steslow to tackle pressing questions about the Republican Party’s fractures and the implications of ICE raids in smaller cities. They explore the societal impact of AI and the balance between political strategy and governance. Additionally, they highlight the importance of kindness as a response to polarization and what shifts mean for Trump's influence within the party as defections increase and community dynamics evolve.

In this discussion, Gabrielius Landsbergis, former Lithuanian foreign minister and visiting fellow at Stanford, joins expert Molly McKew to analyze a controversial leaked peace plan for Ukraine. They uncover alarming concessions to Russia, examine how the plan undermines NATO's credibility, and discuss Europe's exclusion from decision-making. Gabrielius argues for Europe to formalize security arrangements with Ukraine, while Molly critiques the vague guarantees in the proposal. Together, they explore the implications of U.S. withdrawal on global stability.

This week, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) break down the newly released Epstein emails, what they show, what they don’t and why the national security implications are far bigger than the headlines. They dig into Epstein’s attempts to insert himself into global politics including offering Russia “insight” on Donald Trump and the strange connection between Larry Summers and China’s Belt and Road Initiative  Then, they walk through why Congress forced the DOJ’s hand, why Pam Bondi now controls what gets redacted, and why the lack of institutional trust means any carve-outs will only fuel more conspiracy and chaos. After that, they turn to Poland, where a Russian-backed sabotage attack on a key supply line to Ukraine has triggered a crisis inside NATO.     In Politicology+ they dive into back-to-back Oval Office visits from two Middle Eastern leaders, and what Trump’s defense of the Saudi Crown Prince reveals about America’s shifting posture in the region.  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 Listen to The Last Invention: https://bit.ly/4pob891 Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/HagarChemali Related Reading:  Politico - Jeffrey Epstein claimed he gave Russians insight into Trump Newsweek - Donald Trump ‘blowing Bubba’ message in Epstein emails under scrutiny - Newsweek ABC News - Epstein offered reporter photos of 'donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen': Email - ABC News NY Post - Meet economist Keyu Jin, who Larry Summers asked Jeffrey Epstein advice on how to get 'horizontal' with | New York Post NYT - Poland Blames Russian-Backed Ukrainians for Railway Sabotage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices