Beyond Politics
By Matt Robison and Paul Hodes
Beyond PoliticsMay 14, 2024
How Mega Companies Get Filthy Rich Off America's Poor with YOUR Tax Dollars
It's a shocking story we hear almost nothing about: huge corporations exploiting some of the $900 billion a year in government programs aimed at helping America's poor, and pocketing hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars along the way. Anne Kim, a Contributing Editor at Washington Monthly, shares some of the most riveting stories from her book 'Poverty for Profit' (publishing TODAY at this link) a deep dive into what these companies are doing, who is being hurt, and why we decided as a country to outsource the poverty industry. Anne also explains why there's still some good news and hope for the future.
00:51 The Shocking Reality of the Poverty Industry
04:31 The Earned Income Tax Credit: A Double-Edged Sword
10:54 Maximus: The Giant Behind Welfare Outsourcing
16:48 The Dark Side of Medicaid and Dialysis Centers
21:19 The Bail Bond System: Preying on the Vulnerable
23:22 The Roots of Privatization and Its Impact on Poverty
30:03 Reimagining Government's Role and the Path Forward
Trump Claims That He's Dead
Yes, Donald Trump did kind of tell supporters that he's dead. Our round table discussion started with deep, interesting question: after all the talk about polarization and division, is there actually a powerful emerging centrist movement in America? But then, Alicia dropped something kind of fascinating and disturbing into the conversation, an email from Donald Trump that seems to imply the he is currently dead. And as if that wasn't amusing enough, we close the show on one of the deepest existential questions facing America: what is the sandwich really? We actually had a legal read on that from a real court this week.
01:24 Exploring the Existence of a Political Center in America
05:54 The Rise and Impact of Performative Politics
07:53 The MAGA Movement and Its Influence
16:54 The Future of Republican Moderates and the MAGA Legacy
22:28 Is Trump...Dead?
28:47 The Biden vs. Trump Debate: Age, Sanity, and Governance
30:24 The Great Sandwich Debate: What Qualifies?
Is Biden REALLY in Trouble with Black Voters?
Are Democrats really shedding massive amounts of support from African American voters? There are certainly warning signs of trouble -- including a New York times poll showing Trump getting the support of more than 20% of Black Americans. But Mario Broussard and Ana Robinson of Global Strategy Group say that the actual picture is a lot more nuanced than that, and that if the numbers suggest anything, it's that there are things Biden and the Democrats can do to hold on to the critical core of the Democrats' base.
01:21 Young Black Women's Voting Enthusiasm and Economic Struggles
04:49 The Impact of Abortion Rights on Young Black Women Voters
15:27 Economic Concerns Among Black Voters
26:34 Messaging Strategies for Democrats: Addressing Key Voter Concerns
32:31 The Role of Social Media and Influencers in Engaging Young Voters
Who ACTUALLY Won the Presidential debate Standoff?
After a major standoff, Trump and Biden have agreed to two presidential debates. Did Biden win this exchange? And how much does it really matter? Also, a quick breakdown of Michael Cohen's testimony, and the question of whether Trump's political defenses in the hush money trial are actually kind of working. Plus, a very weird New York Times poll from this week and a continued run of voting results that Donald Trump should be finding downright scary. Plus, our closing segment has snakes on a plane. No, really.
And we closed with snakes on a plane. No, literally. I mean, it. Snakes on a plane,
00:00 Opening Remarks: The Role of Debates in Politics
00:46 Debating the Debates: Trump vs. Biden
02:27 The Circus of Presidential Debates
04:26 Breaking Tradition: The New Debate Format
06:19 The Argument Against Debates
10:53 Character and Policy in Debates
17:02 Strategic Analysis: Biden vs. Trump Debate Dynamics
19:29 Trump's Debate Strategy and Poll Analysis
20:16 Breaking Down Trump's Legal Challenges
20:25 The Michael Cohen Testimony: A Deep Dive
25:50 Analyzing Trump's Defense Strategies
30:56 Voter Sentiment and Election Predictions
35:40 Quirky News Roundup: Bees, Zebras, and Snakes
What Everyone Is Missing About Voters' Sour Mood on the Economy
Lauren Goldstein of Change Research dives into a fascinating study aims to get inside the minds of voters and could help explain why they feel so negative about the most important issue of the 2024 election - the economy. Also, why they do things differently than most opinion researchers, and how that can help change the way we talk to voters.
01:38 Exploring the Real Economic Pain Points of Voters
05:20 The Psychological Underpinnings of Financial Comparisons
10:09 Addressing the Generational Divide and Economic Pessimism
17:08 Strategies for Effective Political Communication
23:13 The Secret Handshake and Used Car Fraud Metaphors
31:29 Innovative Approaches to Public Opinion Research
34:37 The Importance of Listening and Adapting Messaging
Trump's Legal Danger Just Went Way Up...But Not Because of Stormy.
Was the big, headline grabbing testimony from Stormy Daniel actually the most significant thing that happened in the Trump trial this week? We make the case that the answer is actually...no. Trump should be a lot more worried about three other developments. Plus, what's driving the Biden administration's pause on arms transfers to Israel? And why did RFK Jr. say that a piece of his brain is missing???
00:53 Exploring the Impact of Stormy Daniels' Testimony
05:14 The Hypocrisy Surrounding Pornography
08:56 The Legal Significance Beyond the Headlines
13:32 Trump's Legal Risks and Public Opinion Dynamics
17:30 Debunking Polling Myths and Misinterpretations
21:34 Analyzing the Middle East Ceasefire Negotiations
25:19 The Grand Bargain: Biden's Middle East Strategy
32:56 The Controversial Views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Secrets You Need to Know to Succeed in Politics
What are the things you have to get right to succeed in the world of politics? What's the secret sauce to winning a campaign? (hint: it's actually not what most people think) And what are the unwritten rules that you have to know to be a member of Congress or to work in Congress? We tacked these questions and much more this week, when Matt was honored to be a guest on one of the top podcasts in the world aimed at political insiders, the ProPolitics podcast hosted by Zac McCrary. We're bringing you the full episode here, and check out their feed and consider subscribing if you want to hear more from the biggest insiders in DC.
A Week of Bizarre, Hilarious Political Stories
This week, politics has been kind of amazing because there's been such a strange mix of ultra serious issues filled with moments that are just hilarious. We unpack the latest developments in the Trump trial and how Donald Trump's own lawyer ended up introducing some really humiliating evidence about him. Also, the crackdown on student protesters and how Lauren Boebert managed to beclown herself. And then of course, we had to talk about the most bizarre story of political self destruction that any of us have ever seen, which happened to a prominent Republican this week.
01:00 The Trump Trial: Legal Analysis and Hilarity
04:01 The Gag Order Debate: Trump's Legal Challenges and Strategies
17:56 Campus Protests: A Mix of Serious and Ridiculous
20:34 The Quirky Protesters and Their Demands
21:20 The Satirical Take on Modern Protests
23:06 Lauren Boebert's Campus Stunt Goes Viral
26:04 Christy Noem's Controversial Animal Stories
32:41 The Debate Over Marijuana Legalization
36:30 Closing Thoughts and Goodbyes
There's a Way Out of MAGA Domination
Is there actually a light at the end of the tunnel, a way out of MAGA domination for the Republican Party? Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution and Peter Wehner of the Trinity Forum, walk us through their much-discussed plan outlined in a recent New York Times opinion piece for a new movement to return to a rational, conservative Republican Party in America. ***Please remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.***
00:59 Exploring the Roots and Reasons for a GOP Split
05:05 The Exile Strategy: Overcoming MAGA's Grip
09:12 The Moral and Strategic Imperatives of Overthrowing MAGA
14:34 Potential Leaders and the Path Forward
26:55 The Psychological Battle Against MAGA Dominance
What Should Universities Do About Increasingly Violent Protests?
As protests over the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, reignite and turn violent, the panel ask whether a line has been crossed and what universities that have been paralyzed for so long should do now. We also mark the historic passage of the foreign aid bill, which included long overdue money for Ukraine. And at the end, we ask whether a quote from Mitt Romney this week was a great one or the greatest one ever given. But we start off with the tsunami of Trump legal news, including yesterday's massive Supreme court hearing, new indictments in Arizona, and Paul's evaluation as a former prosecutor of how effective this week's testimony in the New York trial really was
01:07 Analyzing the Prosecution's Strategy in Trump's Trial
05:07 The Intricacies of Legal and Ethical Boundaries in Media Collaboration
14:27 Breaking Down the New Indictments and Supreme Court's Role
18:01 Addressing Anti-Semitic Protests at Elite Universities
24:43 Comparing Past and Present Campus Protests
36:22 Political Achievements and Bipartisanship
37:47 The Mitt Romney Quote
Why Are Right-Wing Media "Utterly Collapsing?"
The biggest right-wing news sites are seeing cratering traffic and influence. But why? And is that all good news for the rest of the anti-Trump world? Veteran reporter Paul Farhi joins to discuss his recent blockbuster article in The Atlantic on what's happening, and why it's significant.
00:59 How Big is the Collapse of Right-Wing Media Traffic
03:46 Exploring the Causes
10:38 The Financial Impact and Future of Right-Wing Media
18:17 The Broader Implications: Misinformation, Fracturing, and the Future of Media
22:33 The Controversy Around NPR's Alleged Leftward Shift
35:13 Analyzing the Impact of Conservative Media
Who's Fighting one of America's Biggest Threats? Meet the Lie Detectives.
What would you say is the biggest threat to America today? It might not be what you think. Many of America's senior leaders, especially the ones in the Democratic Party, believe that it's the insidious, intentional assault on our brains, from people using technology to pump them full of misinformation and disinformation. The torrent of lies may be making it impossible for democracy to function anymore, and is putting some of the worst possible people in power.
