Politicology

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Imagine a world where candidates no longer need to pander to the extremes, where minor candidates don’t tip elections one way or another, and where your vote can truly represent your values. Sounds like a dream, right?

States like Alaska and Maine are already proving it's possible. And they’re doing it with Ranked Choice Voting.

In this episode host Ron Steslow and Deb Otis (Director of Research at Fair Vote) break down ranked choice voting, how it works, the way it’s changing politics in states like Alaska and Maine, and what it could mean for other campaigns and how it could help us reign in extremism.

Segments to look forward to:

(02:12) How Deb started working on Ranked Choice Voting reform 

(03:05) What Ranked Choice Voting is and how it differs from our current system 

(07:40) Different forms of Ranked Choice Voting 

(12:00) How Ranked Choice Voting pushes candidates to appeal to more of the electorate

(14:36) Ranked Choice Voting in partisan primary elections 

(17:30) The impact on extremist candidates like Sarah Palin in the 2022 Alaska House Race 

(20:50) How Ranked Choice Voting helped Lisa Murkowski hold off a primary challenge from her right 

(22:01) The repeal effort in Alaska 

(28:48) How Ranked Choice Voting has changed the way states are governed

(31:51) Ranked choice voting in New York City primaries

(35:35) Why Democrats are fighting Ranked Choice Voting in Nevada 

(43:37) What other states can learn from Alaska and Maine 

(47:47) Using Ranked Choice Voting in Presidential Primary elections. 

Learn more about Fair Vote: https://fairvote.org/

Learn about how Ranked Choice Voting is being used in presidential primaries: https://bit.ly/3QXWwz0

Follow Ron on Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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This week, we discuss the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Then, we consider the implications of Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, endorsing Kamala Harris.

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we answer a listener question and talk about electoral reforms that could improve voting and reinvigorate our democracy.

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Lucy Caldwell  (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative and advisor to the Forward Party)

Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP; host of The Lobby Pod)

Segments this week:

(02:14) The debate 

(36:08) Former Vice President Dick Cheney and Liz Cheney endorse Harris

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

Listen to The Lobby Shop: https://bit.ly/3Y094tp

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

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/lucymcaldwell

https://x.com/LPDonovan

Related readings

Segment 2: 

Politico - Why the ‘one-two punch’ of Liz and Dick Cheney backing Harris matters - POLITICO

The Dispatch - Voting Isn’t A Window Into the Soul - The Dispatch

LA Times - The problem with Liz Cheney's Kamala Harris endorsement - Los Angeles Times

The Dispatch - There’s One More Thing Liz Cheney Could Do to Thwart Trump - Jonah Goldberg - The Dispatch

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Host Ron Steslow welcomes economist ​​Scott Lincicome (Vice President of General Economics at the Cato Institute) to Politicology to discuss the economic policies of both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

They dive into the challenges of economic news coverage and common misconceptions, the rise of economic populism and its impact on policy, and then dive into specific policy proposals from both presidential campaigns.

Segments to look forward to:

(01:03) Frustration with news coverage of economics 

(04:41) The rise of economic populism 

(10:13) No Tax on Tips

(13:54) Tariffs

(22:05) Deportation 

(22:58) Presidential authority in shaping economic policies 

(26:51) Grocery price gouging 

Read Scott’s piece in The Atlantic: https://bit.ly/4dW0ukz

Follow Ron and Scott on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/scottlincicome

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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

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In this special six-part narrative series, Mike Madrid, in partnership with the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology, takes a deep dive into Orange County, California to explore the transformations that have redefined politics there, and what it means for the rest of the country.

In this episode, Mike talks to Democratic State Senator Tom Umberg and Republican Huntington Beach City Councilman Tony Strickland about where the county is right now. 

Then,  he hears from Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano and TV host Christina Bich-Tram Le about the future of the county. 

Next, he sits down with legendary political consultant Stu Spencer to discuss how the Republican party is in trouble. 

Finally, he talks to John Gould, the Dean of the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology about how Orange County is a microcosm of political change happening in the rest of the country.  

(00:48) The Transformation of Orange County 

(05:31) The Republican party in Orange County right now

(30:47) The Rise of Progressive Vietnamese Organizations

(38:36) The End of the Reagan Republican Party

(40:53) Orange County as a Microcosm of Changing Politics

Learn more about the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology: https://socialecology.uci.edu/

Visit the Red County, Blue County, Orange County website: https://sites.uci.edu/orangecounty/

Read Mike’s book, The Latino Century: https://bit.ly/4a7ZCqg

Follow Mike and the UCI School of Social Ecology  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/madrid_mike

https://twitter.com/Social_Ecology

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To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

This week, we discuss the recent execution of hostages by Hamas, the charges against Hamas leaders, and the threat of Iran as it pushes for regional dominance.  

Then, we discuss the joint interview of Vice President Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz with CNN’s Dana Bash

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we talk about new protests on college campuses as classes start, what colleges have learned from campus unrest last spring, what free speech on campus looks like, and the importance of institutional neutrality. 

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Jay Solomon (Chief investigative reporter at The Free Press)

Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN)

James Lynch (Communications Strategist)  

Segments this week:

(02:56) Israel, Iran, and the United States

(41:28) Harris Interview

[Politicology+] Universities and the First Amendment

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on our 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/SemaforJaySolly

https://x.com/HagarChemali

https://x.com/JamesGLynch

Related reading:

Segment 1:

NYT - 7 Takeaways From Kamala Harris’s CNN Interview - The New York Times

The Nevada Independent - So about that interview... - The Nevada Independent

WP - Opinion | Kamala Harris CNN interview revealed nothing. The media can do better. - The Washington Post

Segment 2: 

FP - How Close Is Iran to the Bomb? | The Free Press

TOI - Autopsy finds 6 hostages were shot multiple times at close range in last 48-72 hours

CBS - Israeli union goes on strike as Netanyahu faces rage over Hamas killing of hostages without cease-fire deal - CBS News

AP - Could mass protests in Israel over the hostages persuade Netanyahu to agree to a cease-fire deal?

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In this two part series, Journalist and author Byron Tau joins host Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State 

Part 2:

(02:17) The extensive government data collection Edward Snowden revealed 

(09:40) How data vendors bypass privacy reviews within government agencies 

(11:50) The role of encryption in safeguarding privacy and the historical context of encryption legalization 

(18:40) Government efforts to weaken encryption and what that means for your privacy 

(22:45) How foreign governments could misuse data

(24:24) The public awareness of this form of surveillance 

(26:38) What could legislative reform look like? 

(29:37) The influence of advertising and data brokers in shaping privacy 

Read Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State — https://bit.ly/44199hw

Follow Ron and Byron  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/ByronTau

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special six-part narrative series, Mike Madrid, in partnership with the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology, takes a deep dive into Orange County, California to explore the transformations that have redefined politics there, and what it means for the rest of the country.

In this episode, Mike talks to Jean Pasco who covered local politics in the ‘80s and ‘90s for the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times about how the influx of higher-skilled, college-educated tech workers made social issues as important as fiscal conservatism was in Orange County.

Then, he talks about how the business community in the county changed with former Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

He also spoke with LA Times Columnist Gustavo Arellano about the importance of building multicultural coalitions based on ideology and not on ethnic identity. 

(01:36) The impact of higher-skilled workers 

(02:45) The diminishing synergy between the tech industry and Republicans 

(16:31)The Republican party’s cultural orientation and focus on culture wars 

(20:53) The rise of combative politics and the redefinition of minority voters

Learn more about the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology: https://socialecology.uci.edu/

Visit the Red County, Blue County, Orange County website: https://sites.uci.edu/orangecounty/

Read Mike’s book, The Latino Century: https://bit.ly/4a7ZCqg

Follow Mike and the UCI School of Social Ecology  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/madrid_mike

https://twitter.com/Social_Ecology

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

This week, as the Presidential race enters the home stretch, we discuss Vice President Harris’s push to regain ground with Latino Voters and the electoral impact of RFK Jr’s decision to leave the race and endorse Trump.

Next, we talk about the success of Ukraine’s offensive against Russia, Israel’s preemptive strike to thwart a massive attack by Hezbollah, and how the conflicts around the globe underscore the stakes of this election.

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we talk about protecting privacy in the digital age, the extensive collection and sale of personal data by tech companies and the lack of privacy protections in the US—and emphasize the importance of individuals owning and protecting their data.

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder)

Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare)

Segments this week:

(03:55) The State of the Race + the “Latino Reset”

(36:33) The Global Stakes of the Election

[Politicology+] Protecting our privacy, the way companies and the government are able to surveil us, and why it’s getting more and more important.

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

Contribute to Molly’s fundraiser: https://bit.ly/3YFktit

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/madrid_mike

https://x.com/MollyMcKew

Related reading:

Segment 1:

AP - RFK Jr. suspends his presidential bid, backs Donald Trump | AP News

Axios - RFK Jr. can't escape the Blue Wall

NYT - Trump to Put RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard on his Transition Team - The New York Times

Politico- ‘Can I Just Vote for Her Instead of Biden?’: Inside Kamala’s Scramble to Win the Latino Vote - POLITICO

Segment 2: 

AP -It looked like Israel and Hezbollah had gone to war, but then they pulled back. Here's what to know

NBC News - Hostage held by Hamas in Gaza rescued by Israeli forces, IDF says

The Hill - Russia has diverted 30,000 troops from Ukraine to defend Kursk, says Kyiv

AP - Ukraine's daring offensive intensifies pressure on US to ease cautious approach to the war

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In this two part series, Journalist and author Byron Tau joins host Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State 

Part 1:

(02:36) Byron’s background and why he decided to write this book 

(05:15) The Evolution of data brokering 

(09:00) Understanding metadata and data collection and how they can identify you 

(12:12) The implications for personal privacy 

(22:15) The state of privacy rights in the United States 

(26:16) The public-private surveillance relationship 

(28:43) The shift in Government attitudes toward this type of data 

(31:20) How social media changed the data collection game

Read Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State — https://bit.ly/44199hw

Follow Ron and Byron  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/ByronTau

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special six-part narrative series, Mike Madrid, in partnership with the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology, takes a deep dive into Orange County, California to explore the transformations that have redefined politics there, and what it means for the rest of the country.

In this episode, Mike talks to Jean Pasco who covered local politics in the ‘80s and ‘90s for the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times about how military base closures and enormous job losses at defense contractors upended the southern California economy. 

Then he talks to former Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez about her victory over Bob Dornan. 

He also talks to Dave Wasserman (Senior Editor & Elections Analyst for The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter)  about what Sanchez’s victory meant for Orange County politics

(01:05) The economic impact of the Cold War ending 

(04:21) The closure of El Toro Air Force Base 

(10:12) Loretta Sanchez’s victory and the rise of the Democratic party in Orange County

(15:19) Looking back at Bob Dornan

(17:36) What Dornan’s loss to Sanchez meant for Orange county politics 

Learn more about the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology: https://socialecology.uci.edu/

Visit the Red County, Blue County, Orange County website: https://sites.uci.edu/orangecounty/

Read Mike’s book, The Latino Century: https://bit.ly/4a7ZCqg

Follow Mike and the UCI School of Social Ecology  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/madrid_mike

https://twitter.com/Social_Ecology

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices