Politicology

Are there tendencies within Christian tradition that put some versions of the faith in tension with core principles of democracy?

What is “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity?”

How can a pluralistic society guard against the rise of political figures—including Donald Trump—aiming to weaponize this phenomenon?

In this two-part conversation, Ron Steslow and Rev. Prof. David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) discuss these provocative questions and more as they dive into David’s book, Defending Democracy From Its Christian Enemies.

In part 1:

(04:40) Ron shares a personal note with David about the impact he’s had on Ron’s journey  

(07:24) David discussed a few of the transformative moments in his career 

(13:08) The historical and current challenges Christianity poses to democratic values 

(16:30) Why some Christians are skeptical of democracy and the nuanced reasons behind it

(22:02 ) Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity and why it’s a better term for what we’re seeing  than Christian Nationalism 

(28:38) How certain Christian groups prioritize their beliefs over democratic norms and values 

(34:02) The cycle of secular revolutions followed by religious counter-revolutions 

For more of David’s work visit his website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/

Follow Ron  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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

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MAGA makes a mess all over the Capitol, including tanking their own  border deal for Trump. Tucker Carlson goes to the Kremlin to be Putin’s mouthpiece.

This week’s panel: 

Ron Steslow

Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) 

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

Segments this week:

(03:00) Republican dysfunction in Congress

(27:11) Tucker Carlson interviews Putin and evolving Russian information warfare

[Politicology+] The money raised and spent by Super PACs supporting Trump’s primary challengers—what it tells us, and why it matters.

Not yet a Politicology+ subscriber? It’s a private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. 

Support Molly’s fundraiser for drones for frontline units in Ukraine:  https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/91MGe8XC8A

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://twitter.com/madrid_mike 

https://twitter.com/MollyMcKew

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

CNN - Bipartisan border deal on brink of defeat ahead of key Senate vote | CNN Politics

Politico - McConnell faces a growing GOP rebellion after border deal breaks down - POLITICO

Axios - Senate Democrats strike fast after GOP’s border deal implosion

Axios - House GOP erupts in fury over "embarrassing" and "shameful" defeats

Segment 2: 

WP - Putin interview with Tucker Carlson shows Kremlin outreach to Trump’s GOP - The Washington Post

X - Tucker Carlson on Why he’s interviewing Putin

NYT - N.S.A. Installs New Director as U.S. Prepares for Election Influence Operations

Read George Conway’s piece about the Trump immunity decision:  The Atlantic - An Airtight Ruling Against Trump

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What sort of person decides to step back from an esteemed career as a civil liberties legal advocate and embark on one of the most exhausting and thankless prospects you can imagine—a bid for congress? 

Exactly the sort of person Congress needs at this moment. 

Civil Rights Attorney and advocate Joe Cohn returns to Politicology to discuss his decision to run for congress. 

Segments to look forward to:

(02:06) Why Joe’s running for congress

(06:30) What makes him different from the rest of the field  

(08:20) His experience in civil rights litigation and legislative advocacy 

(14:12) The role of elected officials in depolarization 

(20:40) The threats to democracy

(25:20) Curbing executive power and encouraging legislative action

(37:13) The broken incentive structure in Congress 

(47:47) New Jersey Politics and the County Party Line

(50:27) Winning in an environment that values spectacle

(52:45)Prioritizing reasonableness and dialogue

Check out Joe’s website: https://www.joecohnforcongress.com/

Follow Ron and Joe  on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/JoeCohnNJ3

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

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

On this weekly roundup, Biden praises the border security deal and pledges to “shut down” the border if it passes, an Iranian-backed militia kills three U.S. soldiers in Jordan, and Nikki Haley goes on offense.

This week’s panel: 

Ron Steslow

Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) 

Olivier Knox (veteran politics and foreign policy reporter, most recently at The Washington Post )

Segments this week:

(02:35) The border deal

(18:00) Iran-backed militias

(36:13) Nikki Haley

[Politicology+] The MAGA conspiracy theory that the Super Bowl is rigged and Taylor Swift is a PsyOp.

Not yet a Politicology+ subscriber? It’s a private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. 

Check out Olivier’s substack: https://olivierknox.substack.com/

Watch Spiritual Warriors: Decoding Christian Nationalism at the Capitol Riot —https://bit.ly/3UqNfl6

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://twitter.com/OKnox 

https://twitter.com/madrid_mike 

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

WP - Lankford defends bipartisan border security bill after attacks by Trump, GOP

The Hill - House Republicans poised to torpedo GOP’s best chance in years to pass border bill | The Hill

Axios - Bloomberg poll: Biden losing ground to Trump on immigration

White House - Statement from President Joe Biden On the Bipartisan Senate Border Security Negotiations | The White House

WSJ - A GOP Border Reckoning - WSJ

Segment 2: 

CNN - Jordan drone attack: Three US troops killed at Tower 22, more than 30 injured | CNN Politics

NPR - U.S. identifies the 3 service members killed in drone strike in Jordan : NPR

NYT - 3 American Soldiers Killed in Drone Strike in Jordan, U.S. Says

Axios - Biden says he's decided how to respond to deadly Jordan attack

AP - Iran threatens to respond to any US strikes as Biden weighs how to react to a base attack in Jordan

Segment 3: 

The Bulwark - An Open Letter to Nikki Haley - by Michael Wood

NYT - Nikki Haley Goes After Trump and Biden in ‘Grumpy Old Men’ Campaign - The New York Times

Axios - Nikki Haley's coast-to-coast money week

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

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

(01:35) Lauren Boebert’s district switch 

(05:35) Shifting demographics and political alignment in the U.S. 

(08:05) The moral and ethical considerations for former Trump supporters and the importance of genuine contrition

(27:00) The significance of union endorsements in the current political landscape 

(41:10) Global tensions and the interconnection between various forms of warfare, including the potential onset of a world war

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

You can also leave us a voice message at ‪(202) 455-4558‬

Follow Ron, and Mike on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/madrid_mike

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Hagar Chemali, Mike Madrid, and Ron Steslow discuss AI systems, the fight over whose values are embedded within the technology, what it will say, and what it will be used for.

Related reading:

Axios - AI's next fight is over whose values it should hold

https://www.axios.com/2024/01/24/values-ai-chatgpt-alignment

CNBC - OpenAI quietly removes ban on military use of its AI tools

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/16/openai-quietly-removes-ban-on-military-use-of-its-ai-tools.html

NBC News - Fake Joe Biden robocall tells New Hampshire Democrats not to vote Tuesday

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/fake-joe-biden-robocall-tells-new-hampshire-democrats-not-vote-tuesday-rcna134984

Axios - OpenAI suspends developer behind Dean Phillips bot

https://www.axios.com/2024/01/21/dean-phillips-chat-gpt-ai-bot-suspension

Wired - OpenAI Quietly Scrapped a Promise to Disclose Key Documents to the Public | WIRED

https://www.wired.com/story/openai-scrapped-promise-disclose-key-documents/

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

On this weekly roundup, Biden and Trump win the New Hampshire primaries, the evolving politics of the worsening border crisis, and the “incredibly stark” assessment that Russia could win their war against Ukraine in a matter of weeks. 

This week’s panel: 

Ron Steslow

Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) 

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

Segments this week:

(03:00) The New Hampshire Primary

(18:37) The Fight Over Border Security

(37:47) Ukraine Aid

[Politicology+] AI systems, the fight over whose values are embedded within the technology, what it will say, and what it will be used for.

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.

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

Read Akhil and Vikram Amar Amicus brief: https://bit.ly/3HxTZFR

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/madrid_mike

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

ABC News - Haley captures independents and college grads, but Trump base holds fast in NH: Exit poll - ABC News

NY Times - New Hampshire Primary: Trump Defeats Haley, but She Vows to Stay in Race - The New York Times

CNN - Biden wins New Hampshire primary, CNN projects, with successful write-in campaign

Segment 2: 

NYTimes  - Opinion | Why Biden Must Collide With the Democratic Party on Immigration - The New York Times

CBS News - Americans increasingly see border as crisis, call for tougher measures, CBS News poll finds

Politico - Lead GOP negotiator: No border package vote this week, 'very hopeful' on deal text - Live Updates - POLITICO

NYTimes - With Border Deal Near, Parole and Money Take Center Stage in Senate Talks

ABC News - Supreme Court allows federal agents to remove razor wire Texas placed at border - ABC News

The Hill -Chip Roy: Texas should ignore Supreme Court’s border razor wire ruling | The Hill

Segment 3: 

NBC News - 'Incredibly stark': Biden aides give lawmakers a grim assessment of Ukraine without more aid

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We live in a loud world that’s getting louder.

We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications.

But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it?

 In fact, what is silence, anyway?

How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships?

Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise

(02:33) Leigh and Justin’s backgrounds 

(07:04) Why they began practicing silence in their own lives

(12:50) Why silence feels scary

(18:30) What is noise? 

(22:12) Internal silence is what people think it is

(30:19) The connection between noise and rigid thinking

(37:27) The historical significance of silence

You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2

FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/JustinZorn

https://twitter.com/LeighMarz

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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

We live in a loud world that’s getting louder.

We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications.

But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it?

 In fact, what is silence, anyway?

How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships?

Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise

(02:38) What we can all learn from how the Amish evaluate new technology

(07:25) The attention economy and why it’s not working for us

(13:44) Understanding “ma” and how we can use it to resolve conflict

(22:14) Using quality over quantity to measure productivity

(26:26) Ways to incorporate silence in your everyday life

(35:35) Silence and expanded states of consciousness using psychedelics 

You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2

FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/JustinZorn

https://twitter.com/LeighMarz

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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

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

On this weekly roundup, Trump wins the uneventful Iowa caucus, rising tensions in the Middle East, and the dynamics of the Democratic primary

This week’s panel: 

Ron Steslow

Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP)

Alex Thompson (National Political Correspondent for Axios)

Marc Polymeropoulos (Former CIA Official)

Segments this week:

(02:20) The Iowa Caucus

(08:30) Rising tension in the Middle East

(36:46) The Democratic Primary

[Politicology+] Davos and the garish display of wealth with growing income inequality. 

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

https://twitter.com/AlexThomp

https://twitter.com/Mpolymer

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

NYTimes - Iowa Caucus Results 2024: Trump Wins - The New York Times

CBS News - Iowa caucus turnout for 2024 and how it compares to previous years - CBS News

Des Moines Register - Early call of Trump as winner of Iowa Caucuses stirs anger. Here's why it happened

Segment 2: 

Time - Iran Fires Missiles at Iraq, Syria and Pakistan—What to Know | TIME

WSJ - Houthis Turn Their Sights on U.S. Ships, Vow to Keep Attacking Red Sea Targets - WSJ

CNN - Iran-backed militia vows more attacks after US Embassy in Iraq comes under fire | CNN Politics

Politico - Biden's Yemen strike reignites Congress' battle over war powers - Live Updates - POLITICO

Segment 3: 

(From Feb, 2023) ABC News — Democrats approve new primary calendar for 2024 - ABC News

Miami Herald - 2024 New Hampshire primary has a twist — it doesn't matter for Democrats. Wait, what?

NBC News - Inside the 'weird' write-in campaign needed to help Biden win New Hampshire

Vox - Democrats’ bizarre New Hampshire primary fight, explained. - Vox

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