The Politics Lab: Recent Episodes
The Politics Lab
Politics isn’t always black and white. Dr. Bill Muck and Dr. Phil Barker, professors of political science and longtime friends, talk through the week’s news and discuss how political science might help make sense of things. In The Politics Lab, we put politics under the microscope.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the expanding war between Israel, Iran and (possibly?) the United States; consider the growing prominence of political violence in American society; and grade Donald Trump’s birthday parade.
This week, Bill and Phil offer a big picture assessment of Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, then reflect on Elon and Trump's drama-filled breakup.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss whether Trump’s shifting rhetoric on Russia and Putin is significant and then dive into some recent news stories to decide “What’s More Stupid?”.
This week, Bill and Phil debate whether Donald Trump has taken an amoral approach to American Foreign Policy and walk through the implications for global politics.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss how to know when our democracy has failed, then talk with Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin about what we can be doing today to push back against Trump’s attacks on democracy.
This week Bill and Phil discuss Trump’s indifference to due process and the constitution, how the public will respond to Trump’s tariffs leading to fewer dolls and pencils for American children, and close with a spirited discussion of whether it’s more likely that Bill & Phil could escape from Alcatraz or that Trump will become the next Pope.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the significance of the first 100 days of Trump’s second term, then decide who had the dumbest tweet of the week.
This week, Bill and Phil look at some of the institutions and people that are pushing back against an increasingly authoritarian Trump, including the Federal Reserve, the Supreme Court, and the American people. Then they close with an invigorating session of “What’s More Stupid?”
This week, Bill and Phil explore the ongoing battle between the Trump administration and the judiciary, pondering whether the country finds itself in a full blown constitutional crisis, then continue their ongoing series looking at attacks on core democratic institutions, focusing this week on Trump‘s attack on higher education.
This week, Bill and Phil try to make some sense of Trump’s tariffs and their implications.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss President Trump’s “Liberation Day” of tariffs, whether Trump can run for a third term, and the institutional resilience of the media as it comes under attack by the president.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the implications of Signal-gate, then assess the resilience of the judicial system in light of Trump’s attacks on it.
This week, Bill and Phil offer a big picture look at the tumultuous first fifty days of the Trump presidency.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss Trump’s dramatic actions regarding Ukraine, his embrace of Tariffs, and the ways that these actions will remake the international system.
Bill and Phil consider the state of global democracy in light of the third anniversary of the Ukraine war, the success of the far right in Germany’s elections, and the Trump administration’s attacks on press freedom.
Bill and Phil assess the implications of Donald Trump’s embrace of Russia, examine JD Vance’s speech lecturing Europe on democracy, and ponder what Donald Trump posting pictures of himself as king and comparing himself to Napoleon means for our constitution.
This week, Bill and Phil take a look at what leading scholars are saying about Trump’s assault on American democracy and then lighten the mood by playing a round of “What’s More Stupid?”
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss Trump’s pledge to own Gaza, starting a trade war with allies and enemies alike, and claims that Elon is up to some serious illegality.
This week, Bill and Phil sift through the chaos of the first 10 days of Trump, 2.0, including the halt on federal spending, opening a immigrant detention center in Guantanamo, a fight with Colombia over deportees, the firing of 17 inspectors general, and much, much more. Now lets go to the lab.
This week, Bill and Phil react to Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
This week, Bill and Phil react to the breaking news of a ceasefire in Gaza, reflect of the life of Jimmy Carter, and discuss the transition from Biden to Trump.
This week, Bill and Phil assess the hybrid war Putin is waging across Europe, review Mitch McConnell’s recent Foreign Affairs article rejecting isolationism and calling for American primacy, and close with a look at how a debate over sandwiches has divided the British government.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the implications of Bashar al-Assad’s fall in Syria and the troublesome logic of the Supreme Court’s arguments on trans rights, and then play “What’s More Stupid: Trump Social Media edition”.
This week, its time for speed round. Bill and Phil tackle Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, the state of Trump’s cabinet nominations, the crisis in South Korea, and Trump’s offer to annex Canada.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil celebrate Thanksgiving by reviewing their top turkeys of the year,
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil examine the state of democracy in light of Trump’s early actions, then discuss the impact that Trump’s second term might have on global politics.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil try to wrap their heads around Trump’s initial cabinet nominations, and then consider the various explanations for the results of the 2024 presidential election.
This week, Bill and Phil break down Trump and Harris’s closing arguments and predict what may happen in next Tuesday’s election.
On this weeks episode, Bill and Phil discuss recent accusations that Trump is a fascist, explore Trump‘s bizarre pre-election behavior, and highlight possible post-election dangers.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the state of the presidential race just three weeks until Election Day and explore the question of whether we are living through the most dangerous international moment since the Cold War.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil open with a spirited game of “What’s More Stupid,” then reflect on why our politics have become so stupid, and close by looking at how Jack Smith may have outsmarted the Supreme Court.
Bill and Phil wrestle with the expanding war in the Middle East, break down the Vice Presidential debate, and look at Jimmy Carter’s legacy in light of his 100th birthday.
Bill and Phil the examine the dark and frightening world Trump is creating on his social media, explore what Reagan’s role in the end of the Cold War can teach us about how to approach China, and close with a look at the Mark Robinson super-scandal.
Bill guest hosts “The Big Picture" on WCPT radio in Chicago. Guests include Jake Lahut (21:50), Dr. Suzanne Chod (48:00), and Dr. Phil Barker (1:52:00). Enjoy the show in its entirety.
