Inside Political Science

What issues matter to college students? Is there hope for a political common ground among the next generation? Three Texas A&M students join Kirby and Todd for a robust discussion of student perspectives. As young voters, they are discovering how to be a part of the political process. They bring up national issues like the economy, debt and free speech, but also local issues that directly affect them, including affordable housing and immigration. Rent concerns are a big part of the conversation, as the students debate if and how they can create change. Kirby and Todd ask where students get their news and how social media coverage influences the narrative. Are Aggie students inherently political or are they too nice to disagree? Plus, the students ask: where are the high-paying jobs we were promised if we went to college? For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Will the U.S. lose its world power? Are we on a path to a lower quality of life? In this episode, Kirby and Todd bring on Dr. Matt Motta to talk about the politicization of scientific research and how it affects our lives and power. As the federal government makes budget cuts, Dr. Motta wonders what will happen to important research. He argues that things like GPS, the internet and medicine are direct results of scientific investment. Plus, how will universities, which do much of the country’s research, be affected? Universities can be valuable assets to local communities, but will the decision makers realize that? Finally, the group discusses our technically complex world full of expertise and opinions. Dr. Motta says it’s okay to be skeptical of science and recognizes that scientists aren’t always perfect. He wants to push them to better explain the value of their work, admit when they’re wrong and show people how the power of science can change the world for the better. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Keeping people in jail can get expensive. But public safety is vital. So is letting people out on bail effective? Kirby and Todd bring two guests to the show to discuss bail reform in their new episode. First, Ken Good, a bail attorney and board member for the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, shares what he thinks good bail reform looks like. He encourages accountability and wants to give judges and police officers the tools to do their jobs. Later, George Naufal, a research scientist at Texas A&M’s Public Policy Research Institute, discusses his work on a Harris County equitable bail study. He shares what his team found and why he hopes judges can use research and data in the future rather than just their instincts. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

If it feels hard to keep up with the whiplash of politics these last few weeks, you’re not alone! Kirby and Todd are back with a new episode about everything happening: from tariffs and the constant battle between free trade and fair trade; to Elon Musk proclaiming that “the entire destiny of humanity” rests on a Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Plus, is President Trump’s ‘third term’ discussion a distraction ploy, or is he serious - and are Democrats taking the bait? And why are right-wing podcasts so much more popular than left-wing podcasts? Later in the episode, Kirby is joined by George Washington University professor Dr. Christopher Warshaw. They discuss why state and local politics are so complicated to study and why they don’t get as much attention as national politics. Stay for the end to get a little nugget from Kirby and Todd as they explain why Californians moving to Texas likely won’t turn Texas blue. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Our Constitution was built for presidents like Donald Trump. That’s the argument from Kirby and Todd in their latest episode. Kirby says the Constitution was set up for presidents to grab power and Congress to provide checks and balances - much like Trump is doing. But everyone knows the next mid-term election will change the balance again. Kirby and Todd discuss a variety of topics in this episode, including judge clashes, immigration, the economy, Republican messaging and why Democrats just can’t seem to get their party back together. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

President Trump is doing what we expect leaders to do. Congress isn’t - and that’s a problem. Kirby and Todd are back to discuss the sledgehammer the president is taking to the government and the budget. They say so much is happening that no one really knows what’s happening! But what they do know is that our checks and balances system isn’t working. Trump is using his power as leaders should. Congress should be checking him to keep things balanced… except they aren’t. And that’s their fault. Our hosts discuss why, plus how cutting a trillion dollars from the budget won’t be enough to bring down the national debt. By the way, did you know the last balanced budget was in 2001? And they explore messaging: why Republicans are winning with their government waste message and why Democrats can’t find a message to shift the focus. Later in the episode, Kirby is visited by Harvard professor Josh Kertzer. They discuss why Americans have strong opinions about foreign policy, why political elites have ordinary problems and how Trump will handle negotiations, influence, Russia, tariffs and more. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Things aren’t cheap. Good thing Texas has money. Kirby and Todd talk Texas politics with guest Brandon Rottinghaus in this new episode. As the legislative session kicks into high gear, what are Governor Abbott’s priorities? Will the state House or Senate help him get more done? There are a lot of expensive things on the governor’s agenda, so what can get done? The trio discusses how the school voucher issue has become a national concern, how higher education institutions will fare and if the governor is thinking about a 2028 run. Plus, how do state Democrats respond to another cycle of their purple movement failing? After a break, the topic shifts to national politics and scandals. Kirby and Todd ask Brandon if scandals still matter. Brandon argues they’re no longer career-ending. They discuss who really sets a president’s agenda and how President Trump continues to break norms. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Who do you love and who do you hate? In terms of foreign policy, that's a complicated question. Kirby and Todd are back with their first episode of 2025. They bring in foreign policy expert Dr. John Schuessler to discuss how newly returned President Donald Trump might handle foreign relations. As his second term begins, how will Trump take on a world that has changed so much in the past four years? Does his experience mean he is better prepared to transition back into office? And what kind of negotiation tactics will he use? While he may seem to use "hard power," John argues he uses "soft power" more than people realize. How will he balance structure versus agency? Will he rethink our relationships with our allies? Plus, have other nations figured out Trump's tell? The group discusses whether his tendency to compromise for 'little wins' is worthwhile. Finally, Kirby and Todd analyze some of Trump’s strengths and weaknesses as the president gets to work. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

Do presidents need better, simpler, narrower agendas? In this episode, Kirby and Todd argue yes - presidential approval ratings are dropping. Why? That’s what Kirby and Todd answer as they discuss presidential honeymoons, what presidents should focus on and traditional politics. How will political parties continue to adapt to voters? Plus, $587,000 a year!? Why Gen Z thinks that’s the number needed for comfort. Speaking of comfort, why does Trump seem so comfy during chaos? And Kirby and Todd discuss the Hunter Biden pardon: the broadness of the pardon, why we won’t remember this in ten years, what it might mean for term limits, and if Biden should pardon Trump. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.

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.