Journalist Sasha Issenberg takes us inside this world in his new book The Lie Detectives, and joins us to explain what they've found out about how to fight this new war for information, truth, and democracy.
01:13 The Oh Gosh Moment: Realizing the Scale of Disinformation
16:18 Jiore Craig's Mission: Adapting Political Strategies for the Digital Age
30:49 Understanding the Ecosystem of Disinformation
41:25 The Future of Fighting Disinformation: Challenges and Optimism
The Shifting, Secret Trump Jury That Could Shape History
Former prosecutor Paul Hodes walks us through one of the most important jury selection processes ever, as jurors are added - and removed - from trump's fraud trial in New York. We also probe the impact of having two lawyers on the jury, and is the Biden White House taking the right approach politically by staying totally silent about the trial.
Also, the sham Mayorkas impeachment. And is Mike Johnson actually doing a GOOD job? And a wild closing story that involves escaped zoo animals and a huge metaphor for politics in America.
00:53 The Trump Trial: Jury Selection and Legal Drama
05:27 The Role of Lawyers in the Jury
14:51 Biden's White House: A Silent Strategy on Trump's Trial
17:13 The Mayorkas Impeachment: A Partisan Stunt Dismissed
20:12 The Impact of C SPAN on Politics
25:21 Mike Johnson: Good Leadership on Ukraine?
34:41 Closing Segment: The ACTUAL Political Circus
Trump's Stock is Crashing Now. How Bad Will This Get for Him?
The dramatic decrease in value of Donald Trump's Truth Social stock has already erased billions in ill-gotten gains from the former President. Why the major fall, and more important, how bad could this ultimate get for Trump? We asked stock market expert Chris Hill, former host of Motley Fool Money.
00:00 The Crash of Trump's Truth Social Stock
02:03 The Meme Stock Phenomenon Explained
04:35 The Intricacies of SPACs and Their Impact
09:21 The Financial Mechanics Behind Truth Social's Strategy
20:53 Predictions and Implications for Trump
Did the OJ Simpson Trial Foreshadow the Rise of Trump?
Did the basic elements of the OJ Simpson trial give us a preview of Trump's America? The comparison isn't as far-fetched as it might seem. Also, the impliations of the recent Arizona ruling implementing a total abortion ban, and how did that lead to Lindsay Graham being called a Republican in name only (RINO). Also... Lenny Kravitz's fashion choices?!?
00:17 The OJ Simpson Saga previewed the age of Trump
09:02 Exploring the Impact of Arizona's Abortion Ban
12:26 The MAGA Conundrum: Logic, Loyalty, and Lindsey Graham
20:30 FISA Controversy: National Security vs. Political Allegiance
29:54 Lenny Kravitz's Leather Pants
Obama's AI Advisor: What's Good, What's Bad, And What's Scary
The implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be profound, wonderful, and maybe terrifying. Eric Daimler -- a former AI advisor to President Obama -- helps us sort through the good, the bad, and whether the AI apocalypse is actually a risk (hint: yes, sort of).
01:36 The Real Concerns and Misunderstandings of AI
08:04 The Surprising Origins and Current Challenges of Cybersecurity
13:50 The Ubiquity of AI: From Everyday Anxieties to Real-World Applications
17:32 Flipping the Script: The Positive Side of AI
23:47 The Power of Data in Government and Business
26:37 The Future of AI
31:28 Debating the AI Apocalypse
38:52 Empowering Individuals in the Age of AI
The Best Movie About Politics EVER Isn't What You Think
We're talking about the best movie about politics ever today, and we'll bet it's not what you think. Maybe you brought to mind Mr. Smith goes to Washington, or the American President. Maybe even the Reese Witherspoon classic Election? NOPE. We want to make a case today that the most accurate, the most insightful, the most hilarious movie about politics ever made is this amazing classic from 30 years ago that not only captures real truths about how the system does and doesn't work, but is also downright hilarious, and even predicted the rise and fall of George Santos. We bring in the writer and Executive Producer of the film to discuss.
00:00 Introduction: Unveiling the Best Political Movie Ever
02:34 The Making of a Political Satire Masterpiece
10:38 Insider's View: The Realism Behind the Comedy
15:35 The Lobbyist System Exposed
21:17 The Art of Political Speechwriting
23:04 Breaking Down the Best Political Speech Ever
27:09 Navigating the Complex World of Congress
31:15 The Challenge of Satire in Today's Political Landscape
33:50 Envisioning a Sequel
40:26 Reflecting on the Impact and Legacy of the movie
How Trump Is Knifing Johnson Using Marjorie Taylor Greene
Marjorie Taylor Greene's is trying to remove Mike Johnson as House Speaker, supposedly over his government funding deal, but really over his proposal for Ukraine aid. But it's really a sign of how Trump's small MAGA sect -- and their patron Vladimir Putin -- continue to exercise leverage over the rest of America. Then, was there a critical shift in the Israel-Hamas war this week? Also, Trump's legal and financial maneuvers, and we highlight the most bizarre far-right conspiracy theories related to Monday's eclipse.
