Politicology

Susan Del Percio (crisis communications expert) joins host Ron Steslow to examine what becomes of a populist movement once it captures the institutions it was built to attack. They begin with the Epstein files and a new book from New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about the White House’s behind-the-scenes scramble to respond, including a Situation Room damage control meeting, and why the leaked recording of that meeting is more alarming still.  Next, they widen the lens to populism’s paradox, what happens when a movement built to distrust institutions takes them over and whether these movements need a single figurehead to lead them.  Then they turn to Maine, where Democrats nominated Graham Platner, a self-described socialist with a Nazi tattoo and allegations from former romantic partners describing him as volatile and demeaning toward women, including one ex-girlfriend’s accusation that he physically intimidated and restrained her. Finally, they weigh the economics underneath the populist rhetoric, from Platner’s “Epstein class” framing to a leftist turn toward capping growth and redistributing wealth, and why the politics of stagnation is a hard sell.  In Politicology+, they dig into “jawboning”— the way governments lean on private platforms to suppress speech they can’t legally suppress themselves—and a new bipartisan bill to stop it. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. SPONSORS & PROMO CODES: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] Ron Steslow on X: https://x.com/RonSteslow Susan Del Percio on X: https://x.com/DelPercioS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Binion (reporter at Reason Magazine) joins host Ron Steslow to examine how democratic governments are redefining speech as a harm to be managed and who pays the price when they do. They begin with the White House's negotiation with Senator Marsha Blackburn, a deal that would trade federal preemption of state AI laws for the Kids Online Safety Act, the No Fakes Act, and federal age verification, and whether we are “one bad deal away from the era of online government censorship.” Next, Britain's thousands of arrests each year for online posts, its mandate that Apple and Google build content scanning into every device, and Signal's vow to exit the market before that happens. Then they turn to the killing of Henry Novak, whose dying words police discounted in deference to his killer's fabricated racism accusation. Finally, they unpack Minnesota's multibillion-dollar benefits fraud—JD Vance's referral of Tim Walz and Keith Ellison, why warnings went unheeded, and the citizen journalist who made the scandal impossible to ignore. In Politicology+, they discuss the bipartisan push to force UFO disclosure and the legal fight underneath it: whether the government should use eminent domain to seize allegedly recovered non-human technology from private contractors, and whether contractor employees who come forward deserve whistleblower protections. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Watch Billy’s Documentary about citizen journalist Priscilla Villarreal: https://bit.ly/3S4cuKJ  Read Konstantin Kissin on Henry Nowak’s murder: https://substack.com/home/post/p-200293621  SPONSORS & PROMO CODES: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] Ron Steslow on X: https://x.com/RonSteslow Billy Binion on X: https://x.com/billybinion  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock subscriber-only content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus Géraldine Blanche (Intellectual Property Lawyer and PhD candidate in Intellectual Property Law at the Sciences Po Law School in Paris) joins Ron Steslow to discuss the politics of fashion and intellectual property law (01:26) Fashion in Politics  (05:36) Iteration, interpretation, and inspiration (09:47) The need for time in fashion and democracy (14:24) Environmental impact of fashion (26:42) The impact of AI on fashion Follow Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Follow Géraldine on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/designedbylaw/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) is back in studio with host Ron Steslow to map the widening gap between the Trump Administration's declared aims in the Iran war, and the murky reality now shaping the region and the world. First they discuss the state of the war with Iran and the supposed negotiations in which the two governments are describing opposite realities—and what it would mean for the US to “finish the job.” Then, they widen the lens to China, tracing the argument that the campaigns against Iran and Venezuela are less about those countries than about choking off Beijing's energy supply. Finally, they turn to the information domain and the Singham network, a Chinese Communist Party-aligned financing infrastructure that has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into American left-wing protest infrastructure and the deeper question it raises: how can a liberal society defend itself against foreign information warfare without surrendering the values it is fighting to protect?  In Politicology+, they discuss Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte—a political enforcer with zero intelligence experience—as interim Director of National Intelligence and why it’s essential to understand what was going on behind the scenes in the lead up to Tusli Gabbard’s resignation.  POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Watch Oh My World!: https://www.youtube.com/c/ohmyworldwithhagarchemali SPONSORS & PROMO CODES: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/HagarChemali Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock subscriber-only content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus Géraldine Blanche (Intellectual Property Lawyer and PhD candidate in Intellectual Property Law at the Sciences Po Law School in Paris) joins Ron Steslow to discuss the politics of fashion and intellectual property law (01:25) History of laws protecting creativity  (09:20) What IP lawyers do (12:50) What led Géraldine to fashion IP (20:50) Fashion as political (35:50) How politicians send messages through fashion choices (41:41) Fashion as a signifier of political groups Follow Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Follow Géraldine on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/designedbylaw/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Molly McKew is raising urgent funds for Ukrainian units that need help replacing critical equipment destroyed in a Russian strike and building a mobile rehabilitation hub for wounded soldiers near the front lines. Donate directly at:  PayPal.me/MollyKMcKew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this mailbag episode of The Weekly, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid sit  down to answer listener questions, on Latino dealignment, whether states should call a second constitutional convention, whether a hot war with China is coming, and whether a future administration could prosecute its predecessor without sliding into retribution.     In Politicology+, they dig into Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas and use the Pope's choice between "constructing Babel" and "rebuilding Jerusalem" to confront what happens when we hand life-and-death decisions to machines that can't be held accountable. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. SPONSORS & PROMO CODES: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the psychological forces driving that partisan animosity? What’s causing Americans to vote for anti-democracy candidates?  Are there any interventions that might actually work  to turn down the heat and save our democracy?  Robb Willer, professor of sociology, psychology, and organizational behavior at Stanford University talks with Ron Steslow about Stanford’s Strengthening Democracy Challenge, reducing partisan animosity and support for anti-democracy candidates . (01:31) Robb’s background (02:46) The growth of polarization and partisan animosity  (15:08) The Strengthening Democracy Challenge (22:40) Negative partisanship and support for undemocratic candidates (29:46) How cues from leaders can reduce support for anti-democracy candidates (32:17) Working together and respectfully discussing differences reduces partisan animosity  (37:47) Misperceptions about how how you’re viewed by members of another party fuels animosity  (46:47) Is there hope for overcoming animosity and acceptance of undemocratic candidates?  (53:16) How to implement these ideas (59:23) The role of emotions in decision making You should check out the interventions we discussed:  Elite Cues: https://bit.ly/3TEeS6Z Positive Contact (Heineken Ad): https://bit.ly/3N74PEM Misperceptions: https://bit.ly/3W4iMaN Fear of Democratic Collapse: https://bit.ly/3W4awHO Follow Robb and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobbWiller https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron Steslow talks to journalist Brady Dale about the U.S. government's unprecedented UFO/UAP disclosure: from the Pentagon's new PURSUE archive and President Trump's directive to declassify, to David Grusch's whistleblower testimony about crash retrieval programs, the bipartisan congressional fight over eminent domain and "non-human intelligence," the five observables, and how classified programs were stovepiped into private defense contractors beyond congressional oversight. They land on a bigger point — if non-human intelligence is real, the ontological shock may hit the institutions guarding the secret far harder than the rest of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brady Dale (Author of Front Stage Exit) joins Host Ron Steslow to examine the booming gray market for therapeutic peptides and what it reveals about medical freedom, institutional trust, and our resistance to the unfamiliar.  They begin with the market itself, which Brady compares to the early crypto era he covered: people eager to risk their own money against regulators in the way.  Next, they examine the cultural backlash, the moralism that casts GLP-1 weight loss as cheating, and a MAHA coalition at once wary of pharma yet drawn to gray-market compounds.  Then, they turn to safety, where Brady argues the real hazard lies not in the peptides, but in contaminated manufacturing and careless injection. They also weigh the trouble of funding trials for compounds no one can patent. Finally, they consider bodily autonomy and whether medicine should restore a baseline health or enhance it. In Politicology+, they turn to a story Ron has been eager to bring to the show: the U.S. government has begun a historic effort to disclose its UFO files, and the officials behind the push say this is just the beginning. From whistleblower testimony about crash retrieval programs to a bipartisan Senate bill referencing "non-human intelligence" 22 times to the growing ranks of elite scientists taking it seriously, they dig into how we got here and why Congress can't get answers from its own government. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Follow Brady’s work at Front Stage Exit: https://www.frontstageexit.com/  SPONSORS & PROMO CODES: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/BradyDale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock subscriber-only content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus How does murder during a robbery-gone-wrong become an international conspiracy theory? What even is a true crime story in the post-truth era? Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica, former DC Bureau Chief for Rolling Stone) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss his new book, A Death on W Street: The Murder of Seth Rich and the Age of Conspiracy. (01:34) What drew Andy to the Seth Rich story (08:48) The facts of the Seth Rich case (12:44) How conspiracy theories have changed in the 21st Century (21:08) Russia, the DNC leak, and the need for a scapegoat (24:22) The intersection of conspiracy theories (29:06) The conspiracy theory economy You should read A Death on W Street: https://andy-kroll.com/ Follow Andy  and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndyKroll https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) joins Host Ron Steslow to take stock of the war shifting beneath the surface. They begin with the state of the fighting: Putin’s nuclear theater around Victory Day and the quiet vibe shift on the battlefield as Ukrainian resilience compounds.  From there, they turn to Ukraine as a laboratory for the future of war: unmanned systems, data hubs, and the battlefield coordination American defense companies are scrambling to get their hands on. They also weigh the dual-use dilemma of companies like Palantir, whose tools help Ukraine target Russian commanders abroad while building surveillance architecture at home. Then, they examine Europe’s slow awakening from its post-World War II illusions and the persistent reach of Russian hybrid influence.  Finally, they unpack the pro-Russian talking points that are proliferating on both ends of the political spectrum and refuse to die.  In Politicology+, they dig into what Viktor Orbán’s defeat means for European unity on Ukraine, the differences between healthy and toxic nationalism, and how Europe is quietly rebuilding its defense planning where Article 5 can’t be assumed. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Check out Molly’s Newsletter: https://www.greatpower.us/ CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/MollyMcKew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at ⁠politicology.com/plus⁠. Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid discuss the redistricting wars, the Supreme Court case that could upend a central part of the Voting Rights Act, how Latinos becoming the largest minority group will make us rethink what being a “minority” even means, and how partisanship is becoming our primary identity. Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Related Reading:  Axios - Virginia judge lets Democrats' redistricting plan move forward - Axios Richmond Politico - The Republicans thwarting the White House’s redistricting hopes - POLITICO Sac Bee - Prop. 50 in California is trivial compared to this U.S. Supreme Court case | Opinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicholas Anthony (Research Fellow at the Cato Institute's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives) joins Host Ron Steslow to examine how the stablecoin legislation moving through Congress is quietly remaking the financial system and expanding the surveillance state in the process. They dig into the Bank Secrecy Act and the third-party doctrine, the legal architecture that lets the government access Americans' financial records without a warrant. Next, they examine how AI is turning mass financial surveillance from aspiration into operational reality, and how political designations can be weaponized against ordinary Americans through their banks. Then they unpack the contradictions in the Trump administration's posture—anti-CBDC in name, enthusiastically pro-stablecoin in practice—and why programmable private money is functionally a central bank digital currency at arm's length. Finally, they discuss the prosecutions of open-source developers behind privacy tools like Tornado Cash and Samurai Wallet, and what's at stake if the precedent that code is protected speech gets tested in the Supreme Court. In Politicology+, they unpack a 2021 federal mandate that will require every new car sold in America to passively monitor its driver for "impairment" by next year. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/EconWithNick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Madrid and Susan Del Percio dig into why housing affordability has become the central economic and political problem heading into the midterms. They discuss how housing and cost of living concerns are driving the anxiety voters are feeling.  Then, they look at populism on both sides of the aisle, from Trump’s embrace of “no tax on tips” and credit card caps to Mamdani’s promises to freeze the rent, and why neither party is being honest about the long-term supply problem at the heart of the housing crisis.  Then, they break down what actually moves the needle—regulation, infrastructure, public housing maintenance, and local governance—and why Democrats are ceding the affordability debate while Republicans struggle to reconcile Trump-era rhetoric with conservative orthodoxy. Finally, Susan lays out the tactical reality: national messaging won’t fix this, the economy won’t turn around quickly, and the candidates who win will be the ones who can translate affordability into concrete, local results voters can actually feel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron Steslow continues his discussion with Izabella Kaminska to unpack one of the biggest assumptions behind the AI boom: that it will generate enough growth to justify the enormous capital being poured into it. Also, how much does America’s enormous national debt really matter? And, what’s really going on with gold and the new efforts—by China and private corporations—to remonetize it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Kirchick joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington (01:55) Why he wrote the book (06:43) The interwoven political history and gay history in Washington (14:33) The melting pot of the gay community and why it was seen as a  threat (19:55) The trope that whatever is bad must be gay (31:51) The Lavender Scare  (35:53) The tension between the gay  loyal foot soldiers of Ronald Reagan and courting the religious right  (49:00) What was challenging about writing the book  You should read Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington: http://bit.ly/3wgiORk Follow James Kirchick and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkirchick https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In part two of this series, Ron talks to Rebecca Roiphe (Joseph Solomon Distinguished Professor of Law at New York Law School) about critical legal studies, the attacks on our understanding of what the law is and how it should function from across the political spectrum.  