Politicology

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In part two of this series, Ron talks to Rebecca Roiphe (Joseph Solomon Distinguished Professor of Law at New York Law School) about critical legal studies, the attacks on our understanding of what the law is and how it should function from across the political spectrum.  They focus on how the chilling actions of the Trump Administration stem from a belief that law is merely an instrument of power, and why that belief is corrosive—to the everyday practice of law and to liberal democracy itself.

They discuss:

(08:00) Understanding liberalism vs progressivism

(09:08) Fairness in the legal system 

(16:43) The role of the Federalist Society and its shift at Harvard 

(21:19) The Trump Administration’s legal philosophy

(25:39) The independence of the Justice Department 

(28:33) The impact of executive orders targeting law firms 

(32:33) The future of legal representation 

Follow Ron and Rebecca on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/rroiphe

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

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In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and  Mike Madrid (author of The Latino Century) discuss high profile warnings that AI could outrun us very soon.

Then, they talk about the death of Pope Francis and what’s next for the Catholic Church before discussing christianity’s merger with MAGA, and what that means for the fate of liberalism in America

Finally, in Politicology+ they discuss Bernie Sanders and AOC’s “Fighting Oligarchy Tour” and where economic populism on the left is heading. 

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

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/madrid_mike

Related media:

CBS News - Artificial intelligence could end disease, lead to "radical abundance," Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis says - CBS News

The Free Press - Ross Douthat: Why It’s Logical to Believe in God

The Free Press - Can America Survive Without Christianity?

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In this two-part episode, Ron talks to Rebecca Roiphe (Joseph Solomon Distinguished Professor of Law at New York Law School) about critical legal studies, the attacks on our understanding of what the law is and how it should function from across the political spectrum. 

They discuss:

(04:57) The challenges the rule of law is facing

(07:31) Understanding Critical Legal Studies

(10:16) Intersectionality and Its Impact

(12:00) Power Dynamics in Critical Legal Studies 

(20:54) The Adversarial System and Its Importance

(27:05) The Evolution of Critical Legal Thought

(32:45) The Role of Law in Democracy

Follow Ron and Rebecca on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/rroiphe

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

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Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate

To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

In this week’s wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Nick Gillespie (Editor at Large at Reason) discuss why it’s essential to engage with libertarian values—especially in this moment.

They talk about the current assault on due process and how immigration is central to what America is and what it means.

They discuss the FTC lawsuit against Facebook, the collision between The Trump Administration and “New Right” ideas about economics.

Then, they look at rising economic resentment and consider how well free-market capitalism is working right now.

Finally, in Politicology+ they discuss AI, what it’s doing both for us and to us, and our relationship with what it means to be human.

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 ‪(202) 455-4558‬

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/nickgillespie

Related media:

Reason: Homegrowns Are Next

WSJ - Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s Failed Negotiations With the FTC to End Meta’s Antitrust Case - WSJ

FP - Fight Club: Execute Luigi Mangione?

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This week, Ron Steslow and Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP) discuss the tariff rollercoaster, the “new right” economic theory driving them, and why the Trump administration cares a lot less about the stock market than in his first term.

Then, we discuss why we’re engaged in full-throttle economic warfare with China.

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss how the uncertainty around tariffs is impacting business and how tariffs breed cronyism. 

Segments this week:

(07:44) The “new right”

(37:42) Economic warfare

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 thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/LPDonovan

Related media:

The Daily Show – Oren Cass on Trump Tariffs and “The New Conservatives” 

Izabella Kaminska —Making a moral case for Tariffs 

Hudson Institute — Stephen Miran on the Trump Admins economic agenda 

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Some of the most vexing political controversies, policy questions, and cultural crises of our current moment trace their orbit around the singular legal and cultural gravity of our 1st Amendment—and the radical, enlightenment wisdom enshrined in it.

What has really been going across college campuses—and what’s at stake for wider society outside the confines of higher education?

Is the colloquial public square, practically speaking, now privately held by a handful of tech titans?

How has the idea of “free speech” become so shockingly misunderstood that one of our major political parties can persuade a large swath of the country that a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol is “legitimate political discourse?”

Greg Lukianoff (President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss FIRE’s fight to protect free speech on—and, now, off—campus.

(02:15) Greg’s background and FIRE’s role in protecting the First Amendment 

(5:15) The Coddling of the American Mind 

(10:30) The state of free speech on college campuses 

(30:20) What’s driving the complaints on college campuses 

(39:55) FIRE moving off campus to create a culture of free speech 

(41:05) Why they decided to take on off campus speech issues

(50:31) Limits to protected speech

(59:10) Free speech and Big Tech

(1:04:25) Creating a culture of free speech

Visit FIRE’s Website: thefire.org

Follow Greg  and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/glukianoff

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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Former presidential candidate and Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina joins Ron Steslow to discuss how short-term gains have gotten preferential treatment over long-term planning and success.

(04:39) The differences between short-term vs. long-term

(07:02) Expecting quick fixes to long-term problems

(15:30) The shift in corporate responsibility from just shareholders to stakeholders

(30:32) How the short-term goal of winning elections short-circuits governing 

Politicology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?

Follow Carly and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/CarlyFiorina

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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This week, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) meet in studio to discuss the senior administration officials who accidentally shared attack plans with a journalist on Signal.

Then, we dive deeper into whether the perception of Trump as a consistent liar can create a paradoxical stability in global affairs, how an information war threatens an entire financial system, and revisiting the stakes of the AI race.

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss two recent convictions in a plot to kill Iranian-American journalist and dissident Masih Alinejad and the boldness of our enemies engaging in transnational repression on American soil.

Segments this week:

(04:43) Signal leak

(27:19) Trust collapse

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 thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/HagarChemali

Related media:

Segment 1: 

The Atlantic - The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans - The Atlantic

The Atlantic - Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump’s Advisers Shared on Signal - The Atlantic

Segment 2: 

Global Superpowers’ Strategies for Energy, Economics, and War | Reality Roundtable #16

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In the second part of this two-episode conversation, Stanford Professors Mehran Sahami and Jeremy Weinstein join Ron Steslow to discuss their book System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot.

(07:11) The modern day trolley problem

(16:54) Reorienting invention toward problem solving

(23:16) The other skills tech companies need

(28:53) The problem of the inventor/CEO

(39:57) What companies and governments can do to reshape how big tech operates

Purchase System Error:

https://systemerrorbook.com/

Politicology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?

Follow Mehran and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/mehran_sahami

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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In this two-episode conversation, Stanford Professors Mehran Sahami and Jeremy Weinstein join Ron Steslow to discuss their book System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot.

(05:42) Why they decided to write their book

(10:56) How venture capital has shaped Silicon Valley

(19:04) Optimization mindset meets Democracy

(37:36) Our privacy boundaries when it comes to government and private companies

Purchase System Error:

https://systemerrorbook.com/

Politicology is supported by listeners like you. Can you pitch in right now at https://politicology.com/donate?

Follow Mehran and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/mehran_sahami

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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