Politix

Dive into the chaotic landscape of U.S. foreign policy, focusing on the fraught relationship between Trump, Netanyahu, and Iran. Explore how recent military tensions could reshape regional stability and the often-contradictory U.S. involvement. The discussion humorously touches on local business ideas while predicting voter turnout in NYC. Unpack the complexities of Trump's erratic governance and its broader implications, highlighting the challenges faced by those opposing his controversial strategies.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmDonald Trump may not always chicken out, but his on again/off again, advance-retreat dance does seem to insulate him from lasting blowback. It seems the only way to drag Trump’s popularity down low enough to really hem him in is for his supporters to find out the hard way.In this episode, Matt and Brian tackle the questions:* Does the hyperbolic claim that “Trump Always Chickens Out” serve to insulate him from public backlash, while also perversely encouraging him to prove his haters wrong?* Would we be better off if he stopped chickening out?* Does defeating Trump (in Congress, the courts, etc.) weaken him, or does it protect him from his own unsustainable policies?* If we’re all accelerationists now, where would failure (or catastrophic success) undermine Trump most? Economic mismanagement? Medicaid cuts? Mass deportation? War?Then, behind the paywall, some considered thoughts on how the Trump opposition would respond if Trump didn’t chicken out. What can Democrats as a whole learn from the handful of leaders (most recently Alex Padilla and Tina Smith) who’ve drawn attention to their causes in productive ways? Are Democratic political fortunes best served if Trump’s Medicaid cuts fail, or if they succeed? And how, in this hothouse environment, can progressives and moderates align to help Democrats recruit viable Senate candidate in red states?Further reading:* Matt argues you’re not really alarmed about the slide into autocracy if you aren’t willing to make ideological sacrifices to help Democrats win the Senate. * Brian’s schema for when to try to stop Trump, and when to let him step in it.* Noah Wyle helps get the word out about looming Medicaid cuts. (Paging George Clooney, Jimmy Kimmel…)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmSince last week’s episode, Donald Trump and Elon Musk had a bitter falling out, Republicans encountered new obstacles to enacting their top priorities (cutting rich people’s taxes and poor people’s Medicaid) and Trump ordered a federal siege of Los Angeles.Also, Brian got his first taste of sweet, sweet European health care. What do these things have to do with one another? Arguably not much, arguably quite a lot. If safety nets weren’t valuable and important, Republicans wouldn’t be lying about the contents of their budget reconciliation bill. And if their reconciliation bill was wise, popular, and on the glide path to passage, Trump (really, Stephen Miller) wouldn’t be trying to whip up a violent pretext to squeeze Republicans on Capitol Hill into voting for a reckless, terrible bill. But siccing federal troops on American citizens is a big deal, whether it’s intended as a diversion or an inducement or not. Should Democratic leaders have seen it coming? Should they have been more prepared? Are there ways for them to increase public awareness of the looming decimation of Medicaid without falling back on the trope that everything else is a “distraction?” All that, plus the full Politix archive are available to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.Further reading:* Brian argues Democrats overweighted the importance of “issue salience” and it left them unprepared to wage unavoidable political battles with Trump.* Matt argues that if progressives understood FDR’s legacy more accurately, they would be more tolerant of Democratic efforts to widen the party’s appeal.* No Kings protests across the country on Saturday.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmBrian’s European Vacation continues as Matt is joined by special guest Jane Flegal of the Blue Horizon Foundation to break down the energy provisions of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. The energy cuts have attracted less attention than the health care provisions in part because they were made much more severe at the last minute. Jane breaks down how the Inflation Reduction Act changed America’s approach to clean energy subsidies — making them more durable, more flexible, and more inclusive of the full range of technologies including nuclear, geothermal, and carbon capture — and how it connects to larger industrial policy questions related to supply chains and battery production. Repealing these measures will leave America worse off than it was pre-Biden in terms of clean energy production, which is going to lead to higher levels of air pollution and higher energy bills as Americans face a generational increase in electricity demand from AI and data centers. After the break, Matt and Jane analyze the broader philosophy of investment-led climate policy — what’s the right lesson to learn from the failure of Obama-era carbon pricing and what can we do about the flood of extremely dirty Chinese steel on world markets?All that, plus the full Politix archive are available to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.Further reading:* How Republicans turned against energy programs in their Big Beautiful Bill.* The impact of repealing energy credits on electricity prices.* Dylan Matthews on the geopolitics and environmental economics of steel.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmBrian is on vacation, so special guest McKenzie Wilson joins Matt to talk about Blue Rose Research’s retrospective on the 2024 election and their work on message-testing. McKenzie came to Blue Rose after working in the private sector, working for Jamal Bowman, and working in the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services — she believes in progressive values and she wants to win elections. In this episode, Matt and McKenzie discuss: * The central role of the cost of living in the 2024 election.* The importance of partisan realignment based around engagement with news and politics. * The deep unpopularity of Joe Biden and the need for Democrats to internalize that as they move forward. Then, behind the paywall, what are the Trump administration’s biggest points of vulnerability? What are Democrats getting right and wrong about highlighting those issues? Most of all, McKenzie makes the case for a disciplined approach that ties everything back to core values that motivate progressives and also resonate with swing voters.All that, plus the full Politix archive are available to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.Further reading: * The full Blue Rose slide deck.* Matt’s article on Republicans’ Medicaid cuts.* A corporate marketing guru’s appreciation and praise of Bernie Sanders’ message discipline.

A heated discussion centers on a controversial Republican budget bill that poses significant risks for Medicaid and could shift party dynamics. Humor and insights mix as the hosts tackle aging, existentialism, and the future of healthcare in an AI-driven world. They dissect the procedural hurdles faced by the GOP while pondering the strategic narratives lawmakers use to navigate voters' frustrations. Additionally, the complexities of the SALT deduction reveal tensions around fairness in tax policy amid rising national debt and political uncertainty.

After a month of trade turmoil, a political figure rolls back tariffs on China, but at what cost? The hosts dissect whether this move will be termed a 'win' and what it means for the economy moving forward. They contemplate the effectiveness of cult-like grassroots movements within politics. The discussion shifts to the complexity of tariff impact and how trade policies could hamper job creation and contribute to recession. From post-COVID dynamics to the downfalls of social media and AI in shaping narratives, the conversation dives deep into the current political and economic landscape.

The discussion revolves around Republicans' ongoing attempts to repeal Medicaid expansion, despite its popularity. Topics include the implications of work requirements on vulnerable populations and the complex political dynamics that shape state funding. Insights from an economist emphasize the challenges of oversimplifying healthcare issues. The podcast also examines how Democratic responses can effectively counteract GOP strategies, as well as the accountability pressures faced by Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmOn Donald Trump’s hundredth day in office—the day we taped this podcast—he was historically unpopular, driving the country into recession, and responding to the loss of confidence in his administration by escalating his authoritarian threats against the public. In this special episode, Paul Krugman joins Brian to discuss:* What Trump has done to the U.S. economy in just the past 100 days.* Why it’s too late for him to fix some of the mistakes he made without subjecting Americans to real economic hardships in the coming weeks.* How his own faithless, erratic conduct will make recovery difficult (for the economy and his polling) even if he ends his trade war. Then, behind the paywall, how can future leaders attempt to undo the damage Trump has done? What will the country look like after 1300ish more days of this? Are economic forecasters underrating the risk of recession to hedge their bets? Would further inroads toward dictatorship deepen the economic crisis as well as the crisis of democracy and human rights? And what does it say about the direness of our circumstances that major upheaval, like impeachment and removal, would likely help restore global economic confidence in the U.S.All that, plus the full Politix archive are available to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed. Further reading:* Krugman asks, Did Peter Navarro save democracy? * Brian argues that though Trump is wreaking economic havoc, the rising against him isn’t class war as commonly understood on the left.* Matt argues hoping Trump implodes is not enough, and Democrats need a plan to actually win back the Senate.

The discussion dives into Trump's tough-guy view of masculinity and its implications for women's roles, suggesting a return to manual labor. The critique of right-wing ideologies highlights the risks of crushing female employment. As they explore how Republican strategies may lack the courage to fully embrace cultural changes, they question what liberals can do to appeal to hardworking men who reject Trump's authoritarianism. The conversation suggests a societal shift could emerge by encouraging men to socialize more and engage offline.