

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

Nov 19, 2021 • 1h 9min
The Sh*tshow Must Go On — The Weekly Roundup
To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusPolitical strategists Lucy Caldwell and Simon Rosenberg join Ron Steslow to look at some of the most important stories of the week:(01:35) Steve Bannon’s indictment for Contempt of Congress(21:17 Beto O’Rourke’s 2022 campaign and how it fits into the midterms(31:19) The Republicans playing footsie with a 2024 presidential run[Politicology+ Exclusive] The increasing speculation around a Harris/Buttigieg primary fight in 2024// Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at politicology.com/plusAre you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/lucymcaldwellhttps://twitter.com/SimonWDC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 17, 2021 • 53min
System Error — Part 1
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusIn this two-episode conversation, Stanford Professors Mehran Sahami and Jeremy Weinstein join Ron Steslow to discuss their book System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot. (05:42) Why they decided to write their book(10:56) How venture capital has shaped Silicon Valley(19:04) Optimization mindset meets Democracy(37:36) Our privacy boundaries when it comes to government and private companiesPurchase System Error: https://systemerrorbook.com/ Politicology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?Follow Mehran and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/mehran_sahamihttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 13, 2021 • 1h 8min
Double Exclamation — The Weekly Roundup
To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusPolitical strategists Lucy Caldwell and Mike Madrid join Ron Steslow to look at some of the most important stories of the week:(01:35) The growing list of subpoenas issued by the January 6th Committee(21:08) The Bipartisan Infrastructure bill passes in Congress(33:35) The highs and lows of the economic recovery[Politicology+ Exclusive] How climate activists are using Big Oil’s playbook // Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at politicology.com/plusAre you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/lucymcaldwellhttps://twitter.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 10, 2021 • 1h 21min
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

Nov 5, 2021 • 1h 7min
An Existential Crisis — The Weekly Roundup
To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusSocial policy expert Lanae Erickson and national security writer and Georgetown University adjunct professor Molly McKew join Ron Steslow to look at some of the most important stories of the week:(01:35) The results of this week’s election(17:16) The UN Global Climate Change Summit in Glasgow (34:12) China’s Cryptocurrency and what it can mean for the U.S. [Politicology+ Exclusive] The ethical questions of facial recognition technology // Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at politicology.com/plusAre you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/LanaeEricksonhttps://twitter.com/MollyMcKew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 3, 2021 • 57min
Winners Take All with Congressman Steve Israel
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusFormer Congressman and former Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Steve Israel sits down with Ron Steslow to discuss what Democrats must learn from the 2020 election and what they must do to have a shot at maintaining their majorities in 2022.(01:59)The balance between local and national interest in races(06:54) What we learned from the 2020 down ticket races(20:23) The ideological diversity within the Democratic party and how it shapes campaigns and governing(30:10) Keeping campaigns and messaging local(33:26) What the driving topics of the midterms might bePoliticology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?Follow Steve and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RepSteveIsraelhttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 2021 • 60min
Pandemic of Disinformation — The Weekly Roundup
To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusPolitical strategist Lucy Caldwell and communications expert Susan Del Percio join Ron Steslow to look at some of the most important stories of the week:(01:25) The latest in the Facebook whistleblower documents(20:26) The Republicans in Congress who met with the January 6th organizers(32:53) One step closer to Covid-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11[Politicology+ Exclusive] The governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia // Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at politicology.com/plusAre you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/lucymcaldwellhttps://twitter.com/DelPercioS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 27, 2021 • 47min
Strongmen — Part 2
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusIn the second part of this two-episode conversation, NYU Professor of History and Italian Studies Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins Ron Steslow to discuss her book Strongmen and what we can learn from the history of autocrats and those who stood up to them. (01:13) The American rights obsession with Orban(05:02) How authoritarians have used elections to come to power(08:11) January 6th and how it will serve as a touchstone for the American authoritarian movement(18:31) Trump’s recent rallies and how they fit into the patterns of authoritarians(26:53) The ways people have pushed back against authoritarians and what we can do nowPurchase Strongmen: https://wwnorton.com/books/strongmenPoliticology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?Follow Ruth and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/ruthbenghiathttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 22, 2021 • 1h 5min
"Majority Leader Manchin" — The Weekly Roundup
To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusSocial policy expert Lanae Erickson and political strategist Frank Sadler join Ron Steslow to look at some of the most important stories of the week:(01:39) The Democratic House members retiring before the 2022 midterms(18:37)The Striketober demonstrations at companies from Kellogg’s to John Deere(31:41) The Virginia Gubernatorial election[Politicology+ Exclusive] The reporting that West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin talked to associates about leaving the Democratic party // Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at politicology.com/plusAre you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/LanaeErickson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 20, 2021 • 41min
Strongmen — Part 1
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusIn this two-episode conversation, NYU Professor of History and Italian Studies Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins Ron Steslow to discuss her book Strongmen and what we can learn from the history of autocrats and those who stood up to them. (02:01) Why she decided to write her book(04:18) Understanding Trump in the context of other autocratic leaders(06:29) The warning signs of strongmen as the rise to power(10:52) Why we don’t always see authoritarian leaders coming(28:48) How the pandemic accelerated democratic decline Purchase Strongmen: https://wwnorton.com/books/strongmenPoliticology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?Follow Ruth and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/ruthbenghiathttps://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


