The Politics Guys

The Politics Guys

The Politics Guys is an independent, bipartisan, ideologically diverse American politics and policy podcast hosted by experts: political scientists, law professors, practicing attorneys, and former government officials. Our mission is to give listeners a much-needed break from conservative and liberal echo chambers through civil, rational, and evidence-based discussion of American politics and policy from multiple perspectives. In addition to our weekly news discussion, we feature regular interviews with leading figures from across the ideological spectrum. Past guests include Representatives Jim Jordan, Thomas Massie, and Rob Wittman; Jeffrey Sachs; Tyler Cowen; Bryan Caplan; Dan Carlin; Larry Sabato; and Lawrence Lessig.

Episodes

Zohran Mamdani: The Next Big Thing, Or A Democratic Dead End?

July 30, 2025 • 58 mins
Mike talks with Tim Murphy, a national correspondent at Mother Jones, about the NYC mayoral campaign of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. Topics Mike and Tim discuss include: lessons learned from Trump’s NYC gains in 2024 disillusionment and disengagement in Democratic cities Mamdani’s limited experience how much Mamdani benefited from running against Cuomo Mamdani’s affordability platform how he plans to p...
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Democratic Identity Crisis, Trump’s Culture Jabs, 80s Icons Exit

July 29, 2025 • 20 mins
Justin and Joey open this midweek supporters’ episode by exploring the Democratic Party’s post-2024 crossroads, sparked by a socialist win in New York and Hunter Biden’s provocative media appearances. Justin argues the party’s aging leadership and weak bench leave it vulnerable and fragmented, with no clear 2028 frontrunner. Joey sees a party ideologically fractured between moderates and a resurgent left, raising questions about wh...
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Conspiracy Theories, Paramount Merger, TX Redistricting

July 26, 2025 • 57 mins
Joey Ashbrook joins Justin Holmes to talk through the week's issues. They start with the continuing saga of the Epstein Files and the potential political fallout. Next, they turn their attention to the Paramount merger and the Trump Administration's role in it. Finally, they wrap up by talking about Texas doing an unusual (but legal) mid-decade congressional redistricting, along with a bit on the history of gerrymandering.  The Po...
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Our Money: Monetary Policy as if Democracy Matters

July 23, 2025 • 52 mins
Mike talks with LeahDowney,  a junior research fellow at St. John’s College, Cambridge. They discuss her book, Our Money: Monetary Policy as if Democracy Matters. Topics Mike & Leah Cover Include: fiscal vs monetary policy the Federal Reserve’s legal mandate the money neutrality myth Fed dominance as legitimate, but harmful to democracy iterative governance at the Fed auditing or otherwise constraining the Fed’s...
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Ukraine, Trump 2.0 at Six Months

July 22, 2025 • 17 mins
Mike and Sam open this supporters’ midweek episode with a look at President Trump’s increasing frustration with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and a recent deal in which the US will sell arms to NATO allies who will then give those weapons to Ukraine. Sam sees Trump as a realist and a deal maker who hasn’t changed his mind, but who is simply adjusting to new facts on the ground. Mike’s less certain of that, but he’s pleased that, ...
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Epstein Files, Rescissions Bill, Education Firings

July 19, 2025 • 59 mins
Mike and Sam open with a discussion of the ongoing controversy in MAGAworld about the Epstein files. Mike thought it wouldn’t have the staying power that it has, while Sam isn’t at all surprised that the poor handling of the matter and lack of transparency by the Trump administration have resulted in plenty of anger on the right. Next, they turn to a rarity in Congress - a successful rescissions bill. Mike points out that the $9.4...
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Federal Workforce Reductions, Clean Energy EO, Mamdani

July 15, 2025 • 21 mins
Trey and Justin are joined by Mike and begin by discussing the Supreme Court’s unsigned opinion on federal workforce reductions. The trio dissects the contrasting views of Justices Jackson and Sotomayor. Next is a look into Trump’s executive order aiming to end subsidies and tax credits for clean energy. The trio discusses the policy’s potential effects on renewable energy and Congress’ reaction, along with the future of U.S. energ...
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America Party, Epstein, Birthright Citizenship, Tariffs

July 14, 2025 • 69 mins
Trey and Justin are joined by Mike! In this episode, the trio start by asking if Musk is serious about the America Party. Then they discuss the newest no-client list from the Epstein files along with a longer conversation about conspiracy culture. After that, it is a look at the legal limbo of birthright citizenship, refiled as a class-action lawsuit. Finally, the question of tariffs and trade and the newest extension and rhetoric ...
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The 23rd and 24th Amendment

July 8, 2025 • 11 mins
Trey & Ken continue through the U.S. Constitution, covering the 23rd and 24th Amendments. Topics covered include: The history of the U.S. Capital The origin of the District of Columbia The reasons for granting the District of Columbia electors but not Congresspersons The origin and history of poll taxes The Politics Guys on ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Mike’s Substack:⁠ What Fresh Hell is This⁠? Listener support help...
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The 4th Of July, The Big Beautiful Bill Act

