Best Uspolitics Podcasts (2026)

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What Do Politicians Think Motivates Voters? 55:20

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5d ago55:20

55:20

Do politicians really understand what drives voters—or are they relying on flawed assumptions that could shape democracy in troubling ways? As we take some time off for the holidays, we wanted to re-share our episode with University of Calgary political scientist Jack Lucas, whose paper “Politicians’ Theories of Voting Behavior,” reveals striking g…

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Do Professors Self-Censor On Controversial Topics? 58:59

19d ago58:59

58:59

In this episode, we speak with Cory Clark, behavioral scientist and Associate Professor of Psychology at New College of Florida. We discuss her paper, “Taboos and Self-Censorship Among U.S. Psychology Professors," which explores how controversial topics in science are perceived, debated, and sometimes suppressed, and the psychological dynamics of t…

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Is Partisan Gerrymandering As Bad As You Think? 55:42

1M ago55:42

55:42

There is no political topic that can get people’s blood boiling quite like partisan gerrymandering. But what do we know about how effective it is and what the data shows about its outcomes? This week, we're re-releasing our conversation with Princeton political scientist Kosuke Imai about his paper, "Widespread Partisan Gerrymandering Mostly Cancel…

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Do Donors Punish Extremist Primary Nominees? 59:29

2M ago59:29

59:29

What happens when a political party nominates a candidate in its primary who is ideologically extreme? Do donors, especially those outside the party’s base, react — and if so, how? That question is explored in a new paper by Andy Christopher Wayne Myers, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science at Stanford University. He uncovers how donors respond whe…

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The Economic Cost of Populism 1:16:34

2M ago1:16:34

1:16:34

More than 25 percent of countries around the world are currently governed by populists, from Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, to Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, and Donald Trump in the United States. Based on these findings, populism is at an all-time high, and taking a significant economic toll, according to a recent paper by Christoph Trebesch and hi…

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Is Political Science Research Underpowered? 42:49

3M ago42:49

42:49

What if most political science studies are too weak to find the effects they’re looking for? In this episode, we dig into a new paper by Vincent Arel-Bundock and colleagues that reveals a striking truth: quantitative political science is greatly underpowered. With thousands of tests analyzed, the authors show that many studies have only a one-in-te…

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Can Trade Be A Weapon Of Global Power? 1:10:17

3M ago1:10:17

1:10:17

For decades, free trade was treated as an unquestioned good—an engine of prosperity and cooperation. But today, leaders from Washington to Beijing are rethinking trade as something very different: a tool of power. In this episode, we dive into new research with Harvard’s David Yang that asks: how do trade relationships actually give countries lever…

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Should Unelected Judges Be Deciding National Policy? 1:09:52

4M ago1:09:52

1:09:52

Every week, headlines tell us that a single federal judge has blocked a presidential order—sometimes halting major policies for years. But should that be possible? Is it democratic? In this episode, we dig into the rise and fall of universal injunctions—a little-known legal tool that allowed one judge to freeze nationwide policy. With a recent Supr…

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Do Politicians Really Have A Conservative Bias? 53:41

5M ago53:41

53:41

Political scientists have long argued that legislators believe the public is more conservative than it really is—potentially shaping policies that don’t align with what voters actually want. But what if that story is incomplete? In this episode, we talk with University of Chicago political scientist Adam Zelizer, who challenges the conventional wis…

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Do We Understand Members Of The Other Party? 54:14

5M ago54:14

54:14

Do Democrats and Republicans really misunderstand each other as much as we think? This week, we dive into a surprising new experiment that puts that idea to the test — literally. Psychologist and researcher Adam Mastriani created a kind of “political Turing test,” asking people to write persuasive statements from the perspective of the opposite pol…

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MechaHitler and The Political Bias of AI Chatbots 57:28

6M ago57:28

57:28

When you ask ChatGPT or Gemini a question about politics, whose opinions are you really hearing? In this episode, we dive into a provocative new study from political scientist Justin Grimmer and his colleagues, which finds that nearly every major large language model—from ChatGPT to Grok—is perceived by Americans as having a left-leaning bias. But …

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Israel's Man-Made Famine in Gaza and the Collapse of Public Health 44:39

5M ago44:39

44:39

Since October 2023, Israel's siege on Gaza has turned food — the most basic human need — into a weapon of war. Today, the entire population is on the brink of famine. Babies are dying. Mothers can't produce milk. And even if food is allowed in, for many, it may already be too late — because refeeding after starvation can be just as deadly. Nearly 8…

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Does The Supreme Court Need Term Limits? 42:06