Bill and Phil assess the latest assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, grapple with the question of whether the United States and NATO should allow Ukraine to fire their missiles into Russia, and consider the tactical and moral implications of Israel’s pager attack on Hezbollah.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil look at the role of humor in politics, as well as the impact of Whataboutism on American Foreign policy.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the Democratic National Convention and its implications for the 2024 presidential election.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil examine Donald Trump’s dramatic struggles adjusting to a new campaign opponent, assess the Supreme Court reforms proposed by Joe Biden, and debate the significance of Ukraine’s invasion of Russia.
Bill and Phil dig into the choice of Tim Walz as Harris’s VP and then check in on recent developments in global politics, including Israel’s assassination of Hamas leaders, Venezuela’s sham election, and a prisoner swap with Russia.
Bill and Phil reflect on the dramatic developments in the 2024 presidential campaign, including Biden’s decision to withdraw, Kamala Harris breathing energy and enthusiasm into the Democratic Party, and the Trump campaign’s effort to respond to all the changes.
On this special emergency episode, Bill and Phil break down the implications of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life and the dismissal of the federal classified documents case.
Bill and Phil break down elections results in France and the UK, as well as the state of the Biden candidacy, then reflect on NATO calling out China for it’s support of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and close by asking whether Mexico should stop watering down its spicy salsas for foreigners.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the first presidential On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the Supreme Court decision on Presidential immunity and the implications of the first round of French Parliamentary elections. , its implications, and whether it is time for Biden to step aside.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the first presidential debate, its implications, and whether it is time for Biden to step aside.
Bill and Phil take a deep dive into the nature and psychology of the Trump supporter; exploring the intersection of religion and politics as well as asking the hard question of whether they bear individual moral responsibility for their support.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil ask what we learned about the state of democracy from the recent elections around the world AND why North Korea is sending balloons full of garbage into South Korea.
Bill and Phil analyze Trump’s guilty verdict and ask whether it will matter in November.
Bill and Phil break down the latest developments in the Middle East and discuss whether a legal or political solution is the best path forward AND then address the implications of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito hanging the American flag upside down in his yard in the aftermath of the January 6th attacks.
With 6 months to the election, Bill and Phil wonder if Trump has emerged as the clear leading candidate AND whether President Biden made the right call in withholding weapons from Israel.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss whether democracies can adapt to changing authoritarian propaganda AND what to take make of the first few weeks of the Donald Trump hush money trial.
Bill and Phil grapple with some pressing legal questions, including what we learned from the Supreme Court’s oral arguments about Donald Trump’s claim of absolute presidential immunity AND what to make of news that the International Criminal Court may issue arrest warrants for Israeli conduct in Gaza.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil grapple with how the world would be different if China were in charge and whether that be a good or bad thing AND given the possibility of a Trump victory in November, should Sonia Sotomayor retire now.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil grapple with the questions of why Iran launched roughly 300 missiles at Israel and whether Trump’s trial(s) will matter come November.
Bill and Phil reflect on the 30-year anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, ponder the complicated relationship between Corporate America and Donald Trump, and close with a look at developments in the world of international law, including Ecuador storming the Mexican embassy, Nicaragua accusing Germany of Genocide in Gaza, and Switzerland being found guilty of violating its citizens’ right to a healthy climate.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil ponder Donald Trump selling Bibles, discuss the backlash against the liberal international order, and consider whether the US should utilize illiberal actions to defend that liberal order.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil tackle the politics of the political extreme. We begin with a look at the struggle between piety and profanity within the modern Republican Party, then explore Donald Trump’s full embrace of January 6th, transition to Donald Trump’s provocative language from last week, take a look at the Democratic Party and the protest votes against Joe Biden, and close with a game of What’s More Stupid, Aaron Rodgers edition.
Bill and Phil reflect on Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech, discuss startling new evidence that Russia was seriously contemplating using a tactical nuclear weapon in the early stages of the Ukraine war, assess the implications of Lara Trump being announced as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, and close with a debate over where Katie Britt’s disastrous State of the Union response speech fits in the long list of bad response speeches.
Bill and Phil reflect on the Supreme Court’s decision to keep Trump on the ballot, break down the results from Super Tuesday, ponder whether Americans are suffering from collective amnesia about Donald Trump, and close with a look at some new research suggesting that Americans reward candidates who take hawkish foreign policy positions even when those positions are in direct conflict with the voters’ preference.
Bill and Phil analyze the Alabama IVF court ruling as part of a broader conservative war on sex, explore the latest in Donald Trump’s ongoing legal troubles, reflect on the state of the Ukraine war on the two year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, and close by asking the hard question of whether the president should be seen eating ice cream.
Bill and Phil reflect on Donald Trump’s controversial remarks encouraging Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to US NATO allies, assess the concerns that Joe Biden is tool old to run for president, consider the implications of Donald Trump threatening another trade war with China, and close with a lively discussion of Russia’s open and determined war on woke.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil review this week’s legal developments regarding Donald Trump’s immunity and his ability to appear on the ballot, assess Joe Biden’s efforts to avoid an escalating conflict in the Middle East, and close with a fun new game we’re calling, “If I were…”
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down results from the New Hampshire primary, discuss concerns that North Korea may be preparing for war, check in on the Doomsday Clock, and close by looking at Alabama’s new method for the death penalty.
Bill and Phil break down the Iowa caucus results and preview the New Hampshire primary, examine the GOP’s rewriting of the history of January 6th, discuss South Africa bringing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and close by looking at data suggesting that all Americans feel like political losers.
Bill and Phil tackle 6 topics in an hour, including an installment of “Phil’s Campaign Corner,” news of a major global climate agreement, the strategy & morality of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, a coming Biden impeachment, Congressional Republicans losing interest in the Ukraine war, and Jack Smith heading to the Supreme Court in the Trump case.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil begin with a segment of “Phil’s Campaign Corner,” then ponder whether the Ukraine war has slipped into a stalemate, reflect on the death of Henry Kissinger, and finish with a game of What’s More Stupid…populism edition.
