Politicology

Are there tendencies within Christian tradition that put some versions of the faith in tension with core principles of democracy?What is “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity?”How can a pluralistic society guard against the rise of political figures—including Donald Trump—aiming to weaponize this phenomenon?In this two-part conversation, Ron Steslow and Rev. Prof. David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) discuss these provocative questions and more as they dive into David’s book, Defending Democracy From Its Christian Enemies.In part 1:(04:40) Ron shares a personal note with David about the impact he’s had on Ron’s journey  (07:24) David discussed a few of the transformative moments in his career (13:08) The historical and current challenges Christianity poses to democratic values (16:30) Why some Christians are skeptical of democracy and the nuanced reasons behind it(22:02 ) Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity and why it’s a better term for what we’re seeing  than Christian Nationalism (28:38) How certain Christian groups prioritize their beliefs over democratic norms and values (34:02) The cycle of secular revolutions followed by religious counter-revolutions For more of David’s work visit his website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/Follow Ron  on X (formerly Twitter):https://twitter.com/RonSteslowEmail your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MAGA makes a mess all over the Capitol, including tanking their own  border deal for Trump. Tucker Carlson goes to the Kremlin to be Putin’s mouthpiece.This week’s panel: Ron SteslowMike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare)Segments this week:(03:00) Republican dysfunction in Congress(27:11) Tucker Carlson interviews Putin and evolving Russian information warfare[Politicology+] The money raised and spent by Super PACs supporting Trump’s primary challengers—what it tells us, and why it matters.Not yet a Politicology+ subscriber? It’s a private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Support Molly’s fundraiser for drones for frontline units in Ukraine:  https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/91MGe8XC8ASend your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/madrid_mike https://twitter.com/MollyMcKewRelated reading:Segment 1: CNN - Bipartisan border deal on brink of defeat ahead of key Senate vote | CNN PoliticsPolitico - McConnell faces a growing GOP rebellion after border deal breaks down - POLITICOAxios - Senate Democrats strike fast after GOP’s border deal implosionAxios - House GOP erupts in fury over "embarrassing" and "shameful" defeatsSegment 2: WP - Putin interview with Tucker Carlson shows Kremlin outreach to Trump’s GOP - The Washington PostX - Tucker Carlson on Why he’s interviewing PutinNYT - N.S.A. Installs New Director as U.S. Prepares for Election Influence OperationsRead George Conway’s piece about the Trump immunity decision:  The Atlantic - An Airtight Ruling Against Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What sort of person decides to step back from an esteemed career as a civil liberties legal advocate and embark on one of the most exhausting and thankless prospects you can imagine—a bid for congress? Exactly the sort of person Congress needs at this moment. Civil Rights Attorney and advocate Joe Cohn returns to Politicology to discuss his decision to run for congress. Segments to look forward to:(02:06) Why Joe’s running for congress(06:30) What makes him different from the rest of the field  (08:20) His experience in civil rights litigation and legislative advocacy (14:12) The role of elected officials in depolarization (20:40) The threats to democracy(25:20) Curbing executive power and encouraging legislative action(37:13) The broken incentive structure in Congress (47:47) New Jersey Politics and the County Party Line(50:27) Winning in an environment that values spectacle(52:45)Prioritizing reasonableness and dialogueCheck out Joe’s website: https://www.joecohnforcongress.com/Follow Ron and Joe  on X (formerly Twitter):https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/JoeCohnNJ3Email your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.On this weekly roundup, Biden praises the border security deal and pledges to “shut down” the border if it passes, an Iranian-backed militia kills three U.S. soldiers in Jordan, and Nikki Haley goes on offense.This week’s panel: Ron SteslowMike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) Olivier Knox (veteran politics and foreign policy reporter, most recently at The Washington Post )Segments this week:(02:35) The border deal(18:00) Iran-backed militias(36:13) Nikki Haley[Politicology+] The MAGA conspiracy theory that the Super Bowl is rigged and Taylor Swift is a PsyOp.Not yet a Politicology+ subscriber? It’s a private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Check out Olivier’s substack: https://olivierknox.substack.com/Watch Spiritual Warriors: Decoding Christian Nationalism at the Capitol Riot —https://bit.ly/3UqNfl6Send your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/OKnox https://twitter.com/madrid_mike Related reading:Segment 1: WP - Lankford defends bipartisan border security bill after attacks by Trump, GOPThe Hill - House Republicans poised to torpedo GOP’s best chance in years to pass border bill | The HillAxios - Bloomberg poll: Biden losing ground to Trump on immigrationWhite House - Statement from President Joe Biden On the Bipartisan Senate Border Security Negotiations | The White HouseWSJ - A GOP Border Reckoning - WSJSegment 2: CNN - Jordan drone attack: Three US troops killed at Tower 22, more than 30 injured | CNN PoliticsNPR - U.S. identifies the 3 service members killed in drone strike in Jordan : NPRNYT - 3 American Soldiers Killed in Drone Strike in Jordan, U.S. SaysAxios - Biden says he's decided how to respond to deadly Jordan attackAP - Iran threatens to respond to any US strikes as Biden weighs how to react to a base attack in JordanSegment 3: The Bulwark - An Open Letter to Nikki Haley - by Michael WoodNYT - Nikki Haley Goes After Trump and Biden in ‘Grumpy Old Men’ Campaign - The New York TimesAxios - Nikki Haley's coast-to-coast money week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusMike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Ron