00:00 Diving into Trump's Political Maneuvers and House Speaker Drama
00:17 Exploring the Complex Dynamics of US and Israel Politics
00:50 Unpacking the Intricacies of the Ukraine Conflict and US Support
08:37 Analyzing the Political Landscape and Public Perception in Israel
15:17 Shifting Perspectives on Israel and the Impact on US Politics
19:36 A Lighter Take: This Week in Trump and Legal Battles
27:05 Navigating the World of Conspiracy Theories and Eclipse Madness
32:33 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Greek Independence Day
One Thing: the Right's Frankenstein Monster Is Back to Get Us
One thing to notice today is a news story in Politico about how the anti-abortion movement is scheming to turn the Republican party and ultimately all of America against in-vitro fertilization. What's amazing is that this is actually just the latest result of an intentional cynical, carefully calculated project begun in secret 50 years ago, it's sort of a Frankenstein monster of political power that's changed the face of America. And since it's broken lab containment, I may continue to affect all of us for decades to come.
***This mini-episode is part of a pilot project to try short, daily, focused episodes focusing on one key idea, number, or news item. We really want to know what you think of it. You can answer the poll question (on Spotify), or email us at matt.beyondpoliticspodcast@gmail.com.***
Are Republicans About to Melt Down...Again? And What About the Rest of Us?
On the surface, the day's big headline was about Republican dysfunction. Underneath, it really revealed something that's been going wrong with all of American politics for a long time. One polling number, and one long-forgotten episode of a television science fiction series, help illustrate the problem.
Inside the Right Wing's Not-So-Secret Plan for a Radical Takeover
Imagine the leaders of America's right wing sitting down and writing a plan for a radical re-shaping of American government and society, a blueprint to put in place if they manage to elect Donald Trump again. It actually happened. Today, we go inside 'Project 2025' with Ben Olinsky from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and find out what's in the plan, and why on Earth if they have such an alarming set of ideas designed to scare swing voters they would ever write it down.
00:51 The Shocking Contents of Project 2025
04:17 Schedule F: Trump's Plan to Politicize the Federal Bureaucracy
09:14 Weaponizing the Department of Justice Under Trump
13:20 Immigration Policies in Project 2025: Expanding Expedited Removal
15:55 The Achievability of Project 2025's Goals
20:29 Hidden Agendas: Labor Policies and Christian Nationalism
24:07 The Strategy Behind Publicizing Project 2025
31:24 Defending Democracy: Strategies Against Project 2025
One Thing: How Daniel Kahneman Actually Changed the World
There were two significant deaths in the news on Wednesday: one got all the headlines, but the other one changed the world. And that's the one thing to pay attention to: how Daniel Kahneman led a quiet revolution in understanding how people think that is still rippling through the world and will for decades to come. He's even likely influenced the things you say and do.
We really want to know what you think. You can answer the poll question (on Spotify), or email us at matt.beyondpoliticspodcast@gmail.com.
Trump Just Made Billions. Does It Change Anything?
Donald Trump just made billions by taking his media company built on Truth Social public. Is that really going to change anything politically? Or in terms of the fact that he seemed to be nearly bankrupt at the beginning of the week? (01:09). Then the Ronna McDaniel saga at NBC where she got hired and promptly fired. Alicia Preston shuts down the Republican counter backlash in one line. (12:51) Also, which party should be more nervous about the rise of RFK Jr.(21:25) , the legacy of Joe Lieberman (24:46), AND, based on the news that Donald Trump is selling Trump-branded Bibles, we came up with our own list of Trump branded religious paraphernalia that he should try to sell next (28:45).
Wait, HOW Often Do Ships Run Into Bridges??? (Hint: A LOT)
Today, we're testing a new concept: 10 minute daily episodes highlighting the things happening in the news that are worthy of your attention, but that don't make the headline skim. The kind of important number or idea that somehow slips down 8 paragraphs in the story, or onto the back pages. Something that might make you think about the world a little differently, or help connect some dots that put current events in a new light.
We really want to know what you think. You can answer the poll question (on Spotify), or email us at matt.beyondpoliticspodcast@gmail.com.
Today, the thing to notice is the number 35. Earlier this week, a cargo ship lost power and plowed into the Francis Scott Key bridge in the port of Baltimore killing six bridge workers. The effects will ripple across America for years to come. But it's the number 35, tucked into a New York Times op-ed, that makes one think about the bigger role of the federal government and what it quietly does in the shadows.
He Stopped Trump from Stealing One Critical Swing State
Joe Khan was the lawyer for a critical swing county in Pennsylvania in 2020 when he noticed something...odd. He joins us to tell the story of how he and a group of lawyers banded together to defend the Pennsylvania election outcome - and ultimately American democracy - from the Trump onslaught. And now that he's running for Attorney General of Pennsylvania, what lessons will he apply in 2024, when Pennsylvania appears to be under even greater threat of Trump election interference?
