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 might tell us about Trump and his legacy.