Inside Political Science

What really happens during a presidential transition? Historically, the transition period was a time for vacation. Campaigning is tough and exhausting! But to keep the country safe and secure every day, a thorough, decisive and professional transition is needed. Kirby and Todd are joined by presidential transition expert Heath Brown, who has extensively researched this relatively secret part of governing. He shares his thoughts on the history of presidential transitions - including how the Cold War and later 9/11 impacted transitions - plus why it’s so important to have a full team ready to go on day one, why vetting is important, and how this transition could compare to the 2020 transition. And did you know each president has to appoint more than 4,000 people to federal jobs? Then, Kirby and Todd think ahead to 2028 and continue to analyze what went wrong for Democrats. Did they go too far left? Or did they get too close to the center? And finally, why governance can be compared to fighting over the thermostat. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

We have a new president, and it happened quicker and more decisively than anyone expected. Kirby and Todd react to Donald Trump’s victory, calling it one of the best political comebacks in history. They give kudos to his campaign for choosing strategies that seemed odd on the surface but paid off in a big way. They discuss what the Harris campaign may be second-guessing and if the results would have been different if Biden dropped out earlier. Plus, can anyone be the Democrat version of Trump in the 2028 cycle, are podcasts and social media replacing the political value of a “60 Minutes” appearance, why were the polls so off and why are so many incumbent parties around the world losing this year? And why did the Democrats lose when they had more money? Finally, Kirby and Todd look ahead, discussing why governing is harder than campaigning and how Trump might handle ‘revenge,’ foreign affairs, and the economy. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Guess what? This presidential election isn’t the nastiest in history, even if it feels like it at the moment. As Election Day dawns, Kirby and Todd provide their final insights before the nation decides on new elected officials. They discuss why this election won’t be the end of the world. Which party represents the working class? It may not be who it used to be. Plus, Congressional control is up in the air and more people than ever are turning out to vote. It’s Election Day! For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience. Episodes will continue after the election, as our hosts break down what’s next for the winner and loser and prepare for the Texas legislature to convene in 2025.

Kamala on Fox News, Arnold Palmer and McDonald’s french fries: media coverage of politics isn’t simple anymore. Candidates are exploring digital content creation more than ever before and it’s making it hard to keep up. For the last time before the election, Kirby and Todd give their perspectives on the presidential campaigns. Guest Katie Searles joins from South Carolina to discuss how the media is grappling with two different personalities - Trump because he’s tough to predict and Harris because some say she’s too scripted. The crew discusses the digital age and why content strategy is now a part of politics. Plus, why this election will be written about in textbooks for years, why Democrats are experimenting with data and how microtargeting plays a role in digital political marketing. Finally, Kirby and Todd wrap up with a few things to watch just a few days before decision day. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Young people are America’s future. So what matters most to them? Kirby and Todd take “Inside Political Science” out of the podcast studio and into a classroom to ask Texas A&M freshmen students that question. Students in Todd’s Introduction to Civics and Democracy class pose their questions about national debt, inflation, transgender rights, foreign spending, political accountability and more. Plus, Todd asks his students how they get their news and Kirby asks them if they trust what they see on social media. Just a couple of weeks before Election Day, find out what matters most to the next generation in this special episode. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Who’s the problem when it comes to properly counting votes? Kirby, Todd and guest Soren Jordan say it’s us (cue Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero”). Why? Because we want counting to be done carefully but quickly - and we can’t have it both ways. Plus, is voting for “American Idol” easier than voting for president? In this episode, the trio begins by talking hurricane politics and how an administration’s response to natural disasters can affect campaign success. Did the VP debate actually matter? Plus, media appearances, debt policies and ‘polarized incompetence.’ Then, the trio settles in for a robust discussion about election administration and why our elections are so unique. They discuss why elections are so different from state to state. Soren explains that your local election administrator is a highly qualified public servant who intensely cares about legal and secure elections. Todd asks if training poll watchers is a good idea. And when will we know the winner? Find out in this episode of “Inside Political Science.” For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

We can land a rover on Mars but we can’t count votes. That’s what Kirby and Todd say this week on “Inside Political Science” as they discuss voting rules, turnout and mobilization. At this point in the election cycle, will any voters change their minds? Do “hate ads” work, and are social media influencers… influencing? Will undecided voters… decide? Will Springfield, Ohio’s dogs and cats… be eaten? (Hopefully not, and yes they do talk about it.) Plus, political violence, problematic politics, mobilizing young men vs. young women, why the world is so tough to predict and the (productive?) use of misinformation. They also discuss the reality of having 50 separate elections and why that may affect how long it takes to get final results. And, overall, at the end of the day, does your vote really matter? For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Who looked more presidential during the debate? Who pivoted like a point guard? Did we learn anything? Who squirmed more? And who lost the meme war? Kirby and Todd analyze every aspect of the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris like only political scientists can. They discuss if either candidate really answered the questions they were asked and who got distracted. Find out who they think “won” the debate - or if anyone should even be crowned the winner. Plus, is it surprising how many people watched and how long they watched? Do the moderators deserve criticism? And do recent endorsements from Taylor Swift, Robert Kennedy and Walz family members matter? Finally, did the debate change anyone’s mind? With less than two months until election day, we’re here to provide important analysis you won’t hear on the news. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Defense isn’t America’s number one expense anymore - paying for the national debt is taking over the top spot. Economics professor Jonathan Meer joins Kirby and Todd to diagnose the national debt and grade economic proposals from the Trump and Harris campaigns (find out why he’s giving F’s to both). Plus, Dr. Meer explains that purchasing power is up, even if it’s hard to believe, analyzes why stores do actually care what you think about their prices and dives into why some issues feel like “future America’s problem.” For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

She’s been America’s VP for three years - but how much do we really know about her? And who wins the race to define her first - Republicans or Democrats? In this episode, Todd welcomes guest host Dr. Justin Vaughn, a political science professor at Coastal Carolina University. They discuss positive and negative messages about Harris, overall campaign messaging, polling, the idea of “vibe voting,” the Twitterati, why no one pays attention in the summer, and bread-and-butter policy issues. Plus, why the Trump campaign is pivoting and why the Harris campaign is running a race that Biden couldn’t. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.