Inside Political Science
What do you know about politics? What should you know? Forget views, beliefs and opinions – politics is really a science. In this audio and video podcast, Dr. Kirby Goidel and Dr. Todd Kent from the Texas A&M Department of Political Science use their years of teaching, research and campaign experience to show you what’s actually happening in politics. No partisan politics here, just a navigation of political data, media, money, behavior and more so you can be more informed the next time you vote.
Episodes
July 25, 2025 • 43 mins
How are German politics different from American politics? And which country does it better? Todd presents a special student-focused episode from Passau, Germany, during a Bush School Study Abroad trip. Two Texas A&M students and two University of Passau students engage in a roundtable discussion about the future of politics in the United States and Germany. With election season wrapped up in both nations, students discuss the ...
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What’s the role of a pollster? Is it about getting the numbers right? Or can they help us predict the future? Kirby invites Cliff Young from Ipsos to the show to discuss how pollsters measure and interpret public opinion. Cliff says pollsters serve as a bridge between those who govern and those who are governed. They try to understand what people are thinking and how that affects future political outcomes. He says people only see t...
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What issues matter to college students? Is there hope for a political common ground among the next generation? Three Texas A&M students join Kirby and Todd for a robust discussion of student perspectives. As young voters, they are discovering how to be a part of the political process. They bring up national issues like the economy, debt and free speech, but also local issues that directly affect them, including affordable hous...
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May 13, 2025 • 50 mins
Will the U.S. lose its world power? Are we on a path to a lower quality of life? In this episode, Kirby and Todd bring on Dr. Matt Motta to talk about the politicization of scientific research and how it affects our lives and power. As the federal government makes budget cuts, Dr. Motta wonders what will happen to important research. He argues that things like GPS, the internet and medicine are direct results of scientific investme...
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April 28, 2025 • 48 mins
Keeping people in jail can get expensive. But public safety is vital. So is letting people out on bail effective? Kirby and Todd bring two guests to the show to discuss bail reform in their new episode. First, Ken Good, a bail attorney and board member for the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, shares what he thinks good bail reform looks like. He encourages accountability and wants to give judges and police officers the tools to do t...
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April 3, 2025 • 49 mins
If it feels hard to keep up with the whiplash of politics these last few weeks, you’re not alone! Kirby and Todd are back with a new episode about everything happening: from tariffs and the constant battle between free trade and fair trade; to Elon Musk proclaiming that “the entire destiny of humanity” rests on a Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Plus, is President Trump’s ‘third term’ discussion a distraction ploy, or is he seriou...
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March 21, 2025 • 47 mins
Our Constitution was built for presidents like Donald Trump. That’s the argument from Kirby and Todd in their latest episode. Kirby says the Constitution was set up for presidents to grab power and Congress to provide checks and balances - much like Trump is doing. But everyone knows the next mid-term election will change the balance again. Kirby and Todd discuss a variety of topics in this episode, including judge clashes, immigra...
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February 24, 2025 • 51 mins
President Trump is doing what we expect leaders to do. Congress isn’t - and that’s a problem. Kirby and Todd are back to discuss the sledgehammer the president is taking to the government and the budget. They say so much is happening that no one really knows what’s happening! But what they do know is that our checks and balances system isn’t working. Trump is using his power as leaders should. Congress should be checking him to kee...
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February 12, 2025 • 54 mins
Things aren’t cheap. Good thing Texas has money. Kirby and Todd talk Texas politics with guest Brandon Rottinghaus in this new episode. As the legislative session kicks into high gear, what are Governor Abbott’s priorities? Will the state House or Senate help him get more done? There are a lot of expensive things on the governor’s agenda, so what can get done? The trio discusses how the school voucher issue has become a national co...
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January 27, 2025 • 47 mins
Who do you love and who do you hate? In terms of foreign policy, that's a complicated question. Kirby and Todd are back with their first episode of 2025. They bring in foreign policy expert Dr. John Schuessler to discuss how newly returned President Donald Trump might handle foreign relations. As his second term begins, how will Trump take on a world that has changed so much in the past four years? Does his experience mean he is be...
