The Politics Guys is an independent American politics podcast grounded in a simple premise: the politicians and policies we get are shaped less by personalities than by the institutions and incentives that structure political life.

Too much political commentary treats politics as a zero-sum struggle between good and bad actors. That framing can be emotionally satisfying, but it often overlooks the structural forces that systematically bias the system toward certain kinds of people and outcomes. Bad actors exist. But unless we understand the incentives and institutions that allow them to thrive, there’s little hope for meaningful reform.

Our hosts don’t always agree, but we share a commitment to questioning our own assumptions and taking opposing arguments seriously. Instead of defending teams, we analyze mechanisms — how nomination systems select candidates, how media economics reward certain behaviors, and how institutional design shapes political power.

If you’re looking for a conversation that moves beyond tribal narratives and into how politics actually works, you’ve found the right place.

The Politics Guys Are…

Michael Baranowski, an Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Northern Kentucky University. His primary areas of focus are American political institutions, public policy, and media. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kentucky.

Harold “Trey” Orndorff, an associate professor of political science at Oklahoma Christian University. His research interests are presidential politics, communication, and social media. In addition to his disciplinary research, Trey also writes on teaching in higher education, specifically the impact of technologies on student outcomes.

Ken Katkin, a professor of law at Northern Kentucky University’s Chase Law School. He teaches and writes in the areas of Constitutional Law, Communications Law, Legislation, Federal Jurisdiction, and Entertainment Law. Before coming to Chase, he litigated constitutional and telecommunications law cases with the Washington D.C. firm Wiley, Rein & Fielding. Before entering private practice, Ken clerked for the Hon. David M. Ebel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, in Denver, Colorado.

Justin Holmes, an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Northern Iowa. His research centers on American Politics, Political Communication, New Media and Politics, and Political Psychology.

Michael Levy, the VP of Content for Kognity, a digital curriculum and online learning platform. Prior to his career in publishing, Michael worked as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Southeast Missouri State University. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kentucky.