Imagine a world where candidates no longer need to pander to the extremes, where minor candidates don’t tip elections one way or another, and where your vote can truly represent your values. Sounds like a dream, right? States like Alaska and Maine are already proving it's possible. And they’re doing it with Ranked Choice Voting. In this episode host Ron Steslow and Deb Otis (Director of Research at Fair Vote) break down ranked choice voting, how it works, the way it’s changing politics in states...
Aug 23, 2023•54 min•Season 2Ep. 280
On Monday, Donald Trump was hit with his fourth criminal indictment of the year this time by a Grand Jury in Fulton County, Georgia. What are the allegations in this newest indictment? How is the District Attorney, Fani Willis, using a law designed to fight organized crime to prosecute Trump’s plot to steal the 2020 election? What will the timeline for these cases be? Join our host, Ron Steslow, as he explores these questions Michael Zeldin (former federal prosecutor). Segments to look forward t...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr 36 min•Season 2Ep. 279
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 (41:4...
Aug 16, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 278
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 Foll...
Aug 16, 2023•54 min•Season 2Ep. 277
Should Donald Trump be pardoned if he’s convicted? Why are state legislatures trying to consolidate power and limit ballot referenda? What do spending decisions have to do with the Gerontocracy? Join our host, Ron Steslow, as he explores these questions with guests Lucy Caldwell (Walsh 2020 Campaign Manager) and Zack Czajkowski (Principal at Title Fight). Segments to look forward to: (02:00) Why the election subversion case against Trump is harder to prove than the documents case and whether Tru...
Aug 11, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 286
To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus What does it take for a mid-west mayor to become a viable presidential candidate? What’s it like to be a crisis communications expert in the eye of New York City Tabloids? What does it take to go from a field organizer to one of the most well respected communications strategists in American politics? Lis Smith (former senior advisor to presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss her career working on t...
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 275
What will Donald Trump’s third indictment mean for his presidential campaign? How does the breakdown of Hunter Biden's plea deal impact President Joe Biden? How will New York City's migrant crisis shape national politics? Join our guest host, Susan Del Percio, as she explores these questions with guests Lanae Erickson (Senior Vice President for Social Policy, Education, and Politics at Third Way) and Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica). Segments to look forward to: (02:42) Understa...
Aug 04, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 274
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 o...
Aug 02, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 273
This episode was originally released on October 12, 2022 Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project Cofounder), Ruy Teixeira (Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute), Scott Tranter (Investor and Advisor to Decision Desk HQ) join host Ron Steslow to discuss the erosion of support for Democrats among Hispanic voters (03:01) Ruy’s background (17:00) The trend of Hispanic voters moving away from the Democratic party (34:10) Joe Biden’s low approval rating among Hispanic voters (35:40) What...
Jul 28, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 272
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...
Jul 26, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 271
Molly McKew joins Frank Salder, Andy Kroll, and Ron Steslow to discuss Russia's decision to halt Ukraine's Black Sea grain exports and its ramifications on the conflict and the rest of the world—especially Africa. She also addresses the US running out of the ammunition it pledged to Ukraine. What we read: Bloomberg— US Suspends Wuhan Institute of Virology’s Access to Federal Funding - Bloomberg Newsweek— Pentagon Making Race-Specific Bioweapons to Target Citizens, China Says NYPost— RFK Jr. says...
Jul 22, 2023•33 min
Donald Trump has a plan to consolidate even more power if he wins in 2024. So, where’s the political will to constrain such a power grab while there’s time? Join our host, Ron Steslow, as he and guests Frank Sadler (Chief of Staff to Carly Fiorina) and Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica) delve deep into these pivotal discussions. Segments to look forward to: (2:11) We dive into Donald Trump’s announcement that he's the target of the grand jury investigation into 2020 election subve...
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 270
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...
Jul 19, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 269
Shouldn’t we hold our leaders like President Biden to higher standards than the ones Republicans set for Donald Trump? Join our host Ron Steslow, as he discusses this and more with Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert), and Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN). We'll learn why Susan still holds onto financial disclosure forms from two decades ago and Hagar explains how the Barbie movie is impacting geopolitics. Segments to look ...
Jul 14, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 268
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 Se...
Jul 12, 2023•53 min•Season 2Ep. 267
Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder), Tom Nichols (Staff Writer at The Atlantic) and host Ron Steslow discuss some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (05:38) The Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action (27:00) The short-lived rebellion in Russia and the invasion of Ukraine (40:34) America’s relationship with war and the difference between patriotism and nationalism [Politicology+] The Federal Court ruling restricting the Biden adminis...
