

Politicology
Politicology
Politics in America is transforming. We’re embarking on a new series to deepen our understanding of who we are, how we got here, and how we rebuild without repeating the mistakes of the past. Ron Steslow hosts academics, behavioral economists, social psychologists, politicos, philosophers, anthropologists, journalists, poets, and storytellers—and more—to discuss America’s political present and future and dive into the deeper problems we face as a nation. Email us questions or comments: podcast@politicology.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 20, 2023 • 1h 18min
Raise the Roof — The Weekly Roundup
Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) and Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape:(03:14)The evolving story about President Biden’s lawyers finding classified documents and the lack of transparency from the White House(24:41) The looming fight over raising the debt limit and a more responsible way Republicans could lower spending (43:33)ChatGPT, the AI chatbot taking the world by storm, how it could mike our lives easier, and what it could do to our politics[Politicology+ Subscribers Only] Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene renounces QAnon on FOX News and how viral conspiracy theories are hurting democracy . 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/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/DelPercioShttps://twitter.com/AndyKroll Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 2023 • 30min
PREVIEW: [+] The Re-Education of MTG [Members Only]
Susan Del Percio, Andy Kroll, and Ron Steslow discuss Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene renouncing QAnon on FOX News and how viral conspiracy theories are hurting democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 19, 2023 • 1h 2min
Secret City with James Kirchick
James Kirchick joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington(01:55) Why he wrote the book(06:43) The interwoven political history and gay history in Washington(14:33) The melting pot of the gay community and why it was seen as a threat(19:55) The trope that whatever is bad must be gay(31:51) The Lavender Scare (35:53) The tension between the gay loyal foot soldiers of Ronald Reagan and courting the religious right (49:00) What was challenging about writing the book You should read Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington: http://bit.ly/3wgiORkFollow James Kirchick and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/jkirchickhttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 13, 2023 • 1h 1min
“Insurrectionist Speaker Kevin McCarthy” — The Weekly Roundup
Lanae Erickson (Senior Vice President for the Social Policy & Politics Program at Third Way) and MIke Pesca (Host of the Gist and Not Even Mad) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape:(02:28) Insurrectionist Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the concessions he made to get the gavel, and how it could impact the House(23:53) The news that classified documents were found in Joe Biden’s former office(33:12) The parallels between the January 6th attack on the Capitol and the riots in Brazil last weekend [Politicology+ Subscribers Only] Joe Biden’s pivot toward the center ahead of an expected 2024 campaign and how the move could help Democrats hold on to some non-college educated voters . 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/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/LanaeEricksonhttps://twitter.com/pescami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 11, 2023 • 1h 6min
The New Rainmakers with Danny Hogenkamp
Founder and CEO of Grassroots Analytics Danny Hogenkamp joins Ron Steslow to discuss how digital fundraising and the incentives of the outrage economy have changed the way campaigns bring in money and how it influences our political landscape.(03:50) The traditional role of fundraising in political campaigns(11:11) Why he decided to create Grassroots Analytics (15:31) The demographic shifts among donors to Republicans and Democrats(27:51) The shift from high dollar to grassroots fundraising on campaigns (32:22) The impact of the outrage economy and hyper-performative politics on fundraising(36:03) How donor lists can move from campaign to campaign (39:50) The use of A.I. in writing fundraising emails (47:06) The criticism that Grassroots Analytics is a “donor pimp”(51:07) More political races are starting earlier and earlier Check out Grassroots Analytics: https://www.grassrootsanalytics.com/Follow Grassroots Analytics and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/grassroots_datahttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 6, 2023 • 1h 9min
“Kevin McCarthy is an Empty Vessel” — The Weekly Roundup
Katie Hill (Former Congresswoman), Lucy Caldwell (political strategist) and MIke Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape:(03:01) Kevin McCarthy’s struggle to secure the gavel as Speaker of the House (38:38) Elise Stefanik’s move from Paul Ryan’s protege to his greatest political disappointment [Politicology+ Subscribers Only] The George Santos Scandal, why the lies should have been exposed during the campaign and one congressman’s proposal to punish politicians who lie about their education and work historyPoliticology+ 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/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/madrid_mikehttps://twitter.com/KatieHill4CAhttps://twitter.com/lucymcaldwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 4, 2023 • 49min
Encore: January 6 through a Photographer’s Lens
To unlock exclusive premium content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusOn the anniversary of the attack at the Capitol, photographer Gabriella Demczuk walks listeners through her firsthand account of the January 6, 2021 insurrection, from Donald Trump’s “Stop The Steal” rally on the National Mall to the gallery of the House chamber as rioters breached the Capitol.(03:01) Getting the assignment for January 6(05:45) Reading the crowd at the rally(07:35) Rep. Madison Cawthorn, in his own words(10:30) Back to the U.S. Capitol(12:46) Looking out the East Front(13:33) Capitol under lockdown(16:25) Trying to do our jobs(17:10) Sheltering in the House chamber(25:53) Bursting the “safe space” bubble(30:01) Reflections walking home(32:43) [Lack of] Republican remorse(34:33) The fragility of democracyWhat Madison Cawthorn Saw At The Insurrection by Olivia NuzziWant to help build Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow Ron and Gabriella:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://instagram.com/gdemczukhttps://twitter.com/gdemczuk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 30, 2022 • 1h 10min
Looking back on 2022 — The Weekly Roundup
As we get ready to ring in the new year, we look back at some of the of the biggest moments and some of our favorite weekly roundup segments from 2022 :(00:53) Lanae Erickson, Al Cardenas, and Ron Steslow discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesky’s speech before congress in March(20:56) Mike Madrid, Lucy Caldwell, and Ron Steslow break down one of the prime time January 6th committee hearings and discuss Trump’s movements during the attack and his “dereliction of duty(46:28) Mike Madrid, Susan Del Percio, and Ron Steslow discuss the long standing relationship between Hollywood and the Pentagon and the summer blockbuster Top Gun: MaverickFollow this week’s guests on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/madrid_mikehttps://twitter.com/DelPercioShttps://twitter.com/lucymcaldwellhttps://twitter.com/LanaeEricksonhttps://twitter.com/AlCardenasFL_DC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 28, 2022 • 31min
Encore: Rule Makers and Rule Breakers
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusMichele Gelfand (Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss culture, social norms, and her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World (01:46) Why she decided to study culture (04:34) What are tight and loose cultures(06:12) Why tight and loose cultures evolve(10:38) The tradeoffs between tight and loose and how different cultures responded to the Covid pandemic(16:19) Tightness-looseness and willingness to change(19:57) Red and Blue vs Tight and Loose (30:36) Tightening around core values, even in loose cultures(34:56) Real and manufactured threats (44:15) How we we can put this framework into action You should read Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: https://amzn.to/3Qy8DQcFollow Michele and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/MicheleJGelfandhttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 2022 • 34min
What Gives You Hope?
As 2022 draws to a close, Ron Steslow asks some of your favorite Politicology guests to share what has given them hope in 2022.In this episode: Susan Del Percio Carly Fiorina Catherine Sanderson Sen. Doug Jones Kristyn KomarnickiLanae Erickson Leigh Marz Mehran Sahami Jennifer HornLiz Gilbert Molly McKewLucy CaldwellIowa State Auditor Rob Sand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