6M ago42:06

42:06

We're taking some time off to regroup over the summer, but we’re not just dusting off this older episode for no reason. When we first released it, we were grappling with what Supreme Court reform might look like—specifically, whether we should rethink lifetime appointments and move toward term limits. Now? The stakes feel even higher. In just the l…

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Omar Barghouti: 20 years of BDS in the time of 35:53

6M ago35:53

35:53

This year marks 20 years since the launch of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement—a global call for justice, freedom, and equality for Palestinians. In this special episode, Michael Arria with Omar Barghouti, co-founder of BDS, to reflect on two decades of grassroots resistance, the movement's growing global impact, and why BDS is more…

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Dr. Assal Rad on the "12-Day War", Western Media and Israel 33:17

6M ago33:17

33:17

In this episode, we break down what really happened during the so-called "12-Day War" between Israel, the U.S., and Iran — and why it's not about nuclear weapons. Dr. Assal Rad joins us to speak on the role Israel's need for regional instability, and how Western media coverage obscures the bigger picture: the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the occupa…

1
Are We Really Hopelessly Divided? 47:48

6M ago47:48

47:48

Before we get into today’s episode, we wanted to let you know this is a re-release as we take some time to regroup over the summer. But we’re not just dusting it off for no reason. If anything, this episode feels even more relevant now than when we first aired it. It raises a big question: Are voters really thinking for themselves? Or are they just…

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Breaking down Zohran Mamdani's stunning New York victory 27:06

6M ago27:06

27:06

Michael Arria talks to political consultant Peter Feld to break down Zohran Mamdani's historic victory in New York City: "It's proven that Zionism is a paper tiger in Democratic politics and that the emperor has no clothes." - - - - - Support our work Help us continue our critical, independent coverage of events in Palestine, Israel, and related U.…

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From Gaza to Iran: How Empire Manufactures War 43:41

6M ago43:41

43:41

As Israel bombs Iran, and the threat of U.S. military escalation grows by the hour, the world's attention is being pulled into yet another war that Israel started and the West manufactured. After flattening Gaza and locking down the West Bank Israel has now dragged Iran into open confrontation — and is calling on the U.S. to finish the job. Meanwhi…

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The Surprising Political Consequences Of Emigration? 54:44

7M ago54:44

54:44

Migration policies shape not only the economies of countries but also their politics. In this episode, we dive deep into how letting people leave—or restricting their exit—can have surprising ripple effects on collective action and political reform in their home countries. Yale political scientist Emily Sellars reveals why migration might weaken th…

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Is Trump Copying Obama’s Playbook on Universities? 57:46

7M ago57:46

57:46

What if the recent crackdown on elite universities didn’t start with Trump—but with Obama? In this episode, we trace a surprising through-line connecting Obama’s Title IX enforcement to Trump’s Title VI threats. Harvard Law Professor Jacob Gersen joins us to reveal how both presidents used informal bureaucratic tools to reshape higher education—oft…

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Is This the Most Unexpected Voter Turnout Strategy Ever? 41:09

8M ago41:09

41:09

What if one of the most powerful tools to boost voter turnout isn’t a flashy campaign or a new voting law—but being randomly forced to work the polls? In this episode, we explore a surprising study of women in 1930s Spain who were randomly assigned to serve as poll workers—just after they gained the right to vote. The results? A massive, 30-point i…

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The Encampments Documentary: Student Uprising at Columbia with Co-Director Kei Pritsker 42:47

8M ago42:47

42:47

Yumna Patel speaks with Kei Pritsker, journalist at BreakThrough News and co-director of The Encampments — a powerful new documentary chronicling the peaceful student-led movement for Palestine in response to Israel's genocide in Gaza. Co-directed with Michael Workman and produced by BreakThrough News and Watermelon Pictures, the film offers an emb…

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Should Judges Be Elected Like Politicians? 51:01

9M ago51:01

51:01

Hello listeners, we're taking a much-needed spring break here at the podcast, but we want to re-share one of our episodes that has become increasingly salient. One of the defining features of the Trump administration so far is its entanglement with the courts. The legality or illegality of many of its actions are currently being decided by federal …

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Can Meritocratic Hiring Fix the Bureaucracy? 55:42

9M ago55:42

55:42

Led by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE, Americans are debating once again how our government should hire civil servants, but are we asking the right questions? In this episode, we dive into a compelling new study on the Pendleton Act, one of the most significant bureaucratic reforms in U.S. history, which introduced merit-based civil …

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Why Does America Pay More For Infrastructure? 50:42