01:30 The Early Signs of Election Interference in Pennsylvania
04:29 Building a Legal Coalition to Defend the Vote
09:01 Frontline Strategies: Preparing for Every Scenario
15:41 The Fight Against Social Media Giants
21:49 The Critical Role of the Attorney General in Future Elections
Is Most of the Music Industry About to Be Wiped Out?
There is a sneaky huge shift happening in American music right now right under our very noses (or ears). Private equity's takeover of the music business could have major consequences for what we hear and whether we hear anything new at all. Whitney Houston's catalog acquisition, Taylor Swift's battle over her masters, and the fight over Pink Floyd's music are just a handful of examples. Music industry writer Marc Hogan joins to explain his fascinating piece about this in the New York Times.
00:00 The Unseen Impact of Private Equity on Music
01:27 A Deep Dive into Music Rights and Private Equity
05:00 The Taylor Swift Case
10:50 Exploring the Financialization of Music and Its Effects
17:59 The Future of Music: Creativity vs. Commercialization
27:01 Exploring the Potential for Innovation in Music and Visual Media
30:28 The Future of Music: Opportunities and Challenges
Republicans' Spactacular, Epic, Hilarious Backfire
A Chaotic Republican Hearing and Trump's Legal and Financial Woes: the round table runs through a tumultuous Republican hearing meant to highlight Republicans' fantasy of wrongdoing by President Biden, which backfired spectacularly on themselves and Donald Trump. Also, Judge Aileen Cannon's ham-handed slow-walking of the Trump documents case, and the incredible shrinking Trump fundraising base.
02:29 The Republican Hearing Debacle
14:15 The Media's Role and Public Perception in Political Narratives
21:48 Judge Cannon Tries to Bury The Case in Florida
28:27 Breaking News: The Government's New Lawsuit
38:50 Trump's Legal and Financial Troubles Are Deep
45:31 The RNC Takeover and Trump's Fundraising Woes
50:40 The Bizarre World of Political Fundraising Emails
Trump is Beating Biden Right Now. Why That Probably Won't Last.
How on earth is Trump beating Biden right now? It's the question that has baffled and enraged Democrats for months. And it's the question that Matt Robison tackled in his new article for Washington Monthly. Matt lays out one of the biggest reasons, something that analysts tend to overlook, and adds material that didn't make it into the article.
00:05 The Puzzling Popularity of Donald Trump
02:07 The Low Information Trap: Unpacking Voter Awareness
03:45 The Stark Contrast: Trump's Failures and Crimes
10:49 High vs. Low Information Voters: Bridging the Gap
17:48 The Impact of Information on Voter Perception
22:25 Looking Ahead: What Does this Mean for 2024?
Did Trump Just Beat (some of) the Rap?
Three charges were just dismissed against Donald Trump in Georgia. Will this make a major, lasting difference in his legal peril? Also, Never Trump Republicans fold bigly, is a MAGA takeover bid for TikTok a good thing, and is the AI apocalypse here?
00:46 Analyzing the Legal Implications and Prosecutorial Missteps
11:16 The Political and Legal Ramifications of the Case
12:46 Trump's New Never-Trump Republican Endorsements
19:21 The RNC Takeover: Trump's Personal Agenda
27:29 The TikTok Dilemma: National Security
33:09 AI Apocalypse: The End of Humanity as We Know It?
Whatever Happened in the Biggest Trump-Russia Scandal?
We look back today at the biggest, and probably most forgotten scandal in the whole Trump-Russia web of corruption. When Charles McGonigal, former head of counterintelligence at the FBI, was recently convicted for money laundering and working for Russia, the media barely took notice. In this interview recorded a year ago just after McGonigal's arrest, our expert guest Craig Unger laid out just how deep the Trump-Russia-FBI ties go, and how disturbing the implications are.
00:00 Introduction: The Unseen Scandal of American Intelligence
03:06 The Forgotten Ties: Trump, Russia, and the FBI's Compromised Investigation
09:59 The Historical Context: Trump's Long-standing Ties with Russia
20:37 The Media's Role and the Need for Counterintelligence Investigation
28:29 Confronting the Challenges: How to Combat Disinformation and Silence
Biden Just Took His Strategy From A Hollywood Movie
Beyond Politics: Biden's Impact, Trump's Troubles, and Democratic Strategies
Biden's recent turn in tone, language, and strategy that he started at the State of the Union seems ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script. Political analyst Cliff Schecter thinks it comes right out of "The American President," but Matt Robison has a couple other movie moments in mind. Also, does Trump's decision to appoint Lara Trump to head the RNC a hint o how deep his financial troubles are? And when will Nikki Haley bend the knee to Trump??
01:54 The Rise of 'Dark Brandon'
11:55 The Power of Counter Attack
14:35 Movie Metaphors for Political Strategies
18:12 The Trump Crime Family and the RNC
22:02 The Financial Struggles of Donald Trump
27:32 The Future of Nikki Haley and the Republican Party
Did Biden's "Home Run" Speech Reset the 2024 Election?
