https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes daily 0.75 2026-04-02 https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/254 monthly 0.5 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/9ad70376-9c13-4b58-bb51-cfae9c7839c1/hegemon.jpg Episodes - A Predatory Hegemon - Episode #254 This week, Bill and Phil ask whether the United States is acting as a rogue state—or a predatory hegemon—shaking the foundations of the international system. They then turn to a conversation on Christian identity politics, examining how the administration is using religious language to frame its war against Iran. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/253 monthly 0.5 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/c8615b50-926b-4b84-b804-f8ef5d4243f1/IMG_1248.png Episodes - The Political Absurdity Index - Episode #253 This week, Bill and Phil reflect on the second week of the military operation in Iran, introduce the new Politics Lab Political Absurdity Index to evaluate the administration’s rhetoric about the war, and close with a look at the Texas primary. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/252 monthly 0.5 2026-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/c2a7c128-fb6a-4d9b-9109-899695448b0a/IranWar64013096.webp Episodes - War with Iran - Episode #252 This week, Bill and Phil examine the United States' preemptive invasion of Iran and discuss the fallout and implications of the operation. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/251 monthly 0.5 2026-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e1dda5eb-3e1a-4551-b4a6-bdca29581377/SOTU2026.jpeg Episodes - State of the Union 2026 - Episode #251 This week, Bill and Phil sort through the longest State of the Union in American history, then discuss the largest buildup of American troops in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and whether or not it means war with Iran is likely. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/250 monthly 0.5 2026-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/f813648b-bf5d-45ee-8022-8bd7ce85f077/250th.jpg Episodes - Our 250th! - Episode #250 This week, Bill and Phil breakdown Marco Rubio‘s big week of diplomacy, ponder whether George W. Bush was trolling Donald Trump in a recent essay about George Washington, and discuss whether Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito may soon retire. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/249 monthly 0.5 2026-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b7422f63-f55c-4308-9ec5-db046067bdc9/fb-stopwatch2.png Episodes - Speed Round Returns! - Episode #249 This week, Bill and Phil are heading into a speed round — quick hits on big topics: the 2026 midterms and election legitimacy, Trump’s latest social media controversy, the expiration of the last U.S.–Russia nuclear arms treaty, the pace of democratic backsliding, America’s declining soft power, tensions with Canada over a new border bridge, and yes… even a little Bad Bunny. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/248 monthly 0.5 2026-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/659c7e7c-e22f-44f0-8284-1278809104f1/ice.jpg Episodes - The Rupture - Episode #248 This week, Bill and Phil react to the escalation of political violence in Minneapolis and then discuss the rupture of the liberal international order in the aftermath of the World Economic Forum. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/247 monthly 0.5 2026-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1340fd3a-0858-4949-8072-10076720365d/danishprotests.jpg Episodes - A Return to Power Politics - Episode #247 This week, Bill and Phil discuss Trump’s return to Great Power politics - threats to Greenland, intervention in Venezuela, and potential regime change in Iran - then turn to the unrest in Minneapolis in response to ICE’s lethal tactics. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/246 monthly 0.5 2026-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/8349b1a6-d1bd-490a-9054-15d7ddd6756e/2025inreview1050-650x435.jpg Episodes - 2025 Year in Review - Episode #246 This week, Bill and Phil look back at the significance of 2025 and discuss the many ways that it broke precedents - both good and bad, and then make some predictions for 2026. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/245 monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ff3f3c6f-260b-48a5-a2be-5a31bb795840/NSS.jpg Episodes - Remaking National Security - Episode #245 This week, Bill and Phil discuss the release of the Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy and it’s claim that Europe is facing a civilization erasure and then play a new game we’re calling “This Week in Political Cringe”. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/244 monthly 0.5 2025-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/bf7509d5-d49a-469b-b1ab-e85ce05840c8/boatstrike.jpg Episodes - Law, War, & Politics - Episode #244 This week, Bill and Phil explore the legality and political fallout from the Venezuelan boat strikes and then reflect on the state of Donald Trump’s agenda and what that means for the future of the Republican Party. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/243 monthly 0.5 2025-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/840be7e4-c0ef-4ed6-988d-082f458b6392/B1BCA568-98BD-4195-8CA0-0F478A7BBE84.jpg Episodes - 2025 Turkey of the Year! - Episode #243 On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil celebrate Thanksgiving by handing out the highly coveted Turkey of the Year awards. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/242 monthly 0.5 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/aa6d72b8-3782-4cfe-bf4d-15615d6d5247/orwell.jpg Episodes - Unreality - Episode #242 This week, Bill and Phil ponder whether political scandals matter anymore and then discuss George Orwell and whether Trump has created his own Orwellian version of 1984. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/241 monthly 0.5 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b92d4966-be36-4de6-b573-11b642ec7555/Mamdani.jpg Episodes - Election Day 2025 - Episode #241 This week, Bill and Phil sort through the results of the 2025 midterms and discuss whether they tell us anything useful about American democracy, consider the legacy of Dick Cheney, and play another round of “What’s More Stupid?”. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/240 monthly 0.5 2025-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ea5bf343-c976-452f-8f1d-84b092a1208a/propaganda.jpg Episodes - Propaganda - Episode #240 This week, Bill and Phil ponder the metaphor of Trump tearing down part of the White House, return to the question propaganda and fascist politics in America, and then close with a new game we’re calling, “You’ve Got Hate Mail.” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/239 monthly 0.5 2025-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/cb599c43-e1dc-41fa-83d7-7c8c571a22c8/Levitisky.jpg Episodes - Discussing Democracy with Steven Levitsky - Episode #239 This week, Bill and Phil share and reflect on their interview with Political Scientist and Author of How Democracies Die, Steven Levitsky. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/238 monthly 0.5 2025-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ceb1b698-bf8d-4d37-90ee-47262d0ba963/drug-carrying-boat-venezuela-white-house.jpg Episodes - Crime, War, and the Use of Force - Episode #238 This week, Bill and Phil reflect on the deployment of the National Guard to blue cities across the country and then explore the difference between war and crime as it relates to Trump’s campaign against Venezuela. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/237 monthly 0.5 2025-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/a9242684-7c1c-4635-b12d-ff6cce1fcf36/military_speech.jpg Episodes - Forbearance - Episode #237 This week, Bill and Phil look at the indictment of James Comey, Trump‘s speech to gathered military leaders, and the government shut down, and breakdown the ways that each represents the erosion of democratic norms. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/236 monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/4955ba52-c45c-4fd7-b5d8-7c4e21357d6c/elephant.jpg Episodes - The Elephant in the Newsroom - Episode #236 This week, Bill and Phil discuss the growing embrace of Christian nationalism in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death and then introduce a new game we’re calling The Elephant in the Newsroom. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/235 monthly 0.5 2025-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/2b8fd180-dbfd-4128-8da7-36a4d935ade6/shutterstock_2191040749_violentthreatsWG1.jpg Episodes - Violence and Free Speech - Episode #235 This week, Bill and Phil talk through the aftermath and implications of the murder of Charlie Kirk. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/234 monthly 0.5 2025-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/59020bfa-bbed-475c-825f-0eccb76aa658/SCOTUS.jpg Episodes - Trump’s Court - Episode #234 This week, Bill and Phil explore the growing divide between the federal district courts, which have been ruling against Trump, and the Supreme Court, which has largely ruled in Trump‘s favor. Then we introduce a new game that we’re calling “What’s More Authoritarian?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/233 monthly 0.5 2025-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/57927272-ee31-40e9-95be-7e2a0913be9f/trumpbanner.jpg Episodes - Crossing the Line - Episode #233 On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss whether this was the week that the American democracy drifted over the line into authoritarianism. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/232 monthly 0.5 2025-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/96bab31f-6b98-4fb1-80bb-58e009e57032/NewsomTweet.jpeg Episodes - Getting Played - Episode #232 This week, Bill and Phil reflect on Trump’s high-stakes diplomatic meetings with Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders, and then ponder the effectiveness of Gavin Newsom‘s new social media strategy of trolling Donald Trump by imitating Donald Trump. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/231 monthly 0.5 2025-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/279d3779-a360-48e5-85cb-438da606bb08/trumpDC.jpg Episodes - It’s All Relative - Episode #231 This week, Bill and Phil dig into some of the bizarre and troubling actions of the Trump administration over the past week and then explore some of the deeper causal factors behind Trump’s success. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/230 monthly 0.5 2025-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/d46cbda7-5aa7-4752-957b-a335b174e124/facts.jpg Episodes - The Firings Will Continue Until the Data Improves - Episode #230 This week, Bill and Phil take a moment to reflect on one of the most bizarre political weeks in recent memory, consider the implications of Trump’s decision to fire the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and close with a look at the situation in Gaza and news that Canada, Britain, and France will soon recognize a Palestinian state. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/229 monthly 0.5 2025-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/12e84979-f4ea-4a63-81d4-b41f362abc99/trumptrade.jpg Episodes - Trump is Winning - Episode #229 This week, Bill and Phil wrestle with the fact that Trump seems to be winning his war to remake the world, then they play a game of “What’s More Stupid?: Corn Pop Mental Agility Standard Edition” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/228 monthly 0.5 2025-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/01963f75-4de3-46ec-940d-4206e7e59643/nuke.jpg Episodes - 80 Years of Nuclear Weapons - Episode #228 This week, Bill and Phil reflect on the 80th anniversary of the creation of nuclear weapons, then ponder what history and historical analogies can teach us about our modern world. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/227 monthly 0.5 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/52acc9da-034e-4b92-9aa3-c08db847c654/TrumpEpstein.jpg Episodes - Conspiracy Theories Strike Back - Episode #227 This week, Bill and Phil discuss the ways that the Epstein case is turning Trump’s supporters against him, then dig into the curious (and troubling) phenomenon of American political institutions ceding power to the Presidency. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/226 monthly 0.5 2025-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/668fa485-e992-4918-a220-1a9127eca13d/democrats.jpg Episodes - The Future of the Democratic Party - Episode #226 This week, Bill and Phil break down the Supreme Courts ruling on birthright citizenship and then think through the future of the Democratic Party on the one year anniversary of Joe Biden’s disastrous debate. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/225 monthly 0.5 2025-07-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/48ae2648-d51d-4493-b3a9-8f02d70f4b44/2880px-RAF_F-35B_integration_flying_training_with_USAF_B-2_30092019_-_4.jpg Episodes - Trump’s Iranian Gamble - Episode #225 This week, Bill and Phil discuss the significance and implications of the US bombing of Iran and then assess the results of the recent New York City mayoral race. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/224 monthly 0.5 2025-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/0fd37dd3-3984-44a5-a6ff-889697c82976/Israel_Iran--2048x1365.jpg Episodes - War in the Middle East - Episode #224 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/223 monthly 0.5 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/8b0051df-403c-48cb-8965-0398ce270572/laprotests.jpg Episodes - The “Liberation” of L.A. - Episode #223 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/222 monthly 0.5 2025-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/923ace29-cd4b-4721-9d62-f84924304452/parade.jpg Episodes - A Parade of Stupidity - Episode #222 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?”. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/221 monthly 0.5 2025-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/f06ad42b-57b3-41a9-b280-db73df90600e/Trump_MidEast.jpg Episodes - An Amoral Approach? - Episode #221 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/220 monthly 0.5 2025-05-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1435f764-58e0-4045-8bf4-cd44e20a34b7/3F8F01C1-503E-42E0-93D8-EBEEE7B682C5.jpg Episodes - Moving Forward - Episode #220 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/219 monthly 0.5 2025-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/6235f2ec-0db2-481d-976b-907a72e93634/Constitution-Gavel.jpg Episodes - Doomed Process? - Episode #219 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/218 monthly 0.5 2025-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/32202166-ba89-44ad-8e2c-5b3990cb8e05/Screenshot+2025-04-30+at+1.39.11%E2%80%AFPM.jpg Episodes - 100 Days - Episode #218 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/217 monthly 0.5 2025-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/32a58ba6-46a4-4075-acfb-5ba551157051/powell.jpg Episodes - Pushing Back - Episode #217 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?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/216 monthly 0.5 2025-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/4fd14ddf-1542-412a-8e34-fb2578210c8a/Trump-Bukele.jpg Episodes - The Crisis Arrives - Episode #216 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/215 monthly 0.5 2025-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/6832df0a-8085-4d88-9194-6ac488c3e056/IMG_0242.jpg Episodes - Tariff Turmoil - Episode #215 This week, Bill and Phil try to make some sense of Trump’s tariffs and their implications. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/214 monthly 0.5 2025-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/5ebc98e6-3f83-429a-8092-0392cc6fccb0/liberationday.jpeg Episodes - Liberation Day - Episode #214 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/213 monthly 0.5 2025-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/659f9a58-9f85-4e61-94a4-b51bef8a274f/signalgate.jpg Episodes - Signalgate - Episode #213 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/212 monthly 0.5 2025-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/44932bb5-0fb3-4fc7-9d65-2987ea4291bd/trump.jpg Episodes - 50 Day Check-In - Episode #212 This week, Bill and Phil offer a big picture look at the tumultuous first fifty days of the Trump presidency. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/211 monthly 0.5 2025-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e8d8dfcc-f1c0-415c-a0fe-b9285b9e1bd1/Zelinsky%2BTrump%2BVance.jpg Episodes - A Baffling Foreign Policy - Episode #211 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/210 monthly 0.5 2025-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1e8b0f4b-664b-442c-8296-02aafadf051e/IMG_0221.jpg Episodes - Strange Bedfellows - Episode #210 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/209 monthly 0.5 2025-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e18b555f-3f32-4b94-8b99-e353941ccbad/GkLJHEvWEAIhz_K.jpg Episodes - King Trump - Episode #209 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/208 monthly 0.5 2025-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/76e36c74-9313-4f94-bbaf-053d474bb99e/greenland.jpg Episodes - Red, White, and Blue Land - Episode #208 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?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/207 monthly 0.5 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ed96c8ed-4139-4c34-a5c2-5c5387c31a20/IMG_0215.jpg Episodes - World People - Episode #207 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/206 monthly 0.5 2025-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ea8e7c5d-fd3d-4538-add7-469f4eaf2722/IMG_0209.jpg Episodes - Chaos and Cruelty - Episode #206 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/205 monthly 0.5 2025-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/8fdd84fb-6698-4dd5-b3c3-1632fc949872/IMG_0368.jpg Episodes - Here We Go (Again) - Episode #205 This week, Bill and Phil react to Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/204 monthly 0.5 2025-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/efa6b6ac-923b-46c2-8171-d088f226ce2f/ceasefire.jpg Episodes - Ceasefire - Episode #204 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/203 monthly 0.5 2025-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/5e051cb8-a046-4980-94d6-c515082f857f/Putin.jpg Episodes - Confronting a Bully - Episode #203 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/202 monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/cd575bd8-9f07-4273-81c0-25de67abcc4d/000_36PP824.jpg Episodes - Syria - Episode #202 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”. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/201 monthly 0.5 2024-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/96116111-88b2-427c-84a0-87362f170ac6/Gd7G1xvXEAALHpc.jpg Episodes - EOY Speed Round! - Episode #201 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/200 monthly 0.5 2024-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/840be7e4-c0ef-4ed6-988d-082f458b6392/B1BCA568-98BD-4195-8CA0-0F478A7BBE84.jpg Episodes - 2024 Turkey of the Year! - Episode #200 On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil celebrate Thanksgiving by reviewing their top turkeys of the year, https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/199 monthly 0.5 2024-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/0f13a480-9a86-4229-b2a5-caa4008486c7/C738C97F-F053-4880-9457-1E04EB57729F.jpg Episodes - Trump, Democracy, and the World - Episode #199 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/198 monthly 0.5 2024-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/4dcd33b7-5d39-4e3a-87ed-836ff49604f2/3CFA9833-4639-4E44-A943-4F8458565873.jpg Episodes - Nomination Insanity - Episode #198 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/197 monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/9b64a596-ca8a-48c4-8cd4-0a9fc7933673/IMG_0194.jpeg Episodes - Trump, Take 2 - Episode #197 This week, Bill and Phil react to Trump’s resounding victory in the 2024 election. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/196 monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1b0f3e3b-001b-486e-b57f-44920ace81d3/F8089112-BC7E-4BE0-A7BD-9EE57B6F873B.jpg Episodes - Closing Arguments - Episode #196 This week, Bill and Phil break down Trump and Harris’s closing arguments and predict what may happen in next Tuesday’s election. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/195 monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/300730f5-cfe5-46eb-a9ae-f6feeaae027a/B8D73155-CB36-47FE-A739-1C96A6F07DE2.jpg Episodes - How Are We Here (Again)? - Episode #195 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/194 monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ba7dccbb-f39f-4006-ad8a-9c9fa451e4ee/IMG_0191.jpg Episodes - Three Weeks Away - Episode #194 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/193 monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/02244fd6-81ef-4797-a34d-8d84280478a5/stupid.jpg Episodes - Why Are Politics So Stupid? - Episode #193 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/192 monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ab3cbda0-29d0-4374-b8ec-9e1b9deef051/IMG_0187.jpg Episodes - A Regional War? - Episode #192 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/191 monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1678888c-fb88-43e8-abcb-d22a8a8d6e6b/imaginary-trump.jpg Episodes - Trump’s Frightening World - Episode #191 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/bonus-radio monthly 0.5 2024-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/27155a6f-0866-4120-8ef9-86f77bafc804/radio.jpg Episodes - Bonus Episode: Bill on WCPT Radio - Bonus Episode 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/190 monthly 0.5 2024-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/9914595b-7d94-4b8e-adc6-8be02e42174a/IMG_0178.jpg Episodes - Another Assassination Attempt - Episode #190 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/189 monthly 0.5 2024-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/c5a858d1-395c-4de5-b9a4-ec6238bde885/Image-1.jpeg Episodes - The Debate - Episode #189 On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/188 monthly 0.5 2024-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1d5fcb77-c487-49be-a349-3b3ce5deb491/D11BD4B0-EF2F-46A2-A8C6-5BE76FD98C38.jpg Episodes - Every Joke is a Tiny Revolution - Episode #188 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/187 monthly 0.5 2024-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b660050a-198f-464c-8eb4-fec7c79ba73c/IMG_0169.jpg Episodes - DNC 2024 - Episode #187 On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the Democratic National Convention and its implications for the 2024 presidential election. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/186 monthly 0.5 2024-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/db109e1a-088c-4076-a559-65fdff4cd917/IMG_0166.jpg Episodes - Three Rough Weeks for Trump - Episode #186 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/185 monthly 0.5 2024-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ec3acc27-692d-4a56-8c35-1f778c766d18/Walz.jpg Episodes - Harris-Walz 2024 - Episode #185 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/184 monthly 0.5 2024-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1edab7bd-d92c-4144-b330-e784607df761/Harris.jpg Episodes - A Whole New Election - Episode #184 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/183 monthly 0.5 2024-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/d8fd3a91-3ece-45e9-8c2f-dcba498f5032/IMG_0091.jpg Episodes - Assassination Attempt - Episode #183 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/182 monthly 0.5 2024-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/27029248-7bf8-4d06-af96-e2cc57fff578/IMG_4944.jpg Episodes - Europe Votes - Episode #182 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/181 monthly 0.5 2024-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/4901c85b-b89f-479b-a4c9-ff50d07458ae/IMG_0011.jpg Episodes - Immunity? - Episode #181 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/180 monthly 0.5 2024-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/63690719-57cd-4979-b489-35899c47b87b/IMG_4866.jpg Episodes - A Disastrous Debate - Episode #180 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/179 monthly 0.5 2024-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ada3640d-e714-40a4-ae91-b109a449c40d/IMG_0006.jpg Episodes - Trump, Religion, and Moral Accountability - Episode #179 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/178 monthly 0.5 2024-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e8329266-7f86-4567-9cde-7c5706fd8dfd/Global_Elections.jpg Episodes - Global Election Round-Up - Episode #178 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/177 monthly 0.5 2024-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b9c898d7-3e02-450f-9c4d-2ef6c4d70560/B55420B4-1000-43C0-A18E-F6AB954210DD.jpg Episodes - Guilty! - Episode #177 Bill and Phil analyze Trump’s guilty verdict and ask whether it will matter in November. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/176 monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/19aa8f9a-fe40-44df-a79d-9946e5ab1c5f/gaza-israel.jpg Episodes - Making Sense of the Middle East - Episode #176 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/175 monthly 0.5 2024-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/77c22bf6-6a90-44e9-89fd-382de88755b0/polling.jpg Episodes - Bad Polls for Biden? - Episode #175 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/174 monthly 0.5 2024-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/474986f4-b9b6-47b3-972d-ba08a0f32b5d/disinformation.jpg Episodes - Disinformation Wars - Episode #174 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/173 monthly 0.5 2024-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/35264dd6-9185-4dff-80e0-70a67eff2f55/SCOTUS.jpg Episodes - Presidential Immunity? - Episode #173 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/172 monthly 0.5 2024-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/4b416051-d5e7-4064-88d9-39c8a821d433/china-economy.jpg Episodes - China’s World - Episode #172 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/171 monthly 0.5 2024-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/511a7b22-b399-4481-962b-7c8661bfe4e4/Iran_Israel_Locator_%28without_West_Bank%29.jpg Episodes - Why Did Iran Attack Israel? - Episode #171 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/170 monthly 0.5 2024-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/20183bed-843a-4c4f-99e2-e8368745f2b2/rwanda-genocide-rememberance.jpg Episodes - History’s Lessons - Episode #170 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/169 monthly 0.5 2024-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/4f5aa851-d059-46cf-b17c-342db6a83f27/trumpbible.jpg Episodes - The Battle for Liberalism - Episode #169 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/168 monthly 0.5 2024-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b687243e-3ffd-49ad-89b0-2b54cb24bbf5/trump-prayer.jpg Episodes - Piety or Profanity - Episode #168 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/167 monthly 0.5 2024-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/997fd166-fc35-4c95-98aa-5ca9ed85549e/Biden_SOTU.jpg Episodes - The State of the Union - Episode #167 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/166 monthly 0.5 2024-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/22ebd9a9-be08-4afe-9451-58cc0a90df7d/SCOTUS.jpg Episodes - Collective Amnesia - Episode #166 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/165 monthly 0.5 2024-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e02c0bff-d79a-43ab-a733-f765be0d5dc5/Birthcontrol.jpg Episodes - The War on Sex - Episode #165 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/164 monthly 0.5 2024-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/2ad4f752-b94e-43d4-834c-6bcdd427cf98/NATO_Trump.jpg Episodes - Whatever The Hell They Want - Episode #164 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/163 monthly 0.5 2024-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/47f7f641-f4ee-4eec-9264-11fb67d3480c/D2DDB81C-FCD5-41BF-92C8-8DA9EA2C57BF.jpeg Episodes - Hard Choices - Episode #163 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…” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/162 monthly 0.5 2024-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/7a852e42-1c6f-46e6-9003-213bd24c44fe/NHprimary.jpeg Episodes - A Done Deal? - Episode #162 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/161 monthly 0.5 2024-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b5455406-471e-470e-b642-2ab622dd4b51/2024caucus.jpg Episodes - We’re Back! (And So Are the Iowa Caucuses) - Episode #161 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/160 monthly 0.5 2024-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/88bfd4a8-47c0-46cd-a2b8-525e995f4445/2023.jpeg Episodes - 2023 Year in Review - Episode #160 Bill and Phil look back at 2023 in their annual year-in-review episode. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/159 monthly 0.5 2023-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/3052a296-310f-4789-b60c-98e70bde5aa6/time.jpg Episodes - Speed Round! - Episode #159 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/158 monthly 0.5 2023-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/319b0df9-aa76-4e04-a1f1-014e00b0f6fd/stalemate.jpeg Episodes - Stalemate? - Episode #158 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/157 monthly 0.5 2023-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/87475dcd-624e-43d6-b00f-0a2c2a5f2918/03A7BE37-90D3-4319-8F04-B72BF67B4874.jpg Episodes - Turkey of the Year 2023 - Episode #157 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/156 monthly 0.5 2023-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/f03845b6-6fdb-4cd7-954d-4358b716e2e5/trump_rally.jpg Episodes - Vermin - Episode #156 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/155 monthly 0.5 2023-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/d0b0259c-50cd-4685-990a-e5749ebe3c77/trump2024.jpg Episodes - Trump 2024? - Episode #155 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/154 monthly 0.5 2023-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/2e21f21d-a1e9-4fbd-8586-39a9095f4752/img01.jpg Episodes - A New Speaker - Episode #154 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/153 monthly 0.5 2023-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/6cde3bf5-5b86-4fc7-8957-8831a4437da5/Gaza.jpg Episodes - Morality and War in Gaza - Episode #153 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/152 monthly 0.5 2023-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/a1976ed3-9c5d-457c-be81-99f1c4945739/Israel-Hamas.jpg Episodes - Israel-Hamas War - Episode #152 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/151 monthly 0.5 2023-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/7f666403-7753-47fb-964f-6a645deab235/51719831969_a79b6a14b8_o-1200x675.jpg Episodes - Get Your House in Order - Episode #151 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/150 monthly 0.5 2023-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/8d7fef7d-f866-48f1-a128-143840ab5161/475009E6-CD9C-4A46-8587-BB118B931CD4.jpeg Episodes - Speed Round Grab Bag - Episode #150 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?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/149 monthly 0.5 2023-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/5a2b57b1-6d7d-44bf-af30-34bdeb8a3f7e/capitol.jpg Episodes - Semi-Loyal Republicans - Episode #149 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/148 monthly 0.5 2023-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/6e630c73-8b5d-4795-8b1e-9d738ccf0a4c/democracy.jpg Episodes - A Democratic Makeover? - Episode #148 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/147 monthly 0.5 2023-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/31e69c40-7ff6-402e-8d70-5815b4f1ffcc/stupid.jpeg Episodes - Stupidity Abounds - Episode #147 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/146 monthly 0.5 2023-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/18acde0f-63fb-4254-ac8e-3ac67c6b7be7/debate.jpg Episodes - Debate Time - Episode #146 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/145 monthly 0.5 2023-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b617784f-9c4b-4344-b5e5-28a8a293db80/images+%281%29.jpg Episodes - Fourth Time’s a Charm - Episode #145 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/144 monthly 0.5 2023-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/c043721a-80f4-434f-8bfe-4394b27117b1/Indictment.jpg Episodes - US v. Trump - Episode #144 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/143 monthly 0.5 2023-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/f590b7f4-e92d-45c5-a19a-825f5aa7438e/SCOTUS6-3.jpg Episodes - 6-3 - Episode #143 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/142 monthly 0.5 2023-07-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/5588748d-45f6-4162-9088-89602bd24153/wagner.jpg Episodes - How Things Almost Ended - Episode #142 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/141 monthly 0.5 2023-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b591fda9-59f9-4aeb-aeff-f45991a70735/waxtrump.jpg Episodes - How Things End - Episode #141 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/140 monthly 0.5 2023-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/6090bbae-ba62-4fb5-971d-272262f23243/trump_arraigned.jpg