Beyond Politics

Latest Episodes:

The Real Behind the Scenes Power in America Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Today, we look at the source of power that has driven the Republican Party for the last five decades, and has shaped the policies, politics, and politicians who in turn shape our lives. Political scientist EJ Fagan's new book 'The Thinkers,' dives into the origins, methods, and extensive power that these institutions quietly wield.

01:07 The Power Behind the Throne 03:41 The Garbage Can Model in Policy Making 11:32 Heritage's Legacy and Modern Think Tanks 20:05 The Intellectual Orthodoxy of Conservatism 20:53 Nixon and Environmental Policies 21:58 The Laffer Curve and Alternative Facts 27:31 Think Tanks and Policy Influence 34:56 Funding and Influence of Think Tanks 38:09 Polarization and the Role of Think Tanks

It's Starting to Turn on Trump Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

Int he aftermath of Donald Trump's felony conviction, polls are suggesting that critical voters are turning on him. So why are all the big name Republicans so determined to stick with him, and suggest dangerous, scary reprisals? Also is Biden's big border executive order going to make a political difference. Plus, President Biden boxed in Bibi Netanyahu on the peace deal that's on the table between Israel and Hamas. Finally, we have a bold prediction on the NBA finals.

01:03 The Aftermath of Trump's Conviction 05:02 Republican Disconnect and MAGA Penalty 06:54 Faith in Voters and Polling Insights 17:48 Biden's Border Executive Order 27:35 Netanyahu and the Israel-Gaza Conflict 36:53 NBA Finals Predictions and Conclusion

After Trump? Reporter's Inside Look at the Crazy MAGA Future. Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

ProPublica reporter Andy Kroll just went deep inside the epicenter of MAGA insanity, and found some unsettling things. What drives the MAGA movement is not policy or even support for Trump anymore, but something worse, something that's been on full display since Trump's conviction in New York. And it paints a troubling picture of the post-Trump future of the Republican Party.

01:40 A Disturbing Scene

06:47 The Ideological Divide in MAGA

16:17 The Rise and Fall of Christina Karamo

21:57 The Rise of Nihilism in the Republican Party

25:45 The Future of the Republican Party Post-Trump

29:42 The Entrenchment of Election Denialism

40:28 A Glimmer of Hope: Grassroots Education

Bonus: How Much will the Conviction Hurt Trump May 31, 2024

Show notes

A quick interview with Howard Monroe about the impact of the Trump conviction

Emergency Pod: Trump Convicted, But Is He Finally Done? May 31, 2024

Show notes

We start with an emergency segment recorded late this evening on the news that Donald Trump has been convicted on all 34 counts int he New York fraud trial, and is now a felon. We sort through the legal next steps and the political implications. We then shift to our earlier recording and hit the big story from Congressman Jamie Raskin and his proposal about how to force Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito off of the Supreme court cases involving Donald Trump because of their obvious bias. And finally, you'll want to hang on until the end. When we talk about whether we found the single dumbest criminal defendant in history.

00:00 Trump's Conviction: Immediate Reactions

02:14 Legal Analysis of the Verdict

04:43 Political Fallout and Public Reaction

08:29 Implications for American Democracy

11:36 Future Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

23:14 Supreme Court Controversies

38:53 Zoom Courtroom Mishaps

How Mega Companies Get Filthy Rich Off America's Poor with YOUR Tax Dollars May 28, 2024

Show notes

It's a shocking story we hear almost nothing about: huge corporations exploiting some of the $900 billion a year in government programs aimed at helping America's poor, and pocketing hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars along the way. Anne Kim, a Contributing Editor at Washington Monthly, shares some of the most riveting stories from her book 'Poverty for Profit' (publishing TODAY at this link) a deep dive into what these companies are doing, who is being hurt, and why we decided as a country to outsource the poverty industry. Anne also explains why there's still some good news and hope for the future.

00:51 The Shocking Reality of the Poverty Industry

04:31 The Earned Income Tax Credit: A Double-Edged Sword

10:54 Maximus: The Giant Behind Welfare Outsourcing

16:48 The Dark Side of Medicaid and Dialysis Centers

21:19 The Bail Bond System: Preying on the Vulnerable

23:22 The Roots of Privatization and Its Impact on Poverty

30:03 Reimagining Government's Role and the Path Forward

Trump Claims That He's Dead May 24, 2024

Show notes

Yes, Donald Trump did kind of tell supporters that he's dead. Our round table discussion started with deep, interesting question: after all the talk about polarization and division, is there actually a powerful emerging centrist movement in America? But then, Alicia dropped something kind of fascinating and disturbing into the conversation, an email from Donald Trump that seems to imply the he is currently dead. And as if that wasn't amusing enough, we close the show on one of the deepest existential questions facing America: what is the sandwich really? We actually had a legal read on that from a real court this week.

01:24 Exploring the Existence of a Political Center in America

05:54 The Rise and Impact of Performative Politics

07:53 The MAGA Movement and Its Influence

16:54 The Future of Republican Moderates and the MAGA Legacy

22:28 Is Trump...Dead?

28:47 The Biden vs. Trump Debate: Age, Sanity, and Governance

30:24 The Great Sandwich Debate: What Qualifies?

Is Biden REALLY in Trouble with Black Voters? May 21, 2024

Show notes

Are Democrats really shedding massive amounts of support from African American voters? There are certainly warning signs of trouble -- including a New York times poll showing Trump getting the support of more than 20% of Black Americans. But Mario Broussard and Ana Robinson of Global Strategy Group say that the actual picture is a lot more nuanced than that, and that if the numbers suggest anything, it's that there are things Biden and the Democrats can do to hold on to the critical core of the Democrats' base.

01:21 Young Black Women's Voting Enthusiasm and Economic Struggles

04:49 The Impact of Abortion Rights on Young Black Women Voters

15:27 Economic Concerns Among Black Voters

26:34 Messaging Strategies for Democrats: Addressing Key Voter Concerns

32:31 The Role of Social Media and Influencers in Engaging Young Voters

Who ACTUALLY Won the Presidential debate Standoff? May 17, 2024

Show notes

After a major standoff, Trump and Biden have agreed to two presidential debates. Did Biden win this exchange? And how much does it really matter? Also, a quick breakdown of Michael Cohen's testimony, and the question of whether Trump's political defenses in the hush money trial are actually kind of working. Plus, a very weird New York Times poll from this week and a continued run of voting results that Donald Trump should be finding downright scary. Plus, our closing segment has snakes on a plane. No, really.

And we closed with snakes on a plane. No, literally. I mean, it. Snakes on a plane,

00:00 Opening Remarks: The Role of Debates in Politics

00:46 Debating the Debates: Trump vs. Biden

02:27 The Circus of Presidential Debates

04:26 Breaking Tradition: The New Debate Format

06:19 The Argument Against Debates

10:53 Character and Policy in Debates

17:02 Strategic Analysis: Biden vs. Trump Debate Dynamics

19:29 Trump's Debate Strategy and Poll Analysis

20:16 Breaking Down Trump's Legal Challenges

20:25 The Michael Cohen Testimony: A Deep Dive

25:50 Analyzing Trump's Defense Strategies

30:56 Voter Sentiment and Election Predictions

35:40 Quirky News Roundup: Bees, Zebras, and Snakes

What Everyone Is Missing About Voters' Sour Mood on the Economy May 14, 2024

Show notes

Lauren Goldstein of Change Research dives into a fascinating study aims to get inside the minds of voters and could help explain why they feel so negative about the most important issue of the 2024 election - the economy. Also, why they do things differently than most opinion researchers, and how that can help change the way we talk to voters.

01:38 Exploring the Real Economic Pain Points of Voters

05:20 The Psychological Underpinnings of Financial Comparisons

10:09 Addressing the Generational Divide and Economic Pessimism

17:08 Strategies for Effective Political Communication

23:13 The Secret Handshake and Used Car Fraud Metaphors

31:29 Innovative Approaches to Public Opinion Research

34:37 The Importance of Listening and Adapting Messaging