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PODCAST

The Politics Guys

Michael Baranowski

The Politics Guys is an independent, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, and practicing attorneys with government experience. Our mission is to give listeners a much-needed break from conservative and liberal echo chambers through civil, rational, and evidence-based discussion of American politics and policy from multiple perspectives.

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All Episodes

19:12

Federalist Papers 9 - 10

The Politics Guys ·

2026/04/21

Trey and Ken explore Federalist Papers No. 9 and 10, focusing on the arguments for a large republic and the dangers of faction. Topics discussed include:The role of factions in democracy Montesquieu and the Anti-Federalist arguments for small republics Hamilton and Madison’s overview of the advantages of a large republic Madison's theory of interest checking interest Hamilton's deep dive into the history of Greece The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠Trey’s Substack on the

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62:40

Swalwell Resigns, Trump vs Leo, Orbán Falls, Iran,...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/04/17

This week, Trey & Ken begin with Representative Eric Swalwell’s resignation from Congress and his suspended gubernatorial bid. Ken and Trey find themselves at odds over the institutional response. Ken argues that if Swalwell maintains his innocence, he should have stayed to fight the charges, suggesting his presence was a net positive for the Democratic caucus. Trey, however, contends that the resignation is a necessary consequence of his actions and that the party must prioritize moral clarity over

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19:09

The New Rules of Politics: Know Your Coalition

The Politics Guys ·

2026/04/14

In this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode, Mike and Michael examine political behavior through coalition dynamics rather than broad public opinion, using Fenno’s framework of multiple constituencies to show why smaller, more engaged groups—especially base voters, donors, and close advisors—often exert disproportionate influence. The discussion explores how electoral incentives like primaries, safe seats, turnout differences, and the Electoral College push politicians toward electoral efficiency,

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68:14

Ceasefires, Culture Wars, and Constitutional Clashes

The Politics Guys ·

2026/04/11

Mike and Jay open with the Iran conflict, debating whether the U.S.-Israel war achieved meaningful strategic gains or left America in a weaker position. Mike argues the ceasefire looks like a premature declaration of victory that strengthened Iran’s leverage, while Jay contends degrading Iran’s military and leadership are meaningful steps toward long-term goals like regime change or limiting its regional power.Next, they turn to the Trump administration’s rollback of transgender student

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15:39

Political Ideologies: Fascism

The Politics Guys ·

2026/04/07

In this supporter-exclusive midweek episode, Trey is joined by Justin, and they conclude their exploration of the classic political ideologies with a deep dive into Fascism.On this week’s show, Trey and Justin discuss: Fascism’s rejection of reason and its rejection of Enlightenment rationality. The centrality of violence and struggle as an enduring premise of fascism. How fascism holds the past as idyllic goal that that will lead to greatness in response to a degenerate modernity.

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64:43

Bondi Fired, SCOTUS on Conversion Therapy, Trump’s...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/04/03

On this Good Friday edition of the Politics Guys, Trey is joined by Justin, and the duo dives into a chaotic week of personnel changes at the Justice Department and Pentagon, significant Supreme Court rulings, and the President's personal appearance at the high court. First, the guys open with the sudden firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi after a 14-month tenure. Despite her loyalty, Trey argues that President Trump is trying to create a far more unitary executive branch. The pair also includes a

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12:30

Federalist Papers 6 - 8

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/31

Trey and Ken transition from the writings of John Jay to Alexander Hamilton in this week’s midweek Federalist Papers show. Topics discussed include:Hamilton’s deeply pessimistic view of human conduct and his response to the idea that democracies or commercial republics are inherently peaceful. A deep dive into the four specific triggers Hamilton believed would afflict a disunited America, including the massive Revolutionary War debt. Hamilton’s warning that disunion would force states to

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59:33

DHS Funding, Iran Rejects U.S. Peace Plan, $580...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/27

On this week’s show, Trey and Ken discuss why the Senate funded the TSA while excluding ICE, along with the legality of President Trump’s plan to pay workers using a slush fund from last year’s tax bill. Next, they move to Iran’s rejection of the U.S.’s 15-point peace plan and the administration's controversial preventative self-defense justification filed with the UN. After that, they turn to the allegations of insider trading, including a $580 million spike in oil bets placed minutes before

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18:06

The New Rules of Politics: Follow The Money

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/24

In this supporters’ exclusive midweek episode, Mike and Michael discuss the first New Rule of Politics (which is also an old rule of politics): follow the money. Mike contends that money is the most visible and measurable driver of political incentives, arguing that while it rarely buys votes outright, it is essential for viability and influence. Mike emphasizes how campaign finance evolved into a system where legal, structural incentives prioritize access and donor influence over outright

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65:43

War with Iran, Illinois Primaries, and the Politics...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/21

