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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 Democrats $20 million plan to win them back.

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Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬

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In this episode, Ron talks to  Casey Michel (Director of the Combating Kleptocracy Program at the Human Rights Foundation) about his book Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World and how foreign money  influences our politics.

They discuss:

(01:46) The shadow world of foreign lobbying 

(03:45) Ivy Lee and Paul Manafort 

(07:36) The First Amendment and foreign influence 

(10:23) Understanding FARA 

(13:28) How Paul Manafort shaped modern lobbying 

(15:49) Legal loopholes and foreign influence in politics 

(18:11) The case of Viktor Pinchuk

(22:13) The Trump Administration’s impact on foreign lobbying 

(27:19) How Universities and Think tanks are the new frontier of influence 

(33:05) Colorful characters in foreign lobbying 

(41:39) The Biden Family and foreign influence accusations 

(45:27) Contrasting foreign influence on Trump and Clinton 

(49:00) Proposed reforms 

Read Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World: https://bit.ly/4giHjBK

Check out the HRF’s Combatting Kleptocracy Program: https://bit.ly/4hAAQTJ

Follow Ron and Casey  on Twitter:

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https://x.com/cjcmichel

Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬ 

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In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (author of The Latino Century)  discuss the connection between MAGA’s economic populism and immigration agendas and populism as a force seeking to dismantle existing systems. 

Finally, in Politicology+, they discuss the Coinbase data leak, why data leaks in the A.I. era will hurt even more, and the need for greater privacy protections. 

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.

Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬

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Mike Madrid and host Ron Steslow discuss Bernie Sanders and AOC’s “Fighting Oligarchy Tour” and where economic populism on the left is heading.Related media:CNN - Bernie Sander's Town Hall Clip

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In this episode, Ron talks to Nick Anthony (Policy Analyst at the Cato Institute and a Fellow at the Human Rights Foundation) about Central Bank Digital Curriences, their potential to invade privacy, alter the dynamics of financial control, how governments are trying to justify them, and why those arguments are insufficient.

They discuss:

(04:16) Intro to CBDCs

(07:58) How CBDCs would give unprecedented control over how you can spend money 

(12:15) The Arguments for and against CBDCs

(19:53)The hidden assumptions behind CBDC arguments 

(24:50) The real world privacy implications of CBDCs

(33:05) CBDCs around the globe 

(36:21) The political dynamics in the U.S. 

(47:47) Bitcoin vs CBDCs

Check out the HRF’s CBDC Tracker: https://bit.ly/3WtFb3g

Follow Ron and Nick on Twitter:

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https://x.com/EconWithNick

Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬ 

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In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and  Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative and advisor to the Forward Party) discuss how and why we’ll need to rethink our education system in the rapidly changing world.

Finally, in Politicology+, they discuss Steve Bannon’s recent speech at Hillsdale College, the escalating rhetoric about being on the verge of war, and how legitimate class and cultural grievances—from the left and the right—are meeting ascendant illiberal ideas and pushing us toward the destruction of liberalism.

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.

Send your questions and ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬

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https://x.com/lucymcaldwell

Related media:

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In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and  Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) discuss the escalating tensions between two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, in Kashmir. 

Then, they talk about the spread of Islamism in the West and the threat it poses to global democracy.

Finally, in Politicology+ they discuss what foreign policy would look like with a progressive nominee for the Democratic party.

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https://x.com/HagarChemali

Related media:

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In the second  part of this  two-part episode, Ron talks to Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) about whether Russia is truly isolated, and what the future of American influence could look like as our self-isolation creates a power vacuum. 

Read Molly’s work: https://www.greatpower.us/

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In the first part of this  two-part episode, Ron talks to Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) about the recent drone attacks in Ukraine, Trump’s “Peace Plan” and what a lasting peace might require. 

Read Molly’s work: https://www.greatpower.us/

Follow Ron and Molly  on X:

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https://x.com/MollyMcKew

Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪‪(703) 239-3068‬

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Nick Gillespie (Editor at Large at Reason) and host Ron Steslow discuss AI, what it’s doing to us, and our relationship with what it means to be human.

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Related media:

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