President Joe Biden's fiery, fiesty State of the Union drew raves from analysts, with Politico writing "it’s hard to imagine how the SOTU could’ve gone much better for Biden." But what impact did it actually have with the swing voters that will decide the 2024 election? And will it reset a race that's been looking dangerous for the President? Pollsters Ian Smith and Gabi Parra of Navigator Research explain what their live dial testing with swing voters revealed, what moments really stuck out, and whether this speech accomplished what Joe Biden truly needed.
02:02 The Impact of State of the Union on Swing Voters
07:11 The Importance of Democracy and Voting Rights
09:54 The Impact of Biden's Economic Policies
10:58 The Role of Women in Politics
12:16 Immigration
19:56 The Age Issue
23:15 Women's Political Power
26:33 The Moment that Mattered
Is This Make Or Break Week for Joe Biden?
With major polls showing President Joe Biden continuing to trail Donald Trump, Democratic insiders believe that the State of the Union speech this week has now become a make-or-break moment for the President. But is it? And what does he need to accomplish for it to be successful? Also, the hidden significance of Super Tuesday that could be sneaky good news for Democrats, major rulings from the Supreme Court that help Trump and cast doubt on the Court, and Matt and Alicia get parodied on social media.
02:10 State of the Union: Predictions and Expectations
12:01 Super Tuesday: Significance and Predictions
17:49 Supreme Court Decisions and Their Impact
30:06 The Lighter Side of Politics: Parody Accounts
Will the Alabama IVF Ruling Continue to Shake American Politics?
When Alabama's Supreme Court redefined the legal status of stored embryos, equating them to children under a law from 1872, it unleashed a tidal wave of outrage, fear, and recriminations. Sabrina Talukder, Director of the Women's Initiative at the Center for American Progress, joins to talk through the continuing repercussions of the ruling, whether all the concern is warranted, and how the ruling will shape the debate and the politics of reproductive freedom and women's health in the coming year.
01:34 Alabama Supreme Court's Decision
04:02 Legal Analysis and Repercussions
09:08 Discussion on the Political Implications
19:02 The Politicization of Medicine
21:11 Future Implications
Should Trump Or Biden Be More Scared By This Week's Primaries?
***PLEASE leave us a rating/review on Apple podcast app!***
What is the meaning of the Haley vote in South Carolina and the "uncommitted" vote in Michigan? Is Trump or Biden more vulnerable to weakness in his own party? Also, how should the Biden campaign shift strategy after the Supreme Court took up the Trump immunity case and pushed back the election subversion trial indefinitely? And what is the meaning of Mitch McConnell's stepping down and the emerging MAGA bloc search for a successor in the Senate. And, the hilarious politics story of the week: a MAGA troll gets ratio-ed on Twitter!
01:27 Supreme Court Decision on Trump's Immunity
04:25 Election Strategy
08:43 IVF Ruling and its Political Impact
13:56 Primary Results in South Carolina and Michigan
20:13 Mitch McConnell's Departure and its Implications
23:48 Fun Politics Story of the Week
Emergency Pod: The Supreme Court Massively Shifts the 2024 Election
The Supreme Court's decision to consider Donald Trump's claim of absolute immunity could massively change the course and the outcome of the presidential election. With this decision, the Court seems to be taking away the biggest driver of voters turning away from Trump. Guest Andy Kroll of ProPublica helps examine why the Court did this, what the political implications are, and what might eventually unfold. ***Please rate&Review on Apple Podcast App!***
02:04 The Supreme Court's Decision: A Detailed Breakdown
05:31 The Legal and Political Implications of the Decision
13:27 The Impact on the Presidential Election
16:05 The Future of the Legal Cases Against Trump
23:05 The Potential Outcomes and Their Implications
Revisiting the Reporter Who Discovered Clarence Thomas' Dirty Secrets
Today, we revisit an interview with Justin Elliot from ProPublica on his groundbreaking investigation into corruption allegations against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We cover the financial ties between Thomas, his wife, and right-wing billionaire Harlan Crow, which included expensive vacations and significant contributions to private school tuition. And we go inside the world of investigative reporting to understand what it takes to break a story like this.
00:00 Introduction and Context
00:01 The Clarence Thomas Corruption Story
00:26 The Impact of Corruption on the Supreme Court
01:39 The Role of Journalism in Uncovering Corruption
02:33 Interview with Justin Elliot
02:39 The Importance of Investigative Journalism
07:08 The Challenges of Reporting on the Supreme Court
08:25 The Unusual Financial Ties Between Crow and Thomas
12:48 The Power of Public Records in Journalism
18:47 The Influence of Money in Politics
24:55 The Need for Transparency in the Supreme Court
36:39 The Role of the Senate in Investigating Corruption
39:38 Conclusion and Call to Action
A Staggering Disaster For 20 Million in America
There's a shadow healthcare crisis looming for 20 million, and you probably haven't heard about it. That's because it largely affects a group of people who have been swept up in the politics of immigration and border policy -- even though the vast majority of them are naturalized citizens, documented permanent residents, or Americans born in this country. Adriana Cadena, Director of the Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign, and Leo Cuello, a research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, explain why this is happening, why it's so important, and what can be done about it.
