Inside Political Science

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

Inside Political Science #049 - How Can a Media Bias Chart Help Us?

August 27, 2026 • 43 mins

Can a broader view of the news lead to more informed and civil conversations? In this episode, Kirby and Todd, along with Julie Mastrine, director of communications and bias services at AllSides, discuss how media bias is measured and why news from the center does not necessarily tell the whole story. They explore how reading across the political spectrum can help us move beyond media bubbles, better understand other viewpoints and...

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Inside Political Science #048 - Strategizing Foreign Policy: The US Plan

August 19, 2026 • 43 mins

What is grand strategy, and what kind of grand strategy does the US have under Trump’s presidency? In this episode, Kirby and Todd, along with foreign policy expert Dr. John Schuessler, discuss the America First movement, the difference in restraint and off-board balancing, and where the US falls in line when it comes to its political affairs with other countries. 

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Inside Political Science #047 – The World Cup: A Political Tool?

July 29, 2026 • 44 mins
Can sports change the way the world sees a country? On this episode, Kirby and Todd interview Professor Guy Whitten, who brings the perspective of both a fan and a political scientist when it comes to speaking on the World Cup. Together, they discuss why countries decide to host the World Cup, how hosting shapes a country’s national identity and image, and what effects the US obtained from hosting this year’s World Cup....
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Inside Political Science #046 – Changing The Viewpoint: Trump’s Effect on the System

July 9, 2026 • 44 mins
Has Donald Trump permanently changed American politics? On this episode, Kirby joins Todd as a guest alongside his son and co-author, Spencer Goidel, a Texas A&M doctoral graduate and assistant professor of political science at Auburn University, to discuss their book, “The Trump Realignment.” The conversation explores Trump’s effect on the party system, what political realignment means and where American poli...
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Inside Political Science #045 – Betting on Politics: Prediction Markets, Public Health, and Democracy

June 25, 2026 • 45 mins
Why is gambling now a public concern? Join Kirby and Todd alongside special guests Matt Motta and Tim Callaghan, associate professors in the Department of Health Law, Policy and Management at Boston University, for a conversation about prediction markets, gambling, public health and democracy. From election forecasting to insider trading and gambling addiction, this episode explores one of the fastest-growing and most controversial...
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Inside Political Science #044 – Too Close To Call: Looking at Texas Polling Data

June 11, 2026 • 42 mins
Is this the year Texas turns blue? How do certain concerns voters have affect favorability numbers on certain candidates? Join Kirby and special guest Brandon Rottinghaus, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston and leading expert in Texas politics, as they break down the context behind the Texas Pulse Poll data. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/InsidePoliticalScience.
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Inside Political Science #043 – Nuclear Politics: A Game Changer

April 30, 2026 • 42 mins
How has nuclear politics changed the game? What does it mean to use nuclear weapons defensively and offensively? Join Kirby as he digs deep to find the answers to these questions through the history of international nuclear weaponry with Texas A&M professor and expert Matt Furhmann. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.
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Inside Political Science #042 – Is the Government Legit?

April 22, 2026 • 47 mins
What does it mean to be a legitimate institution? Are government institutions still representing citizens? In this episode, Kirby sits down with Soren Jordan, associate professor at The Bush School of Government & Public Service, to discuss how science guides political methodology. Soren emphasizes the importance of data interpretation and representation, noting that representation is essential for gathering accurate data, but ...
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Inside Political Science #041 – Does Presidential Greatness Exist?

April 7, 2026 • 45 mins
What is presidential greatness? Does it even exist? Kirby and Todd sit down with Texas A&M former student and co-director of the Presidential Greatness Project, Justin Vaughn, to explore patterns among highly rated presidents and the power of their terms. The hosts pose the question: what makes a president “great?” Vaughn shares his research, noting that the consensus is evolving. While a “great” preside...
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Inside Political Science #040 – Power, Primaries and the President

March 23, 2026 • 40 mins
Between the recent U.S. Senate primary elections and the developing conflict with Iran, tensions are rising in Washington, D.C. That begs the question: what power does President Trump hold, and does he have the support of the American people? Kirby and Todd agree that U.S. citizens do not seem to be backing the President’s choice to ignite war in the same way they have in the past. The two argue that presidents seem to face l...
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Inside Political Science #039 – The Press vs. Power

March 3, 2026 • 51 mins
Democracy is evidently changing, and so is the field of journalism. In this episode, Kirby and Todd are joined by Axios’ Senior Contributor and Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship Maragaret Talev to discuss how journalism and democracy go hand-in-hand. The former White House correspondent argues that now, more than ever, many politicians are bypassing the news filter, changi...
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Inside Political Science #038 – The Money “Monopolist”

February 11, 2026 • 37 mins
What’s the Federal Reserve, and how does it function? Join Kirby and Todd as they sit down with Texas A&M professor Bill Clark to learn about the significance of The Fed and how it affects our economy. Although the institution is said to operate independently from the government, Clark says the Federal Reserve is actually “partially independent,” with dependence on policymakers like Congress and the President....
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Inside Political Science #037 – Are college sports broken?

February 3, 2026 • 46 mins
Kirby and Todd are back for another semester with new topics beyond the realm of politics! In this episode, they invite Keith Gaddie, author of Bragging Rites: College Football’s Titles, and an expert on the politics of football within the Southeastern Conference. With the implementation of NIL rights, the NCAA transfer portal and the post-season systems, are we past the point of no return? Although athletes are being valued ...
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Inside Political Science #036 – American Affordability: A New Mantra

December 19, 2025 • 38 mins
Do Americans think the country is on the wrong track? Between the economy, healthcare, housing, and elections, affordability is a major concern for many Americans. Kirby and Todd discuss how the term has taken over political media. It’s a “new mantra,” they say, but who’s to blame for the lack of affordability many Americans say they’re facing? Later, they talk about the increase in housing prices and ...
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Inside Political Science #035 – From the Authors of “Nativist Nation”

November 21, 2025 • 42 mins
In this episode, co-host Kirby Goidel is joined by pollster Clifford Young to dive into their new book, "Nativist Nation.” Todd inquires about the current state of the country and how nativism has affected the U.S. Is it a cultural or economic issue? Does nativism define American politics? Who belongs in America? Kirby claims that nativism has always been present in politics, but there’s a time when it lights a fire and...
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Inside Political Science #034 – Do Local Elections Matter?

November 7, 2025 • 46 mins
It’s off-year election season, but how much significance do these elections have? With the New York City mayoral election in the national spotlight, Kirby and Todd touch on the effects of the election’s outcomes. To what extent does the mayor truly hold power? Although voter mobilization encourages people to get up and vote, it’s the persuasion that truly makes a difference. Later, they touch on the ongoing govern...
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Inside Political Science #033 – The Bigger Game

October 3, 2025 • 38 mins
Have government shutdowns become a strategy for political parties? With the recent American government shutdown, Kirby and Todd say we’ve been here before, except they predict the impact might be greater. Both sides are decisive and don’t want to reach a compromise, but can either party make their case? The two discuss how the shutdown could impact the American people, and they hope that politicians recognize this. They...
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Inside Political Science #032 – Ballots Instead of Bullets

September 23, 2025 • 44 mins
With recent events in America, many people are questioning the American system. Kirby and Todd sit down with Texas A&M Visiting Professor Clifford Young to weigh in on the current state of the country and possible solutions to political challenges. The three discuss how, as satisfaction levels of democracy have decreased, so has political unification. Is the increase in political violence and extremism because of U.S. leaders? ...
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Inside Political Science #031 – New Era of U.S. Politics

September 12, 2025 • 39 mins
The United States of America is entering a new political climate since President Trump took office nine months ago – what are the people saying? Is there a shift in the crime rate? Do people agree with the immigration policies being enforced? What is going on with the economy? With so much change, it can be hard to keep up. Kirby and Todd say President Trump seems to be realigning the political system of the United States. Gi...
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Inside Political Science #030 – Uncertainty in Texas

August 21, 2025 • 40 mins
Texas Republicans and Democrats are at odds over redistricting – what does this mean for the future? There’s a lot going on in Texas and across the country. As President Trump embarks on his seventh month in office, Kirby and Todd say he embraces uncertainty, including asking Texas to find more Republican-leaning Congressional districts. Will the evasive strategies of the Texas Democratic Party stop the redistricting pu...
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