Mike and Russ open with a discussion of the ongoing U.S.–Israel war with Iran, focusing on rising costs, limited military capacity, and unclear strategic objectives. Mike frames the conflict as a mix of presidential preference for displays of strength and structural constraints, while Russ argues the war exposes a disconnect between public opinion and foreign policy, emphasizing skepticism of regime change and questioning whose interests are actually being served.Next, they turn to the Illinois

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15:58

Federalist Papers 2 - 5

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/17

Trey and Ken unlock Jay’s the Federalist Papers' No 2 - 5. In this episode, the pair examine how Jay envisioned a unified nation's path to peace, strength, and global influence. Topics include Jay’s Hobbesian vision and perspective of a war where decentralized American states invites chaos, while a united America deters foreign aggressors from Europe. The hosts also overview Jay’s views on the need for a singular national identity and how he saw a powerful national government as being more likely

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57:18

Mojtaba Khamenei, The Kushner Doctrine, Trump’s...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/13

In this episode, Trey and Ken delve into Iran's leadership transition and the strategic impact of recent U.S. and Israeli military actions. They explore the internal dynamics of Iran's regime and the role of Jared Kushner's shadow diplomacy in escalating tensions, potentially sparking new conflicts with Cuba. The discussion shifts to domestic terrorism, examining links to recent radicalized attacks on U.S. soil and debating the potential necessity of reopening the DHS amid heightened security risks

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19:48

The New Rules of Politics: Introduction

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/10

In this preview of the midweek supporters' exclusive show, Mike and Michael introduce The New Rules of Politics, a new series aimed at explaining modern American politics through incentives, institutions, and systemic dynamics rather than personalities. Mike argues that many traditional ways of interpreting politics no longer work because the broader environment—especially technology, media, and political rules—has changed faster than the institutions governing politics can adapt. The

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69:29

Iran War, Midterm Tea Leaves, Trump Fires Noem

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/06

Mike and Michael open with a discussion of the widening U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran and the debate over whether President Trump’s military action constitutes a limited campaign or the start of a broader regional war. Mike argues the strike is risky but legally permissible under the War Powers Resolution and sees multiple plausible rationales for it, while Michael contends it amounts to an illegal war that bypassed Congress and risks unintended consequences both geopolitically and

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19:29

Glyphosate, Gabbard, and the USPS

The Politics Guys ·

2026/03/03

Mike and Trey open this supporters' exclusive midweek episode with President Trump’s Defense Production Act order boosting domestic glyphosate production amid lawsuits and MAHA backlash, with Mike arguing that the weight of scientific evidence does not support typical-use carcinogen claims while warning against reflexive “chemicals are toxins” thinking, and Trey emphasizing the real policy tension between potential health risks and the massive food price shocks that would follow an abrupt ban,

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61:58

Trump’s SOTU, Tariff Ruling Aftermath, The Pentagon’s...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/02/28

Mike and Trey open with a breakdown of President Trump’s State of the Union address, focusing on the political strategy behind the speech and what it signals about governing priorities in a divided environment. Mike argues that the address was less about persuasion and more about consolidating partisan narratives, while Trey contends that the more revealing story was how much of the address leaned on grievance and spectacleNext, the guys turn to the Supreme Court’s ruling blocking the

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50:08

The Politics Guys Present: The U.S. Constitution,...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/02/25

The Politics Guys analyze the U.S. Constitution. In this episode, they focus on:Article I, Section 9 Habeas Corpus Bills of Attainder Ex Post Facto Laws, The Emoluments Clause ⁠⁠Read Trey's Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers⁠⁠⁠ The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠ Check out the excellent ⁠⁠⁠Sustainable Planet⁠⁠⁠ podcast. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support

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15:05

Political Ideologies: Nationalism

The Politics Guys ·

2026/02/24

In this week’s supporters’ exclusive midweek show, Justin and Trey continue their examination of political ideologies. This week, they dive into nationalism and its more extreme version, facism. They cover the definition of a nation and a national identity empirically, before exploring what a nationalist believes as an ideology. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support

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65:36

Rubio’s Speech, The Supreme Court on Tariffs, Jesse...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/02/21

Trey and Justin open with a deep discussion of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s 2026 Munich Security Conference speech. Trey argues that the speech fits into a Huntington Clash of Civilizations modality, which while it unites with Europe attacks the larger evils of the other. Both hosts dive into what Western Civilization means, why it isn’t a bad thing, but why it is important to be careful in drawing good guys and bad guys into civilization conversations.Next, the guys turn to Learning Resources

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61:45

The Politics Guys Present: The U.S. Constitution,...

The Politics Guys ·

2026/02/18

The Politics Guys analyze the U.S. Constitution. In this episode, they focus on:Article I, Section 8 Taxing and Spending The 16th Amendment The 3/5th Compromise ⁠⁠Read Trey's Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers⁠⁠⁠ The Politics Guys on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠ Check out the excellent ⁠⁠⁠Sustainable Planet⁠⁠⁠ podcast. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support

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313 results

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