They focus on how the chilling actions of the Trump Administration stem from a belief that law is merely an instrument of power, and why that belief is corrosive—to the everyday practice of law and to liberal democracy itself. They discuss: (08:00) Understanding liberalism vs progressivism (09:08) Fairness in the legal system  (16:43) The role of the Federalist Society and its shift at Harvard  (21:19) The Trump Administration’s legal philosophy (25:39) The independence of the Justice Department  (28:33) The impact of executive orders targeting law firms  (32:33) The future of legal representation  Follow Ron and Rebecca on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/rroiphe Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪‪(703) 239-3068‬ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are there tendencies within Christian tradition that put some versions of the faith in tension with core principles of democracy? What is “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity?” How can a pluralistic society guard against the rise of political figures—including Donald Trump—aiming to weaponize this phenomenon? In this two-part conversation, we dive into these provocative questions with the Rev. Prof. David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) and discuss his book Defending Democracy From Its Christian Enemies. Segments to look forward to in part 2: (02:12) Christianity in the reactionary politics of France and Germany in the 20th century   (07:54) The allure of authoritarian leaders who promise to fix cultural issues  (13:06) The idealization of a past Christian nation and the ubiquitous use of anti-LGBT rhetoric in policial mobilization (18:20) The difficulty of appealing to authoritarian-leaning Christians and the influence of leaders in those communities (32:30 ) “Covenantal democracy” rooted in the Baptist tradition (35:18) The importance of civic literacy and political ethics education among Christians to inoculate against authoritarian tendencies (40:00) The importance of long-term cultural and interpersonal work to build stronger democratic norms. For more of David’s work visit his website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/ Follow Ron  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are there tendencies within Christian tradition that put some versions of the faith in tension with core principles of democracy? What is “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity?” How can a pluralistic society guard against the rise of political figures—including Donald Trump—aiming to weaponize this phenomenon? In this two-part conversation, Ron Steslow and Rev. Prof. David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) discuss these provocative questions and more as they dive into David’s book, Defending Democracy From Its Christian Enemies. In part 1: (04:40) Ron shares a personal note with David about the impact he’s had on Ron’s journey   (07:24) David discussed a few of the transformative moments in his career  (13:08) The historical and current challenges Christianity poses to democratic values  (16:30) Why some Christians are skeptical of democracy and the nuanced reasons behind it (22:02 ) Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity and why it’s a better term for what we’re seeing  than Christian Nationalism  (28:38) How certain Christian groups prioritize their beliefs over democratic norms and values  (34:02) The cycle of secular revolutions followed by religious counter-revolutions  For more of David’s work visit his website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/ Follow Ron  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever thought about what it means to be anonymous?  Have you considered what it means that you can walk down the street or go to the grocery store or out to dinner without someone you’ve never met knowing your name, everything you’ve posted online, or your political leanings? Or when you go on a first date with someone, they’d walk in knowing your dating history, your political affiliations, your credit score or what groceries you buy? Advancements in facial recognition and a secretive startup could end privacy as we know it.  In this two-part conversation, New York Times Tech Reporter Kashmir Hill joins host Ron Steslow to discuss privacy, anonymity, facial recognition software and her book Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It. In part 2: (01:40) “Technical sweetness” and the lack of ethical considerations by the people building these new technologies  (12:30) Privacy laws in the U.S. and Europe  (15:24) The trend of law enforcement agencies skirting constitutional protections by buying information from private companies. (27:20) Balancing security and privacy in the age of ubiquitous surveillance (30:50) What the future of privacy might look like  Read Your Face Belongs to Us: https://bit.ly/49qsbQm Follow Ron and Kashmir  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/kashhill Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our digital age, people have grown to see social media platforms as mere tools and applications.  Marcus Collins, the award-winning marketer, former digital strategist for Beyoncé, and author of "For The Culture", argues otherwise.  Join host Ron Steslow as he sits down with Marcus to unravel the deep-seated influence of culture on social media and our daily choices. Marcus elaborates on his assertion that "social media is people" and why understanding this fundamental idea changes our approach to digital platforms. He also delves into the crucial role of culture in hyperpolarization and how it weaves into the fabric of our society. Segments to look forward to: (01:20) How Marcus came to study culture: "I feel like I'm at my best when I'm helping people realize the best version of themselves…” (04:26) The connection between marketing and psychology (08:42) The importance of purpose in advertising: "Start with what you believe and when you start with what you believe people who see the world the way you do go, 'Finally, someone said it. That's my person.'” (17:02) The influence of culture on consumer choice (20:40) The connection between culture and politics (24:00) Case study: How Patagonia leveraged culture to build their brand (30:00) Case study: Donald Trump's cultural strategy in the 2016 election (32:09) Understanding tribes and congregations (37:27)”The brain is a prediction machine”  (40:00) The role of culture in hyperpolarization (42:14) The state of anti-Trump Republicans within the broader Republican culture (44:00) How subcultures develop and operate (50:00) How preaching the gospel can get people to move You Should Read For the Culture: https://amzn.to/3QjLDaH Check out Predictably Rational by Dan Ariely: https://amzn.to/3rPeWHL Follow Ron and Marcus on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/marctothec For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men.  (02:04) The toxicity of “toxic masculinity” (08:00) The “right” at war and the “left” in denial (13:00) How negative partisanship only increases the problem (15:00) The differences in funding and institutional support for men and women  (23:00) Redshirt the boys  (28:00) The criticism Richard has faced for his writing on boys and men You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/ Follow Ron and Richard  on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last 100 years, we have streamlined the process of food production. A hundred years ago, 99% of people were engaged in the agricultural process in some way. Today, that number is 1%. As a result, our relationship with food has become desperately impersonal. But what are the consequences of all that efficiency? Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of our food systems with Jeff Tkatch (CEO of the Rodale Institute) and host Ron Steslow. In this captivating conversation, we dig deep into the living soil beneath our feet, our disconnection from nature, and the mechanisms driving our extractive farming systems. Jeff provides a comprehensive understanding of the difference between soil and dirt, explaining why one gives life while the other is lifeless. He shares his personal journey towards regenerative agriculture and elaborates on the role Rodale Institute plays in shaping the future of farming. Segments to look forward to: (2:10) Understanding the difference between soil and dirt: "If soil could talk to us, what would it be saying right now? Feed me. Rest me. Water me. Feed me. Rest me. Water me. I'm a living, breathing organism just like you. And by the way, you depend on me for life." (03:30) Jeff's journey into regenerative agriculture and the role of the Rodale Institute (13:30) How we became disconnected from nature and our food (15:30) Who feeds the world? (16:20) A deep dive into the extractive farming system and the need for sustainable agricultural practices (19:50) Unraveling the incentives that have shaped our agricultural system (23:00) The various faces of agriculture: sustainable, regenerative, and organic regenerative (27:35) The cost of organic food and the unseen cost of not eating organic (30:00) “Agriculture is the great healer of our time” (37:15) Policy changes that could revolutionize farming and an overview of the Pennsylvania State Farm Bill (40:52) The challenge of organic food fraud (51:10) How changing our understanding of food production could reduce polarization: “It starts with gratitude...when we begin to see our brother and sister through food, we're creating a metaphorical table. We're actually sitting down at a table every moment of every day here in this country and hopefully around the world." Learn more about the Rodale Institute: https://www.rodaleinstitute.org/ Get involved and connect with local farmers near you. As Jeff says, "Everybody should get to know a farmer." Follow Ron on Twitter:  ⁠https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a little bit different. And personal. Kristyn Komarnicki, director of dialogue and convening at Christians for Social Action, and Darren Calhoun, a justice advocate, worship leader, and Associate Fellow at CSA, join Ron Steslow to discuss intentional dialogue, and how we can use their techniques in the relationships that matter to us. (07:06) What is dialogue? How is it different from everyday conversations? (8:19) What does a curated dialogue look like? (20:23) How do you prepare for something like this? (27:34) Why lean into conflict, even when you don’t like conflict? (32:28) Political fights vs dialogue—what is our role in specific conversations? (40:44) How important is “grace” in having dialogue that allows for growth? Would you like to support Kristyn’s and Darren’s work? The “Oriented to Love” dialogue program is funded by tax-deductible donations like yours. To ensure your contribution goes directly to their work, use this dedicated link: https://christiansforsocialaction.salsalabs.org/mainotldonationpage/index.html For more information about the “Oriented To Love” program, visit https://christiansforsocialaction.org/programs/oriented-to-love/ Listen to our conversation with Celeste Headlee: https://link.chtbl.com/zm8RwNPm Follow Darren and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heyDarren https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michele Gelfand (Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss culture, social norms, and her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World  (01:46) Why she decided to study culture  (04:34) What are tight and loose cultures (06:12) Why tight and loose cultures evolve (10:38) The tradeoffs between tight and loose and how different cultures responded to the Covid pandemic (16:19) Tightness-looseness and willingness to change (19:57) Red and Blue vs Tight and Loose  (30:36) Tightening around core values, even in loose cultures (34:56) Real and manufactured threats  (44:15) How we we can put this framework into action  You should read Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: https://amzn.to/3Qy8DQc Follow Michele and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MicheleJGelfand https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it? In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships? Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise (02:38) What we can all learn from how the Amish evaluate new technology (07:25) The attention economy and why it’s not working for us (13:44) Understanding “ma” and how we can use it to resolve conflict (22:14) Using quality over quantity to measure productivity (26:26) Ways to incorporate silence in your everyday life (35:35) Silence and expanded states of consciousness using psychedelics You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2 FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinZorn https://twitter.com/LeighMarz https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it? In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships? Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise (02:33) Leigh and Justin’s backgrounds (07:04) Why they began practicing silence in their own lives (12:50) Why silence feels scary (18:30) What is noise? (22:12) Internal silence is what people think it is (30:19) The connection between noise and rigid thinking (37:27) The historical significance of silence You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2 FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinZorn https://twitter.com/LeighMarz https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist, Public Speaker and Author Celeste Headlee (@CelesteHeadlee) joins host Ron Steslow (@RonSteslow) to reveal the science and history behind human communication, share keys to unlock deeper conversations, and explain how critical empathy is for our ability to listen and connect. For more information, to contact us, or to contribute to Politicology, visit Politicology.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus Poler Family Professor and chair of the psychology department at Amherst College Dr. Catherine Sanderson joins Ron Steslow to talk about happiness and how to harness the power of a positive mindset. (02:49) The negative connotation of the “power of positive thinking” and adopting a growth mindset (11:32) Revisiting the myth of monsters (13:13) Redemption and reconciliation, and applying a growth mindset to others: the “fundamental attribution error” (20:05) Let’s talk about stress (22:43) Grieving shared loss and uncertainty (28:20) Adequate sleep and happiness (32:04) Smiling through the pain...and other methods (36:17) Importance of conversations and meaningful relationships (39:10) Bringing people together for political engagement The Positive Shift by Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://benbellabooks.com/shop/the-positive-shift/ Politicology - March 10: Becoming Moral Rebels with Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://politicology.com/episodes/dr-catherine-sanderson-becoming-moral-rebels/ The Victory Lab by Sasha Issenberg https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215192/the-victory-lab-by-sasha-issenberg/ Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805073690 Are you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donate! Follow Catherine and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandersonSpeaks https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men.  (02:04) The toxicity of “toxic masculinity” (08:00) The “right” at war and the “left” in denial (13:00) How negative partisanship only increases the problem (15:00) The differences in funding and institutional support for men and women  (23:00) Redshirt the boys  (28:00) The criticism Richard has faced for his writing on boys and men You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/ Follow Ron and Richard  on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men.  (02:13) Richard’s work and how it led to studying boys and men  (04:00) The risks if the problems are not addressed  (07:30) The gendered education gap (0z8:20) How economic shifts have impacted men (11:20) Intersectionality in the research on gender  (30:30) Recognizing these problems as structural and not individual (34:40)  Weighing the biological differences between women and men  You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/ Follow Ron and Richard  on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In our digital age, people have grown to see social media platforms as mere tools and applications.  Marcus Collins, the award-winning marketer, former digital strategist for Beyoncé, and author of "For The Culture", argues otherwise.  