The Politics Guys

Mike and Ken open with a discussion of something lapsed-Catholic Mike thought he’d never see - an American Pope. While Pope Leo is unlikely to be as progressive as his predecessor, he’s no ultra-conservative who has said some critical things about Vice President Vance in the past.

Then they turn to tariffs: the just-announced agreement between the US and the UK, if and when more agreements may be forthcoming, the economic damage that’s almost certain even if deals start pouring in, and a strange proposal for a 100% tariff on movies made in ‘foreign lands’.

Next...

Mike talks about the The World with Marco Werman. For our listeners interested in global events, join the other 2.5 million listeners who tune into The World every week. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

Mike talks with attorney, former law school dean, and current Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. In 2022, Secretary Benson was recognized for her refusal to back down in the face of threats and harassment in the wake of the 2020 presidential election with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. She’s running for governor of Michigan in 2026 and is the author of the recently released book The Purposeful Warrior: Standing Up for What’s Right When the Stakes Are High.

Topics Mike & Secretary Benson discuss include:

- why Donald Trump called Secretary Benson a ‘r...

In this Constitution show Trey and Ken tackle two amendments: the 20th and the 22nd. The 20th changes when and how Congress and the President take office. The 22nd formalizes the precedent of President Washington’s two term limit. The pair delve into the history, ratification, and implementation of the 20th and 22nd amendment!

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Trey and Ken open with a detailed look into Trump’s first 100 days in office. This includes a conversation as to why we rate presidents’ first 100 days along with detailed discussions of Trump’s handling of both economic policy and foreign policy. Imbedded in this conversation is a look at the U.S. / Ukrainian resources deal and what that means for the future of the war and an extended conversation on Mike Pence leaving as National Security Advisor and his chances to make it past the Senate to be the new ambassador to the United Nations.

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Mike talks with Mike Nellis, former Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris and Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Authentic, a digital marketing agency that’s raised over a billion dollars for campaigns and had a 77% client win rate in 2024. 

Topics Mike & Mike discuss include:

- the evolution of political fundraising

- how AI is being used in political marketing

- White Dudes for Harris

- what went wrong for Democrats in 2024

- the authenticity of Donald Trump

- working class voters and the Diploma Divide

Mike and Justin open with a look at President Trump’s executive orders concerning higher education: one on accreditation, another on reporting foreign funding, and a third concerning historically Black colleges and universities. Following that they turn to Trump’s actions on K-12 education, one focusing on artificial intelligence and the other on discipline in schools.

They close with a discussion of oral arguments before the Supreme Court on a case involving parents who want to opt out their children from readings that include LGTQ+ themes.

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Mike and Justin open with a discussion of yet another wild week for the world economy, largely due to instability caused by President Trump’s changing positions on trade and the economy. He hates the Fed Chair he appointed but won’t fire him (even though he claims he can), says the US is talking with China, which China denies, and is now dealing with multiple lawsuits challenging his authority to impose broad-based sanctions using emergency powers.

Next they turn to what appears to be Elon Musk’s coming departure from DOGE. They look at how DOGE’s work h...

Mike talks with Adam Swart, the founder of Crowds on Demand, the original paid protesting firm, and a leading expert on protests, political optics, and narrative strategy. A lifelong liberal, Adam now finds himself increasingly "not liberal enough" for many in the modern Left.

Topics Mike and Adam discuss include:

- the false dichotomy between ‘real’ and ‘fake’ protests

- why every significant protest is a paid protest

- the left’s protest advantage over the right

- throwing tantrums vs getting things done

- the impo...

Mike and Trey open with a look at a recent Trump Executive Order intended to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Mike is generally in favor, though he doesn’t see it as having a huge impact. He also points to the absurdity of importing prescription drugs from Canada, arguing that it’s a sign of a fundamentally broken system. Trey makes the case that even if this EO results in savings, it doesn’t come close to offsetting the additional healthcare costs imposed on many Americans by Trump administration policies.

Next, they turn to tax...

Mike and Trey open by considering the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. They consider how both the left and right see Abrego Garcia, the legal battles surrounding his illegal deportation and possible return (don’t hold your breath), and if we’re near a point at which the Trump administration openly defies the courts.

Next is a discussion of the Trump administration’s attempts to bring Harvard University to heel, and Harvard’s resistance. They consider both the legal questions raised as well as how all this might play out at a time when trust in...

Travis talks with political scientist, Johns Hopkins professor, and CEO of Cohen Research Group, Dr. Michael Cohen about his new book, Modern Political Campaigns: How Professionalism, Technology, and Speed Have Revolutionized Elections, in which he provides insight into the practical nature of managing political campaigns and an insider’s advice on breaking into careers in the field of political consulting. 

Topics Travis and Michael cover include:

Mike talks about the The World with Marco Werman. For our listeners interested in global events, join the other 2.5 million listeners who tune into The World every week. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

Mike and Jay open with a discussion of the Trump administration’s attempts to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members by invoking the Alien Enemies Act. Mike argues that the Act doesn’t apply in this instance, while Jay points out that the Supreme Court is right to insist on due process for potential deportees, even if they can be legally removed via the Alien Enemies Act.

Next, they discuss the administration’s aggressive push to get universities to stop DEI programs by suspending federal funding. Mike believes that this sort of ‘guilty until proven innocent...

Mike and Jay open with a discussion of the ever-changing tariff landscape. Mike argues that President Trump’s tariffs may not even be legal – on multiple grounds, and that even if they are upheld, trade policy by presidential fiat is a horrible idea. Jay agrees, though both he and Mike are at least somewhat sympathetic toward actions taken in response to China’s massive IP theft and significant non-tariff barriers to US goods.

Next is a discussion of four energy-related actions taken by President Trump, focusing mainly on coal. Jay feels that less regulation on a s...

Mike talks about the The World with Marco Werman. For our listeners interested in global events, join the other 2.5 million listeners who tune into The World every week. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

Trey and Ken continue their journey through the U.S. Constitution by discussing the 19th Amendment: women's suffrage. They discuss the founding contradiction, including details from the life of Abigail Adams. They also focus on the history and implementation of the 19th Amendment, along with a brief commentary on some fringe groups calling for its end.

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Trey and Ken begin with a discussion of the so-called American Liberation Day. Trey attacks Trump’s tariffs from a libertarian view, but sees connections to authoritarianism in their implementation. Ken is more sympathetic to tariffs, but does not believe the current tariff policy would achieve his desired ends of protected key industries.

Next is a discussion of the firing of both NSC and NSA officials and its connection to Laura Loomer. Here there is a detailed discussion of Trump’s circle of influence. Neither Ken nor Trey sees positives in these moves, but it c...

Mike talks with Adam Chandler, a former staff writer at The Atlantic whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and a bunch of other places. They discuss his recently released book, 99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life.

Topics Mike & Adam discuss include:

- the “American Abracadabra”

- Columbus, the Puritans, and Ben Franklin

- if the United States is still the “Land of Opportunity”

- the downside of hustle culture

- univer...

Mike and Jay open this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of nationwide injunctions by federal district court judges. Neither of them likes the practice, and they consider three ways that the practice might be curtailed or ended entirely.

Next, it’s a look at President Trump’s memorandum ostensibly on preventing abuses of the legal system, as well as his various Executive Orders targeting big DC law firms that have gone up against him. Mike is very concerned about this, and while Jay isn’t as worried, it’s not because he thinks what Trump...

Mike and Jay open with a discussion of ‘Signalgate’, the text chain with top Trump administration officials on the Signal app in which Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffery Goldberg was inexplicably included. Jay has big concerns about the competence of the administration as well as the overall tone of the Signal communication. Both Mike and Jay agree with the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board that the Trump administration can’t bully its way through everything crying Fake News and that at times like this the best thing to do is admit a screwup, fire those responsible, and move on – not that any o...

Jay and Justin open this supporters’ midweek episode with a look at the Department of Defense's efforts to remove DEI-tagged historical content from its websites, sparking backlash and broader questions about how diversity, equity, and inclusion policies are defined and implemented. They discuss whether this was merely an administrative blunder or a deliberate action, exploring the nuances and potential political motivations behind this move. Jay argues for a conservative redefinition of DEI—celebrating individual achievement rather than group identities—while Justin highlights the complexities and misunderstandings surrounding DEI initiatives across institutions.

In the second half o...

Jay and Justin open the episode with a discussion of President Trump’s Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education. Is this legally possible, or just symbolic politics? Jay and Justin dig into the history, constitutional limits, and practical implications—especially regarding federal funding, student aid, special education, and K–12 policy. They also weigh in on whether educational standards have actually changed since the Department’s inception.

Next, they consider Chuck Schumer’s bad week. From accusations of weak leadership to talk of a primary challenge by AOC and grumbling within his own caucus, th...

Mike talks with Monica Hopkins, the executive director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia. Given all of the legal challenges to Trump administration actions, this seemed like an ideal time for a discussion with someone on the front lines.

Topics Mike and Monica discuss include:

- if the ACLU is a progressive-left organization

- Trump, DOGE, and threats to federal employees

- deportation of undocumented immigrants

- ending birthright citizenship

- DC statehood

ACLU DC on X<...

Mike talks about the Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman Podcast. For listeners interested in upping their professional potential, Ken Coleman discusses relevant issues like building leadership qualities, navigating shifts in the economy and the ever changing workplace. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

Mike and Ken open this preview of the midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of the administration’s actions against DC law firms that have opposed President Trump. They both find this to be deeply disturbing, especially as legal action is about the only resource Democrats have until they’re able to win enough seats to control the House or Senate.

Then they look at the budgetary effects of mass firings. Mike wonders what will happen to the money freed up from the firings, and predicts that much of it will end up going back t...

Mike and Ken open with a discussion of the Continuing Resolution to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Passage of the bill wouldn’t have been possible without the support of some Senate Democrats, which has caused consternation with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Mike and Ken both think this was a tough call, though Ken would have sided with the “no” voters while Mike would have voted “yes” to keep the government open.

