

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

Aug 9, 2024 • 43min
Alicia Thinks Its All Over for Trump
Alicia Prestonhas reached a stunning conclusion: Trump's chances for 2024 are over, and Republicans' only hope is for every Senate, Congress, and gubernatorial candidate to fend for themselves. We talk about Trump’s blunders, the rise of Kamala Harris in the polls, and the weird attack on Tim Walz’s military record.
01:05 Trump's Mar-a-Lago Press Conference
02:41 Alicia's Bold Prediction
06:22 Republican Party's Dilemma
20:22 Heroism and Military Service
21:55 Swift Boating and Political Strategies
28:14 Kamala Harris's Campaign Strategy
34:31 Trump's Campaign Struggles
39:10 Dad Jokes

Aug 6, 2024 • 32min
The Sneaky Reasons Walz Got the VP Nod
Matt was getting interviewed live on the radio when the news broke that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was the surprise VP pick for the dems. Here's the analysis getting worked out in real time. And here is the Newsweek article that Matt wrote right after describing what we can read between the lines about this pick, and why it might be sneaky good news for Democrats.
https://www.newsweek.com/3-things-we-can-read-tim-walz-vice-presidential-pick-opinion-1935427
00:42 Breaking News: Tim Walz as VP Nominee
01:40 Live Radio Analysis with Howard Monroe
04:19 The Case for and Against Tim Walz
05:58 Polling and Electoral Strategy
09:03 Tim Walz's Political Strengths
15:35 Republican Reactions and Attack Lines
20:22 Debate Strategy: Should Harris Debate Trump?
22:19 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Aug 2, 2024 • 39min
Trump Tries to Stop Kamala-Mentum By Saying "She's Not Black"?!?
With Kamala-mentum becoming very real, we dive into Donald Trump's pretty insane strategy to put out that fire with gasoline by questioning whether Kamala Harris is actually Black. Is there any chance it could help him? Also, a massive deal that gained the release of 16 unjustly imprisoned people in Russia. And the "weird" wave sweeps America.
00:00 Introduction and Trump's Controversial Strategy
00:32 Breaking News: Massive Prisoner Release
02:33 Diplomatic Implications and Political Reactions
12:26 Kamala Harris's Rising Momentum
15:13 Polling Trends and Public Perception
20:33 Trump's Strategy and Media Reactions
34:49 The Weird Factor in Politics
39:04 Concluding Thoughts

Aug 1, 2024 • 28min
Emergency Bonus: Hamas Leader Assassinated. Will This End the War?
Dan Perry, former Middle East editor for the Associated Press, unpacks the complex, unfolding situation surrounding the assassination of both Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, including the potential "good news" scenario that this could create an off-ramp to end the war and bring Israeli hostages home, or the possibility that things could escalate. Perry writes "Ask Questions Later", a substack with unparalleled analysis of the Middle East and world affairs. Subscribe here: https://danperry.substack.com/
02:25 Good News Scenario in the Middle East
06:07 Bad News Scenario and Potential Escalations
09:51 Turkey's Role and NATO Concerns
13:05 US Domestic Politics and Global Implications
18:19 Netanyahu's Political Future
22:53 Conclusion

Jul 30, 2024 • 32min
Are We Thinking About America's Political Divide All Wrong?
We tend to think about American politics as being driven by the fight between the two major parties. But what if the conventional view of political polarization in America is missing the true divide: between elites and the working class. Batya Ungar-Sargon, Opinion Editor at Newsweek, discusses insights from her book 'Second Class,' in which she interviews hundreds of Americans and posits that elites on both sides of the political spectrum have betrayed America's working men and women.
03:31 The Real Disconnect in America
04:21 Stories from the Working Class
10:04 The Impact of Immigration and Healthcare on the Working Class
20:02 Political Opinions and Voting Decisions
30:54 The Elites' Betrayal of Working Americans

Jul 26, 2024 • 43min
Can The Dems' Sudden Surge Possibly Continue?
Is Kamala Harris in an even better position than initial indications would seem to suggest, and can the Dem's big surge this week get even better? Also, were Joe Biden's limitations as a communicator really a legit demerit on how effectively he could do the job as president? Who should get the Dem VP nod? And did JD Vance say the most insulting and politically destructive thing in American vice-presidential history?
01:49 Inside Reactions and Polling Insights
04:23 Kamala Harris's Campaign Strategy
19:15 The Role of Communication in Politics
31:25 Social Media's Impact on Society
34:37 Kamala Harris and Political Communication
37:08 VP Picks and Political Strategy
40:26 J.D. Vance's Controversial Remarks

Jul 24, 2024 • 32min
Support for Harris Explodes
The surging beginning of Kamala Harris' presidential campaign is exactly what anxious Democrats were hoping for. Matt joins radio legend Howard Monroe to discuss all the new angles: the fundraising, the maneuvering, the messaging, and the polling.
03:00 Kamala Harris's Campaign Momentum
07:28 Debate on Biden's Resignation
17:35 Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump Winning Messages
22:39 Polling and Public Perception
26:38 Republican Strategies Against Harris

Jul 23, 2024 • 27min
After the Upheaval: Taking Stock of Dems' New Reality
The Pivot to Kamala: Trump, Biden, and the Divide in America. Matt is joined by Batya Ungar-Sargon, Opinion Editor at Newsweek, to discuss the sudden ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris, Donald Trump's influence, and whether Joe Biden should resign.
02:18 Boiling it All Down: Has This Been a Great Week?
07:18 Biden's Withdrawal and Kamala Harris
12:01 Economic Models and the American Dream
17:01 GOP vs. Democratic Party Elites
25:25 Conclusion and Next Episode

Jul 21, 2024 • 24min
EMERGENCY POD: Biden Withdraws. Should He Also RESIGN to Help Harris?
President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race. He's already a hero who saved America once. Now, will his selfless move increased the Democratic Party's chances of beating Donald Trump? And, Matt just wrote in Newsweek on SATURDAY that Biden should also resign in order to help Kamala Harris defeat Trump. Is the case now even stronger?
00:00 Breaking News: Biden Withdraws from 2024 Race
01:07 Analyzing Biden's Debate Performance and Media Influence
02:25 The Impact of Biden's Withdrawal on the Democratic Party
05:28 Reflecting on Joe Biden's Presidency
10:17 Kamala Harris: A lock as the Next Democratic Nominee?
12:35 Strategizing for the 2024 Election
21:11 Potential Vice Presidential Picks
23:17 Closing Remarks and Subscriptions

Jul 19, 2024 • 38min
Is This Joe Biden's Final Weekend As Nominee?
We tried to boil down one of the most eventual weeks in American political history into two questions: Is there really a new Trump following the assassination attempt, and if this is the end of the political road for Joe Biden as looks increasingly likely, what will happen next for the Democrats?
00:46 Assassination Attempt and Trump's New Promise
01:51 Analyzing Trump's Convention Speech
04:27 Trump's Economic Ideas and Their Impact
10:23 Biden's Potential Withdrawal and Democratic Party Reactions
18:41 Goodfellas vs. Godfather
24:59 Strategic Realities for Democrats
26:44 Kamala Harris as a Candidate
29:13 Hypothetical Scenarios for Biden
31:54 IS Alicia Really in Matt's Basement?