Bill and Phil hand out their world-famous “Turkey of the Year” Awards. So grab a turkey leg and a scoop of stuffing and let’s go to the lab.
Bill and Phil discuss what to make of Trump’s threat to put millions of immigrants in camps and calling his political opponents vermin, look at the high stakes meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, examine the Supreme Court’s new ethics rules, and close with a spirited game of what’s more stupid.
Bill and Phil reflect on the state of the 2024 presidential race exactly one year out from election day—including looking at what a 2nd Trump presidency might entail. We then examine the intersection of religion and politics in the Republican Party, and close with a discussion of the most recent Supreme Court case on whether taking guns away from domestic abusers is unconstitutional.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil throw the outline out the window and instead discuss the week’s breaking news, including Republicans efforts to elect a speaker of the House, new legal trouble for Trump in Georgia, and the spiraling conflict in Gaza.
Bill and Phil examine how the rules of war and Just War Doctrine apply to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, discuss what Jim Jordan’s nomination to be House Speaker and the recent elections in Poland teach us about the state of democracy, and close with a look at artificial intelligence and whether Bill should be excited or worried that soon a machine will be making his Chipotle burrito
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the latest developments in the Israel/Hamas war, debate whether the world is moving towards a bipolar or multipolar distribution and why it matters, and close with a spirited debate over whether we’re more concerned about Biden’s dog biting people or bed bugs running rampant in Paris.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil examine Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as House Speaker, whether its better to ignore or amplify Donald Trump’s most dangerous and controversial speech, how invading Mexico went from a bad to idea to Republican doctrine, and then close with the return of one of our favorite segments: Phil’s Campaign Corner.
On this week’s “Speed Round” episode, Bill and Phil discuss news that Donald Trump would write “to do” lists for his assistants on the back of classified documents, evaluate the concern within the Democratic Party about Joe Biden’s age, ponder the political implications of Ron DeSantis’ advising most Floridians to NOT get the latest booster, examine the dramatic diplomatic break between Canada and India, and close with a crowd pleasing round of “What’s More Stupid?”
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil examine Kevin McCarthy’s announcement of an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, assess the world’s growing climate disaster, and look back at 9/11 and discuss the the connection it has to our current political struggles.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the two-year anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, discuss the implications of a potential arms deal between Russia and North Korea, and then ponder whether the United States democracy needs an institutional overhaul.
Bill and Phil head north to Wisconsin to ponder the politics of its Supreme Court, discuss the movement among some conservatives to break up with Ronald Reagan, ask why it seems that both Democrats and Republicans are turning away from free trade, and close by pondering why the last 10 years of American politics has been uniquely stupid.
Bill and Phil explore the significance of the first Republican debate, discuss Joe Biden‘s quiet but meaningful efforts to support the International Criminal Court, and close by pondering China’s economic troubles and whether the threat posed by China has been exaggerated.
Bill and Phil offer some thoughts on the latest indictment of former president Donald Trump, explore how country music has put itself on the front lines of the culture wars, and close with a look at the politics of existential threat, and specifically whether it’s possible to have “normal politics” when one political party becomes convinced that the other side poses an existential threat to the country.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil take a deep dive on Donald Trump; exploring the recent indictment of the former president, his prospects for reelection, and what a second Trump presidency might look like.
On this week’s Supreme Court themed episode, Bill and Phil break down the Court’s decisions on religious freedom, affirmative action, and student loan debt, and then end with a big picture look at what those decisions suggest about the future direction of the Supreme Court.
Bill and Phil break down the attempted coup in Russia, reflect on audio of Donald Trump discussing a classified document on Iran, assess the significance of the Supreme Court’s rejection of the independent state legislature theory, and close with a look at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to the White House.
Bill and Phil ponder what the end of the war in Ukraine might look like, assess whether the growing list of indictments is having any impact on support for Donald Trump, debate whether disinformation is in fact free speech, and close with a look at the San Antonio wax museum which had to pull the Trump exhibit because people kept punching it in the face.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the federal indictment of former president Donald Trump, examine the violent rhetoric used in Trump’s defense, discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling on redistricting in Alabama, and close with a look at the use of deepfakes in a U.S. election.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil explore the psychology that explains the appeal of Donald Trump, reflect on Biden’s legacy following the debt ceiling agreement, discuss the return of Soviet-style “snitching” to Russia, and close with a look at the impeachment of the Texas attorney general.
Bill and Phil examine some unconventional developments in the Ukraine war, take a look at a Texas law that would mandate the 10 Commandments in every classroom, discuss how US policy towards China shifted from decoupling to de-risking, and explore what a recent comment by Justice Neil Gorsuch suggests about his views on civil liberties.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on CNN’s decision to host Donald Trump for a town hall, explore nuclear strategy in dealing with Russia in Ukraine, discuss the significance of efforts by Ukraine to erase Russian culture, and close with a look at Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and ponder whether he is the future of Trumpism.
Bill and Phil offer reactions to the verdict in the E Jean Carroll case and the coronation of King Charles, then move to a speed round with the theme of “Will domestic politics lead to the end of America?”, including a discussion of the debt ceiling debate, Florida’s rejection of textbooks, and the new bipartisan consensus on economic nationalism.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the question of ethics reform at the Supreme Court, reflect on how China’s expansion of nuclear weapons changes global nuclear strategy, examine the case for why Trump could win the presidency, and close by pondering what to make of Trump’s curious pronunciation of Vladimir Lenin.