Join host Ron Steslow as he sits down with Marcus to unravel the deep-seated influence of culture on social media and our daily choices. Marcus elaborates on his assertion that "social media is people" and why understanding this fundamental idea changes our approach to digital platforms. He also delves into the crucial role of culture in hyperpolarization and how it weaves into the fabric of our society. Segments to look forward to: (01:20) How Marcus came to study culture: "I feel like I'm at my best when I'm helping people realize the best version of themselves…” (04:26) The connection between marketing and psychology (08:42) The importance of purpose in advertising: "Start with what you believe and when you start with what you believe people who see the world the way you do go, 'Finally, someone said it. That's my person.'” (17:02) The influence of culture on consumer choice (20:40) The connection between culture and politics (24:00) Case study: How Patagonia leveraged culture to build their brand You Should Read For the Culture: https://amzn.to/3QjLDaH Check out Predictably Rational by Dan Ariely: https://amzn.to/3rPeWHL Follow Ron and Marcus on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/marctothec For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this two part series, Journalist and author Byron Tau joins host Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State  Part 2: (02:17) The extensive government data collection Edward Snowden revealed  (09:40) How data vendors bypass privacy reviews within government agencies  (11:50) The role of encryption in safeguarding privacy and the historical context of encryption legalization  (18:40) Government efforts to weaken encryption and what that means for your privacy  (22:45) How foreign governments could misuse data (24:24) The public awareness of this form of surveillance  (26:38) What could legislative reform look like?  (29:37) The influence of advertising and data brokers in shaping privacy  Read Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State — https://bit.ly/44199hw Follow Ron and Byron  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/ByronTau Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it?  In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships? Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise (02:33) Leigh and Justin’s backgrounds  (07:04) Why they began practicing silence in their own lives (12:50) Why silence feels scary (18:30) What is noise?  (22:12) Internal silence is what people think it is (30:19) The connection between noise and rigid thinking (37:27) The historical significance of silence You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2 FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinZorn https://twitter.com/LeighMarz https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it?  In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships? Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise (02:38) What we can all learn from how the Amish evaluate new technology (07:25) The attention economy and why it’s not working for us (13:44) Understanding “ma” and how we can use it to resolve conflict (22:14) Using quality over quantity to measure productivity (26:26) Ways to incorporate silence in your everyday life (35:35) Silence and expanded states of consciousness using psychedelics  You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2 FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinZorn https://twitter.com/LeighMarz https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michele Gelfand (Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss culture, social norms, and her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World  (01:46) Why she decided to study culture  (04:34) What are tight and loose cultures (06:12) Why tight and loose cultures evolve (10:38) The tradeoffs between tight and loose and how different cultures responded to the Covid pandemic (16:19) Tightness-looseness and willingness to change (19:57) Red and Blue vs Tight and Loose  (30:36) Tightening around core values, even in loose cultures (34:56) Real and manufactured threats  (44:15) How we we can put this framework into action  You should read Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: https://amzn.to/3Qy8DQc To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus Follow Michele and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MicheleJGelfand https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus Journalist, Public Speaker and Author Celeste Headlee (@CelesteHeadlee) joins host Ron Steslow (@RonSteslow) to reveal the science and history behind human communication, share keys to unlock deeper conversations, and explain how critical empathy is for our ability to listen and connect. For more information, to contact us, or to contribute to Politicology, visit Politicology.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock exclusive premium content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus On the anniversary of the attack at the Capitol, photographer Gabriella Demczuk walks listeners through her firsthand account of the January 6, 2021 insurrection, from Donald Trump’s “Stop The Steal” rally on the National Mall to the gallery of the House chamber as rioters breached the Capitol. (03:01) Getting the assignment for January 6 (05:45) Reading the crowd at the rally (07:35) Rep. Madison Cawthorn, in his own words (10:30) Back to the U.S. Capitol (12:46) Looking out the East Front (13:33) Capitol under lockdown (16:25) Trying to do our jobs (17:10) Sheltering in the House chamber (25:53) Bursting the “safe space” bubble (30:01) Reflections walking home (32:43) [Lack of] Republican remorse (34:33) The fragility of democracy What Madison Cawthorn Saw At The Insurrection by Olivia Nuzzi Want to help build Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donate Follow Ron and Gabriella: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://instagram.com/gdemczuk https://twitter.com/gdemczuk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices