Mike the Obnoxious Centrist, E-Cigarettes, Jay and the Facts, Why Liberalism Failed

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In this listener comment show, Mike and Jay discuss:

  • if Mike is too obnoxious
  • how bipartisan the show really is
  • progressive voices on The Politics Guys
  • what Mike got wrong about e-cigarettes
  • our commitment to truth over party
  • individuality and liberal democracy

What Mike’s Reading
Why Liberalism Failed. Patrick Deneen

What Jay’s Reading
The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent. Lionel Trilling

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the show, go to politicsguys.com/support.

Trump v Roberts, House Democrats Face Winning and Pelosi, In Defense of Saudi Arabi, the Whitaker Appointment

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This week Trey is once again joined by Alexandra Filindra. They tackle one of the biggest questions of the week to open the show: President Trump’s showdown with Chief Justice John Roberts. Both Alexandra and Trey see similarities to to President Andrew Jackson in the exchange. Trey thinks that, while done improperly, there is uncomfortable truth to Trump labeling justices and commendable myth to Roberts’ statement. Alexandra argues that Trump is not ideological, but personal, in his labeling of justices which makes him unique.

Turning again to the Democratic majority in the house Alexandra and Trey again look at the issue as more Democrats as of Friday continue to come out against Pelosi. Alexandra posits the issue in terms of gender and while Trey agrees he wonders what the pragmatic outcome will be.

Next Trey and Alexandra turn to Trump’s unusual statement in defense of Saudi Arabi. Both worry about the signal this sends to other regimes. Trey though sees this in a larger context as previous presidents, although less blatantly, have been willing to overlook the Saudis. Alexandra worries that there is less nuance in the defense.

Finally Trey and Alexandra discuss the Whitaker appointment, whether it is constitutional, and whether it will last.

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the show, go to politicsguys.com/support.

Jamie Susskind on Future Politics

Mike talks with author, speaker, and practicing barrister Jamie Susskind. Jamie studied history and politics at Magdalen College, Oxford before turning to law, and is a past Fellow of Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. His recently released book is Future Politics: Living Together in a World Transformed by Tech.

Mike and Jamie discuss:

  • the digital lifeworld
  • the nature of power
  • increased state scrutiny and the loss of privacy
  • the power, promise, and peril of algorithms
  • the future of liberty
  • alternatives to democracy
  • the wealth cyclone
  • and lots more!

Jamie Susskind on Twitter

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the show, go to politicsguys.com/support.

Is Jay Far Right?, Recounts, Tobacco Regulations, Saudi Sanctions, Challenges to Pelosi

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This week’s show opens with Mike talking about where Jay is on the ideological spectrum. Mike argues that although a number of listeners feel Jay is far right, he’s actually fairly moderate when compared to real far right voices like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.

Next is a discussion of the recounts in Florida and Georgia. Mike and Jay agree that voting should be as easy and straightforward as possible, while still maintaining the integrity of the system, but Jay is more inclined to see malice in the system, whereas Mike attributes much more to a combination of incompetence and underfunding. Mike argues for broader adoption of the vote by mail systems used in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon, which Jay thinks would be a mistake.

Following that, the Guys discuss the new FDA regulations cracking down on the availability of flavored e-cigarettes and a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and cigars. Mike is a big fan of these regulations and hopes they’ll go even further in years to come. Jay is naturally more anti-regulation and he has some concerning about a limiting factor (Mike says the limiting factor is ultimately elections).

Then it’s a look at the Trump administration’s sanctions against Saudi Arabians who have been implicated in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Mike says that the sanctions don’t go far enough and supports the bipartisan Senate bill that would ban all offensive arms sales to the Saudis. Jay is sort of lukewarm on this, feeling that the executive is due a certain amount of deference in the formulation of foreign policy.

Finally, Mike and Jay talk about whether or not Nancy Pelosi should be the next Speaker of the House. Mike thinks Pelosi will get the job and be a great Speaker, but he’d like to see the torch pass to someone like Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan. Mike also points out that Pelosi is actually much more conservative than her right-wing vilifiers would have people believe. Jay thinks that Pelosi is the right choice for the Democrats given her proven ability to run the show and raise plenty of money for her fellow Members.

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the show, go to politicsguys.com/support.

Jeff Sessions, the Mueller Investigation, Trump’s Asylum Denial Proclamation

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Mike and Jay discuss President Trump’s action to deny asylum to those who cross into the United States illegally and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions: why President Trump fired him, what it means for policy, and the potential implications for the Mueller investigation.

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the show, go to politicsguys.com/support.

Mike & Jay on the 2018 Midterm Elections

It’s all elections on this episode, starting with a look at the Congressional results. Mike and Jay talk about what they got right and where they went wrong in their predictions, and what they expect from the next Congress.

Then they turn to state level elections and a discussion of gains & losses in state legislatures and governorships, and what they might mean going forward.

Finally, the Guys talk about a number of key ballot issues: Medicaid expansion, victim’s rights laws, and changes to voting and redistricting. Jay also explains why he’s generally not a big fan of ballot initiatives, a position Mike understands and is even somewhat in agreement with. But ultimately, Mike argues that initiatives, while highly imperfect, are preferable to legislative gridlock (at least most of the time).

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the show, go to politicsguys.com/support.

Mike & Jay LIVE! Synagogue Bombing, Immigration Rhetoric, and Midterm Predictions

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Mike & Jay’s first ever live podcast, recorded 11/1/18 in Cincinnati Ohio’s Memorial Hall as part of the inaugural Cincinnati Podcast Festival. They discuss the Pittsburgh synagogue bombing, the Central America caravan, President Trump’s pre-election immigration rhetoric, their midterm election predictions, and what they expect from the next Congress.

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the show, go to politicsguys.com/support.

Midterm Elections, Voters, and the 14th Amendment

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Trey is joined by Ken this week and the duo tackle the upcoming midterms. They begin by looking at the major Senate races in play, specifically Florida and Texas. Then Trey and Ken turn to the House where they use some quick math to demonstrate the Democrats likelihood of winning a slight majority.

Trey and Ken then tackle the question of what happens next. What does the world look like after the midterm elections? Ken suggests Pelosi will remain speaker, but Trey thinks this will hurt democrats chances of challenging Trump. They also discuss the possibility of what Mueller is doing and how quickly that will appear after the election.

Things get exciting as Trey and Ken discuss the 14th Amendment. President Trump suggested he could undo birthright citizenship via executive order. Ken explains the standing law and questions the radical nature of conservative justices. Trey pushes back that liberal justices are originalists when it suits them and that there is no evidence how the court will yet rule.

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. If you’re interested in supporting the show, go to politicsguys.com/support.