The Politics Guys & The Brown Girls Guide to Politics

Mike talks with A’shanti Gholar, creator and host of The Brown Girls Guide to Politics podcast. Topics they discuss include:

  • COVID-19’s disproportionate effects on minorities
  • whether President Trump is racist, and if it matters
  • demographic representation in Congress
  • why the Democratic Party is so much more diverse than the GOP
  • what Republicans can to do attract more minorities, without abandoning their core principles & beliefs
  • Joe Biden’s potential VP choices
  • what women & minorities can reasonably expect from a Biden administration
  • what four more years of a Trump administration might mean for women & minorities
  • what white males most often misunderstand about women & minorities in politics

The Brown Girls Guide to Politics on Twitter

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. Robin DiAngelo

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Biden, Armed Protests, Amash

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Trey & Ken start the show talking Biden’s response to sexual assault allegation from Tara Reade. Next the pair move to discussing COVID, but primarily focusing on the armed protests in Michigan. Trey & Ken close the show discussing the entrance into the presidential race of newly minted Libertarian Amash and potential Green Party candidate Ventura.

This Week’s Recommendations
Trey suggests you check out Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime.

Ken is reading The New York Review of Books.

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COVID Aid, Immigration Shutdown, States Reopening, SCOTUS on EPA Regulation

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On this week’s show, Mike and Kristin take on more COVID-19 related stories and policy issues, including the most recent aid package, President Trump’s immigration proclamation, and state “exit strategies” for lockdown and plans to reopen economies. Mike and Kristin also discuss the complex, recently-decided Supreme Court case of County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund. They also share their recommendations for some non-COVID related entertainment.

Mike’s Weekly Recommendation
Open Psychometrics ‘Which Character Are You?’ Quiz
The Reluctant Detective (Mike’s P.I. book in progress)

Kristin’s Weekly Recommendation
Imagineering in a Box (Disney & Khan Academy)

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COVID-19 & Federalism, Grading the Response, The WHO and China

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Mike & Jay open the show with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of federalism in light of President Trump’s claim of ‘total authority’ and his suggestion that Democratic governors were like mutinous sailors. Following that, they grade the preparation and response of both the administration and Congress to the pandemic. They close by talking about whether or not the WHO was too credulous or complicit in supporting China’s erroneous early reports about COVID-19.

This Week’s Recommendations
Mike suggests you check out (and even comment on) The Reluctant Detective, his book in progress. He also recommends the TV show I’m Sorry.

Although Jay was driven from their dorm room on Mike’s ‘country music nights’, he’s found the Ken Burns documentary Country Music very enjoyable.

What You Love (and hate) About The Politics Guys Hosts (our Reddit BipartisanPolitics Group)

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Sanders Out, Wisconsin Votes, Trump Removes Michael Atkinson and Glenn Fine

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Trey and Ken open the show discussing the suspension of Sanders’ campaign. The pair talk about what it means for democratic socialism and the Democratic Party more widely. Trey sees this as the broader failure of ideologies of class and Ken sees it as the beginning of a potential turn for democratic socialism.

Next, in a bit of disagreement, Trey and Ken spar over the Supreme Court’s ruling concerning the Wisconsin primary. While both agree that the fault primarily lies with the state, they disagree over what role the Supreme Court should have played. They also disagree with over the power states should have to conduct their elections without interference, even when there is partisan influence.

Finally, the pair close talking about the removal of Michael Atkinson and Glenn Fine. The two agree that the removals are wrong, but Trey specifically worries that it is the continued sign of congressional deference to Presidential power in times of crisis.

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Stay-At-Home Extended, Encouraging Numbers?, SBA Loan Program, Resource Fights, Masks

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This week, Mike and Kristin talk about all things COVID-19. The bigger issues involve President Trump’s extended stay-at-home guidelines, the cultural impact of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, and some encouraging statistics. They also discuss the reality of economic issues we face, jobless numbers, the SBA loan program rolled out this week, states haggling over resources, and changing information about wearing face masks to reduce the virus spread.

This Week’s Recommendations
Mike suggests you check out (and even comment on) The Reluctant Detective, his book in progress. He also recommends the Hulu show Puppy Prep and the rationally optimistic blog post, “No, You Didn’t Just Lose Half of your Retirement Savings.”

Kristin recommends Erik Larson’s Dead Wake, about the Lusitania disaster during WWI and the events and tension leading up to it – and after.  She also recommends the documentary Antarctica: A Year on Ice, a cool take on what it’s like to live and work in the isolated environment of Antarctica.

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Coronavirus Stimulus, Defense Production Act, Restarting the Economy

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Mike, Jay, and Trey open the show with a discussion of the federal government’s economic response to the coronavirus pandemic – both the $2 trillion legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump as well as the Federal Reserve’s multi-trillion dollar promise to do whatever it takes to keep the economy functioning.

After that, they discuss President Trump’s recent invocation of the Defense Production Act, focusing on how it may help areas most affected by coronavirus. Then they debate whether it’s too soon to restart the economy, if President Trump is being irresponsible and ignoring his public health experts, and the often agonizing tradeoffs that have to be made in crises.

Recommendations
Mike suggests you check out (and comment on)  The Reluctant Detective, his book in progress. He also recommends the shows Derry Girls and Brockmire.

Jay recommends Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods as well as this documentary on jazz great Miles Davis.

Trey’s recommendation is the book Davinci in Love.

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Reasons to be Rationally Optimistic About The Coronavirus Pandemic

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In this special episode, Mike and Trey suggest reasons to feel at least potentially optimistic about the coronavirus pandemic. Their reasons for optimism cover likely outcomes, government response, and longer term ramifications. They also share some things they’ve found useful in coping with the crisis. (Such as Mike’s recommendation to fellow liberals to check out moderate-right news sources like The Bulwark and National Review.)

Today’s Sponsor
The sponsor for today’s show is Coronavirus Daily Briefing.

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Coronavirus, Ohio’s Primary That Wasn’t, Social Media in an Emergency

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On this special episode Trey and Ken are joined by Mike. They begin the show discussing the California lockdown, the first of its kind in the country, and the Senate Republican direct payment relief plan. Next the trio talk about the Democratic primary, focused primarily on the primary that wasn’t in Ohio. They finish the show discussing social media in an emergency and their respective weekly recommendations.

Recommendations

Mike’s Recommendation is his own, ongoing creation: The Reluctant Detective.

Mike also recommends When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times. Pema Chodron. and Living Beautifully With Uncertainty and Change. Pema Chodron.

Trey recommends CBS All Access’s Star Trek Picard.

Ken recommends the music of Paul Kopasz (aka Paul K).

Today’s Sponsor
The sponsor for today’s show is Coronavirus Daily Briefing.

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

Thomas Philippon on How America Gave Up on Free Markets

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Mike talks with Thomas Philippon, a Professor of Finance at the Stern School of Business at New York University. Professor Philippon is a member of the Monetary Policy Advisory Panel of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the author of the recently released book, The Great Reversal: How America Gave Up On Free Markets, which they discuss on this episode.

Topics discussed include:

  • the many benefits of competition
  • how and why the US became much less competitive over the last two decades
  • how, in many ways, Europe is actually much more competitive than the US
  • how lobbying and campaign finance contribute to the problem
  • the ‘revolving door’ between government and the private sector
  • the decline of competition in finance, health care, and the tech sector
  • what can be done to increase competition

Thomas Philippon on Twitter

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