July 4, 2025 • 63 mins
Happy 4th of July: Trey and Ken are back! They open the show by reading a portion of the Declaration of Independence and commenting on the past and future of the United States on its 249th anniversary. After that, they turn to the biggest news item this week: the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill Act. Because of the complexity of the law, the hosts take this on in two sections. First, they look at the politics of the Big Beautiful ...
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The War on Words

July 2, 2025 • 68 mins
Mike talks with Greg Lukianoff, attorney, New York Times bestselling author, and President and CEO of FIRE: the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. They discuss Greg’s latest book,  The War on Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech - And Why They Fail, with Nadine Strossen. Topics Mike & Greg discuss include: - Why calling words “violence” leads to actual violence - The case against hate speech laws - Free speech ...
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Mahmoud v Taylor, Free Speech Coalition v Paxton, Zohar’s Mamdani

July 1, 2025 • 14 mins
Trey and Justin continue with two more Supreme Court cases from the end of the term. They begin with Mahmoud v. Taylor, which allows parents to opt out their children from pre-K LGBTQ+ books. Here, Trey argues that education is value-driven, and the public sphere can never do what is necessary for education. Justin agrees but believes there is a space in which universal values can be applied. The hosts then turn to Free Speech Coa...
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The U.S. Bombs Iran and Trump v CASA

June 28, 2025 • 67 mins
Trey and Justin open this week with the United States bombing of Iran. In this sweeping conversation, the hosts look at not only the legal aspect of President Trump’s bombing order but also the political. This includes conversations about the growing potential rift in MAGA, the debate between Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz, and an examination of the power of the U.S. President as it relates to war. Next, the pair discuss the ...
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How The Left Lost The Working Class

June 25, 2025 • 62 mins
Mike talks with Joan C. Williams, Distinguished Professor of Law and Hastings Foundation Chair (emerita) at University of California College of Law San Francisco. She’s the author of the recently released book, Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back, which they discuss in this episode. Topics Mike & Joan cover include: - class blindness on the left - the ‘missing middle’ - why moving to the cen...
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Trans Care, Tanks, Troops, and TikTok

June 24, 2025 • 18 mins
Mike, Justin, and Joey open this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of the Supreme Court’s 6–3 decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender teens. Joey defends the ruling as consistent with constitutional principles and the rule of law, emphasizing the importance of state authority in medical regulation. Justin criticizes the decision as both legally flawed and harmful, argui...
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Israel and Iran, Minnesota Murders

June 21, 2025 • 61 mins
This week, Mike and Justin are joined by Joey Ashbrook, a new conservative voice on The Politics Guys. They open with a discussion of the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. Justin argues that Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal “set the ball in motion” for today’s crisis. Joey contends that Iran’s uranium enrichment past peaceful-use levels justifies Trump’s hardline stance. Mike suggests Netanyahu may have m...
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Trump Accounts, Musk Backs Down, College and LLMs

June 17, 2025 • 18 mins
Mike, Trey, and Tim open with a look at one part of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ that could have some bipartisan support - the plan to give every child born in the US a $1,000 investment account. From there, they turn to Elon Musk, who issued a sort of apology for some of the things he said about President Trump, as well as a lawsuit alleging Musk conducted a “brazen scheme to bribe Wisconsin citizens to vote”. They close by consider...
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LA Protests, Army Parade, No Kings, Vaccine Panel Mass Firing

June 13, 2025 • 68 mins
Mike and Trey are joined by a new co-host, Tim King, a Professor of Economics at the University of Austin. The guys start off with a discussion of the civil unrest in Los Angeles. Tim argues that Democrats are hurting themselves politically by appearing to side with violent protesters. Trey points out that the administration’s legal justification for deploying troops is on shaky ground. Mike highlights that while the president rece...
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Title: Smith and Wesson, DOGE Social Security Access, Jean-Pierre’s Book

June 10, 2025 • 21 mins
Trey and Justin begin the show by discussing two Supreme Court cases. The first case resulted in a unanimous decision against Mexico’s lawsuit against gun manufacturers. The case sparked a discussion between the hosts about their own positions on gun rights and the merits of the case. Trey viewed it as a pointless case. Next, the hosts addressed the split decision to allow DOGE access to social security information. While acknowle...
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Travel Ban 2025 Edition, Social Media Slap Fights, One Big Beautiful Bill, Ukraine’s Drone Attack

June 7, 2025 • 62 mins
Trey and Justin join forces for the first time in this week's episode! The pair begin with a discussion of Trump's new travel ban and its relationship to the attack in Boulder. Then they discuss both the social media battle between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump and whether this is the last gasp for economic conservatives in the Republican Party. They close the show discussing the impact of Ukraine's drone strikes and how it ...
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