

Beyond Politics
Matt Robison
Politics may be dismal, but the ideas that swirl around it and shape it are fascinating. This is a show that looks not just at politics, but the deeper ideas from history, science, psychology, economics, and technology that are shaping our world. We feature smart, lively, upbeat discussions with people who know what they're talking about and can help us understand the world better. Hosted by Matt Robison: writer, former senior congressional staffer, and campaign manager.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 17, 2024 • 29min
War to Win Minds Ep.4: Harris Drops a Psych Bomb on Trump
PART ONE OF TWO PART MINI SERIES FINALE. We dive into the explosive psychological strategies behind the Kamala Harris -Donald Trump presidential debate. In this episode of 'The War to Win Minds' series, Matt Robison and psychologist Lauren Goldstein break down the mental tactics used to sway voters and what Harris did to
break Trump's brain. Discover how Harris dismantled Trump's arguments and left him floundering by employing clever, counterintuitive methods.
01:50 Psychological Insights into Debates
03:34 Analyzing Kamala Harris's Debate Tactics
05:17 The Impact of Presidential Debates
08:36 Persuasion Principles in Action
17:03 Trump's Tactics and Harris's Response
20:16 The Power of Storytelling and Emotional Appeal
23:45 Harris's Strategy to Undermine Trump
27:58 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Sep 11, 2024 • 34min
Harris Dominated the Debate. What Will That Do to the Race?
In this quick reaction show, Matt, Paul, and Alicia dive into the aftermath of the recent debate, discussing who won, who lost, and why both parties should maybe feel frustrated. Kamala Harris is broadly considered the winner against Donald Trump but how much will it matter? And will Taylor Swift's endorsement of Harris matter even more?
00:54 Who Won the Debate?
03:23 Debate's Impact and Media Critique
06:15 Republican and Democratic Reactions
11:23 Missed Opportunities
17:19 The Flaws of Presidential Debates
21:18 Debate Moderators and Fact-Checking
28:29 Trump's Dangerous Rhetoric and Lies

Sep 10, 2024 • 28min
The Psych Trick Trump Is Relying On Above All
In episode 3 of our mini series 'The War to Win Minds,' hosts Matt Robison and Lauren Goldstein delve into the concept of social proof, its influence on political campaigns, and why it's Donald Trump's not so secret weapon in the 2024 campaign.
00:32 The Power of Social Proof
03:21 The Reagan-Mondale Debate Experiment
06:35 The Elevator Experiment
07:50 Asch's Social Conformity Experiment
10:30 Social Proof in Political Campaigns
14:12 Trump's Use of Social Proof
15:32 The Double-Edged Sword of Social Proof
24:06 Polling Data and Social Proof
26:02 Conclusion: Recognizing Social Proof Techniques

Sep 6, 2024 • 38min
Is the Kamala Honeymoon Crashing to a Halt?
Is the Kamala-mentum waning? It's a question that was raised in Politico and that's being pushed by the Republican side, especially the Trump campaign. We have some data and some insights from where the campaigns are spending their money. Also, we ask why would Kamala Harris go to New Hampshire? The unfolding legal situations for hunter Biden and Donald Trump, both in court today. And a cute animal story that goes in a disturbing direction.

Sep 5, 2024 • 31min
How the Supreme Court Gave Presidents Evil Superpowers
ABC Legal Analyst Kim Wehle explains how the Supreme Court's decision granting immunity to US Presidents is way more far-reaching that it appears. When paired with the "pardon power," Presidents now wield a devastating one-two punch of power. Wehle is the author of a fascinating new book on the history and law of the pardon, and why Americans need to understand just how dangerous this power has become. Also: a look at the current legal situations involving Donald Trump, Jack Smith's refiling of the election interference case, and Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case.
01:34 Jack Smith's Election Interference Case
05:38 Aileen Cannon and the Classified Documents Case
09:09 The Supreme Court's Role and Bias
20:58 The History and Importance of Pardon Power
26:23 Potential Reforms and Fixes
29:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Sep 3, 2024 • 26min
War to Win Minds Ep.2: How to Jedi Mind Trick Voters Into Liking You
Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, joins former President Barack Obama and Senator Raphael Warnock to discuss the elusive nature of political likability. They explore how personal connections, attractiveness, and compliments can sway voter opinions. The conversation highlights the intricate psychology of campaign ads and the unique challenges that women and candidates of color face in creating relatability. Through engaging anecdotes and strategies from past campaigns, they reveal the art of making politics more personal and appealing.

Aug 30, 2024 • 36min
How Jack Smith Drove Trump To a Very Public Meltdown
Matt, Paul, and Alicia discuss Donald Trump's unhinged rant on Truth Social plus the recent Arlington National Cemetery incident, which has pushed Trump to new levels of insanity. The panel explores what triggered Trump's meltdown: Jack Smith's refiled case against him. They also question why, despite Trump's outrageous behavior, the race remains a 50/50 toss-up. Plus, the 10-year anniversary of 'Tan Suit Gate' involving former President Barack Obama.
00:00 Introduction: Trump's Unhinged Rant
01:07 Analyzing Trump's Truth Social Meltdown
03:58 The Normalization of Trump's Behavior
06:09 Misogyny and Disrespect Towards Women
09:11 Arlington National Cemetery Incident
18:06 Jack Smith's Indictment and Trump's Reaction
23:39 Why is This Still a 50-50 Race?
33:04 Tansuitgate Anniversary

Aug 29, 2024 • 31min
Why RFK's Dropout Probably Won't Help Trump
***Don't forget to check out our mini-series on the hidden psychology of political campaigns on YouTube or Spotify.***
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDbNEHJ_pV4
RFK Jr.'s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and his subsequent endorsement of Donald Trump would, until very recently, have been viewed as a watershed. But when it finally went down late last week, it barely made waves. Will it matter?
02:59 RFK Jr.'s Support Base and Its Implications
09:42 Kamala Harris's Campaign Strategy
17:21 Trump's Response and Campaign Strategy
20:50 Psychological Techniques in Campaigns
24:31 Trump's Campaign Challenges
29:38 Potential October Surprise

Aug 27, 2024 • 27min
War to Win Minds Ep. One: How Emotional Ads HIJACK Brains
In this engaging discussion, psychologist Lauren Goldstein and campaign veteran Matt Robison reveal how political ads play psychological tricks on our brains. They break down the difference between central and peripheral routes of persuasion, showcasing how emotional storytelling wins elections. A standout analysis of Kamala Harris's ad shines a light on effective messaging strategies that resonate with voters. They emphasize the importance of emotional connections in political advertising, driving home why understanding these tactics is crucial in today's campaigns.

Aug 23, 2024 • 45min
The Final Sprint is Here. What Does Harris Need to Do Now?
What do Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party need to do in the final stretch of the campaign to secure a win against Donald Trump? Paul, Matt, and Alicia take stock of where we are and where we need to get to. They also break down Harris' acceptance speech and the DNC's overall performance, the importance of upcoming debates, and the critical swing state of Pennsylvania.
00:55 Analyzing Kamala Harris's Acceptance Speech
01:35 Critique of the Democratic Convention
04:54 Discussion on Political Reporting and Media
13:31 Upcoming Mini-Series
17:38 Current State of the Campaign
23:25 Debate Expectations and Strategies
27:03 The Role of Swing States
32:05 Kamala Harris's Debate Tactics
37:07 Election Polls and Predictions
40:45 The Grammar Debate