00:00 Introduction to the Looming Healthcare Crisis
01:05 Understanding the Scale of the Problem
04:32 The Human Impact of Losing Healthcare Coverage
06:09 Exploring the Reasons Behind the Crisis
11:19 The Role of Immigration Status in Healthcare Access
13:07 The Politics of Healthcare and Immigration
22:55 Potential Solutions to the Healthcare Crisis
27:48 The Future of Healthcare for Immigrant Families
31:58 Closing Thoughts on the Importance of Policy Experts
Russia-Republicans Swindle America AGAIN
Tell me if you heard this before--the whole impeachment case against President Biden was based on a Russian disinformation operation. AGAIN. Also, what is the impact of an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling regarding in-vitro fertilization?
00:00 Introduction: The Russian Disinformation Operation
01:12 The FBI's Role and Suspicion
01:59 The Hillary Clinton Investigation and Russian Intelligence
08:00 The Alabama State Supreme Court Ruling on Embryos
19:24 The Ezra Klein Controversy: Should Biden Step Down?
They Publicly Protested the President. He's Their Boss.
***Please share our show with a friend!*** What do you do if you disagree with your boss, when your boss is one of the most powerful people in the world? Recently, 17 Biden campaign staffers publicly wrote a letter to the president disagreeing with his position on the war in Gaza, which followed a letter anonymously sent by over 500 staffers back in November. Our guest Jim Papa is a former White House and Congressional staffer and host of the podcast "Staffer," and he says that this kind of protest can cause serious damage. But what about the case of Trump White House staffers who quietly worked against Trump ideas that they thought were dangerous or outright insane. Where do you draw the line
00:59 The Dilemma of Disagreeing with Your Boss
02:51 The Balance Between Personal Conscience and Professional Duty
10:42 The Consequences of Publicly Disagreeing with Your Boss
13:14 The Ethical Dilemma of Working for a Controversial Administration
21:51 The Role of Staffers in Shaping Information
How Republicans Disatrously Broke Congress
Republicans have officially broken the US Congress to the most dysfunctional, dangerous, and even absurd degree in American history. Congressional expert Laura Rodriguez of the Center for American Politics Action Fund joins to Matt Robison to run down just how severe the madness has gotten, and why people should care about how much damage they are doing. ***Please leave us a great review in Apple Podcasts App!!***
01:44 The Impact of Trump on American Politics
03:03 The New York Special Election: A Turning Point?
07:37 The MAGA Mind Virus: Is It Real?
11:30 The Impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas
16:02 The Consequences of Congressional Dysfunction
30:15 The Future of the Republican Party
A Prosecutor + Her Boyfriend = Get Out of Jail Free for Trump?
Could Fani Willis' relationship kill the Georgia Trump case? Also, Trump's total meltdown on NATO and Putin, MAGA Republicans try to kill Ukraine aid, gun violence in Kansas City, and an easy solution for the patriarchy. ***Don't forget to rate and review us!!*** Check out another great podcast at Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other ***
02:03 Introducing 'Rent-a-Dude': A Solution to Gender Bias
04:07 The Fani Willis Hearing
07:15 Trump Legal Watch: A Look at Ongoing Cases
10:36 The Foreign Aid Bill: A Political Standoff
13:40 Lindsey Graham's Political Shift
14:38 Sheldon Whitehouse's Twitter Rant
17:19 Donald Trump's Controversial Statements
22:56 Debate on Gun Violence and Media Coverage
$17 Billion in Political Ads. Does It Even Work?
US political campaigns are expected to spent $17 billion on ads in 2024. But there's little evidence about how much of it works, if any does at all. John Halpin, Executive Editor of The Liberal Patriot, explains what we know and what we don't know about political advertising, and why the best solution for winning campaigns in 2024 might be a back-to-the-future approach.
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00:31 The Question of Political Ad Effectiveness
03:24 The Trust Gap in Political Advertising
05:09 The Influence of Political Ads: A Data Perspective
08:18 The Impact of Negative Political Ads
10:18 The Role of Money in Political Campaigns
17:10 The Need for a Rethink in Political Campaign Strategies
26:52 The Power of Person-to-Person Contact in Politics
30:18 Conclusion: The Future of Political Advertising
"Disenfranchisement and Chaos": Inside the Supreme Court's Biggest Case
ProPublica's star investigative reporter Andy Kroll takes us behind the scenes, inside the issues and internal debates within the Supreme Court as it hears the 14th Amendment case against former President Donald Trump.