Bill and Phil take a deep dive into Joe Biden’s announcement that he is running for re-election, then we move to speed round where all the topics connect to poor or bad decision making, including Tucker Carlson getting fired, Russia’s recruitment effort calling for “real men,” China’s recent diplomatic blunder, Samuel Alito’s dissent in the abortion pill case, and why the My Pillow Guy is out $5 million
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss whether the United States has quietly slipped into a proxy war with Russia, reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Accords in Northern Ireland, discuss why U.S. politicians love Ireland so much, and offer our condolences for what the Politics Lab is calling the official death of Twitter.
Bill and Phil discuss newly released documents about the Cuban Missile Crisis and what they can teach us about that historic incident as well as the current war in Ukraine, then we shift to look at the “Wacky Week of Politics” and try to figure out why Clarence Thomas is hanging out with a billionaire in Indonesia, why the Manhattan District Attorney is suing Jim Jordan, why the Tennessee legislature expelled two black lawmakers, and finally why Kid Rock was shooting cases of Bud Light in response to the company’s transgender activism.
Bill and Phil reflect on the indictment of former president, Donald Trump, discuss why constitutional crises and political violence could soon be the norm in the U.S., and close with a look at the way in which the Supreme Court is increasingly shaping the nature of U.S. foreign policy.
Bill and Phil ponder arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, reflect on the 20th anniversary of the Iraq war, examine Trump’s embrace of white nationalist rhetoric in his campaign videos and close with a look at our favorite food fails by politicians.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on some optimistic new data about the future of democracy, discuss developments in Ukraine, and close by exploring the implication of China playing peacemaker with Iran and Saudi Arabia.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil explore the dark language in Trump’s CPAC speech, discuss the changing nature of war, ponder whether US politicians have fallen prey to groupthink in becoming dangerously hawkish on China, and close by rating Trump’s nicknames for Ron DeSantis.
Bill and Phil reflect on the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, discuss recent revelations that Fox News hosts and executives privately expressed disbelief about Trump’s stolen elections claims yet continued to promote those lies on the air, and close with a look at a recent Supreme Court case that could literally break the internet.
This week, Bill and Phil debate whether UFOs really exist and why the US government keeps shooting them down, discuss a new angry and disruptive ethos within the Republican Party, and ponder some new data suggesting that all Americans, Republicans and Democrats, want a strong, anti-democratic leader.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the relevance of the State of the Union speech, discuss the politics of the spy balloon, assess the dire state of the British economy, and close with a game of “What’s More Stupid…Truth Social Edition”.
Bill and Phil reflect on the US approach to military aid to Ukraine, review some optimistic data on the global state of democracy, discuss what to make of a U.S. general predicting war between the U.S. and China in the next two years, and close by asking whether the Republicans are using “magical thinking” to assume Donald Trump will simply disappear from politics.
Bill and Phil offer a guide to the possible forthcoming indictments of Donald Trump, evaluate Joe Biden’s foreign policy two years in, examine the ironclad bond that has developed between Keven McCarthy and Marjorie Taylor Greene, and ponder whether the Supreme Court is capable of investigating itself in the wake of the leaked opinion report.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the Republicans’ new oversight committee, the prevalence of conspiracy theories on the right, Japan’s military expansion, and whether it matters that members of the Supreme Court like each other.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on Kevin McCarthy’s chaotic path to House Speaker, examine last week’s attack on the Brazilian democracy, and ponder the rise and potential decline of globalization.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the chaos of House Republican leadership elections, arguments for the end of humanity, and this year’s banished words list.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil look back at the biggest stories of 2022 to see what lessons we’ve learned this year.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the criminal referrals from the January 6th Committee, reflect on the role technology is playing in the Ukraine war as well as Zelensky’s visit to Washington, and close with an assessment of the situation in China and whether war is on the horizon.
Bill and Phil discuss Trump’s call for terminating the constitution, grapple with the idea of originalism as a method of constitutional interpretation, examine the two cases argued before the Supreme Court this week and finish with a look at the Democrat’s new primary calendar.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the grave threat artificial intelligence may pose to human existence, examine the Covid protests in China, and hand out their world-famous “Turkey of the Year” Awards. So grab some Thanksgiving leftovers and join us in the lab!
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the missile strikes in Poland, step back to assess the state of global democracy in light of the midterm results, and assess the future of Donald Trump and his standing within Republican Party.
Bill and Phil are joined by Dr. Suzanne Chod, Professor of Political Science at North Central College, to break down the midterm results and their implications
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil preview the upcoming midterms, discuss political violence in the context of the attack on Paul Pelosi, break down the election results in Brazil and close with a look at Elon Musk and what his takeover of Twitter means for free speech.
Bill and Phil examine data on the uniquely hostile language of the 139 House Republicans who challenged the Electoral College vote, listen to audio of Donald Trump from Bob Woodward’s new book, break down new polling data on American’s attitudes on U.S. foreign policy, and close by playing a game of “What’s More Upsetting?”
On this episode, Bill and Phil examine Kari Lake and the dynamics of the Republican Party in Arizona, discuss a playbook for saving democracy, and close with a reflection on the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis and compare it to Putin’s recent nuclear threats.
On this episode, Bill and Phil discuss take a deep dive into the upcoming midterms, the evolving situations in Iran and Russia, and the challenges facing the Department of Justice as it weighs charging the former president with a crime.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the likelihood of Russia using nuclear weapons, explore the violent rhetoric on the political right, and close with a fun look at the politics of hair.
On this episode, Bill and Phil examine protests in Iran and Russia and whether the regimes will survive, preview the midterm elections, and play a game of what’s more stupid.
Bill and Phil discuss Russia’s plans for a partial mobilization and annexation vote in Ukraine, Biden’s comments on U.S. soldiers fighting to defend Taiwan, far right movements in Sweden, Italy and Canada, and Donald Trump’s apparent embrace of QAnon.
