Best Michael Baranowski Podcasts (2025)

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Charlie Kirk Reactions, Trump and Crime, Government Funding 58:12

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2h ago58:12

58:12

Mike is joined by a new host, political scientist Michael Levy. They open with the political and constitutional fallout from Charlie Kirk’s murder, focusing on government crackdowns on speech. Michael stresses the deeper problem of weaponizing government against dissent, while Mike argues this shows the split between Trump loyalists and constitutio…

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Is There Really Democracy in America? 1:00:24

4d ago1:00:24

1:00:24

Mike talks with Osita Nwanevu, a contributing editor at The New Republic, columnist at The Guardian, and the Democratic Institutions fellow at the Roosevelt Institute. He’s also the author of The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding, which they discuss on this episode Topics Mike & Osita cover include: why democra…

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Epstein's Birthday Book, 24th Anniversary of 9/11 17:04

2h ago17:04

17:04

Trey and Justin cover the recent firing of UK ambassador Peter Mandelson over his connections to Jeffrey Epstein and the implications of Trump's involvement with Epstein. Next, they reflect on the 24th anniversary of 9/11, discussing its lasting impact on American politics and society, and the evolution of political responses to terrorism. The pair…

1
Charlie Kirk, Noem v Perdomo 1:00:19

12m ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Trey and Justin discuss the tragic death of political figure Charlie Kirk, exploring the implications of political violence in the United States. They analyze the rhetoric surrounding the incident, the role of social media in exacerbating tensions, and the need for empathy in political discourse. Next, the pair discuss the Supreme Court's recent ru…

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America’s Law and Order Leviathan 50:58

7d ago50:58

50:58

Mike talks with David Garland, the Arthur Vanderbilt Professor of Law and Professor of Sociology at New York University. He’s the author of multiple books, including the recently released Law and Order Leviathan: America’s Extraordinary Regime of Policing and Punishment, which they discuss on this episode Topics Mike & David cover include: why the …

1
Trump’s Architecture & Google’s Monopoly: Power, Politics, and Attention 18:16

13d ago18:16

18:16

Mike and Tim open this midweek supporters’ episode with a listener’s multipart question about political shifts, good Democratic policies, Trump’s weak spots, and Republican values Democrats overlook. Tim highlights his changed stance on abortion, his appreciation for progressive taxes, skepticism of Trump’s trust in Putin, and the need for more res…

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Trump’s Legal Setbacks: Immigration, Troops in LA, and Tariff Power 55:26

16d ago55:26

55:26

Mike and Tim open with the Fifth Circuit’s rejection of President Trump’s attempt to use the Alien Enemies Act against Venezuelan migrants tied to Tren de Aragua. Tim argues the ruling shows the importance of clear legal definitions but believes Trump is still winning the broader political fight on immigration, while Mike warns about sweeping due p…

1
Pandemics, Poverty and Politics 47:21

6d ago47:21

47:21

Trey talks with Tyler Evans, an experienced infectious diseases and public health expert who has worked around the word, including as Chief Medical Officer for New York City, but also with Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health. He is the author of Pandemics, Poverty, and Politics: Decoding the Social and Political Drivers of Pandemics from…

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The 25th and 26th Amendment 10:04

19d ago10:04

10:04

Trey and Ken continue their deep dive through the U.S. Constitution. They begin by looking at the history and structure of the 25th Amendment. How it has been used in terms of voluntary transfers of power and for the selection of vice presidents. They also discuss the unused portions allowing a president to be forced to transfer power. The pair als…

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Lisa Cook, Troops in Chicago, Susan Monarez 1:13:07

23d ago1:13:07

1:13:07

In a special three-guest episode, Trey and Ken are joined by Mike. They start the show with a conversation on Trump’s attempted firing of Federal Reserve Board Member Lisa Cook over mortgage applications. Trey overviews what is happening and the likely desire of President Trump to influence monetary policy. Ken discusses the current legal landscape…

1
Bryan Caplan is Pro-Market AND Pro-Business 1:18:11

26d ago1:18:11

1:18:11

Mike welcomes back George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan to discuss Bryan’s latest collection, Pro-Market AND Pro-Business: Essays on Laissez-Faire. Topics Mike & Bryan discuss include: Mike’s skepticism of big business and Bryan’s response why Bryan thinks businesspeople earn every penny the pro-market case for noncompete clauses consumer…

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Alligator Alcatraz, Bolton Raid, Ballot Box Battles 16:02

27d ago16:02

16:02

Justin and Sam open with a discussion of the legal challenges surrounding the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility, where Sam highlights how environmental law is being leveraged in unexpected ways and Justin emphasizes the partisan optics behind the controversy. Next, they turn to the FBI raid on John Bolton’s home. Sam underscores the…

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Trump’s Diplomacy, Intel Bailout, Fed Frustrations 49:53

29d ago49:53

49:53

Justin and Sam open with Trump’s back-to-back meetings with Zelensky and Putin. Sam argues they could mark real progress, with Trump uniquely able to pressure leaders into a room. Justin doubts meaningful concessions are likely, pointing to Putin’s sunk costs and Ukraine’s moral high ground. Next, the guys examine Trump’s move to secure a $9B gover…

1
New BLS Head, Trump v Higher Ed, Reclassifying Marijuana 17:32

1M ago17:32

17:32

Mike and Joey open this midweek supporters’ episode with a discussion of President Trump nominating E.J. Antoni to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mike argues that Antoni is too inexperienced for the position, while Joey counters that it’s Antoni’s lack of time in the establishment that may make him a more effective change agent at BLS. They bo…

1
Our New Hosts and What We're All About 3:59

1M ago3:59

3:59

A brief message from Mike about the newest hosts on TPG and why they're on the show. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? Check out the excellent Sustainable Planet podcast. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or…

1
Trump/Putin Meeting, MPD Takeover, Redistricting Wars 1:06:12

1M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Mike and Joey open with a discussion of President Trump’s meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Mike sees it as a weak Trump being once again played by alpha-dog Putin, while Joey believes it’s Trump who is cleverly playing to Putin’s ego. They both agree that we won’t know which interpretation is closer to right until we know the…

1
The Everyday Walls of American Life 1:02:19

1M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Mike talks with Anand Pandian, a professor of anthropology at Johns Hopkins University. He's the author of Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life, and How to Take Them Down, which they discuss on this episode.. Topics Mike & Anand cover include: how distance feeds conspiratorial thinking the rise of “fortress homes” the decline o…

1
Jack Smith, Russian Hoax, JD Vance 11:31

1M ago11:31

11:31

Ken Katkin and Justin Holmes discuss dive into the recent appellate court decision in the DOJ contempt suit, new developments in the investigations of Jack Smith and the Russia Hoax, as well as JD Vance using federal resources to make sure he had a good canoe trip. The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This? Check ou…

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Labor Statistics, Tariffs, Texas Redistricting 1:03:16

1M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

This week, Justin Holmes and Ken Katkin are host. They start off with the firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which seems bad all around, but perhaps won't give Trump what he wants in the end. Next, they move on to trade, as some of Trump's tariffs took effect this week, while China's were delayed yet again. They finish by talking…

1
FairVote and Reforming Voting 48:55

2M ago48:55

48:55

Mike talks with Deb Otis, Director of Research and Policy at FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. Topics Mike & Deb discuss include: - problems with our current voting system - the benefits of ranked choice voting (RCV) - potential issues with RCV - the pushback against RCV in Republican states - the Fair Represent…

1
Starvation in Gaza, Epstein Files, Big Housing Bill 17:40

2M ago17:40

17:40

Mike and Ken kick off this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of the dire situation in Gaza, including consideration of what the US can do to help and Netanyahu’s endgame in his fight against Hamas (and to stay out of prison). Next, they look at a novel approach Democrats on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee are taking to force t…

1
The Fed Holds, Redistricting Wars, DOGE’s New AI Tool 1:11:31

2M ago1:11:31

1:11:31

Mike and Ken open with a discussion of the Federal Reserve’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged, despite hectoring from President Trump for a major rate cut. The guys consider the case for and against lower interest rates, as well as the effect the Trump tariffs are having on the decision. From there, they consider the likelihood that the S…

1
Zohran Mamdani: The Next Big Thing, Or A Democratic Dead End? 57:18

2M ago57:18

57:18

Mike talks with Tim Murphy, a national correspondent at Mother Jones, about the NYC mayoral campaign of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. Topics Mike and Tim discuss include: lessons learned from Trump’s NYC gains in 2024 disillusionment and disengagement in Democratic cities Mamdani’s limited experience how much Mamdani benefited from running a…

1
Democratic Identity Crisis, Trump’s Culture Jabs, 80s Icons Exit 19:38

2M ago19:38

19:38

Justin and Joey open this midweek supporters’ episode by exploring the Democratic Party’s post-2024 crossroads, sparked by a socialist win in New York and Hunter Biden’s provocative media appearances. Justin argues the party’s aging leadership and weak bench leave it vulnerable and fragmented, with no clear 2028 frontrunner. Joey sees a party ideol…

1
Conspiracy Theories, Paramount Merger, TX Redistricting 56:31

2M ago56:31

56:31

Joey Ashbrook joins Justin Holmes to talk through the week's issues. They start with the continuing saga of the Epstein Files and the potential political fallout. Next, they turn their attention to the Paramount merger and the Trump Administration's role in it. Finally, they wrap up by talking about Texas doing an unusual (but legal) mid-decade con…