The U.S. is monitoring more national security threats  than at any point since World War II and last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin went to the hospital because of complications from a recent survey. 

But no one told the President for three days. 

In this episode, Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) joins Ron Steslow to discuss Austin’s hospitalization and the delay in telling the White House.

Segments to look forward to:

(01:45) Ron sets the stage with a rundown of the timeline of Sec. Austin’s hospitalization and when the White House was informed 

(03:13) Hagar breaks down her initial reaction to the news and the political and media uproar

(05:00) The role of the Secretary of Defense in national security and what risks Austin’s absence could have posed

(06:43) Hagar provides  an overview of the current national security climate, including the rising tension in the Middle East, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the situation in China and Taiwan and places Austin’s hospitalization in this broader context. 

(14:11) The standard protocols for handling this situation within government agencies 

(33:11) Analyzing the political and public relations fallout from the incident, and how it could impact domestic politics and foreign policy 

Check out Oh My World!: https://www.ohmyworld.tv/

Follow Ron and Hagar on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/HagarChemali

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

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On this weekly roundup, the ongoing immigration crisis, the legal and illegal corruption in Congress, and President Joe Biden’s insurrection pivot. 

This week’s panel: 

Ron Steslow

Liz Gilbert Cohen (President of the 2020 Democratic National Convention)

Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP) 

Segments this week:

(02:23) The border crisis

(24:05) Congressional stock trading and Bob Menendez’s corruption charges

(45:30) The Biden campaign’s pivot to Trump’s role in the insurrection

[Politicology+] Is this the beginning of the end of DEI?

Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.

Send your questions 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://twitter.com/LPDonovan

Check out Unusual Whales: 

https://twitter.com/unusual_whales

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

The Hill - House GOP to begin 2024 with focus on border | The Hill

ABC News - Migrant encounters along southwest border reach all-time high of 302,000 - ABC News

Fox News - Migrant encounters at southern border hit record 302K in December, sources say

Fox News - Eric Adams says NYC is at ‘breaking point’ as he warns of another surge of migrants from Texas

Chicago Sun Times - With Chicago’s migrant crisis worsening, Biden should step up

Politico - Opinion | The Root Causes of Congressional Dysfunction - POLITICO

Segment 2: 

Unusual Whales - The Unusual Whales Congress Trading Report for 2023

ABC News - Citizen watchdogs eye Congress' 'killing it' approach to stock trading - ABC News

CNN - Sen. Menendez charged with receiving gifts from Qatar in new allegations in corruption scheme | CNN Politics

Segment 3: 

Axios - Biden will target Trump in speech at war site on Jan. 6 anniversary

Wash Post: Biden campaign amps up focus on Trump, starting with Jan. 6 speech - The Washington Post

AP News - 2024 election: Biden will start the year at sites of national trauma | AP News

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Michele Gelfand (Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss culture, social norms, and her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World 

(01:46) Why she decided to study culture 

(04:34) What are tight and loose cultures

(06:12) Why tight and loose cultures evolve

(10:38) The tradeoffs between tight and loose and how different cultures responded to the Covid pandemic

(16:19) Tightness-looseness and willingness to change

(19:57) Red and Blue vs Tight and Loose 

(30:36) Tightening around core values, even in loose cultures

(34:56) Real and manufactured threats 

(44:15) How we we can put this framework into action 

You should read Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: https://amzn.to/3Qy8DQc

To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus

Follow Michele and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MicheleJGelfand

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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On Monday, Egypt proposed a plan for a long-term ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative  and advisor to the Forward Party) and Zack Czajkowski (Principal at Title Fight) discuss Hamas rejecting the plan and the bias in media coverage about the war. 

Then they dive into the plagiarism allegations levied against Harvard President Claudine Gay

Next, they discuss the debate around Section 3 of the 14th Amendment and Donald Trump’s eligibility to be president 

Segments this week:

(02:06) Israel-Hamas

(12:30) Harvard Plagiarism Allegations

(35:06) Trump’s Ballot Eligibility

[Politicology+] Your Phone Is Listening to Every Word You Say

Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.

Send your questions 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://twitter.com/lucymcaldwell

https://twitter.com/ZackCz

To learn more about the 14th Amendment argument, listen to these great deep dives on Yale Professor Akhil Amar’s podcast:

Amarica's Constitution: The Two Experts on Section Three - Special Guests William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen on Apple Podcasts

Amarica's Constitution: The Two Experts, Part Two - Special Guests William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen on Apple Podcasts

‎Amarica's Constitution: An Officer and a President on Apple Podcasts

‎Amarica's Constitution: 2 Experts, 3 Courts, Section 3, Part 3 - Special Guests William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen on Apple Podcasts

‎Amarica's Constitution: The World Turns to Section Three

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

TIME - Egypt Proposes Ceasefire Amid One of the Deadliest Israeli Airstrikes Yet to Hit Gaza Strip

Reuters - Hamas, Islamic Jihad reject Gaza gov. overhaul for permanent ceasefire, Egyptian sources say | Reuters

Israel National News - New York Times headline falsely claims Gaza war has most Arab deaths in 40 years

NYT - Opinion | I Am Gaza City’s Mayor. Our Lives and Culture Are in Rubble. - The New York Times

JP - NYT criticized for running op-ed by Hamas-appointed Gaza mayor - The Jerusalem Post

Segment 2: 

NYT - Harvard Finds More Instances of ‘Duplicative Language’ in Claudine Gay’s Work - The New York Times

WP - Opinion | Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay, should resign now - The Washington Post

NYT - Opinion | Why Harvard’s Claudine Gay Should Go - The New York Times

Jewish Insider - Harvard controversy casts spotlight on Penny Pritzker, former Obama official atop university board

Segment 3: 

CNN - Michigan Supreme Court rejects ‘insurrectionist ban’ case and keeps Trump on 2024 primary ballot | CNN Politics

Politico - Michigan Supreme Court allows Trump to appear on 2024 primary ballot - POLITICO

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For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus

In our digital age, people have grown to see social media platforms as mere tools and applications. 

Marcus Collins, the award-winning marketer, former digital strategist for Beyoncé, and author of "For The Culture", argues otherwise. 

Join host Ron Steslow as he sits down with Marcus to unravel the deep-seated influence of culture on social media and our daily choices.

Marcus elaborates on his assertion that "social media is people" and why understanding this fundamental idea changes our approach to digital platforms. He also delves into the crucial role of culture in hyperpolarization and how it weaves into the fabric of our society.

Segments to look forward to:

(01:20) How Marcus came to study culture: "I feel like I'm at my best when I'm helping people realize the best version of themselves…”

(04:26) The connection between marketing and psychology

(08:42) The importance of purpose in advertising: "Start with what you believe and when you start with what you believe people who see the world the way you do go, 'Finally, someone said it. That's my person.'”

(17:02) The influence of culture on consumer choice

(20:40) The connection between culture and politics

(24:00) Case study: How Patagonia leveraged culture to build their brand

You Should Read For the Culture: https://amzn.to/3QjLDaH

Check out Predictably Rational by Dan Ariely: https://amzn.to/3rPeWHL

Follow Ron and Marcus on X (Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/marctothec

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Hagar Chemali, Susan Del Percio, and Ron Steslow discuss Former New York Times Opinion Editor James Bennet’s scathing analysis of The New York Times and their illiberal bias in The Economist

Related reading:

The Economist - When the New York Times lost its way

https://www.economist.com/1843/2023/12/14/when-the-new-york-times-lost-its-way

Judith Miller -I used to work for the New York Times. Former editor is right about paper becoming a 'culture of intolerance'

https://judithmiller.com/27403/new-york-times-intolerance

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To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.

On Tuesday, the Colorado State Supreme Court ruled Donald Trump is eligible to be on the ballot in the state. 

On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Hagar Chemali and Susan Del Percio discuss the ruling and how it will impact the political landscape. 

Then they dive into the negotiations over border security, immigration reform and foreign military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan

Next, they discuss the alarming levels of Holocaust denialism among younger Americans and the antisemitism in public schools.

Segments this week:

(03:30) Colorado Supreme Court Case

(25:00) Border security and foreign military aid 

(46:10) Alarming levels of Holocaust denialism

[Politicology+] Former New York Times Opinion Editor James Bennet’s scathing analysis of The New York Times and their illiberal bias

Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts.

Send your questions 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://twitter.com/HagarChemali

https://twitter.com/DelPercioS

To learn more about the 14th Amendment argument, listen to these great deep dives on Yale Professor Akhil Amar’s podcast:

Amarica's Constitution: The Two Experts on Section Three - Special Guests William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen on Apple Podcasts

Amarica's Constitution: The Two Experts, Part Two - Special Guests William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen on Apple Podcasts

‎Amarica's Constitution: An Officer and a President on Apple Podcasts

‎Amarica's Constitution: 2 Experts, 3 Courts, Section 3, Part 3 - Special Guests William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen on Apple Podcasts

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

CBS News - Colorado Supreme Court rules Trump is disqualified from presidency for Jan. 6 riot - CBS News

The Hill - Dan Patrick suggests taking Biden off ballot in Texas | The Hill

Axios - Landmark Trump ruling gives Supreme Court an unexpected New Year's agenda

Axios - Congress erupts after court disqualifies Trump from Colorado ballot

Segment 2: 

NYT - Congress Abandons Ukraine Aid Until Next Year as Border Talks Continue - The New York Times

WP - Opinion: A border deal can save Ukraine, aid Israel and Taiwan, and help Biden

WP - Opinion | A deal on Ukraine and immigration would show that the center can hold - The Washington Post

The Hill - Border Patrol says surge in border crossings is overwhelming its resources | The Hill

NBC News - Xi warned Biden during summit that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with China

Segment 3: 

The Economist - One in five young Americans thinks the Holocaust is a myth

FP - How U.S. Public Schools Teach Antisemitism | The Free Press

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Over the last few months, there’s been a stark change in tone from some of Ukraine’s biggest supporters—there’s a growing pessimism that Ukraine can take back their land from the Russian invaders and win the war.

In this insightful episode, host Ron Steslow invites Molly McKew, an expert on Russian influence and information warfare, to discuss the ongoing Ukraine conflict. As we approach nearly 700 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this episode delves into the war's current state, the changing narratives, and the strategic implications for global democracy.

Segments to look forward to:

(01:27) Understanding the current state of the war

(06:50) The change in attitudes toward Ukraine

(11:10) The delay in ramping up production capacity for munitions 

(15:20) What do the  numbers of  “military capacity” losses  actually mean? 

(19:05) Ukraine’s counteroffensive 

(25:05) The need for a change in military strategy 

(30:13) The domestic political implications if Ukraine doesn’t win

(39:00) What Ukraine needs to do to win and what we need to do to help them

(49:10) Whether a negotiated settlement is feasible 

Follow Ron and Molly  on X:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/MollyMcKew

Email questions and thoughts to [email protected]. 

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Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Ron Steslow respond to your feedback and answer your questions on our latest mailbag episode. 

(01:20) Wendy H. asks “Why isn't anyone talking about the fact that if Trump gets back into office, he will not try to leave once his time is up?”

(04:53) Your feedback on our two-part ‘Holy War’ episode and Mike’s reaction to the New Apostolic Reformation 

(14:55) Listener Rohanna W. inquires: "What motivates Steve Bannon, and what resources can help understand his goals?"

(20:21) John R. asks: "Why don't political leaders like Biden utilize the power of short, aspirational speeches?"

(27:11) Your feedback on our two-part ‘Identity Trap’ episode with Yascha Mounk

(27:50) John from Augusta shares thoughts on enforcing the 14th Amendment against Trump.

(33:55) Ron shares your reviews 

Have a question for a future Mailbag episode? Send it over to us at [email protected]!

Follow Ron, and Mike on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/madrid_mike

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Poler Family Professor and chair of the psychology department at Amherst College Dr. Catherine Sanderson joins Ron Steslow to talk about how giving can make you happier. 

(02:08) What is happiness and how can we measure it?

(08:31) Does giving make you happy or do happy people give more?

(10:20) Types of giving and the impact on happiness

(14:50) The effect of giving on bad moods

(28:58) Gratitude letters

The Positive Shift by Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://benbellabooks.com/shop/the-positive-shift/

Politicology - March 10: Becoming Moral Rebels with Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://politicology.com/episodes/dr-catherine-sanderson-becoming-moral-rebels/

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https://twitter.com/SandersonSpeaks

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