Bill and Phil discuss Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive against Russia, Mike Pence’s arguably unconstitutional authorization of force on January 6th, and ponder the deeper meaning of our political rhetoric and specifically the “stop the steal” phrase.
On this episode, Bill and Phil discuss last week’s controversial speeches from Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Chile’s attempt to create a new constitution, and whether the United States will soon follow suit and have a constitutional convention of its own.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the death of Mikhail Gorbachev, new data on the state of global democracy, Biden’s use of the term ‘semi-fascist’ to describe the MAGA movement, and a big picture look at Biden's foreign policy doctrine.
Bill and Phil consider the contentious role of history in our current political environment, discuss whether the Ukraine war means the end of Francis Fukuyama’s end of history thesis, and explore some recent scholarship on the question of whether Trump supporters are capable of changing their minds
Bill and Phil are back from their break and reflect on Donald Trump’s legal troubles, the success of pro-Trump candidates in Republican primaries, and Joe Biden’s wave of legislative success.
Bill and Phil take an international focus and discuss elections in Brazil, growing unease about China and Taiwan, a dangerous constitutional referendum in Tunisia, and allegations of pro-nazi rhetoric coming from Hungary’s leader, Victor Orban.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss possible Supreme Court reforms, dreary poll numbers for both Biden and Trump, whether Ron DeSantis is the real threat to democracy, and Biden’s awkward trip to Saudi Arabia.
On this week’s 4th of July themed episode, Bill and Phil discuss the country’s mixed feelings about celebrating the 4th of July this year, how the country might go about fixing what ails it, how all of this fits within the broader debate about the rise and decline of great powers, and then close with a round of “Who Had the Better Political Insult?”
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil try to process the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade and stunning new revelations from the January 6th Committee hearings.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the latest from the January 6th Committee hearings, results from this week’s French legislative elections, the Republican platform in Texas, and whether the Supreme Court should listen to public opinion.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the January 6th Committee hearings, Chinese military aircraft harassing Australian and Canadian jets in Pacific waters, and the potential for bipartisan gun legislation.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the state of the war in Ukraine, whether Trump has lost influence over the 2022 midterms, and the debate over student loan debt forgiveness.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the Buffalo shooting, Biden’s statement on the defense of Taiwan, the recent antics of Clarence and Ginni Thomas, and play a round of ‘What’s More Stupid?’
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the implications of overturning Roe v. Wade, what lessons to draw from the latest election in the Philippines, and whether the United States will be able to stay out of the Russia/Ukraine war.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on news that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, compare the nuclear threat in Ukraine to the Cuban Missile Crisis, and break down the New York Times’ look at the impact of Tucker Carlson.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the conflict in Ukraine and whether its likely to spread beyond Ukraine’s borders, what to make of news that Kevin McCarthy was secretly supportive of removing Trump from office after January 6th, and whether the 14th amendment might keep Marjorie Taylor Greene from being on the ballot in 2022.
This week, Bill and Phil reflect on recent developments in Ukraine, stunning new findings on the state of the U.S. democracy, and the global debate over free speech, and then they play a round of “What’s More Stupid?”
Bill and Phil discuss the first round of the presidential election in France, David Brooks’ argument that the era of globalization is over, and the challenges historians face in assessing the Trump presidency.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on Russian atrocities in Ukraine and whether they meet the definition of genocide, the wave of nationalism spreading around the world, and why Vladimir Putin, and not Joe Biden, is enjoying a rally-around-the-flag bump in approval ratings.
This week, Bill and Phil examine President Biden’s speech on democracy, the potential rebirth of the liberal world order, why autocrats fear women, and what to make of Clarence Thomas’ wife sending text messages to Mark Meadows about overturning the 2020 election.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the Senate confirmation hearing of Ketanji Brown Jackson, debate whether Russia can be held accountable for war crimes for its actions in Ukraine, and play a foreign policy edition of “what’s more stupid.”
Bill and Phil break down recent developments in Ukraine, reflect on what Russian history can teach us about its current invasion, and think through the upcoming challenges facing U.S. courts as they try to determine the proper balance between free speech and disinformation.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss recent developments in Ukraine, how Russia’s invasion will impact the global world order, whether Vladimir Putin is acting rationally, and what political science research tells us about madman theories of international politics.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil devote the entire episode to breaking down the Russian invasion of Ukraine and examining its implications for international politics.
Bill and Phil break down the Russian invasion of Ukraine, discuss China’s use of social media to shape global opinion on the Olympics, and play a game of ‘Whose Home State is Dumber?’
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the thinking behind the US’s intelligence disclosures on a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, whether Republicans are living within a lie, and if Trump’s mishandling of documents might prove to be a big problem. Then we wrap up with a game of “What’s More Stupid?”
This week, Bill and Phil ponder whether the Olympics bring the world together or inflame nationalism, what this Olympics reveals about China’s rise, new data on the declining competitiveness of congressional districts, and Trump’s relentless habit of destroying documents.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss a potential new law in New Hampshire that demands teacher loyalty, recent developments in Ukraine and what it means for the future of US foreign policy, Trump’s place in the Republican Party, and the future of the filibuster.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on Biden’s first year of foreign policy, escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, why more inexperienced candidates are running for office, and what to make of the GOP’s idea to create a voter fraud police force.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the changing politics of Covid and whether Donald Trump just launched his reelection campaign.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the anniversary of January 6th and new research on the prospect of civil war, a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Novak Djokovic’s efforts to play some unvaccinated tennis in Australia.
This week, Bill and Phil take a look back at 2021, including some of the major political stories you may have already forgotten, as well as a big picture look at what the year taught us about the state of our political world.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil take a deep dive into democracy and disinformation, including what we learned from Mark Meadows text messages and January 6th powerpoint presentations, the extensive use of disinformation in political emails, and China’s attempt to troll Biden’s democracy summit. Then we close by pondering whether the next political coup is already underway.
