This episode was recorded when Ron Steslow was host of The Lincoln Project Podcast (www.lincolnproject.us). He is no longer affiliated with the organization. This feed is now the home of Politicology. After the violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol at the direction of the president last week, we decided to resurface a conversation from August between host Ron Steslow and Anne Applebaum about her book, Twilight of Democracy, and the warning signs of authoritarianism we were witnessing.
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Trump vs Democracy Revisited: Anne Applebaum on Authoritarianism

Politics in America is transforming. We’re embarking on a new series to deepen our understanding of who we are, how we got here, and how we rebuild without repeating the mistakes of the past. Ron Steslow hosts academics, behavioral economists, social psychologists, politicos, philosophers, anthropologists, journalists, poets, and storytellers—and more—to discuss America’s political present and future and dive into the deeper problems we face as a nation. Email us questions or comments: podcast@politicology.com.

News

Politics

Government

Daily News

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 podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬ 
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Means of Control — Part 2

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

This week, we look at Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, what it means for the Middle East, and the response at home. Then we discuss  how people living above the poverty line are feeling the financial crunch, Donald Trump’s plan to boost inflation, and the IMF’s warning that our deficit spending could upend the global economy. 

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

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

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

Segments this week:

(02:40) Iran’s attack

(40:18) Financial frustration

[Politicology+] Uri Berliner’s resignation from NPR, the lack of viewpoint diversity in media, media activism and biases and the erosion of trust as a result

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 podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬


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

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/DelPercioS

https://twitter.com/HagarChemali


Related reading:
Segment 1: 
Axios - What to know about Iran's attack on Israel
CBS News - What Iran launched at Israel in its unprecedented attack, and what made it through the air defenses - CBS News
Politico - Has Biden Considered Having an Iran Strategy? - POLITICO
AP - Middle East conflicts revive clash between the president and Congress over war powers | AP News
ABC News Bay Area - 38 Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested after shutdown of Golden Gate Bridge, I-880 in Oakland, CHP says - ABC7 San Francisco
Politico - Democrats fear Netanyahu may have undermined Biden’s image among voters - POLITICO
WSJ - Mike Johnson Defies GOP Critics, Setting Up Ukraine-Israel Aid Showdown - WSJ

Segment 2: 
Politico - Trump trade advisers plot dollar devaluation - POLITICO
 WSJ - The Calls for Help Coming From Above the Poverty Line - WSJ
CNBC - Fed Chair Powell says there has been a 'lack of further progress' this year on inflation
The Financial Times - US deficit poses ‘significant risks’ to global economy, warns IMF
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Missiles & Money — The Weekly Roundup

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 podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬ 
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Means of Control — Part 1

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

This week, we look at No Labels announcing they won’t field a ticket and the impact RFK Jr. could have, how Trump’s abortion announcement and the Arizona Supreme Court case could impact the election, and Joe Biden tries to cancel student debt…again. 

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:

(02:05) No Labels and RFK Jr. 

(14:47) Abortion

(38:20) Student loan debt

[Politicology+] The new book misleading people about “white rural rage” and the scapegoating of rural Americans

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 podcast@politicology.com 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/LPDonovan

Related reading:
Segment 1: 
Politico -No Labels packs it up, won’t put forth a presidential ticket - POLITICO
CNN - RFK Jr. campaign walks back fundraising emails that said January 6 defendants were stripped of constitutional liberties | CNN Politics
Politico - RFK Jr. ballot access consultant promotes strategy to throw the election to Trump - POLITICO
CNN  - RFK Jr. campaign official attended Jan. 6 ‘Stop the Steal’ rally and wanted ‘favorite President’ Trump to run for third term | CNN Politics

Segment 2: 
AP - Trump's abortion statement angers conservatives and gives the Biden campaign a new target | AP News
CNN  - Trump says he wouldn’t sign federal abortion ban | CNN Politics
WP - Arizona’s abortion ruling threatens to upend 2024 races - The Washington Post

Segment 3:
NYT - What to Know About Biden’s New Student Debt Relief Plan - The New York Times
CNBC - Biden administration could start forgiving student debt this year
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“Get Caught Trying” — The Weekly Roundup

Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) and Chris Zappone (Digital Foreign Editor at The Age and the writer and narrator of the Dark Shining Moment podcast) join host Ron Steslow to discuss the evolution of Russian tactics since 2016 and the vulnerability of American democracy

Segments to look forward to:

(02:16) The state of the war  in Ukraine 

(10:00) The evolution of Russian influence campaigns  

(14:37) What Putin wants 

(25:14) The democratic mind and future vision
 
(29:00) America’s role in the world 

(46:00) The erosion of trust and manipulation of narratives 

(59:10) The importance of national psychological defense 

(1:10:00) The impact of social media on trust in media institutions 

(1:13:00) Balancing healthy skepticism and toxic cynicism in meaning making institutions 

(1:14:45) The challenge of finding reliable sources 

(1:18:00) Russia’s goal: America eating itself alive


Listen to Dark Shining Moment: https://apple.co/3Jhasz2

Follow Ron, Molly, and Chris on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/MollyMcKew

https://twitter.com/chrizap

Email your questions to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬ 
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Trump vs Democracy Revisited: Anne Applebaum on Authoritarianism

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