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
January 31, 2026 • 58 mins
Mike, Trey, and new-to-the-show cohost Russ Gifford open with the January 27 assault on Rep. Ilhan Omar at a Minneapolis town hall. Trey frames the incident as crossing a line but notes it was closer to an “enhanced protest” than a lethal attack, stressing that it could have been far worse. Russ draws a parallel to symbolic political assaults like the shoe thrown at George W. Bush, while Mike emphasizes that President Trump’s respo...
Mark as Played
January 28, 2026 • 51 mins
In this first episode of The Politics Guys Present, Trey and Ken introduce the U.S. Constitution. Topics include:
The American historic context of the U.S. Constitution
The Articles of Confederation
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The conservatism of the U.S. Constitution
Read Trey's Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers
The Politics Guys on Facebook | X
Check out the excellent Sustainable Planet pod...
Mark as Played
January 27, 2026 • 17 mins
Trey and Justin continue their series on political ideologies, this week with anarchism. Topics covered include:
What is an anarchist?
What does it mean to reject the state?
Anarchism and human nature
The positive vision of life after the state
The Politics Guys on Facebook | X
Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support atpatreon.com/politic...
Mark as Played
January 23, 2026 • 62 mins
This week, Trey and Justin open the show by announcing The Politics Guys Presents: The U.S. Constitution. This is a new drop coming on Wednesdays, open to all listeners, to get a detailed understanding of the U.S. Constitution!
After that, the pair move to Trump’s seeming U-Turn on Greenland. Trey argues that the goal isn’t Greenland necessarily, but rather to change the relationship with our former allies. He connects it to the U...
Mark as Played
January 20, 2026 • 18 mins
Mike and Michael open with a deep dive into the Supreme Court cases involving Idaho and West Virginia bans on transgender girls participating in girls’ sports, unpacking why the Court is likely to uphold the laws while sharply distinguishing between what may be legally permissible and what constitutes sound or humane policy. Mike emphasizes administratability, original legislative meaning in Title IX, and the unavoidable reality th...
Mark as Played
January 17, 2026 • 64 mins
Mike and Michael open with an update on events in Minneapolis in the wake of the killing of Renee Good. Michael emphasizes how polling shows broad public skepticism and frames the situation as a legitimacy crisis for ICE, while Mike argues the administration’s response reflects an entrenched us-versus-them mentality that treats protesters as enemies rather than citizens.
Next, the guys pivot to the clash between President Trump an...
Mark as Played
January 13, 2026 • 15 mins
In this midweek show, Trey and Mike look to the expanding international vision from Trumpworld as it relates primarily to Greenland. Mike argues that Greenland is just saber rattling, but Trey argues that it is more. Further, he argues that MAGA does not see common ground with other democracies, especially in Europe.
Next, they discuss the economic policies of exiting the global tax agreements. Mike believes it was the best move i...
Mark as Played
January 10, 2026 • 69 mins
Mike joins Trey to open the show with a deep dive into the ICE killing of Renee Good. Mike focuses on the language used by administrative officials and its militant attack on Good. Trey highlights that, even if Good was engaged in illegal activity, there is a level of due process. He also argues that federalism better handles police situations because they are inherently a part of those communities.
Next, the guys turn to a deeper...
Mark as Played
January 6, 2026 • 19 mins
Mike and Michael open with CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes investigation into alleged abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador, focusing less on the prison itself than on what the decision signals about media independence. Mike argues that conditioning broadcast on administration participation amounts to false balance and effectively hands officials a veto over investigative journalism, while Michael stresses that the mov...
Mark as Played
January 3, 2026 • 57 mins
Mike and Michael open with the breaking news that the Trump administration launched military strikes against Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, debating whether the operation violates international law and risks plunging Venezuela into deeper instability. Michael stresses the fog of war, unresolved legal authority, and the danger posed by entrenched militias and fractured institutions, while Mike argues that even remo...
Mark as Played
December 23, 2025 • 24 mins
Trey and Mike join in this holiday-sized show! The pair start with a look into the Pentagon’s investigation into Senator Kelly over his video of illegal orders. Mike outlines the contours of the military code of justice. Trey argues for the need for members of the Senate (and House) to have the ability to speak freely.