Episodes - If Even Half of it is True, He’s Toast - Episode #140 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/139 monthly 0.5 2023-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/07835b0e-e9bc-4add-9dca-a39f191c8089/Trump_anti-democratic-supporters.jpg Episodes - Trumpian Dissonance - Episode #139 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/138 monthly 0.5 2023-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e8215ce4-df15-4d41-80ad-e45419e21225/sanctions-Russia.jpg Episodes - The Stories We Tell - Episode #138 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/137 monthly 0.5 2023-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/a6d943b7-c70b-4373-b9ee-2749621dcd7e/townhall.jpg Episodes - Trump’s Town Hall - Episode #137 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/136 monthly 0.5 2023-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/405a2faf-6464-43a3-936b-be84a76c346c/carroll.jpg Episodes - E. Jean Carroll Wins - Episode #136 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/135 monthly 0.5 2023-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/974c8bae-d138-4052-8a7e-23869c14a310/ethics.jpg Episodes - Ethics Schmethics - Episode #135 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/134 monthly 0.5 2023-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/09bba1c4-d932-4c08-b8ff-390a561a81c0/Biden2024.jpg Episodes - Decision Time - Episode #134 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 https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/133 monthly 0.5 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/39c53f2e-dc0e-4ade-81d7-c37647b3a2b7/flags-us-ru-scaled.jpg Episodes - Proxy Wars - Episode #133 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/132 monthly 0.5 2023-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/20e5c023-a62c-41a5-92fd-eb18df6b5dba/Thomas-Crow.jpg Episodes - A Wacky Week - Episode #132 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/131 monthly 0.5 2023-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e094eaea-6b57-4a70-a9d5-d8b58efd985d/trump-court.jpg Episodes - A History-Making Arraignment - Episode #131 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/130 monthly 0.5 2023-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/135010aa-e0ac-4184-a959-d5fd5a47ff0f/handcuffs.jpg Episodes - High Profile Indictments - Episode #130 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/129 monthly 0.5 2023-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/757876f4-44b2-473b-bf37-71e3f43dd274/globaldem.jpg Episodes - Bullish on Democracy - Episode #129 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/128 monthly 0.5 2023-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/42d4de43-ab46-42a4-9f28-3df4b614c1f2/TrumpCPAC.jpg Episodes - I Am Your Retribution - Episode #128 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/127 monthly 0.5 2023-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/9da25c5c-cb2a-4755-a813-0bbf88395f3a/BidenKyiv.jpeg Episodes - One Year at War - Episode #127 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/126 monthly 0.5 2023-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/2b9aa87c-4098-4b60-bd7c-acad41f646d9/ufo.jpg Episodes - UFOs Everywhere! - Episode #126 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/125 monthly 0.5 2023-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/69000f46-77e5-4f46-9dcf-e1b6ff31397d/balloon.jpeg Episodes - Balloonacy! - Episode #125 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”. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/124 monthly 0.5 2023-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/051fba83-88c9-4686-b61b-0bfc378566fd/abrams.jpg Episodes - Difficult Calculations - Episode #124 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/123 monthly 0.5 2023-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/78a9887c-0ca4-4089-b5ec-3f19d316ffc8/jack-smith.jpg Episodes - The Dilemma of Prosecution - Episode #123 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/122 monthly 0.5 2023-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/0f47f5f7-f2a0-4f17-8c45-bace2a71c875/mccarthyism.jpg Episodes - (Kevin) McCarthyism? - Episode #122 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/121 monthly 0.5 2023-01-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/7e69a566-b802-40c3-b7f0-2a9d430cc898/IMG_0277.jpg Episodes - We Have a Speaker? - Episode #121 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/120 monthly 0.5 2023-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/617e71b2-e8ab-4600-949e-c4f3dafcadc7/mccarthy.jpeg Episodes - Chaos in the House and the End of Humanity - Episode #120 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/119 monthly 0.5 2023-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/7de94ac2-d611-477b-b49a-27cd1cbf9be2/2022.jpg Episodes - 2022: Democracy Strikes Back - Episode #119 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/118 monthly 0.5 2022-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/d85446a1-e9a5-4f2e-96f0-dd782dbdc312/NFT.jpg Episodes - Criminal Referrals - Episode #118 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/117 monthly 0.5 2022-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/4e8934cc-a744-4331-b1fd-8f9f9cc82c69/TrumpTruthSocial.jpeg Episodes - Suspending the Constitution - Episode #117 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/116 monthly 0.5 2022-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/17fa57b4-917f-4729-a6f7-59d1a8eef1df/mike-hends-FURK5-r-4-M-unsplash.jpg Episodes - Turkey of Year 2022 - Episode #116 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! https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/115 monthly 0.5 2022-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/cee631a2-9ea2-479c-96fc-2be07c67a82a/G20.jpg Episodes - On The Brink - Episode #115 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/114 monthly 0.5 2022-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/f55e5550-fec6-45ba-8b73-8dc0d8884a2d/suzanne%2Bchod.jpeg Episodes - The 2022 Midterms - Episode #114 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 https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/113 monthly 0.5 2022-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/afe8a4ac-ec41-48f4-9e13-11c0d9b6decf/midtermspreview.jpg Episodes - Midterms and Political Violence - Episode #113 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/112 monthly 0.5 2022-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/916e813f-d511-4fff-8328-abe6cd158851/190805-donald-trump-rally-ew-1058a.jpg Episodes - Devil Terms and Negative Partisanship - Episode #112 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?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/111 monthly 0.5 2022-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/9c40c97a-8941-4ae1-a989-1b342ef67500/lake.jpg Episodes - The Future of Trumpism? - Episode #111 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/110 monthly 0.5 2022-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/583c5e39-f011-4544-bf13-427d588d9be8/midterms.jpg Episodes - Democracy on the Ballot - Episode #110 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/109 monthly 0.5 2022-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ef04cd8b-2412-4268-9bfa-379cec85f18a/Putin_nukes.jpg Episodes - The Threat of Nuclear War - Episode #109 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/108 monthly 0.5 2022-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/c84e59b1-fb2f-449a-8c48-5e21f45bf295/IranProtests.jpeg Episodes - You Say You Want a Revolution - Episode #108 On this week’s 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.” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/107 monthly 0.5 2022-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/fe572c81-977d-44e3-a83a-881ab90d7b0e/BidenUN.jpg Episodes - A Cornered Putin? - Episode #107 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/106 monthly 0.5 2022-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e810b027-5458-4a45-9567-677a62925d57/putin_ukraine.jpg Episodes - A Turning Point in Ukraine? - Episode #106 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/105 monthly 0.5 2022-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/81159fa5-9a72-42b3-8b11-f356d54d7488/biden-speech.jpg Episodes - Competing Narratives - Episode #105 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/104 monthly 0.5 2022-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/2993bf2a-10cb-48b7-9f42-4b5de0561992/hartnews-topshot-germany-lifestyle-c-20160208.jpg Episodes - Democratic Decline and Semi-Fascism - Episode #104 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/103 monthly 0.5 2022-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/dce3f065-c2da-455a-8a2a-f448d9db29f3/history.jpg Episodes - Debating History - Episode #103 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 https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/102 monthly 0.5 2022-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/bbaa9d3c-6f3d-452c-80c6-09270d907c6b/maralago.jpg Episodes - Trump’s Legal Woes - Episode #102 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/101 monthly 0.5 2022-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/cb62a8c0-8e50-44a9-8607-5ef5b94d36a1/USChina.jpg Episodes - Global Democracy Round-Up - Episode #101 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/100 monthly 0.5 2022-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1c961e79-c875-46ab-b2c1-bbfd8ca66ab0/220715123924-01b-biden-mbs-fist-bump-super-tease.jpg Episodes - Hard Choices - Episode #100 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/99 monthly 0.5 2022-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/ff555396-abdc-4d19-b03c-0fb46855f7a8/4th.jpg Episodes - Happy Fourth? - Episode #99 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?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/98 monthly 0.5 2022-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e4cab3a5-461f-4ca7-9ce0-f0c58884d53c/SCOTUS-Dobbs.jpg Episodes - A World Turned Upside Down - Episode #98 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/97 monthly 0.5 2022-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/f7d3d18f-1b0b-4918-aab0-f1ff47218175/5F536818-F5B2-4FBB-A335-DCD1BD73E7CC.jpg Episodes - Democracy Round-Up - Episode #97 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/96 monthly 0.5 2022-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/2865603d-3dc3-45a7-807c-55c185ea4249/Jan6Comm.jpeg Episodes - The January 6 Hearings - Episode #96 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/95 monthly 0.5 2022-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/80524d53-2ef9-4029-891f-65035bee1877/UkUpdate.jpg Episodes - Ukraine, Trump, and Loan Forgiveness - Episode #95 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/94 monthly 0.5 2022-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/cd41442f-4506-487a-bab1-066b60e0f1ee/Gun-Violence.jpeg Episodes - Gun Violence, Again - Episode #94 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?’ https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/93 monthly 0.5 2022-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/970fc229-a716-49ca-9bf5-a41de5fdb30c/Alito.jpg Episodes - Justice Alito’s Logic - Episode #93 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/92 monthly 0.5 2022-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/5b673117-48d7-4d54-922b-6f220d02e040/roe.jpg Episodes - A Seismic Shift at the Supreme Court - Episode #92 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/91 monthly 0.5 2022-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/6a639457-8b71-4c1f-80bc-b39f234a2bc8/NATO-Russia.jpeg Episodes - An Expanding War? - Episode #91 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/90 monthly 0.5 2022-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/3b1c2d3c-cde8-4321-9f8e-59a0e6829a52/democracy_in_danger Episodes - Democracy in Danger - Episode #90 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?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/89 monthly 0.5 2022-04-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/a6ea4ea7-c69f-4250-947f-900e0d033754/macronrunoff.jpg Episodes - France as a Microcosm - Episode #89 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/88 monthly 0.5 2022-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/5b30ff8a-f5bd-4641-81fc-e1021784b589/bucha.jpg Episodes - Genocide in Ukraine? - Episode #88 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/87 monthly 0.5 2022-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1150be74-6ae2-451a-9e43-765b050e29c2/BidenSpeech.jpg Episodes - Ukraine, Democracy, and the Future of the Liberal World Order - Episode #87 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/86 monthly 0.5 2022-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/c924740c-eee9-4ccd-a889-77b3d1ca79e6/Jackson.jpg Episodes - Judge Jackson - Episode #86 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.” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/85 monthly 0.5 2022-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/7b433c31-b3ea-486a-bdcb-4ccaa165c91c/PutinXi.jpg Episodes - What Will China Do? - Episode #85 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/84 monthly 0.5 2022-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/25818d70-3ac4-4df3-a86b-2eec2e964008/UkraineWar.jpeg Episodes - Ukraine and the Defense of Democracy - Episode #84 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 tells us about madman theories of international politics. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/83 monthly 0.5 2022-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/8d792335-3e21-4c92-a67b-c6a7a9e38b86/Ukraine.jpg Episodes - Ukraine - Episode #83 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/82 monthly 0.5 2022-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/715d85de-4ec7-43bd-9ce7-7ee1dd7b9358/Ukraine Episodes - War in Europe - Episode #82 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?’ https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/81 monthly 0.5 2022-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/d3ab5d79-7989-41a0-b42d-d1dcb3b0dbb1/scholz.jpg Episodes - The Intelligence of Intelligence Disclosures - Episode #81 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?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/80 monthly 0.5 2022-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/788676fb-3920-4f07-bf77-fbc6b195fb3e/beijing2022.jpg Episodes - Olympic Politics - Episode #80 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/79 monthly 0.5 2022-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/c824d00a-4857-4ff3-9d45-653ba149139d/TeacherLoyalty.jpeg Episodes - Teacher Loyalty and the Future of Education - Episode #79 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/78 monthly 0.5 2022-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/9aefc2bd-f9a5-4e74-a32b-91ce1cd7ca93/PutinBiden.jpeg Episodes - Biden’s Foreign Policy - Episode #78 This week, 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/77 monthly 0.5 2022-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/b75b0507-1c50-47e9-a2a0-d5c6bb91da47/macronmask.jpg Episodes - The Politics of Covid - Episode #77 On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the changing politics of Covid and whether Donald Trump just launched his reelection campaign. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/76 monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/601d4620-30e3-4169-b19b-cb102ffa9381/OneYearLater.jpeg Episodes - One Year Later - Episode #76 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/74-hs6ls monthly 0.5 2022-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/e356d567-743b-4707-b776-05f194dfbe0e/2021.jpg Episodes - 2021 Year in Review - Episode #75 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/74 monthly 0.5 2021-12-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/dee47b62-b24b-42b7-93c7-b4088b4a7b62/jan6.jpg Episodes - Democracy and Disinformation - Episode #74 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/73 monthly 0.5 2021-12-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/4cc1a010-e218-476c-af36-1ed81d4ff26b/Massie.jpg Episodes - A Weird Week - Episode #73 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/72 monthly 0.5 2021-12-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1322a67c-6cce-4dd4-807c-eff3e2ecc030/Turkey.jpg Episodes - Talking Turkey - Episode #72 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/71 monthly 0.5 2021-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/7ad06e5e-d752-4346-b4e0-615bf38c5724/tedcruz-2000x1270-1.jpg Episodes - Political Rhetoric and Violence - Episode #71 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/70 monthly 0.5 2021-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/3e6aa718-9d91-441b-a567-a47c567996ae/BigBird.jpg