Politicology

Over the last 100 years, we have streamlined the process of food production. A hundred years ago, 99% of people were engaged in the agricultural process in some way. Today, that number is 1%. As a result, our relationship with food has become desperately impersonal. But what are the consequences of all that efficiency?

Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of our food systems with Jeff Tkatch (CEO of the Rodale Institute) and host Ron Steslow. In this captivating conversation, we dig deep into the living soil beneath our feet, our disconnection from nature, and the mechanisms driving our extractive farming systems.

Jeff provides a comprehensive understanding of the difference between soil and dirt, explaining why one gives life while the other is lifeless. He shares his personal journey towards regenerative agriculture and elaborates on the role Rodale Institute plays in shaping the future of farming.

Segments to look forward to:

(2:10) Understanding the difference between soil and dirt: "If soil could talk to us, what would it be saying right now? Feed me. Rest me. Water me. Feed me. Rest me. Water me. I'm a living, breathing organism just like you. And by the way, you depend on me for life."

(03:30) Jeff's journey into regenerative agriculture and the role of the Rodale Institute

(13:30) How we became disconnected from nature and our food

(15:30) Who feeds the world?

(16:20) A deep dive into the extractive farming system and the need for sustainable agricultural practices

(19:50) Unraveling the incentives that have shaped our agricultural system

(23:00) The various faces of agriculture: sustainable, regenerative, and organic regenerative

(27:35) The cost of organic food and the unseen cost of not eating organic

(30:00) “Agriculture is the great healer of our time”

(37:15) Policy changes that could revolutionize farming and an overview of the Pennsylvania State Farm Bill

(40:52) The challenge of organic food fraud

(51:10) How changing our understanding of food production could reduce polarization: “It starts with gratitude...when we begin to see our brother and sister through food, we're creating a metaphorical table. We're actually sitting down at a table every moment of every day here in this country and hopefully around the world."

Learn more about the Rodale Institute: https://www.rodaleinstitute.org/

Get involved and connect with local farmers near you. As Jeff says, "Everybody should get to know a farmer."

Follow Ron on Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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This week: Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race, Kamala Harris clears the field as she rides a tidal wave of support to the top of the Democratic ticket , Republicans switch gears to campaign against her, and the dizzying narrative change about Joe Biden’s capacities that have devastated trust in media. 

Finally, in our exclusive Politicology+ episode we discuss the Secret Service Director resigning in the wake of the assassination attempt of Donald Trump and how the lack of transparency about the attack has allowed conspiracy theories to flourish.

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

Joining guest host Hagar Chemali on this week’s panel: 

Stef Kight (Politics Reporter at Axios) 

Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica)

James Lynch (Communications Strategist)  

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

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

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

https://x.com/HagarChemali

https://x.com/StefWKight

https://x.com/AndyKroll

https://x.com/JamesGLynch

Related reading:

Axios - Inside Harris' sprint to the Democratic nomination

WSJ - Democrats Destroy Democracy to Save It - WSJ

CNN - Harris’ immigration work comes under scrutiny as campaign takes shape | CNN Politics

Deadline - White House And 'Morning Joe' Blast Wall Street Journal Report That Joe Biden "Shows Signs Of Slipping"

(from July 2) CNN - Biden’s mental fitness could have been better covered leading up to the debate, some White House reporters acknowledge | CNN Business

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Host Ron Steslow welcomes Mike Brock, CEO of TBD, a subsidiary of Block Inc. (formerly Square), the financial technology firm led by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey.

The Internet is dominated by massive, corporate walled gardens like Google, Facebook, and Twitter (now X), where centralized control makes their users (us!) vulnerable to censorship and manipulation.

In this episode, we explore how the movement to decentralize technology empowers individuals, protects against corporate and government abuse, and addresses real problems in finance and social media.

We’ll also discuss how decentralized technology can enhance financial access and freedom, bypassing intermediaries and censorship, and shifting power from financial corporations to individuals.

Finally, we turn to the political landscape, focusing on the Democratic party’s approach to decentralized technology and early signs it may be changing.

Segments to look forward to:

(04:45) Mike’s background 

(10:50) Empowering individuals through decentralized finance and identity 

(15:45) Building infrastructure for a decentralized future 

(19:10) The potential of decentralized identity 

(29:49) The importance of Bitcoin’s decentralization 

(31:31) Financial Access and Freedom 

(34:27) Preserving agency 

(44:44) Changing the balance of power 

(50:54) The varied stance of the Democratic party

Follow Ron and Mike on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/brockm

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

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To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

After three of the most chaotic weeks in American political history, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (Cofounders of the Lincoln Project) discuss:

- Joe Biden leaving the Presidential race after the pressure campaign from Democrats

- Kamala Harris consolidating support and whether it changes the electoral college map

- Whether Harris helps or hurts with the erosion of non-white, non-college educated voters away from the Democratic ticket, and whether her VP pick will matter, electorally

- How a change in the Democratic nominee will impact the Trump campaign operation

- How to read developments in the coming weeks smartly and what movement Mike will be looking for in polling

To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

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

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To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

This week, we discuss the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention, the state of the Republican Party, and the state of the Democrats’ effort to oust Joe Biden.

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Matt Bennett (Founder & Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Third Way)

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

Segments this week:

(02:58) The assassination attempt 

(17:42) The Republican National Convention

(40:50) Renewed attempts from Democrats to push Biden out of the race

[Politicology+]  What you need to know about J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s new running mate

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss 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/ThirdWayMattB

https://x.com/lucymcaldwell

Related reading:

Segment 1:

NYT - Rally Shooter’s Phone Had Searches for Trump and Biden, FBI Officials Say - The New York Times

ABC News - Secret Service spotted Trump rally shooter on roof 20 minutes before gunfire erupted

Segment 2: 

Axios - Trump tramples unity theme in two-act convention speech

Politico - Opinion | Trump Derailed His Own Convention Speech - POLITICO

Politico - A new kind of Republican Party is forming at the RNC - POLITICO

Segment 3:

AP - Biden is isolated at home as Obama, Pelosi and other Democrats push for him to reconsider 2024 race

NYT - People Close to Biden Say He Appears to Accept He May Have to Drop Out - The New York Times

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What are the psychological forces driving that partisan animosity?

What’s causing Americans to vote for anti-democracy candidates? 

Are there any interventions that might actually work  to turn down the heat and save our democracy? 

Robb Willer, professor of sociology, psychology, and organizational behavior at Stanford University talks with Ron Steslow about Stanford’s Strengthening Democracy Challenge, reducing partisan animosity and support for anti-democracy candidates .

(01:31) Robb’s background

(02:46) The growth of polarization and partisan animosity 

(15:08) The Strengthening Democracy Challenge

(22:40) Negative partisanship and support for undemocratic candidates

(29:46) How cues from leaders can reduce support for anti-democracy candidates

(32:17) Working together and respectfully discussing differences reduces partisan animosity 

(37:47) Misperceptions about how how you’re viewed by members of another party fuels animosity 

(46:47) Is there hope for overcoming animosity and acceptance of undemocratic candidates? 

(53:16) How to implement these ideas

(59:23) The role of emotions in decision making

You should check out the interventions we discussed: 

Elite Cues: https://bit.ly/3TEeS6Z

Positive Contact (Heineken Ad): https://bit.ly/3N74PEM

Misperceptions: https://bit.ly/3W4iMaN

Fear of Democratic Collapse: https://bit.ly/3W4awHO

Follow Robb and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RobbWiller

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

This week, we discuss the spectacle of the continuing Democratic attacks on Joe Biden’s candidacy that ignore or misunderstand his path to victory.

We also show the contrast of Trump’s own top advisors seeming more concerned about the dark consequences of reelecting him than many Democrats.

Then, we talk about how Bidenworld can repair their credibility with reporters after his inner circle worked to keep the signs of his aging under wraps.

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss how conservative students benefit from liberal college campuses.

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

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

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

Segments this week:

(01:20) Democratic Backlash 

(44:26) Biden’s decline and how his inner circle tried to keep it under wraps

[Politicology+]  How conservative students benefit from liberal college campuses.

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss 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

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

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/HagarChemali

https://x.com/LPDonovan

Related reading:

Segment 1:

Axios - 1 big thing: Biden resistance despairs

Axios - Scoop: Biden rebels in Congress see their revolt crumbling

Emerson Poll — July 2024 National Poll: Trump 46%, Biden 43%

Mike Madrid Twitter Tread on whether Biden should be replaced

Segment 2: 

WSJ - How Biden’s Inner Circle Worked to Keep Signs of Aging Under Wraps - WSJ

Deadline - White House And 'Morning Joe' Blast Wall Street Journal Report That Joe Biden "Shows Signs Of Slipping"

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Have you ever thought about what it means to be anonymous? 

Have you considered what it means that you can walk down the street or go to the grocery store or out to dinner without someone you’ve never met knowing your name, everything you’ve posted online, or your political leanings?

Or when you go on a first date with someone, they’d walk in knowing your dating history, your political affiliations, your credit score or what groceries you buy?

Advancements in facial recognition and a secretive startup could end privacy as we know it. 

In this two-part conversation, New York Times Tech Reporter Kashmir Hill joins host Ron Steslow to discuss privacy, anonymity, facial recognition software and her book Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It.

In part 2:

(01:40) “Technical sweetness” and the lack of ethical considerations by the people building these new technologies 

(12:30) Privacy laws in the U.S. and Europe 

(15:24) The trend of law enforcement agencies skirting constitutional protections by buying information from private companies.

(27:20) Balancing security and privacy in the age of ubiquitous surveillance

(30:50) What the future of privacy might look like 

Read Your Face Belongs to Us: https://bit.ly/49qsbQm

Follow Ron and Kashmir  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/kashhill

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

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

To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

This week we discuss the fallout from Joe Biden’s debate performance, the calls for him to end his campaign, and the electability argument for him to stay in. 

Then we talk about the rising stakes of the election and how emboldened Trump will be in a second term. 

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss Third Way’s initiative to create a talent bank of moderate and center-left to staff the next Democratic administration. 

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Matt Bennett (Founder & Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Third Way)

Susan Del Percio  (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) 

Hans Nichols (White House Reporter at Axios)

Segments this week:

(03:42) The Debate fallout 

(37:20) An Emboldened Trump 

[Politicology+]  Third Way’s talent bank 

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss 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/ThirdWayMattB

https://x.com/DelPercioS

https://x.com/HansNichols

Related reading:

Segment 1:

WP - The Democrats who have called on Biden to drop out of the 2024 election

CNN - CNN Poll: Most voters think Democrats have a better chance of keeping White House if Biden isn’t the nominee

CBS - Increasing numbers of voters don't think Biden should be running after debate with Trump — CBS News poll

NBC - Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings as he stays close to the president post-debate

Semafor - Biden's Democrat debate crisis: Blame the media? | Semafor

Mike Madrid Twitter Tread on whether Biden should be replaced

Segment 2: 

Axios - Behind the Curtain: Trump's imperial presidency in waiting

NYT - Trump Amplifies Calls to Jail Top Elected Officials, Invokes Military Tribunals

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Have you ever thought about what it means to be anonymous? 

Have you considered what it means that you can walk down the street or go to the grocery store or out to dinner without someone you’ve never met knowing your name, everything you’ve posted online, or your political leanings?

Or when you go on a first date with someone, they’d walk in knowing your dating history, your political affiliations, your credit score or what groceries you buy?

Advancements in facial recognition and a secretive startup could end privacy as we know it. 

In this two-part conversation, New York Times Tech Reporter Kashmir Hill joins host Ron Steslow to discuss privacy, anonymity, facial recognition software and her book Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It.

In part 1:

(01:43 ) Ron and Kashmir discuss anonymity and privacy and the erosion of both in our daily lives 

(00:00 ) Balancing convenience and privacy 

(11:00) The origins of ClearviewAI 

(13:30) Genetic determinism in the development of facial recognition 

(18:20) Kashmir dives deep into the history of facial recognition software and how it developed. 

(22:37) How Facebook crowdsourced training facial recognition technology

(25:00) How much privacy should we have and who should be able to use facial recognition software? 

Read Your Face Belongs to Us: https://bit.ly/49qsbQm

Follow Ron and Kashmir  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/kashhill

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

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