Politicology

To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content (including the TAPPED episode with David Becker), visit: https://politicology.com/plusFormer DNC president Liz Gilbert and Lincoln Project co-founder Mike Madrid join Ron Steslow to look at some of the most important stories of the week:(01:41) The fever pitch across America’s school districts as mask and vaccine policies are hotly debated(15:27) Governor Greg Abbott signs Texas’s anti-democracy bill into law(31:15) What we can learn about the tradeoffs of direct democracy by watching California’s recall process[Politicology+ Exclusive] The disgraced former president set to re-infect our politics // Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at politicology.com/plusCenter for Election Innovation and Research - https://electioninnovation.org/Election Official Legal Defense Network https://eoldn.org/Are you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/_lizgilberthttps://twitter.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusPolitical strategist Lucy Caldwell joins Ron Steslow to answer Politicology listeners’ questions:(00:24) What can be done about Fox News and right wing media lies?(06:04) What happens if we “lose” and democracy fails?(15:43) How do caucuses affect the legislative process?Have a question for a future Mailbag episode? Send it over to us at podcast@politicology.com!Are you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donate!Follow Lucy and Ron on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/lucymcaldwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusPolitical strategist Lucy Caldwell and attorney George Conway join Ron Steslow to look at some of the most important stories of the week:(01:32) The political fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal: how Republicans are reacting, and how public opinion has shifted in the last month(21:31) why SCOTUS allowed an extreme and devious bill restricting abortion access in Texas to go into effect, and the more direct threat to Roe that has been overlooked in the news coverage(43:02) How so-called “new puritanism” is trampling on classical liberal valuesReferences from the show:Anne Applebaum - The New Puritans: Mob Justice Is Trampling Democratic Discourse https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/10/new-puritans-mob-justice-canceled/619818/[Politicology+ Exclusive] The House January 6 Committee’s latest records request, and Republican threats against private companies that comply // 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/gtconway3d Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusNational security writer and researcher Molly McKew and Fmr. Senior CIA Official and author Marc Polymeropoulos continue their conversation with host Ron Steslow about America’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the role of the Biden and Trump administrations.(01:03) Democrats must be willing to own their mistakes(10:43) Debunking “inevitability” and mistruths from American leadership(16:38) Life in Afghanistan now and what’s to come (29:17) The Taliban’s approach to “governing”(32:39) Crowd funding an evacuation(41:20) What individuals can do to helpThe Washington Post: How to help Afghan refugees and those trapped during the Taliban takeoverhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/21/how-to-help-afghan-refugees/Want to help build Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/MollyMcKewhttps://twitter.com/Mpolymer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusNational security writer and researcher Molly McKew and fmr. senior CIA official and author Marc Polymeropoulos join host Ron Steslow to discuss the chaos and catastrophe in Afghanistan.(03:10) Molly’s and Marc’s unique vantage points on Afghanistan(14:33) Putting Afghanistan in context: America’s goals, and the war’s political legitimacy (20:17) When counterterrorism became nation-building, how America projects military power, and the tension between America’s interests and values(34:45) Trump’s deal with the Taliban, the decision to withdraw troops, and America’s pincer of isolationism(49:01) Public opinion, foreign policy, and America’s total exitWant to help build Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateClarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA by Marc Polymeropoulos August 11 - Directed Energy Attacks and Leadership Lessons with Marc PolymeropoulosFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/MollyMcKewhttps://twitter.com/Mpolymer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusCommunications expert Susan Del Percio and political strategist Mike Madrid join Ron Steslow to look at some of the most important stories of the week:*Note: A full episode on Afghanistan will be published on Politicology on September 1. Tap the ‘Follow’ button now to be notified.*(01:51) New mandates and new pushback as the Pfizer vaccine gains full FDA approval(15:44) John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act passes the House on party lines(31:24) The dark and dangerous turn Trump’s rallies have taken; the folly of ignoring themReferences from the show:March 31: Racial Gerrymandering and Voting Power with David BeckerJuly 7: “Democracy in Triage” with David BeckerRon’s mention of Mandy Patinkin on Twitter[Politicology+ Exclusive] “What is” next for Jeopardy! and what does this debacle tell us about how we scrutinize public figures? // Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at https://politicology.com/plusWant to help build Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/DelPercioShttps://twitter.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock exclusive premium content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusPhotographer 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

To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusPolitical strategist Lucy Caldwell and reporter Ben Jacobs join Ron Steslow to look at the most important stories of the week:(01:39) Biden’s speech, who’s to blame for the bungled Afghanistan withdrawal, and lessons learned after 20 years in the “graveyard of empires”(24:45) Water scarcity and wildfires in the West underscore the reality of our climate crisis(50:19) Millions of T-Mobile users’ data was stolen as the web Whack-A-Mole continues[Politicology+ Exclusive] Shots Fired at the NRA by NY AG Letitia James // Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at https://politicology.com/plusWant to help build Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/lucymcaldwellhttps://twitter.com/Bencjacobs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To access this week’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusCuban-American attorney and ‘No Labels’ vice chairman Al Cardenas and social policy expert Lanae Erickson join Ron Steslow to look at the top stories of the week:(02:08) Hurdles in the House for the trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill; Democrats’ plan for more spending and the urgency to address our climate crisis(19:55) Red state Governors deny reality and responsibility through explosive growth in Covid infections(38:13) Governor Cuomo denies, deflects, and resigns, and New York starts anew[Politicology+ Exclusive] The My Pillow guy’s election conspiracy “Cyber Symposium” // Unlock now and get your private podcast feed at politicology.com/plusJuly 28 - Despair, Hope, and the Fight for 'Libertad' in Cuba with Al CardenasWant to help build Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donateFollow this week’s panel on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/AlCardenasFL_DChttps://twitter.com/LanaeErickson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To access this episode’s Politicology+ segment and unlock more exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plusFmr. Senior CIA Official Marc Polymeropoulos and author of Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA joins Ron Steslow to discuss Havana Syndrome, his struggle for treatment, and what he learned about leadership in 26 years at the CIA. (01:14) Marc’s 26 year CIA career(03:40) “Easily the most terrifying night of my life” (04:58) Moscow’s motivation for directed energy attacks(09:56) The CIA’s “call to arms” after the 2016 election(12:44) Fighting for treatment(16:29) Becoming a leader in times of crisis(25:03) What happened in Helsinki?(29:27) Morale—and dysfunction—through the Trump presidency(33:26) When former senior officials speak out, listen(36:46) Leadership principles versus the former president(41:00) Identifying leaders among political candidates(43:56) Protecting democracy domestically(48:30) Showing and sharing the world with Marc’s family[Politicology+ Exclusive] Proliferation of nationalism overseas, and the American affinity for the authoritarian right // Unlock now and get exclusive content on your private podcast feed at politicology.com/plusClarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA by Marc PolymeropoulosPoliticology is supported by listeners like you. Pitch in now at https://politicology.com/donate.Follow Ron and Marc on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RonSteslowhttps://twitter.com/Mpolymer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices