For the ad-free and full version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus 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 1: (02:36) Byron’s background and why he decided to write this book (05:15) The Evolution of data brokering (09:00) Understanding metadata and data collection and how th...
Jul 10, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 494
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Isaac Stone Fish (CEO and founder of Strategy Risks) discuss what it means to win the AI race with China, what the CCP’s ambitions are, and whether we could be sleepwalking into a future shaped by authoritarian values. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss how China is rushing to fill the soft power vacuum left by the U.S. retreat by pushing for changes that could th...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 493
In this conversation, Susan Del Percio discusses Zohran Mamdani’s win in the Democratic Primary for New York City Mayor, what it means for New York, and what it will mean for Democrats in and outside the state. Listen to our episode with Mike Madrid about the Fighting Oligarchy Tour: https://bit.ly/45Rr2lL Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Follow Ron and Susan on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/DelPercioS Email your questions t...
Jul 02, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 492
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Jennifer Schulp (Director of Financial Regulation Studies at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives) discuss the Senate passing the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins. They dive into the implications of the Bank Secrecy Act and the critical importance of privacy-enhancing tools in the digital age. They explore how new legislation impact...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 491
Ron Steslow, Mike Madrid, and Marc Polymeropoulo discuss the shift in immigration enforcement, the protests in LA, and the values America stands for. Related Reading: CBS News - Afghan ally detained by ICE after attending immigration court hearing - CBS News WSJ - The White House Marching Orders That Sparked the L.A. Migrant Crackdown - WSJ The Dispatch -This Won’t End Well SacBee - A message to Trump protesters in California: Put down the Mexican flags | Opinion Learn more about your ad choices...
Jun 25, 2025•52 min•Season 2Ep. 490
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow, Mike Madrid (author of The Latino Century), and Marc Polymeropoulos (Former CIA Official) discuss the recent military operations by Israel against Iran and the implications for U.S. foreign policy. They dive into Trump becoming wartime president and the internal divisions within MAGA. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss the shift in immigration enforcement, the protes...
Jun 21, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 489
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Izabella Kaminska (Founder and Editor at The Blind Spot and Senior Finance Editor at Politico Europe) discuss Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill and why the controversy over debt and deficits has come to the forefront. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss what we can learn from historical models of what happens when great powers are tested, and where we might be heading. No...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Season 2Ep. 488
Mike Madrid and host Ron Steslow discuss the Coinbase data leak, why data leaks in the A.I. era are so dangerous and will hurt more than we can possibly imagine, and the desperate need for greater privacy protections. Related media: Mashable - Coinbase confirms data breach with hackers demanding $20 million ransom | Mashable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 11, 2025•36 min•Season 2Ep. 487
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) discuss their key take aways from the Oslo Freedom Forum, the future of the Middle East and the influence of Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood. Then, they talk about the spike in attacks against Jewish people in the U.S. Finally, in Politicology+ they discuss the Trump Adminis...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Season 2Ep. 486
For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode Ron talks to Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) and Steve Kettmann (former San Francisco Chronicle staff reporter) about Ukraine's audacious attack on about 40 Russian aircrafts Read Molly’s work: https://www.greatpower.us/ Read Molly’s piece ‘Operational Art and the Salvation of Ukraine’: https://bit.ly/45Jps5l Follow Ron and Molly on X...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 485
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica) discuss Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper’s book Original Sin, “conspiracy theories” that turn out to be possible, and the role that the media and eroding trust in the news are playing in the age of conspiracy. Finally, in Politicology+, they talk about the problems facing boys and men and Demo...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Season 2Ep. 484
For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode, Ron talks to Casey Michel (Director of the Combating Kleptocracy Program at the Human Rights Foundation) about his book Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World and how foreign money influences our politics. They discuss: (01:46) The shadow world of foreign lobbying (03:45) Ivy Lee and Paul Manafort (07:36) The First Amendm...
May 29, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 483
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (author of The Latino Century) discuss the connection between MAGA’s economic populism and immigration agendas and populism as a force seeking to dismantle existing systems. Finally, in Politicology+, they discuss the Coinbase data leak, why data leaks in the A.I. era will hurt even more, and the need for greater privacy protec...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 482
Mike Madrid and host Ron Steslow discuss Bernie Sanders and AOC’s “Fighting Oligarchy Tour” and where economic populism on the left is heading.Related media:CNN - Bernie Sander's Town Hall Clip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 481
For the ad-free and full version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode, Ron talks to Nick Anthony (Policy Analyst at the Cato Institute and a Fellow at the Human Rights Foundation) about Central Bank Digital Curriences, their potential to invade privacy, alter the dynamics of financial control, how governments are trying to justify them, and why those arguments are insufficient. They discuss: (04:16) Intro to CBDCs (07:58) How CBDCs would gi...