Next, they consider the terms of the Ukraine ceasefire. Neither of them feels that Russian dictator Putin has much i...

Mike talks with Jason Read, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern Maine, about his book The Double Shift: Spinoza and Marx on the Politics of Work.

Topics Mike & Jason discuss include:

- work as a source of meaning and identity

- what Spinoza adds to Marx’s views on work

- what Fight Club, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul can tell us about work

- Gen X and the death of slacker culture

- why ‘selling out’ isn’t seen as such a bad thin...

Mike and Jay open this midweek supporters’ episode with a look at the Supreme Court’s decision to not vacate a temporary restraining order (TRO) that requires the government to pay USAID contractors $2 billion for services provided. Jay focuses on the legal arguments and at least partially convinces Mike that the TRO was problematic, though on the larger issue of the government paying contractors, Mike and Jay agree that the US should pay up for services rendered.

Next is an in-depth discussion of the fate of Ukraine and US foreign policy, in the wake of a number of t...

Mike and Jay open with a look at the latest in the “Will he or won’t he?” saga of President Trump’s tariffs, They agree that this sort of uncertainty is bad for markets, and Mike points out that tariffs are not just a tax, but a regressive tax. Jay observes that the US used to derive nearly all of its income through tariffs, but that was a very different time. They also look at the legal justification for the tariffs, which they both agree is at least somewhat shaky.

Next is a discussion of the big Trum...

Trey talks with Katherine Stewart author of the new book: Money, Lies and God. Katherine is a journalist and author whose work focuses on intersection of religion, politics and policy, and the threat the intersection of religion and politics has on democratic institutions.

Topics Trey and Katherine discuss include:

- the origins of Christian Nationalism

- why abortion became a rightwing position

- the various groups that have become the Christian right

- why school issues have become a key cultural issue in the U.S.

Katherine S...

Mike talks about the Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman Podcast. For listeners interested in upping their professional potential, Ken Coleman discusses relevant issues like building leadership qualities, navigating shifts in the economy and the ever changing workplace. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

In this U.S. Constitution episode, Trey and Ken look at the ties between prohibition and women's suffrage, the unique policy nature of the 18th Amendment, and the unusual path to ratification in Ohio.

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Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.

The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that...

Trey and Ken open the episode with the breaking chaos between President Zelenskyy, President Trump, and Vice-President Vance. Trey opened the segment by stating that his assumption of a foreign policy difference between Putin and President Trump was flawed. The hosts agreed that the moment was a turning point in the break between the U.S. and Europe. 

Next, they moved to the House's budget bill. Ken was surprised that only Representative Massie defected. Trey believes Democrats will end up taking the blame if they shut the government down. Ken agrees historically but believes some specifics make D...

Mike talks about the Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman Podcast. For listeners interested in upping their professional potential, Ken Coleman discusses relevant issues like building leadership qualities, navigating shifts in the economy and the ever changing workplace. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

Mike and Jay open with a discussion of the Trump administration’s attempt to fire Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger. So far, the courts have sided with Dellinger against the administration, but Jay thinks there’s a reasonable chance that the Supreme Court might end up giving the administration what it wants, and further advancing the “Unitary Executive” view of the presidency. Mike agrees that Jay may be right as a matter of law, but feels that the Trump administration continues to push executive power to dangerous levels.

Next they take a look at DOGE. While it sure seems li...

Mike and Jay open this 10th Anniversary episode of The Politics Guys with a discussion of the Trump administration’s seeming turn toward Russia and away from Ukraine. They discuss Trump’s many lies about the war, including that Ukraine started it (which Trump later walked back), that Zelensky is a dictator with a four percent approval rating, the amount of money the US has given to Ukraine, and more. They also consider the larger foreign policy and global order implications of the deals Trump is hoping to make with Ukraine and with Russia. In the end, both Mike and...

Mike welcomes back George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan to talk about his latest collection, Self Help is Like a Vaccine: Essays on Living Better.

Topics Mike & Bryan discuss include:

- obese people and anti-vaxxers

- Bryan’s life of appeasement

- the value of betting on politics

- poverty and substance abuse

- reasons to spend more time in a bubble

- quality vs quantity in converts

Bryan’s Substack: Bet on It

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Mike and Jay open this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of President Trump’s call with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and plans to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Mike points out that Trump, supposedly a master negotiator, seems to have made concessions to Putin even before negotiations have begun. Both Jay and Mike are concerned about how any capitulation to Russia’s unprovoked aggression might encourage China’s dictator regarding Taiwan.

Following that, they consider the House Republican budget blueprint which, while decrying huge deficits, would add trillions in debt.

They close by addressing...

Mike and Jay open with a look at the various efforts by the Trump administration to pull back on political prosecutions or political figures, including the very controversial decision to not pursue charges (for now) against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Neither Mike nor Jay agree with the Adams decision, but Jay is more willing to consider a political motive by the Biden DOJ for bringing the charges in the first place. They also discuss the wider implications of Trump’s actions. Mike’s main concern is that it will result in more public corruption, though he agrees with...