9M ago50:42

50:42

Infrastructure in the U.S. now costs dramatically more than in countries like Germany or Croatia—without clear signs of higher quality or better environmental outcomes. Why has infrastructure spending spiraled out of control? Could democracy itself—through litigation, regulations, and empowered citizen voices—be driving costs sky-high? George Washi…

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Do Voters Sometimes Support Parties They Actually Disagree With? 42:13

10M ago42:13

42:13

In elections across democracies, we assume voters cast ballots for candidates whose policies align with their interests. But what happens when that's not the case? This week, we unpack a political puzzle from Japan: the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) keeps winning elections despite voters consistently rejecting their policies. Through groundbreakin…

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How Do Political Outsiders Build Loyalty With New Administrations? 49:35

10M ago49:35

49:35

What happens when a political outsider takes power and shakes up the system? In this episode, we look at a fascinating case study that reveals how leaders outside the establishment build loyalty, push their agendas, and change the political landscape. Political scientist Renard Sexton discusses his paper “Deadly Populism: How Local Political Outsid…

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The Gaza Ceasefire Part 3: Palestine's Future 44:19

11M ago44:19

44:19

In this episode, Yumna Patel, Yara Hawari, and Abdaljawad Omar discuss the precarious ceasefire and different future scenarios in Gaza and wider Palestine. This is the third and final episode in a collaboration series between Al-Shabaka and Mondoweiss. - - - - - Support our work Help us continue our critical, independent coverage of events in Pales…

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What Can Political Science Learn from Crypto Governance? 47:10

11M ago47:10

47:10

There’s a real-world experiment in governance happening that you’ve probably not heard about. It involves decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). These online collectives are trying to run billion-dollar enterprises using direct democracy and a controversial mechanism known as “liquid democracy”—where you can delegate your vote to anyone, at…

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The Gaza Ceasefire Part 2: Trump and Israel's plans 39:51

11M ago39:51

39:51

After nearly 16 months of genocide, Palestinians saw a long-awaited respite when a ceasefire was announced in mid-January. But while the bombs have stopped raining down on Gaza—for now—Israel's attacks on Palestinians across occupied lands continue. With only 42 days of ceasefire guaranteed, Israeli politicians are already plotting their return to …

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Is The "Strong Economy Equals Incumbent Victory" Theory Wrong? 45:24

11M ago45:24

45:24

Conventional wisdom says that a strong economy helps incumbents, while a weak economy hurts them. But new research from University of Chicago economist Lubos Pastor titled “Political Cycles and Stock Returns” challenges this idea, suggesting that economic downturns actually push voters toward Democrats, while economic booms favor Republicans. If tr…

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The Gaza Ceasefire Part 1: Jenin and the PA 37:02

11M ago37:02

37:02

Yumna Patel and Al-Shabaka's Yara Hawari break down the latest developments in Jenin and across the West Bank within the context of the Israeli genocide in Gaza and recent ceasefire. This is the first episode of a three-part collaboration series between Al-Shabaka and Mondoweiss. Support our work Help us continue our critical, independent coverage …

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What Are The Forces Shaping Polarization in Congress? 47:37

12M ago47:37

47:37

Why does Congress feel more divided than ever? Are politicians genuinely becoming more extreme, or is something else at play? In this episode, we take on the polarization debate with a twist. Anthony Fowler sits down with University of Chicago political scientist Daniel Moskowitz to uncover new data that challenges conventional wisdom in his paper …

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Do Voters Elect Politicians Just Based On Looks? 44:19

1y ago44:19

44:19

On our last episode we had a discussion about what voters care about when electing politicians…and we mentioned a prior episode where we discussed if something as seemingly arbitrary as looks factor into voter choice. Do more attractive politicians do better? We all know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but if we’re being honest we…

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Are Politicians or The Public More Committed to Democracy? 51:54

1y ago51:54

51:54

When it comes to defending democracy, are politicians or the public more committed to its principles—or are both equally willing to bend the rules for political gain? In his forthcoming book, Elitism vs. Populism, University of Texas at Dallas Political Scientist Curtis Bram challenges the idea that elites are the ultimate defenders of democracy. T…

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Is Bad Government Driving The Rise of Populism? 52:29

1y ago52:29

52:29

Hello Not Another Politics Podcast Listeners. We took some time off in preparation for the Thanksgiving Holiday but given the incredible political events of the month we wanted to re-share an episode that we think is even more relevant today than when we recorded it. Why is populism on the rise across the globe? One story says this movement is driv…

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Why Did Trump Win Again in 2024? 48:56

1y ago48:56

48:56

Trump’s back in the White House—how did it happen? This week, we break down what the political science literature has to tell us about why voters swung his way, what Kamala Harris’s loss tells us about populism and political discontent, and what’s next for American democracy. Plus, co-host Will Howell makes a big announcement! Hosted by Simplecast,…

