Inside Political Science #022 – Where are the Checks and Balances?

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 keep things balanced… except they aren’t. And that’s their fault. Our hosts discuss why, plus how cutting a trillion dollars from the budget won’t be enough to bring down the national debt. By the way, did you know the last balanced budget was in 2001? And they explore messaging: why Republicans are winning with their government waste message and why Democrats can’t find a message to shift the focus. Later in the episode, Kirby is visited by Harvard professor Josh Kertzer. They discuss why Americans have strong opinions about foreign policy, why political elites have ordinary problems and how Trump will handle negotiations, influence, Russia, tariffs and more. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.