For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode Ron talks to Leopoldo Lopez (Venezuelan opposition leader and co-founder and general secretary of the World Liberty Congress) about his journey fighting for freedom against the Maduro regime. They discuss the collapse of democracy in Venezuela, the importance of grassroots movements, and the role of Bitcoin as a revolutionary tool for freedom. They also touch on the human toll of ...
Oct 01, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Season 2Ep. 513
This week, Ron Steslow and Greg Brower (Fmr. Assistant Director of the FBI and U.S. Attorney in Nevada) unpack what’s real—and what isn’t—in the Epstein investigations. They walk through the unusual non-prosecution agreement for Epstein in Florida, how victims’ rights weren’t honored, and why additional prosecutions may not have materialized. Then, they dig into the politics: the House Oversight investigation, whether it’s for show, and the discharge petition that could force a vote. In Politico...
Sep 19, 2025•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 512
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...
Sep 18, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 511
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) about Ukraine’s resilience and global fatigue 3.5 years into Russia’s invasion. They discuss: (07:56) The Ukrainian refugee murdered in Charlotte(09:52) Ukrainian morale and shifting public opinion (20:37) Russia’s strategy (27:11) Trump and Putin’s meeting (32:41) The Allies meeting (42:14...
Sep 13, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 510
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 fo...
Sep 11, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 509
This week, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) discuss information warfare and the biased reporting about Israel ahead of their ground offensive in Gaza City. Then, the backlash against parties in power in Europe and why Americans need to care about it. In Politicology+ they discuss China’s military parade, the meetings between the leaders of China, Russia, and India and why it matters so much right now. Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all ...
Sep 06, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 508
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 ...
Sep 04, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 507
This week, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (Author of The Latino Century) unpack President Trump’s move to remove a sitting Federal Reserve governor, the overt politicization of the Fed, and how it raises questions about whether it even makes sense for an institution this powerful to exist as it does. Then, the administration’s deal for a 10% stake in Intel and what it signals about a turn toward state capitalism. In Politicology+ they discuss Trump’s flag-burning executive order and the use of popu...
Aug 30, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 506
Ron Steslow and Katherine Mangu-Ward discuss surveillance pricing, the role of government in data collection, the third-party doctrine that allows the government to buy personal data, and the marriage of corporate and state centralized power. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Related Reading: Vox - Delta is using AI to give you a personalized airfare. It could be the future of pricing. NBC News - This congressman wants to ban companies from using yo...
Aug 21, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 505
This week, Ron Steslow and Olivier Knox (Senior National Political Correspondent at U.S. News & World Report) talk about Trump's federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department and the longstanding crime problem in Washington, D.C. Later, they discuss the tensions between local and federal law enforcement nationally, the increasing surveillance and privacy concerns in society, and rediscovering the value of privacy. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss whether thinking is becoming a l...
Aug 16, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 503
For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode, Ron Steslow and Isaac Stone Fish (founder and CEO of Strategy Risks) discuss China's influence and the risks associated with corporate exposure to the Chinese Communist Party They explore the shifting public perception of China, the implications of leadership conflicts in major companies like Intel, and the strategic decisions surrounding chip sales by Nvidia and AMD. Then, they ...
Aug 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 501
This week, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (Author of The Latino Century ) talk about the threats of the escalating, mid-decade redistricting war that Texas and California are kicking off. Later, they discuss some of the shocking, but not surprising, news on the Epstein scandal. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss the major jobs number revision from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump firing the agency’s head, and what the erosion of trust in economic data means—especially for government instituti...
Aug 08, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 502
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...
Aug 06, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 501
This week, Ron Steslow and Katherine Mangu-Ward (Editor in Chief of Reason) examine some major current developments through a libertarian lens, focusing on negative liberties, free expression, and privacy. They discuss the threats to privacy and free expression from age-verification laws to "misinformation" regulation to the battle over values on the Internet. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss “surveillance pricing,” the role of government in data collection, the third-party doctrine that allo...
Aug 02, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 500
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) examine how efforts to “protect democracy” can sometimes undermine its foundations. They unpack the ongoing Epstein investigation and what it reveals about the importance of impartial justice and truth. They dig into the U.K.’s Banter Bill and its chilling effect on free speech—an essential pillar of ...
Jul 26, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 499
Dr. Catherine Sanderson (@SandersonSpeaks), Poler Family Professor, Chair of Psychology at Amherst College and the author of Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels joins host Ron Steslow (@RonSteslow) to analyze why Trump was able to exert control on the Republican party, how to recognize leaders who will stand up for what’s right—and what we can do to become moral rebels . To contribute to Politicology, visit https://politicology.com/donate/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...
Jul 24, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 2Ep. 497
We’re doing it! This December, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid are excited to host our first-ever salon-inspired retreat. Unscripted: A Politicology Gathering is a 3 night/4 day in-person retreat at a luxury villa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from December 5-8, 2025. You can find more information and apply at politicology.com/unscripted . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 21, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 497
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 e...
Jul 17, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 496
Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (author of The Latino Century) discuss the unraveling of our political institutions, the devolution of political parties, what’s happening with them, where they’re heading and what it means. They dive into the Epstein Files and the MAGA backlash, Mamdani’s primary win in New York City, the turmoil at the DNC, and Elon Musk’s new party, and what all this...
Jul 11, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 495
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•25 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 6 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•45 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 8 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 choice...
Jun 25, 2025•44 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 7 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 31 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•28 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 21 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 2 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 22 min•Season 2Ep. 484