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01:17 Case Overview: Donald J. Trump vs Norma Anderson
05:54 The Debate on the 14th Amendment
11:40 The Tension Between Strict Constructionism and Legal Interpretation
20:19 The Three Core Questions for the Court
25:28 Understanding the Concept of Insurrection
26:55 The Role of States in Enforcing the 14th Amendment
36:13 The Role of the Supreme Court in Political Decisions
41:38 The Potential for Future Political Crises
46:42 The Importance of a Functional Congress
A Disaster Day for Democrats: Sunday Roundtable Edition
A Bad Day for Democrats, the 14th Amendment, and Questions about Joe Biden's Fitness for Office. A special Sunday bonus roundtable discussion with Matt, Paul, and Alicia on how the Supreme Court is crushing Democrats dreams of getting saved from Trump, while the Special Counsel crushed Biden's age and memory in a way that could have lasting echoes throughout the Presidential race.
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00:40 The Impact of Special Counsel's Investigation on Joe Biden
09:15 The Political Impact of the Special Counsel's Report
14:42 The Age Factor in Politics: Biden vs Trump
18:19 The Supreme Court and the 14th Amendment
22:16 The Immunity Question: Trump's Legal Challenges
24:30 The House of Representatives: A Study in Dysfunction
30:14 The Swift Bowl
Bonus Episode: Trump CAN Run, But He AIN'T Immune
Two cases in the federal courts this week had very different outcomes for Donald Trump. A Federal Appeals Court demolished Trump's claims of immunity from prosecution, but the US Supreme Court seemed poised to allow him to remain on the ballot despite a constitutional challenge over his role in the Insurrection. Matt Robison joins radio legend Howard Monroe to break it down.
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02:51 Discussion on Court Rulings and Presidential Immunity
08:37 Conversation on the 14th Amendment Case
18:12 Discussion on the Biden Special Prosecutor's Report
Top Expert's Election Forecast Is In, And the Winner Is...
Top forecaster Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody's Analytics and the host of 'Inside Economics' has released his election forecast model. We dive into the factors that will truly matter in 2024, and announce the predicted winner.
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02:49 The Impact of the Economy on Voter Behavior
04:40 The Influence of Voter Turnout
07:00 The Significance of Election Forecast Models
09:42 The Role of Third-Party Candidates in Elections
19:43 The Impact of Economic Factors on Elections
23:35 Predicting the Next President
Part 2: Can We Talk Politics & Religion Without Killing Each Other?
Corey Nathan of the hit podcast Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other joins Matt Robison for Part Two of their conversation about whether the divides in America are really that big for the vast majority of people, and how to connect with people who seem to have major differences with you.
If you haven't heard Part One yet, click on the link for Corey's pod and check it out (and then come right back here)! And PLEASE hit follow on both of our shows, and if you're on the Apple Podcast app especially, scroll to the bottom of the episode list and leave us a rating and review!
05:04 The Journey from Judaism to Christianity
07:42 The Importance of Engaging in Political Discussions
10:36 The Role of Religion in Politics
18:07 The Dangers of Avoiding Political Discussions
21:16 The Exit Ramp for Trump Supporters
23:48 Understanding Deplorability and Open-Mindedness
30:31 The Power of Listening and Understanding
37:40 The Threat of Authoritarianism to Democracy
40:44 The Value of Maintaining Conversations Across Differences
Why 2024 Might Be the Most Important Year
2024 may be the most pivotal year in decades, one that could shape the world's future in profound ways. Xenia Wickett, a geopolitical expert who has worked at the White House, State Department, Chatham House, and the Harvard Kennedy School explains what the big drivers of instability and change are, and suggests how to think about the complicated cross currents in the world in 2024.
02:57 The Key Challenges in 2024
06:02 The Pillars of Global Structure
16:11 The New Role of Corporations Across Societies
20:19 The Four Global Systems
22:49 The Interplay of Global Systems and Foundational Pillars
28:40 The 'Rooms' - Localized Issues Impacting the Global System
31:07 Understanding the Interconnectedness of Global Events
38:48 Learning to Manage Volatility
Who Actually Won the Hollywood Bloodbath?
Smart insights on the future of streaming and entertainment with Chris Hill, the former host of Motley Fool Money. Now that Netflix seems to have come out on top int he streaming wars, what does the mix of emerging company strategies mean for various forms of media that Americans watch, including television, movies, and sports. 🙂🙏🤛QUICK Favor: After you Hit "Follow" or "Subscribe" Can You Please Leave Us a Rating & Review in the Apple Podcasts App?
02:02 The Future of Streaming and Entertainment
04:30 The Streaming Wars: Are They Over?
08:11 The Impact of the Pandemic and Strikes on the Entertainment Industry
13:48 The Role of Advertising in Streaming Platforms
14:35 Is the Change in the Entertainment Industry Good for Viewers?
18:51 The Evolution of Viewer Behavior and Business Response
21:44 The Rising Cost of Streaming Services
22:19 The Future of Cable Bundle Business Model
27:24 The Evolution of Movie Content
30:10 The Future of Movie Theaters and Releases
37:18 The Rise of International Content on Streaming Platforms
39:23 Predictions for the Future of Streaming