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December 9, 2024 • 50 mins
Do presidents need better, simpler, narrower agendas? In this episode, Kirby and Todd argue yes - presidential approval ratings are dropping. Why? That’s what Kirby and Todd answer as they discuss presidential honeymoons, what presidents should focus on and traditional politics. How will political parties continue to adapt to voters? Plus, $587,000 a year!? Why Gen Z thinks that’s the number needed for comfort. Speaking of comfort,...
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November 21, 2024 • 48 mins
What really happens during a presidential transition? Historically, the transition period was a time for vacation. Campaigning is tough and exhausting! But to keep the country safe and secure every day, a thorough, decisive and professional transition is needed. Kirby and Todd are joined by presidential transition expert Heath Brown, who has extensively researched this relatively secret part of governing. He shares his thoughts on ...
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November 6, 2024 • 41 mins
We have a new president, and it happened quicker and more decisively than anyone expected. Kirby and Todd react to Donald Trump’s victory, calling it one of the best political comebacks in history. They give kudos to his campaign for choosing strategies that seemed odd on the surface but paid off in a big way. They discuss what the Harris campaign may be second-guessing and if the results would have been different if Biden dropped ...
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November 5, 2024 • 6 mins
Guess what? This presidential election isn’t the nastiest in history, even if it feels like it at the moment. As Election Day dawns, Kirby and Todd provide their final insights before the nation decides on new elected officials. They discuss why this election won’t be the end of the world. Which party represents the working class? It may not be who it used to be. Plus, Congressional control is up in the air and more people than eve...
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October 29, 2024 • 45 mins
Kamala on Fox News, Arnold Palmer and McDonald’s french fries: media coverage of politics isn’t simple anymore. Candidates are exploring digital content creation more than ever before and it’s making it hard to keep up. For the last time before the election, Kirby and Todd give their perspectives on the presidential campaigns. Guest Katie Searles joins from South Carolina to discuss how the media is grappling with two different per...
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Young people are America’s future. So what matters most to them? Kirby and Todd take “Inside Political Science” out of the podcast studio and into a classroom to ask Texas A&M freshmen students that question. Students in Todd’s Introduction to Civics and Democracy class pose their questions about national debt, inflation, transgender rights, foreign spending, political accountability and more. Plus, Todd asks his students how ...
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October 11, 2024 • 52 mins
Who’s the problem when it comes to properly counting votes? Kirby, Todd and guest Soren Jordan say it’s us (cue Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero”). Why? Because we want counting to be done carefully but quickly - and we can’t have it both ways. Plus, is voting for “American Idol” easier than voting for president? In this episode, the trio begins by talking hurricane politics and how an administration’s response to natural disasters can af...
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September 27, 2024 • 42 mins
We can land a rover on Mars but we can’t count votes. That’s what Kirby and Todd say this week on “Inside Political Science” as they discuss voting rules, turnout and mobilization. At this point in the election cycle, will any voters change their minds? Do “hate ads” work, and are social media influencers… influencing? Will undecided voters… decide? Will Springfield, Ohio’s dogs and cats… be eaten? (Hopefully not, and yes they do t...
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September 13, 2024 • 45 mins
Who looked more presidential during the debate? Who pivoted like a point guard? Did we learn anything? Who squirmed more? And who lost the meme war? Kirby and Todd analyze every aspect of the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris like only political scientists can. They discuss if either candidate really answered the questions they were asked and who got distracted. Find out who they think “won” the debate - or...
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August 30, 2024 • 42 mins
Defense isn’t America’s number one expense anymore - paying for the national debt is taking over the top spot. Economics professor Jonathan Meer joins Kirby and Todd to diagnose the national debt and grade economic proposals from the Trump and Harris campaigns (find out why he’s giving F’s to both). Plus, Dr. Meer explains that purchasing power is up, even if it’s hard to believe, analyzes why stores do actually care what you think...
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