The Politics Lab

The Politics Lab

Download on the App Store

The Politics Lab episodes

  • Israel-Hamas War

    On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the latest developments in the Israel/Hamas war, debate whether the world is moving towards a bipolar or multipolar distribution and why it matters, and close with a spirited debate over whether we’re more concerned about Biden’s dog biting people or bed bugs running rampant in Paris.

    1 hr
  • Get Your House in Order

    On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil examine Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as House Speaker, whether its better to ignore or amplify Donald Trump’s most dangerous and controversial speech, how invading Mexico went from a bad to idea to Republican doctrine, and then close with the return of one of our favorite segments: Phil’s Campaign Corner.

    1 hr 3 min
  • Speed Round Grab Bag

    On this week’s “Speed Round” episode, Bill and Phil discuss news that Donald Trump would write “to do” lists for his assistants on the back of classified documents, evaluate the concern within the Democratic Party about Joe Biden’s age, ponder the political implications of Ron DeSantis’ advising most Floridians to NOT get the latest booster, examine the dramatic diplomatic break between Canada and India, and close with a crowd pleasing round of “What’s More Stupid?”

    1 hr 4 min
  • Semi-Loyal Republicans

    On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil examine Kevin McCarthy’s announcement of an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, assess the world’s growing climate disaster, and look back at 9/11 and discuss the the connection it has to our current political struggles. 

    59 min
  • A Democratic Makeover?

    On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the two-year anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, discuss the implications of a potential arms deal between Russia and North Korea, and then ponder whether the United States democracy needs an institutional overhaul.

    1 hr 3 min
  • Stupidity Abounds

    Bill and Phil head north to Wisconsin to ponder the politics of its Supreme Court, discuss the movement among some conservatives to break up with Ronald Reagan, ask why it seems that both Democrats and Republicans are turning away from free trade, and close by pondering why the last 10 years of American politics has been uniquely stupid.

    1 hr 4 min
  • Debate Time

    Bill and Phil explore the significance of the first Republican debate, discuss Joe Biden‘s quiet but meaningful efforts to support the International Criminal Court, and close by pondering China’s economic troubles and whether the threat posed by China has been exaggerated.

    1 hr 3 min
  • Fourth Time’s a Charm

    Bill and Phil offer some thoughts on the latest indictment of former president Donald Trump, explore how country music has put itself on the front lines of the culture wars, and close with a look at the politics of existential threat, and specifically whether it’s possible to have “normal politics” when one political party becomes convinced that the other side poses an existential threat to the country.

    1 hr 6 min
  • US v. Trump

    On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil take a deep dive on Donald Trump; exploring the recent indictment of the former president, his prospects for reelection, and what a second Trump presidency might look like. 

    1 hr 3 min
  • 6-3

    On this week’s Supreme Court themed episode, Bill and Phil break down the Court’s decisions on religious freedom, affirmative action, and student loan debt, and then end with a big picture look at what those decisions suggest about the future direction of the Supreme Court.

    1 hr 4 min

About The Politics Lab

From the publisher's feed

Politics isn’t always black and white. Dr. Bill Muck and Dr. Phil Barker, professors of political science and longtime friends, talk through the week’s news and discuss how political science might…

More shows like The Politics Lab

Political Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Political Gabfest

8,467 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,648 Listeners

Pod Save America by Pod Save America

Pod Save America

87,321 Listeners

Pod Save the World by Pod Save the World

Pod Save the World

24,706 Listeners

Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

Radio Atlantic

2,379 Listeners

The Atlantic Interview by The Atlantic

The Atlantic Interview

15 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,238 Listeners

The Bulwark Daily by The Bulwark

The Bulwark Daily

12,487 Listeners

Hard Fork by The New York Times

Hard Fork

5,561 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,055 Listeners

Politics Weekly America by The Guardian

Politics Weekly America

189 Listeners

Search Engine by PJ Vogt

Search Engine

4,602 Listeners

The Next Level by The Bulwark

The Next Level

3,189 Listeners

If Books Could Kill by Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri

If Books Could Kill

9,413 Listeners

What Now? with Trevor Noah by Trevor Noah

What Now? with Trevor Noah

4,233 Listeners