Steslow respond to your feedback and answer your questions on our latest mailbag episode. (01:35) Lauren Boebert’s district switch (05:35) Shifting demographics and political alignment in the U.S. (08:05) The moral and ethical considerations for former Trump supporters and the importance of genuine contrition(27:00) The significance of union endorsements in the current political landscape (41:10) Global tensions and the interconnection between various forms of warfare, including the potential onset of a world warHave a question for a future Mailbag episode? Send it over to us at podcast@politicology.com!You can also leave us a voice message at ‪(202) 455-4558‬Follow Ron, and Mike on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.On this weekly roundup, Biden and Trump win the New Hampshire primaries, the evolving politics of the worsening border crisis, and the “incredibly stark” assessment that Russia could win their war against Ukraine in a matter of weeks. This week’s panel: Ron SteslowMike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN)Segments this week:(03:00) The New Hampshire Primary(18:37) The Fight Over Border Security(37:47) Ukraine Aid[Politicology+] AI systems, the fight over whose values are embedded within the technology, what it will say, and what it will be used for.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.Check out Oh My World!: https://www.ohmyworld.tv/Read Akhil and Vikram Amar Amicus brief: https://bit.ly/3HxTZFRSend your questions to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/HagarChemalihttps://twitter.com/madrid_mikeRelated reading:Segment 1: ABC News - Haley captures independents and college grads, but Trump base holds fast in NH: Exit poll - ABC NewsNY Times - New Hampshire Primary: Trump Defeats Haley, but She Vows to Stay in Race - The New York TimesCNN - Biden wins New Hampshire primary, CNN projects, with successful write-in campaignSegment 2: NYTimes  - Opinion | Why Biden Must Collide With the Democratic Party on Immigration - The New York TimesCBS News - Americans increasingly see border as crisis, call for tougher measures, CBS News poll findsPolitico - Lead GOP negotiator: No border package vote this week, 'very hopeful' on deal text - Live Updates - POLITICONYTimes - With Border Deal Near, Parole and Money Take Center Stage in Senate TalksABC News - Supreme Court allows federal agents to remove razor wire Texas placed at border - ABC NewsThe Hill -Chip Roy: Texas should ignore Supreme Court’s border razor wire ruling | The HillSegment 3: NBC News - 'Incredibly stark': Biden aides give lawmakers a grim assessment of Ukraine without more aid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hagar Chemali, Mike Madrid, and Ron Steslow discuss AI systems, the fight over whose values are embedded within the technology, what it will say, and what it will be used for.Related reading:Axios - AI's next fight is over whose values it should holdhttps://www.axios.com/2024/01/24/values-ai-chatgpt-alignmentCNBC - OpenAI quietly removes ban on military use of its AI toolshttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/16/openai-quietly-removes-ban-on-military-use-of-its-ai-tools.htmlNBC News - Fake Joe Biden robocall tells New Hampshire Democrats not to vote Tuesdayhttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/fake-joe-biden-robocall-tells-new-hampshire-democrats-not-vote-tuesday-rcna134984Axios - OpenAI suspends developer behind Dean Phillips bothttps://www.axios.com/2024/01/21/dean-phillips-chat-gpt-ai-bot-suspensionWired - OpenAI Quietly Scrapped a Promise to Disclose Key Documents to the Public | WIREDhttps://www.wired.com/story/openai-scrapped-promise-disclose-key-documents/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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(02:38) What we can all learn from how the Amish evaluate new technology(07:25) The attention economy and why it’s not working for us(13:44) Understanding “ma” and how we can use it to resolve conflict(22:14) Using quality over quantity to measure productivity(26:26) Ways to incorporate silence in your everyday life(35:35) Silence and expanded states of consciousness using psychedelics You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/JustinZornhttps://twitter.com/LeighMarzhttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 silenceYou should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/JustinZornhttps://twitter.com/LeighMarzhttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.On this weekly roundup, Trump wins the uneventful Iowa caucus, rising tensions in the Middle East, and the dynamics of the Democratic primaryThis week’s panel: Ron SteslowLiam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP)Alex Thompson (National Political Correspondent for Axios)Marc Polymeropoulos (Former CIA Official)Segments this week:(02:20) The Iowa Caucus(08:30) Rising tension in the Middle East(36:46) The Democratic Primary[Politicology+] Davos and the garish display of wealth with growing income inequality. 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.Send your questions to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/LPDonovanhttps://twitter.com/AlexThomphttps://twitter.com/MpolymerRelated reading:Segment 1: NYTimes - Iowa Caucus Results 2024: Trump Wins - The New York TimesCBS News - Iowa caucus turnout for 2024 and how it compares to previous years - CBS NewsDes Moines Register - Early call of Trump as winner of Iowa Caucuses stirs anger. Here's why it happenedSegment 2: Time - Iran Fires Missiles at Iraq, Syria and Pakistan—What to Know | TIMEWSJ - Houthis Turn Their Sights on U.S. Ships, Vow to Keep Attacking Red Sea Targets - WSJCNN - Iran-backed militia vows more attacks after US Embassy in Iraq comes under fire | CNN PoliticsPolitico - Biden's Yemen strike reignites Congress' battle over war powers - Live Updates - POLITICOSegment 3: (From Feb, 2023) ABC News — Democrats approve new primary calendar for 2024 - ABC NewsMiami Herald - 2024 New Hampshire primary has a twist — it doesn't matter for Democrats. Wait, what?NBC News - Inside the 'weird' write-in campaign needed to help Biden win New HampshireVox - Democrats’ bizarre New Hampshire primary fight, explained. - Vox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices