

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

Jul 27, 2022 • 1h 21min
ENCORE: Carly Fiorina on Playing the Long Game
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusFormer presidential candidate and Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina joins Ron Steslow to discuss how short-term gains have gotten preferential treatment over long-term planning and success.(04:39) The differences between short-term vs. long-term(07:02) Expecting quick fixes to long-term problems(15:30) The shift in corporate responsibility from just shareholders to stakeholders(30:32) How the short-term goal of winning elections short-circuits governing Politicology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?Follow Carly and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/CarlyFiorinahttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 2022 • 49min
“Hitting The Red Button” — The Weekly Roundup
Mike Murphy (Senior Strategist for John McCain and Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project Cofounder) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week:(02:54) Biden’s approval rating continues to fall and the Democrat’s priority gap(18:40) The epidemic of Spanish-language misinformation(29:07) The Democrats keep playing with fire pushing anti-democracy candidates in GOP primaries [Politicology+ Members Only] The investigations (and investigations of investigations) Republicans will conduct if they take back congress and how Democrats can use them to their advantage// To get your private, ad-free Politicology+ podcast feed with extra episodes, go to politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.Are you learning from Politicology? Help us expand by pitching in now: https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/murphymikehttps://twitter.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2022 • 1h 10min
War Weary
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusJohn Sipher (Fmr. member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss the changes in the war in Ukraine and the global impact of Russia’s six-month invasion. (02:03) The shift in fighting to the Donbas Region(11:41) How the fighting now compares to the early days of the war(17:25) Accusations European countries are slow-walking military aid(29:42) The Holodomor and the use of food as a weapon(34:14) Food trade and global security (38:40) Should we think about Russia’s actions as terrorism? (45:00) The prospect of Finland and Sweden joining NATO(54:54) What the U.S. can do to support UkrainePoliticology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?Follow John and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/john_sipherhttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 15, 2022 • 1h 11min
“Playing With Fire” — The Weekly Roundup
Lucy Caldwell (Walsh 2020 Campaign Manager) and Scott Tranter (Investor and Advisor to Decision Desk HQ) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week:(02:42) The January 6th committee’s hearing recounting the West Wing meeting about stealing the 2020 election(27:33) The top 3 issues driving voters heading toward the midterms this fall(47:58) The Democrats’ gamble to support election denier Kari Lake in the Arizona Republican primary race for Governor[Politicology+ Members Only] A Politico piece calling for Jon Stewart to run for President if Joe Biden doesn’t run in 2024 and the rise of the entertainer/politician// To get your private, ad-free Politicology+ podcast feed with extra episodes, go to politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.Are you learning from Politicology? Help us expand by pitching in now: https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/lucymcaldwellhttps://twitter.com/stranter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 2022 • 50min
Beneath The Supreme Court Earthquake — Part 2
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusRenowned constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar (Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University) joins Ron Steslow to discuss the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and why (as a liberal law professor) he agrees with the decision.(01:40) What’s going on in the concurring opinions in Dobbs?(06:24) How compelling was the liberal dissent in Dobbs?(09:01) Is “substantive due process” an oxymoron?(17:15) What are the alternative approaches to Originalism?(22:27) The Federalist Society’s principles and their selection of Supreme Court Justices(26:01) Is the Supreme Court “illegitimate?”Read Akhil’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about the leaked Dobbs decision: https://on.wsj.com/3z6d6DHRead Akhil’s piece in Time Magazine about how liberal justices should use Originalism: https://bit.ly/3AK3VdoFollow Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 2022 • 59min
Beneath The Supreme Court Earthquake — Part 1
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusRenowned constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar (Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University) joins Ron Steslow to discuss the recent Supreme Court decision, including overturning Roe v. Wade, and why (as a liberal law professor) he agrees with that decision as well as their approach.(01:50) What is Originalism?(04:33) Changes in case law over time(17:11) Why Griswold v. Connecticut (contraception) is different from Roe v. Wade (abortion)(18:56) The outlier analysis(34:10) How the Supreme Court treats precedent(39:20) Women’s equality: the argument for abortion rights liberal justices should have madeRead Akhil’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about the leaked Dobbs decision: https://on.wsj.com/3z6d6DHRead Akhil’s piece in Time Magazine about how liberal justices should use Originalism: https://bit.ly/3AK3VdoFollow Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 9, 2022 • 1h 9min
Rudderless, Aimless and Hopeless? — The Weekly Roundup
Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) and Lanae Erickson (Senior Vice President for the Social Policy & Politics Program at Third Way) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week:(02:10) The recent reports of a White House in disarray, and the Democrats doubting if President Biden can meet the moment(23:42) The “New Right” building infrastructure and capacity at think tanks and advocacy organizations ahead of the midterms(39:00) What to make of the Trump administration officials who are speaking out in support of the January 6th Committee.[Politicology+ Members Only] Can bipartisanship survive the midterms? // To get your private, ad-free Politicology+ podcast feed with extra episodes, go to politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.Are you learning from Politicology? Help us expand by pitching in now: https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/DelPercioShttps://twitter.com/LanaeErickson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2022 • 51min
ENCORE: Our Own Worst Enemy — Part 2
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusIn this two-episode conversation, Professor of National Security Affairs Tom Nichols joins Ron Steslow to discuss who is really to blame for the crisis in American democracy—and what we can do about it.(00:50) The “horseshoe theory” (06:56) Why globalization isn’t the boogeyman we think it is(18:42) Civic duty and the pro democracy changes we need to make(38:08) Figures who we can model Purchase Our Own Worst Enemy: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/our-own-worst-enemy-9780197518878Politicology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?Follow Tom and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTomhttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2022 • 57min
ENCORE: Our Own Worst Enemy — Part 1
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusIn this two-episode conversation, Professor of National Security Affairs Tom Nichols joins Ron Steslow to discuss who is really to blame for the crisis in American democracy—and what we can do about it.(01:43) Why it was difficult to write this book(06:38) The feeling that we’re living in the “worst of times”(15:32) Hedonistic adaptation(18:22) Village Mentality and Banfield’s “Montegrano”(29:03) The importance of public and private virtue (37:18) The danger of nostalgia in the rise of illiberalism Purchase Our Own Worst Enemy: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/our-own-worst-enemy-9780197518878Politicology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?Follow Tom and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTomhttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 1, 2022 • 1h 17min
‘The Trump-tanic’ is Sinking — The Weekly Roundup
Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project Cofounder) and Liz Gilbert (President of the 2020 Democratic National Convention) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week:(02:21 ) The bombshell testimony from the January 6th committee hearing(34:33) The political impact of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade (52:25) Tuesday’s primary elections and the election deniers who lost the Republican primaries in Colorado[Politicology+ Members Only] The deep divide in America’s white working class and how Republicans have used it to their advantage // To get your private, ad-free Politicology+ podcast feed with extra episodes, go to politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.Are you learning from Politicology? Help us expand by pitching in now: https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/madrid_mikehttps://twitter.com/_lizgilbert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