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Second American Revolution 23:00

1y ago23:00

23:00

Jaye discusses Project 2025, the 900-page wishlist from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that is arguably the most influential group in US politics. She discusses its ties to former president Donald Trump, lists several of its policy proposals, and the four pillars of this plan. Jaye warns listeners of how important voting in the …

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Do Democrats and Republicans Agree on What (and Who) to Censor? 46:07

1y ago46:07

46:07

When it comes to online discourse, do Americans really value free speech—or are they more comfortable with censorship than expected? A surprising new paper from University of Rochester Political Scientist Jamie Druckman, “Illusory Interparty Disagreement: Partisans Agree On What Hate Speech To Censor But Do Not Know It” reveals a surprising alignme…

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One Year of Genocide: Diana Buttu on Israel's Brutality and the Fight for Justice 58:38

1y ago58:38

58:38

Today's episode was recorded just before the one-year anniversary of October 7th, the date marking the beginning of the most recent iteration of Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza. Unfortunately, we missed the release date, but we still felt it was crucial to share this conversation as events continue to unfold. Since the recording, Israel has not…

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Do Fraud Claims About The 2020 Presidential Election Stand Up To Scrutiny? 49:35

1y ago49:35

49:35

In the wake of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, claims of widespread voter fraud have fueled political controversies and public distrust. But how credible are these claims? In this episode, we sit down with political scientist Justin Grimmer to discuss his new paper “An Evaluation of Fraud Claims from the 2020 Trump Election Contests” which sys…

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Reflections from Our Gaza Correspondent: One Year Since the Genocide 37:26

1y ago37:26

37:26

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tareq, Mondoweiss's Gaza correspondent, as he reflects on one year of genocide in Gaza. Tareq shares his deeply personal journey, recounting the horrors of displacement, the loss of his home, and the reality of living and working as a journalist during a genocide. He opens up about the daily challenges he …

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Israel and Iran: Unpacking Western Media Bias 45:29

1y ago45:29

45:29

In the past few weeks, Israel has bombed Lebanon, assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, launched a ground invasion, and displaced over a million people. Health care workers are warning of an 'apocalyptic' situation, with many now sleeping on the streets of Beirut. More than 1,300 have been killed, including at least one Lebanese A…

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Back 14:13

1y ago14:13

14:13

Jaye is back with new episodes of Potstirrer Podcast! In this brief return episode, she shares her reasons for the two-year hiatus, life updates including a new project, and what to expect in future episodes of the show. Potstirrer Podcast links: Link-in-Bio: https://potstirrerpodcast.com/linkinbio/ Website: http://PotstirrerPodcast.com Threads: @p…

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From Beirut to Gaza: The Ripple Effects of Israel's Attack on Lebanon 47:27

1+ y ago47:27

47:27

In just a week, Israel's brutal bombing campaign on Lebanon has killed more than 700 Lebanese people and displaced over 90,000, escalating tensions with Hezbollah and pushing the conflict closer to what some believe is already an all-out war. This comes on the heels of the recent 'pager attack,' where hundreds of personal electronic devices were bo…

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What's Behind The Educational Realignment In Voting? 56:43

1+ y ago56:43

56:43

Ever thought about how your college degree might sway your political leanings? Voters with and without college degrees drifting apart, especially on issues like economics, social values, and foreign policy, but what's driving this shift, and how are party positions influencing voters across different education levels? A new paper from University of…

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Does Election Timing Matter For Turnout And Policy Outcomes? 42:33

1+ y ago42:33

42:33

We talk about it every election cycle…how can we get higher voter turnout? As part of the Center for Effective Government’s primer series focusing on the scholarship covering the pros and cons of different government reforms, University of Chicago Policy Professor Christopher Berry examined whether changing the timing of elections can result in hig…

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Do Committees Lead To Better-Informed Legislative Voting? 37:46

1+ y ago37:46

37:46

In a recent paper by Washington University political scientist Michael Olson, he documents a very strange phenomenon. It seems that when legislators join committees, they’re voting record becomes less aligned with their constituents’ political preferences. The question is…why? Could it be that being on a committee means they’re just better informed…

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86. Indigenous Resistance and Palestinian Liberation with Nick Estes 1:08:01

1+ y ago1:08:01

1:08:01

In this episode, we sit down with a very special guest, Nick Estes, Lead Editor at Red Media. Nick is a Lakota activist, writer, and scholar whose work delves into settler-colonialism, indigenous history, and decolonization. He is the author of Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Ind…