Bill and Phil take a lighter look at the wacky week of politics, including stories of an ultra-nationalist presidential candidate in France being put in a headlock, a male senator in Australia growling at a female colleague during her speech, Mark Meadows calling his own book “fake news” after Trump told him so, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposing his own military force for Florida, and Representative Thomas Massie’s Christmas card showing his family gathered around the tree with assault rifles.
Bill and Phil examine the disconnect between Biden’s popular policies and his political unpopularity, what nuclear brinkmanship can teach us about the debate over the debt-ceiling, how the shift in self-defense laws can help us understand the result in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, and Bill and Phil enjoy some Thanksgiving leftovers by announcing their biggest turkeys of the year.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the seriousness of political rhetoric, the shifting attitudes towards race in America, the growing number of Americans advocating for political violence, and what to make of Steve Bannon’s surrender for contempt of Congress charges.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss whether former President Obama is outshining Joe Biden, if China’s president Xi Jinping is overrated, what the increase in US hostages means for US power, and why Ted Cruz is so mad at Big Bird.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil explore the “Let’s Go Brandon” chant, Republican involvement in the January 6th activities, growing concern among US allies about a possible 'no first use' change to nuclear policy, and recent anti-democratic shenanigans in Florida and Illinois.
Welcome to an almost, nearly, might-have-been LIVE episode of The Politics Lab, in which Bill and Phil discuss potential Democratic plans to remove Iowa from it’s privileged position as the first step in the presidential nomination process, consider the possibility of a new Cold War between the US and China, and wrap up the episode by playing a round of “Who’s the More Dangerous Idiot?”
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss recent revelations about former President Trump’s efforts to get the Justice Department to help overturn the election, a new global agreement on corporate taxes, growing tensions over Taiwan, and trouble at the C.I.A.
Bill and Phil grade Biden’s foreign policy, discuss why bipartisanship is dying in the Senate, contemplate what a shortage of clowns in Northern Ireland suggests about how Brexit is going, and ponder the future of religious exemptions in U.S. law.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss the recent German elections, whether Facebook is an authoritarian nation-state, the federal budget standoff, and play a game of "What’s More Stupid - Trump Edition".
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the geostrategic implications of the submarine deal between the US and Australia, recent Trump revelations from Bob Woodward’s latest book, and Jair Bolsonaro’s unvaccinated trip to New York for the opening of the United Nations.
Bill and Phil are joined by Dr. Suzanne Chod, Professor of Political Science at North Central College, to discuss the Texas abortion law, Biden’s vaccine mandate, the Democrats’ struggle to defend democracy, and the significance of the California recall vote.
Bill and Phil reflect on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and assess two decades of US foreign policy that emerged in response to the attack… the good, the bad and the ugly.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the final US troops leaving Afghanistan and Biden officially ending the nearly 20 year war in Afghanistan. We also take a look at the political dynamics surrounding the Covid surge and mask mandates.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil take a deep dive into the situation in Afghanistan. What to make of the chaotic situation on the ground? What does that mean for the overall decision to withdraw? And who ultimately bears responsibility for the tragedy in Afghanistan?
We're on one last summer vacation, so we're reposting our interview with Erica Chenoweth this week. Enjoy!
Erica Chenoweth, the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School, joins Bill and Phil this week to discuss the practice of civil resistance.
This week, Bill and Phil uncover what Mauritius can teach us about the international rules-based order, then discuss the recent climate change report, troubling developments in Afghanistan, and the global ethics of booster shots.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on truth and the January 6th Committee, recent covid troubles in Florida and Texas, challenges to US nuclear policy, and what to make of Tucker Carlson broadcasting from Hungary.
The Lab is on vacation this week, so we’re rebroadcasting our interview with Professor Roland Paris.
Roland Paris, Professor of International Affairs at University of Ottawa and former Senior Advisor on Global Affairs and Defense to the Prime Minister of Canada, joins us to discuss U.S. global leadership, the state of democracy, the rise of China and the difference between the academic and policy world.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on their experience last week at a summer institute on genocide studies and prevention, and then discuss what political science research can teach us about cults of personality and whether Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan will lead to the world’s next refugee crisis.
We’re back! On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the contested history of the country’s founding, Israel ushering in the era of AI-based war, the death of Donald Rumsfeld, India’s use of Covid to undermine democracy, and where historians placed Donald Trump in their latest rankings.
The Lab is on vacation this week, so we’re rebroadcasting our interview with Professor Jim Waller.
The threat of mass violence is on the rise in the United States, as demonstrated by the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Dr. James Waller, noted expert on mass violence and genocide, joins us this week to talk about the risk factors that contribute to widespread political and ethnic violence and to wrestle with the warning signs present in the United States today.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the one-year anniversary of The Politics Lab, the recent presidential election in Iran, Biden’s use of the phrase “rules based order,” the recent Supreme Court ruling on the NCAA, and the refusal of Republicans to even debate voting reform.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss Mitch McConnell’s pledge to block a Biden Supreme Court nominee in 2024, updates from the recent NATO conference, new details on the Trump administration’s efforts to politicize the Department of Justice, and why Kim Jung-un is afraid of K-Pop’s popularity in North Korea.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss how America fractured into four parts, how Germany has grappled with its history, Biden’s trip to Europe, and a letter from democracy scholars ringing the alarm bell.