Jul 07, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 266
Katty Kay (veteran reporter and four-time NYT bestselling author) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss her new book The Power Code: More Joy. Less Ego. Maximum Impact for Women (and Everyone), co-written with Claire Shipman. (02:12) Katty’s background and why she started looking at power (07:07) Women are passing men in college degrees, but not the boardroom (13:10) Why women have been more likely to avoid power (16:10) “Power over” vs “power to” (20:20) How reframing power changes how women approa...
Jul 05, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 265
Susan Del Percio ((MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert), Liz Gilbert Cohen (President of the 2020 Democratic National Convention), Zack Czajkowski (Principal at Title Fight) and host Ron Steslow unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:20) The President’s bold bet on “Bidenomics” (16:20) How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is appealing to voters (45:2 0) Liz Cheney: “We’re electing idiots” [Politicology+] Canada’s new l...
Jun 30, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 263
Frank Sharry (Founder of America’s Voice) and David Bier (Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute) join host Ron Steslow to discuss some of the biggest issues in immigration policy and what’s getting in the way of immigration reform (01:52) Why Frank and David started focusing on immigration policy (04:25) What the first principles of immigration policy should be (14:00) Areas of policy agreement on the center-left and center-right (28:20) The movement toward nativism on ...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 263
Ron Steslow calls Molly McKew to discuss the escalating security crisis between Russia and the Wagner group, the private army that’s been fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 263
Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Lucy Caldwell (Walsh 2020 Campaign Manager) and host Ron Steslow unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:04) Justice Samuel Altio’s private jet imbroglio and Senate Democrat’ push for court reform (30:33) China’s plans to build a joint military training facility in Cuba (39:13) Fed Chairman Powell’s appearance before the House Financial Services committee [Politicology+ Preview] Hunter ...
Jun 23, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 262
Evan Medeiros (Penner Family Chair in Asia Studies at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and Former Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council) joins Ron Steslow to discuss the increasing tension in the United States’ relationship with China: (02:31) How Evan became interested in China (04:04) Biden’s meeting with Xi in 2011 (07:00) What Evan learned about Xi during that visit (09:39) CCP reform campaign (12:50) How the relationship changed as Xi became lea...
Jun 22, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 262
Lanae Erickson (Senior Vice President for the Social Policy & Politics Program at Third Way) and Amy Walter (Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Cook Political Report with Amy Walter) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (03:00) The reactions to Donald Trump’s indictment (36:36) The politics of privacy, including controversy over a federal program that allows the government to engage in surveillance [Politic...
Jun 16, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 260
George Conway (conservative attorney and Lincoln Project co-founder) and Ron Steslow discuss Donald Trump’s indictment on federal charges over his mishandling of classified documents and obstructing the government's efforts to reclaim them. (01:38) Historical significance of charges (08:50) Outlining the charges (16:15) How this case is different from Biden and Pence cases (19:40) The significance of the tape of Trump admitting the documents were classified in 2021 (21:12) The impact that being ...
Jun 14, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 259
Matt Bennett (Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Third Way) and Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:06) The No Labels plan for a third party presidential run (26:44) The primary field gets more crowded as Chris Christie and Mike Pence enter the field (40:25) Jonathan Hadit’s proposal to keep phones out of school [Politicology+ Subscribers O...
Jun 09, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 258
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 R...
Jun 07, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 257
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 R...
Jun 07, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 256
Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) and Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:44) The deal to raise the debt ceiling (19:30) How getting this close to a default impacts the global economy and foreign affairs (33:52) Dianne Feinstein’s return to the Senate, her increasing reliance on aides, and the ...
Jun 02, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 255
Molly McKew (Lead author of GreatPower.US) joins Ron Steslow to answer a listener's question about how the current war in Ukraine differs from Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and why support for Ukraine is greater now than it was then. (01:12) Keith’s question (09:40) Russia’s invasion of Georgia (12:00) How unprepared the U.S. was to respond (15:14) Russia’s invasion of the Crimean peninsula (37:00) Why there was so little resistance to Russia’s annexat...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 2Ep. 254
Frank Sadler (Chief of Staff to Carly Fiorina), Nina Verghese (senior director and head of campaigns and advocacy at APCO Worldwide), and Scott Tranter (Investor and Advisor to Decision Desk HQ) continue their conversation with Ron Steslow about the 2024 Republican Primary and Tim Scott’s campaign announcement. Get more episodes like this by joining our Politicology+ community. Visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Note: due to technical issues, we were unable to remove the...
May 26, 2023•28 min