May 20, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 480
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative and advisor to the Forward Party) discuss how and why we’ll need to rethink our education system in the rapidly changing world. Finally, in Politicology+, they discuss Steve Bannon’s recent speech at Hillsdale College, the escalating rhetoric about being on the verge of war, an...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Season 2Ep. 479
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) discuss the escalating tensions between two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, in Kashmir. Then, they talk about the spread of Islamism in the West and the threat it poses to global democracy. Finally, in Politicology+ they discuss what foreign policy would look like with a ...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 2Ep. 478
For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In the second part of this two-part episode, Ron talks to Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) about whether Russia is truly isolated, and what the future of American influence could look like as our self-isolation creates a power vacuum. Read Molly’s work: https://www.greatpower.us/ Follow Ron and Molly on X: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/...
May 07, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 473
For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In the first part of this two-part episode, Ron talks to Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) about the recent drone attacks in Ukraine, Trump’s “Peace Plan” and what a lasting peace might require. Read Molly’s work: https://www.greatpower.us/ Follow Ron and Molly on X: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/MollyMcKew Email your questions to podcas...
May 07, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 476
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus Nick Gillespie (Editor at Large at Reason) and host Ron Steslow discuss AI, what it’s doing to us, and our relationship with what it means to be human. 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. Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (703) ...
May 02, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 475
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...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 473
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (author of The Latino Century) discuss high profile warnings that AI could outrun us very soon. Then, they talk about the death of Pope Francis and what’s next for the Catholic Church before discussing christianity’s merger with MAGA, and what that means for the fate of liberalism in America Finally, in Politicology+ they discu...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 473
For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this two-part episode, 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 discuss: (04:57) The challenges the rule of law is facing (07:31) Understanding Critical Legal Studies (10:16) Intersectiona...
Apr 23, 2025•54 min•Season 2Ep. 472
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Nick Gillespie (Editor at Large at Reason) discuss why it’s essential to engage with libertarian values—especially in this moment. They talk about the current assault on due process and how immigration is central to what America is and what it means. They discuss the FTC lawsuit against Facebook, the collision between The Trump Administrat...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Season 2Ep. 471
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP) discuss the tariff rollercoaster, the “new right” economic theory driving them, and why the Trump administration cares a lot less about the stock market than in his first term. Then, we discuss why we’re engaged in full-throttle economic warfare with China. Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss how the uncertai...
Apr 12, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 470
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus Some of the most vexing political controversies, policy questions, and cultural crises of our current moment trace their orbit around the singular legal and cultural gravity of our 1st Amendment—and the radical, enlightenment wisdom enshrined in it. What has really been going across college campuses—and what’s at stake for wider society outside the confines of higher education? Is the colloquial public square, practically speaking...
Apr 09, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 469
Former presidential candidate and Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina joins Ron Steslow to discuss how short-term gains have gotten preferential treatment over long-term planning and success. (04:39) The differences between short-term vs. long-term (07:02) Expecting quick fixes to long-term problems (15:30) The shift in corporate responsibility from just shareholders to stakeholders (30:32) How the short-term goal of winning elections short-circuits governing Politicology is supported by listeners like ...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 2Ep. 468
To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) meet in studio to discuss the senior administration officials who accidentally shared attack plans with a journalist on Signal. Then, we dive deeper into whether the perception of Trump as a consistent liar can create a paradoxical stability in global affairs, how an information war threatens an entire financial system, and revisiting the stakes of the...
Mar 29, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Season 2Ep. 467
In the second part of this two-episode conversation, Stanford Professors Mehran Sahami and Jeremy Weinstein join Ron Steslow to discuss their book System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot. (07:11) The modern day trolley problem (16:54) Reorienting invention toward problem solving (23:16) The other skills tech companies need (28:53) The problem of the inventor/CEO (39:57) What companies and governments can do to reshape how big tech operates Purchase System Error: https://sys...
Mar 27, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 466
In this two-episode conversation, Stanford Professors Mehran Sahami and Jeremy Weinstein join Ron Steslow to discuss their book System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot. (05:42) Why they decided to write their book (10:56) How venture capital has shaped Silicon Valley (19:04) Optimization mindset meets Democracy (37:36) Our privacy boundaries when it comes to government and private companies Purchase System Error: https://systemerrorbook.com/ Politicology is supported by lis...
Mar 27, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 465