Episodes - Great Power Politics, plus Big Bird - Episode #70 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/69 monthly 0.5 2021-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/5bc1cb70-e6c7-44a9-bf9d-fb0608a45d8f/Brandon.jpg Episodes - The Death of Civility - Episode #69 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/68 monthly 0.5 2021-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1634741445136-ZKMVWD3V2NBWNCEENGTI/NHprimary.jpg Episodes - Almost Live from New Hampshire - Episode #68 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?” https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/67 monthly 0.5 2021-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1634087089638-6W2JDDWM829GL1TDLKEP/trump-rosen.jpeg Episodes - The Sideshow Bob Defense - Episode #67 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/66 monthly 0.5 2021-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1633526737455-I8SZWGPNR0AXNYXH43K6/bidenFP.jpeg Episodes - Midterm Grades - Episode #66 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/65 monthly 0.5 2021-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1632858428916-3LGZE3PF4QLFQL5DEJMJ/GermanElection.jpeg Episodes - Germany Votes - Episode #65 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". https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/64 monthly 0.5 2021-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1632319646923-1BTIQ8NDD14KTEPYCEWO/submarine.jpeg Episodes - Sub-stantial Developments - Episode #64 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/63 monthly 0.5 2021-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1631724592470-T3EAM5YFZ9M841RP6FE9/suzanne+chod.jpeg Episodes - Suzanne Chod on the State of American Democracy - Episode #63 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/62 monthly 0.5 2021-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1631110908912-NJMJULMTZY206BLKQAJY/sept11.jpeg Episodes - Twenty Years of Hindsight - Episode #62 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/61 monthly 0.5 2021-09-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1630505650720-1Q07V47VCBY61522SYFD/BidenAfghan.jpg Episodes - The End of a War - Episode #61 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/60 monthly 0.5 2021-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1629915007887-60P39XCQ4R8MOJ6KIFNS/afghanistan.jpeg Episodes - Afghanistan - Episode #60 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? https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/59 monthly 0.5 2021-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1622662737122-E5CPY4O8FO7S73Z3QCLW/chenoweth.jpeg Episodes - Rebroadcast: Erica Chenoweth on Civil Resistance - Episode #59 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/58 monthly 0.5 2021-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1628647921271-FTVV64I17OVN6MN4P83N/rules.jpeg Episodes - Biden vs. The Rules-Based Order - Episode #58 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/57 monthly 0.5 2021-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1628095052815-ICHPFMP7IS64090E0S4C/truth.jpeg Episodes - Grappling with Truth - Episode #57 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/56 monthly 0.5 2021-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1619705511731-M68K0F9H15JULYD10EYE/roland-paris.jpeg Episodes - Rebroadcast: Roland Paris on International Politics - Episode #56 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/55 monthly 0.5 2021-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1626902793555-OOLYSWEDXFLS4EVS88XZ/Trump.jpeg Episodes - The Path to Violence - Episode #55 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/54 monthly 0.5 2021-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1625672859917-FB9NWVTBRSIMH1D7BKH6/4th.jpeg Episodes - Happy 4th! - Episode #54 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/53 monthly 0.5 2021-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1612396235323-6IJAMMS1O1OF1K2IISV2/Waller.jpg Episodes - Rebroadcast: The Risk of Mass Violence - Episode #53 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/52 monthly 0.5 2021-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1624469122326-EN3K668LCD74R3YQSBDG/iran.jpeg Episodes - Happy Anniversary! - Episode #52 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/51 monthly 0.5 2021-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1623869749664-BM8FVYQOYJCLD0OBITO9/BidenNato.jpg Episodes - The Challenge of Defending Norms - Episode #51 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/50 monthly 0.5 2021-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1623347164409-STYP9KWSK85VVCVAEQ9Q/realamerica.jpeg Episodes - Vergangenheitsaufarbeitung - Episode #50 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/49 monthly 0.5 2021-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1622662737122-E5CPY4O8FO7S73Z3QCLW/chenoweth.jpeg Episodes - Erica Chenoweth on Civil Resistance - Episode #49 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/48 monthly 0.5 2021-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1622062235015-89YM9ROV3G6CU39PECQR/death-of-socrates-cancelled.jpeg Episodes - Belarus and Authoritarian Learning - Episode #48 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/47 monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1621438120605-9HGFAJ3RR7EYQFOZKZAB/hamas-rockets.jpeg Episodes - When Things Fall Apart - Episode #47 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/46 monthly 0.5 2021-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1620843284266-YL6EATJX18KWJQXTABKW/lizcheney.jpeg Episodes - Trump, Cheney, and the Big Lie - Episode #46 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/45 monthly 0.5 2021-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1620226855891-55C49KXQ9EDJRQ42LYOT/India.jpeg Episodes - COVID and Disinformation - Episode #45 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/44 monthly 0.5 2021-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1619705511731-M68K0F9H15JULYD10EYE/roland-paris.jpeg Episodes - Roland Paris on International Politics - Episode #44 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/43 monthly 0.5 2021-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1619034622062-MCTPO5XVHBAVONSPKV1U/bush.jpg Episodes - Out of Many, One - Episode #43 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 American 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/42 monthly 0.5 2021-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1618412980630-E3LPWPV97JXOJB8L4ZGF/globaltrends.jpg Episodes - A Dire Forecast - Episode #42 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 https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/41 monthly 0.5 2021-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1617826426309-ZIPU5NNTC2GG4OMZ4Z5F/Sheridan.jpeg Episodes - Is Biden the Next FDR? - Episode #41 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/40 monthly 0.5 2021-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1617131990680-AQGOS7LS7T291OYELF8Z/suez.jpg Episodes - COVID, Religion, Voting, and Boats - Episode #40 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/39 monthly 0.5 2021-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1616529812859-C6VX4FM6USH007QIA7Y7/guns.jpg Episodes - Guns - Episode #39 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/38 monthly 0.5 2021-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1616006333580-1YDR19A7J9UC8PTY3TRG/casten-sean.jpeg Episodes - Congressman Sean Casten - Episode #38 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/37 monthly 0.5 2021-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1615406713170-UL39J4ZD7458ROQ5TE3S/tomcavenagh.jpg Episodes - Supreme Court Check-In - Episode #37 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/36 monthly 0.5 2021-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1614783303221-GKHKQWUJGMJJP4O712EU/MBS.jpg Episodes - Human Rights Roundup - Episode #36 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/35 monthly 0.5 2021-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1614180163197-B7NSUN7YULEMYQ6FL1WL/BidenDem.jpg Episodes - Democracy Must Prevail - Episode #35 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/34 monthly 0.5 2021-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1613528766728-FFS0X9KPYGTQ8S35JD73/acquitted.jpg Episodes - Acquitted - Episode #34 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/33 monthly 0.5 2021-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1612999489357-8M3PJYIAU4DOBKVTMBDD/impeach.jpg Episodes - Trump’s Second Impeachment - Episode #33 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/32 monthly 0.5 2021-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1612396235323-6IJAMMS1O1OF1K2IISV2/Waller.jpg Episodes - The Risk of Mass Violence - Episode #32 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/31 monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1611764127117-62FIJSC2091GS8XOK9X1/Senatecrop.jpg Episodes - Looking Ahead to the Biden Presidency - Episode #31 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/30 monthly 0.5 2021-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1611166708974-OWRYPD3RCIC7W4DGNA8K/SwornIn.jpg Episodes - Inauguration Day - Episode #30 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/29 monthly 0.5 2021-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1610578191674-VSGIY0M9IXE3KQ6ZHGMI/impeach.jpg Episodes - Impeachment, Again - Episode #29 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/28 monthly 0.5 2021-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1610037932812-L06A8RKDS9OVBM2E3Z7A/capitol2.jpg Episodes - Democracy Under Siege - Episode #28 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/27 monthly 0.5 2020-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1609353590892-L59BU9DD58VDCRSXPZBG/2020.jpg Episodes - 2020: Year in Review - Episode #27 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/holidays2020 monthly 0.5 2020-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1608673465275-F9UP9WFXLE6T2Q199K31/holidays-611x311.jpg Episodes - Happy Holidays! - Special Episode 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! https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/26 monthly 0.5 2020-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1608145174468-RA2U41VM0VA0I0CMVON9/billbarr.jpg Episodes - Bill Barr’s Legacy - Episode #26 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/25 monthly 0.5 2020-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1607527114004-UUC97MKAEU4WE6C7MJ8E/trumpism.jpg Episodes - The Future of Trumpism - Episode #25 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/24 monthly 0.5 2020-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1606920299114-UITHB8CGAPJRRDXBYWFW/pardon.jpg Episodes - Pardon Me - Episode #24 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/23 monthly 0.5 2020-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1606315283320-O11AN0LG0BAWA3TMGR1R/IMG_0013.jpg Episodes - Giving Thanks - Episode #23 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/22 monthly 0.5 2020-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1605712486668-CV3QUMLDEUHM0DWY0PH9/Obama.jpg Episodes - Obama’s Thoughts on the Future - Episode #22 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/21 monthly 0.5 2020-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1605117144726-4KCI4UUY0ZJDPTQE90VS/Bidenwin.jpg Episodes - The Transition - Episode #21 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/20 monthly 0.5 2020-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1604504162843-706XWADZCTXZXX4880ZO/map.jpg Episodes - Election 2020 - Episode #20 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? https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/19 monthly 0.5 2020-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1603892846759-DMVKAXSCQ9S68HBOO6FW/Vote.jpg Episodes - Election Preview Special - Episode #19 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! https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/18 monthly 0.5 2020-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1603290344670-TLBAPRRQE4YT3MEW9HPH/trumprally.jpg Episodes - Trump’s Closing Argument - Episode #18 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/17 monthly 0.5 2020-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1602767352635-NKNTDI0QKQOPYWW1Y8ZB/democracy.jpg Episodes - The State of “Democracy” - Episode #17: 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/16b monthly 0.5 2020-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1602080208764-HKP2UDSUHWB7989A5MWQ/ACB.jpg Episodes - SCOTUS Update - Episode #16 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/16a monthly 0.5 2020-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1601999622705-JA69J77RC576R4LG1TAQ/trumpcovid.jpg Episodes - Special Episode: Trump’s COVID diagnosis - Special Episode 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/15 monthly 0.5 2020-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1601468972900-I6R7VSF6T7BQCT3XGX8A/debate.jpg Episodes - Will You Shut Up, Man? - Episode #15 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/14 monthly 0.5 2020-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1600872459470-YSNHLIJ0FVWH54H2OVFP/RBG.jpg Episodes - RBG - Episode #14 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.’ https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/13 monthly 0.5 2020-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1600210341656-DFTOXGKGU71H0HIH2PG6/UN.jpg Episodes - The UN Turns 75 - Episode #13 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/12 monthly 0.5 2020-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1599666891421-GSG1NCD8GLN3KSZ600IH/trumplosers.jpg Episodes - Losers and Suckers - Episode #12 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/11 monthly 0.5 2020-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1599069136036-QX3RZTE5AI31BR2XO8NT/trumpkenosha.jpg Episodes - Authoritarianism and American Democracy - Episode #11 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/10 monthly 0.5 2020-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1598649512958-X4OY6JXT3BE7YCU63YHU/trump2020.jpg Episodes - The Republicans’ Turn - Episode #10 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/9 monthly 0.5 2020-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1598040085455-2NPTCODMK80D59FCTO9M/DNCBiden.jpg Episodes - The DNC w/ Jake Lahut - Episode #9 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/8 monthly 0.5 2020-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1597265500335-6DS3WHJB1ET7VEP4OMVZ/harris.jpg Episodes - Biden/Harris 2020 - Episode #8 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/7 monthly 0.5 2020-08-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1596645687717-YQB26YUVAXJWMXJVLQ1H/E969DFB6-B781-4688-BAE2-8F2A2A18BCD1.jpg Episodes - Failing the COVID Test? - Episode #7 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? https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/6 monthly 0.5 2020-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1596042823909-RWTW7TQWTNTL39LVBMA1/portland Episodes - Law and Order in Portland - Episode #6 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/5 monthly 0.5 2020-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1595350225523-SATRCRUUHF00J5QTOGB1/SCOTUS.jpeg Episodes - The Supreme Court Spectacular - Episode #5 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/4 monthly 0.5 2020-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1594823302256-QFOHXB2D9Y1O7SEXYSYD/617DC6DE-FD9B-4A9D-A948-8B59D84B0154.jpeg Episodes - A Tsunami Coming - Episode #4 Bill and Phil are joined by Dr. Suzanne Chod to discuss a potential Democratic tsunami this November, if the 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/3 monthly 0.5 2020-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1594161301099-5G0HMIE0IA6GWPTRMZVV/trumprushmore.jpeg Episodes - Culture Wars - Episode #3 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/2 monthly 0.5 2020-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1593632652359-VCHP1RITQC96ISEEIJ7P/070571B8-7E4F-43B3-8F6B-A3DA2F224683.jpeg Episodes - Is This Normal? - Episode #2 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/1 monthly 0.5 2020-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1592950611467-GPLXCKNE9N1N1RXUVI6R/image-asset.jpeg Episodes - Democracy on the Brink? - Episode #1 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. https://www.thepoliticslab.com/episodes/welcome monthly 0.5 2020-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee17602461950593c37f1c6/1591839250689-XDGVDGVNQRBWJ5N32CHL/AB693239-812F-442D-B39E-3B4636C07906.jpeg Episodes - Welcome to the Politics Lab - Preview Welcome to the Politics Lab! 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