The Politics Guys

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Mike and Justin open with a discussion of the 90-day pause in the tariff war between the United States and China. Markets loved the move, and Mike makes the case that this may have been the Trump plan all along, and that at this point, he seems to be getting significant concessions. However, Americans have yet to feel the impact of the tariffs — something that will change before long.

Next, they turn to President Trump’s Middle East trip. Mike thinks he sees a fairly coherent strategy that he sort of likes, with a few (large) caveats. Justin points out the administration’s seeming complete lack of concern with human rights abuses in the Middle East, with Trump putting ‘making deals’ above human rights issues.

They close with a discussion of the jet Qatar has offered as a temporary replacement for Air Force One, as well as President Trump’s crypto business. Both Mike and Justin think there’s massive potential for corruption here, with Mike wondering if we’re at a point where the public (at least a large portion of it) has been almost inured to claims of corruption when they involve Donald Trump..

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Mike and Ken open with a discussion of something lapsed-Catholic Mike thought he’d never see – an American Pope. While Pope Leo is unlikely to be as progressive as his predecessor, he’s no ultra-conservative who has said some critical things about Vice President Vance in the past.

Then they turn to tariffs: the just-announced agreement between the US and the UK, if and when more agreements may be forthcoming, the economic damage that’s almost certain even if deals start pouring in, and a strange proposal for a 100% tariff on movies made in ‘foreign lands’.

Next is a look at the Trump administration’s plan to pay undocumented migrants $1,000 to self-deport. Both Mike and Ken are skeptical that anyone will end up getting paid to leave the country, and Ken questions the President’s legal authority for the policy.

They close with a discussion of the lawsuit challenging major cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services brought by 19 states and the District of Columbia. 

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Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.

The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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Trey and Ken open with a detailed look into Trump’s first 100 days in office. This includes a conversation as to why we rate presidents’ first 100 days along with detailed discussions of Trump’s handling of both economic policy and foreign policy. Imbedded in this conversation is a look at the U.S. / Ukrainian resources deal and what that means for the future of the war and an extended conversation on Mike Pence leaving as National Security Advisor and his chances to make it past the Senate to be the new ambassador to the United Nations.

Next, they turn to a detailed examination of Judge Fernando Rodriguez’s ruling against the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA). Included here is a conversation about how sympathetic Judge Rodriguez’s is and yet his ruling putting a halt to the Trump administration’s deportation plans.

They close the show with a look at Trump’s breaking budget on Friday.

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Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This?

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.

The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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Mike and Justin open with a discussion of yet another wild week for the world economy, largely due to instability caused by President Trump’s changing positions on trade and the economy. He hates the Fed Chair he appointed but won’t fire him (even though he claims he can), says the US is talking with China, which China denies, and is now dealing with multiple lawsuits challenging his authority to impose broad-based sanctions using emergency powers.

Next they turn to what appears to be Elon Musk’s coming departure from DOGE. They look at how DOGE’s work has affected Musk, how much DOGE has actually saved, and whether it was ever about efficiency, as opposed to control.

They close with a look at the latest Ukraine peace deal, which seems more like a demand that Ukraine surrender more than anything else.

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Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This?

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.

The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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Mike and Trey open by considering the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. They consider how both the left and right see Abrego Garcia, the legal battles surrounding his illegal deportation and possible return (don’t hold your breath), and if we’re near a point at which the Trump administration openly defies the courts.

Next is a discussion of the Trump administration’s attempts to bring Harvard University to heel, and Harvard’s resistance. They consider both the legal questions raised as well as how all this might play out at a time when trust in higher education is at a historic low.

They close with a look at the Iran nuclear talks. Trey thinks this could end up being a win for Trump, and while Mike doesn’t necessarily disagree, he argues that the first Trump administration largely created the situation he’s now trying to fix.

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Mike’s Substack: What Fresh Hell is This?

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo we’re @PoliticsGuys.

The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.