Erica Chenoweth, the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School, joins Bill and Phil this week to discuss the practice of civil resistance.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss recent developments in Belarus, efforts by Republican state legislatures to undermine democracy, new documents on the plans to use nuclear weapons in defense of Taiwan back in 1958, and why Ted Cruz is so worried about a woke U.S. military.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the Israeli-Hamas conflict, concerns over the state of civil-military relations in the US, the politics behind Supreme Court justice retirements, and a look at the state of democracy in El Salvador and the United States.
Bill and Phil reflect on Biden’s first 100 days, the implications of Facebook’s semipermanent Trump ban and Liz Cheney’s ouster from party leadership, elections in the United Kingdom, and Napoleon’s contested legacy in France.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss Brazil and India’s struggles with Covid, why Trump’s Big Lie won’t go away, how disinformation is undermining the vaccination campaign in the US, and whether a high school cheerleader’s free speech rights include a snapchat tirade against her school.
Roland Paris, Professor of International Affairs at University of Ottawa and former Senior Advisor on Global Affairs and Defense to the Prime Minister of Canada, joins us to discuss U.S. global leadership, the state of democracy, the rise of China and the difference between the academic and policy world.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss immigration and the contrast between George W. Bush’s call for tolerance and the far-right America First Caucus’s call for a revival of Anglo-Saxon political traditions. We then examine Russia’s military buildup on the Ukrainian border and close with a look at the data from this year’s World Happiness Report.
This week, we discuss a recently released intelligence forecast predicting a post-pandemic world that is upended by climate chance and splintering societies, reflect on what to make of Tucker Carlson’s unapologetic embrace of the racist “replacement theory” and whether there might be any connection to new data on domestic extremism in the U.S., and wrap up with a look at foreign policy, highlighting new developments in Northern Ireland, Israel and Afghanistan
This week, Bill and Phil are joined by Dr. Brandon Sheridan who is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Elon University to discuss President Biden’s ambitious economic agenda and whether it signals a fundamental rethinking of the role of government in the economy. Then we talk about the impact of politics on professional sports. and new data on the Jan. 6 attacks released by the Chicago Project on Security and Threats.
This week, Bill and Phil discuss recent revelations that the Trump administration’s coronavirus response was even worse than previously known, some recent data on religious identity in America, new voting rules in Georgia, and the big boat that got stuck in the Suez.
Bill and Phil discuss the recent mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, the tense diplomatic exchange between China and the United States, Biden’s emerging immigration problem, and what to make of former president Trump starting his own social media platform.
Congressman Sean Casten, U.S. Representative for Illinois's 6th congressional district, joins Bill and Phil to discuss the American Rescue Plan, infrastructure and clean energy, and the state of American democracy.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil are joined by constitutional law expert, Professor Tom Cavenagh, to get an update on the Supreme Court and to discuss the legal implications of voting rights legislation, the death penalty, and what former President Trump’s legal future looks like.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the US intel report on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Equality Act passing in the House, George Kennan’s Long Telegram turning 75, the Senate parliamentarian nixing the $15 minimum wage, and Biden overturning Trump’s architecture order.
Bill and Phil break down Biden’s speech on democracy, the significance of Mario Draghi becoming Prime Minister of Italy, what Joe Biden’s stimulus plan tells us about his approach moving forward, and Ted Cruz’s infamous trip to Cancun.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the Senate’s acquittal of Donald Trump, the intersection of politics and sports at the Olympics and the NBA, and what the widespread power outages in Texas teach us about the future of climate change.
We examine the impeachment hearing as part of a broader conversation about accountability for the former president, and we take a look at the foreign policy agenda that Joe Biden outlined this week
The threat of mass violence is on the rise in the United States, as demonstrated by the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Dr. James Waller, noted expert on mass violence and genocide, joins us this week to talk about the risk factors that contribute to widespread political and ethnic violence and to wrestle with the warning signs present in the United States today.
Bill and Phil are joined by Dr. Suzanne Chod to break down the results of the Georgia Senate races, whether Biden has a chance to get his agenda through a split Senate, the upcoming 2nd impeachment of Donald Trump, and what the future may hold for the Republican Party.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil devote the entire episode to the presidential inauguration and what the future may hold for President Joe Biden.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the historic second impeachment of Donald Trump, how the last 4 years of Trump led to the attack on the U.S. Capital, and we end the episode with an interview of Michael Blight, Assistant Professor of Communication, to discuss Trump’s social media ban and the practice of deplatforming.
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil devote the entire episode to an extended conversation focused on breaking down and reacting to the pro-Trump extremists who attacked the Capital building yesterday.
Bill and Phil reflect on the wild and awful political year that was 2020; including what COVID revealed about our common humanity, competing conceptions of social justice, attacks on law and order, the shaky state of US democracy, and we close with things that happened in 2020 that you already forgot about.
Happy Holidays! Bill and Phil are taking the week off. But we want to thank all of our listeners for your support this year. We’ll be back next week with a full episode. For now, please enjoy a brief message from The Politics Lab, plus some bonus content from this week’s YouTube session. Thank you!
On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the departure and legacy of Attorney General Bill Barr, ponder the significance of the election case brought to the Supreme Court by Texas, and look at recent international developments in Russia and Morocco.
Bill and Phil explore whether Trump and Trumpism will simply fade away or whether its here to stay. We also examine if Joe Biden is further undermining the balance between civil and military authority by appointing Retired General Lloyd Austin to serve as secretary of defense and what to make of the fact that only 27 congressional Republicans have acknowledged Biden’s win.
Bill and Phil discuss the flurry of news surrounding presidential pardons, explore the often uncomfortable relationship between Covid and sports, think through a recent critique of the infamous Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention by Thomas Friedman, and ponder the tactic of Taiwanese politicians who threw pig guts in parliament last week.
This week, Bill and Phil share the political developments they’re most thankful for and debate who wins the inaugural “Biggest Turkey of the Year” award.
Bill and Phil discuss former president Barack Obama’s return to the political scene and Obama’s thoughts on the state of the US democracy. We also examine why white people love Donald Trump so much, whether we should expect an attack on Iran in the final months of the Trump administration, and whether it was appropriate for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to share his political views on COVID and religious liberty.
On this week’s episode Bill and Phil reflect on Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election and offer thoughts on what looks to be a chaotic transition period. Will Trump eventually accept defeat, what are the implications of his allegations of electoral fraud, and are we witnessing an attempted political coup in plain sight? We’ll break it all down for you in this episode.
Dr. Suzanne Chod joins Bill and Phil to break down the state of the 2020 election. What do we know? What don’t we know? And what comes next?
This week we offer a special pre-election episode where Bill & Phil make their predictions for the 2020 election. Who will win the presidency, the House, and the Senate? Will we see violence or any other voting shenanigans? And what are we expecting out of President Trump? You won’t want to miss this episode!
Bill and Phil take a deep dive on Trump’s closing electoral argument, specifically his strategy of calling opponents and journalists criminals, attacking Tony Fauci, threatening to leave the country and spreading a conspiracy theory about Hunter Biden’s laptop. Additionally, we explore the core characteristics of Trump’s foreign policy and a recent article suggesting the real divide in America is between political junkies and everyone else.
Bill and Phil reflect on what the presidential election is revealing about the state of the U.S. democracy, what has changed in the practice of polling since 2016 and how much faith we should put in the current polls, how China has outsmarted the US in rewriting the rules of the global order, and what a recent study revealed about the relationship between Trump’s bedtime and his presidential performance.
Bill and Phil are joined by constitutional law expert Professor Tom Cavenagh to reflect on the dramatic recent developments at the Supreme Court, specifically the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett and upcoming cases on voting rights and the Affordable Care Act.
This week, we’re bringing you two episodes - because that’s how crazy its gotten. In this special episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the President’s COVID diagnosis, his mental and physical condition, the fact that a Supreme Court nomination announcement was also a super-spreader event, and the potential political implications of this historic news.
Bill and Phil reflect on the first presidential debate, the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, Wilbur Ross saying the census will end early on October 5th no matter what a federal judge says, and the fallout from the New York Times disclosure of Trump’s tax returns.
This week, Bill and Phil break down the political fallout from the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, recent allegations that the Trump campaign is discussing contingency plans for bypassing election results, and President Trump’s call for ‘Patriotic Education.’
We break down recent developments in international politics, including: the U.N. turning 75; Trump calling for the assassination of the Syrian president; protests in Belarus & more Putin poisonings; the agreements between Israel, the U.A.E and Bahrain; and why the United States has put sanctions on the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Bill and Phil reflect on on the fallout from Trump’s comments on the military, discuss the impact of COVID on international politics, and contemplate what we might see on the ground if the presidential election is decided by just a couple votes in the electoral college.
Bill and Phil devote the entire episode to dissecting Trump’s efforts this week to escalate tensions and even violence across America; focusing on how Trump’s behavior fits within the scholarly research on authoritarianism, the role of trust and social capital in a democracy, the politicization of the police and Trump’s attack on truth and objectivity.
Bill and Phil take a deep dive into this week’s Republican National Convention, the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the arrest of Steve Bannon on a 35 million dollar yacht.
Bill and Phil are joined by Jake Lahut, a politics reporter for Business Insider, to break down all aspects of the Democratic National Convention, the release of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, and President Trump’s inevitable embrace of the QAnon conspiracy theory.
Bill and Phil are joined by Dr Suzanne Chod to discuss the selection of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden’s VP, how Trump has successfully bent US governmental institutions to his will, and our thoughts on adding Donald Trump to Mount Rushmore.
Bill and Phil discuss America’s seemingly unique inability to address COVID, President Trump’s threat to delay the election over concerns with voting by mail, and which is likely to be more damaging to Trump’s re-election chances—alienating suburban women by calling them “housewives” or upsetting young people by threatening to ban TikTok?
Bill and Phil discuss Bill Barr and the tactics deployed by the Federal Government in Portland, the deteriorating relationship between the United States and China, and why the president retweeted a video of a doctor who has previously claimed that fibroid and cysts are caused by having sex with demons in dreams and that alien DNA is being used in medical treatment.
Legal expert Professor Tom Cavenagh joins Bill and Phil to discuss some recent developments from the Supreme Court, including the Trump tax return cases, the issue of “faithless electors” in the Electoral College, and why the Court sided with a group of goats and their right to hang out on the roof of a Wisconsin restaurant.
Bill and Phil are joined by Dr. Suzanne Chod to discuss a potential Democratic tsunami this November, if Democrats should think big and look to flip states like Texas, what we should make of President Trump’s commutation of Roger Stone, and how impressed we were with Trump’s claim that he “aced” his cognitive test.
Will Trump's culture war strategy work? Is there such a thing as "far-left fascism"? Are Republicans better at making ads than Democrats? Is D.C. going to be our 51st state? And is it possible that Trump didn't ace the SAT? Bill and Phil wrestle with all of this in episode 3.
Bill and Phil discuss the strangeness of the political week we've just lived through, new allegations about Russian bounties on American troops, and the implications of some really bad poll numbers for Donald Trump.
Bill and Phil discuss the state of democracy in America and some of the more concerning warning signs that political scientists see around us. In the second half, they investigate why some people are willing to abandon their principles to remain close to power, analyze the logic behind the Supreme Court’s recent LGBTQ decision, and debate whether John Bolton is a villain, a hero, or something else altogether.
Welcome to the Politics Lab. Bill and Phil lay out their vision for the new podcast and then spend some time talking about presidential greatness and what it tells us about Trump and his legacy.