Next, they move to the ongoing feud between Candace Owens and Erica Kirk over TPUSA and the killing of Charlie Ki...
Mark as Played
December 19, 2025 • 67 mins
Trey and Mike start with a focus on economic affordability, inflation rates, and the implications of Trump's economic policies. Trey outlines the historic economic conditions between Trump and Biden, noting that the economic conditions under Trump were better than under Biden. Mike argues that you can’t look at the total average under Biden because of COVID.
Next, they discuss Trump's pardon of Tina Peters, exploring the limits o...
Mark as Played
December 16, 2025 • 18 mins
Mike and Joey open with a deep dive into the emerging battle over Warner Bros. Discovery, weighing Netflix’s proposed mega-merger against Paramount Skydance’s rival bid and asking whether antitrust law still has teeth in a streaming world defined by consolidation. Mike stresses market definition, consumer harm, and the risk of enshittification when dominant platforms get complacent, while Joey argues consolidation raises prices and...
Mark as Played
December 13, 2025 • 57 mins
Mike and Joey open with a look at U.S. missile strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats and the seizure of an oil tanker, debating whether Article II authority is enough or whether Congress should have a say. Mike presses on limiting principles, civilian deaths, and why Coast Guard interdiction might achieve the same ends with fewer moral costs, while Joey argues the strikes fit long-standing counterterror logic and reflect the pre...
Mark as Played
December 9, 2025 • 16 mins
Trey & Justin continue their dive into contemporary political ideologies. This week they dive into Marxism. Topics covered include:
Marxism’s underlying structure in Hegel’s writings
Historical Determinism
Democracy and Marxism
Lenin’s “fix” to Marxism with imperialism
Critiques of Marxism and Neo-Marxism
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played
Trey and Justin start the show discussing last week’s tragic incident involving the National Guard in Washington DC. Here, both Trey and Justin agree on the terrible nature of the attack. Trey highlights the emotionally charged nature such an episode will have on immigration conversations. Specifically, Trey discusses how media frames impact policy. Justin highlights that the White House is simply using the incident to crackdown fu...
Mark as Played
December 2, 2025 • 19 mins
Mike, Tim, and Michael open with the “Deciding to Win” memo and the broader question of how Democrats can reconnect with working-class voters while staying true to core values. Mike argues that Democrats already face structural disadvantages and will lose even more elections if they treat politics as a mass pedagogy project instead of meeting voters where they are with authentic, non-condescending economic populism. Tim contends th...
Mark as Played
November 29, 2025 • 68 mins
Mike, Tim, and Michael open with Trump’s 28-point Ukraine peace plan, built on Russian terms that demand territorial concessions, a NATO ban, limits on Ukraine’s army, and sweeping amnesty. Tim focuses on trading some Ukrainian territory for ironclad security guarantees, including foreign troops on the ground as real deterrence. Mike argues the U.S. should massively ramp up weapons and capabilities for Kyiv, rejecting escalation fe...
Mark as Played
November 25, 2025 • 17 mins
Mike and Joey open with the spiraling Comey prosecution, where a Trump-aligned U.S. attorney faces judicial scorn for alleged grand-jury missteps that could collapse the case. Mike argues the real play is intimidation and precedent-setting revenge politics rather than a credible legal charge. Joey counters that Comey was central to what he considers the most serious political scandal in decades and sees the prosecution as predictab...
Mark as Played
November 22, 2025 • 70 mins
Mike and Joey open with the blowback to Joey’s claim that “the hubris of the left” is the biggest obstacle to national unity . Mike frames Trump’s behavior as the more obvious example of hubris, while Joey argues that Trump’s personality is massive but incidental and that the real divide is between people focused on ideas and people hung up on identity. Joey sees Trump as a magnanimous, big-ideas president undermined by small-minde...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
A curated mix of conversations celebrating the voices, journeys, and truths defining Black history today. Presented by The Black Effect Podcast Network. Where Black Thoughts Live!
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.