The Politics Guys

In this first episode of The Politics Guys Present, Trey and Ken introduce the U.S. Constitution. Topics include: The American historic context of the U.S. Constitution The Articles of Confederation Federalists and Anti-Federalists The conservatism of the U.S. Constitution Read Trey's Substack for a deep dive into the Federalist Papers The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Check out the excellent Sustainable Planet podcast. Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support atpatreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venm...

Trey and Justin continue their series on political ideologies, this week with anarchism. Topics covered include: What is an anarchist? What does it mean to reject the state? Anarchism and human nature The positive vision of life after the state The Politics Guys on Facebook | X Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support atpatreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys. The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a networ...

This week, Trey and Justin open the show by announcing The Politics Guys Presents: The U.S. Constitution. This is a new drop coming on Wednesdays, open to all listeners, to get a detailed understanding of the U.S. Constitution! After that, the pair move to Trump’s seeming U-Turn on Greenland. Trey argues that the goal isn’t Greenland necessarily, but rather to change the relationship with our former allies. He connects it to the United States exiting the World Health Organization. Justin argues Trump was trying to project strength and did not realize the extent of o...

Mike and Michael open with a deep dive into the Supreme Court cases involving Idaho and West Virginia bans on transgender girls participating in girls’ sports, unpacking why the Court is likely to uphold the laws while sharply distinguishing between what may be legally permissible and what constitutes sound or humane policy. Mike emphasizes administratability, original legislative meaning in Title IX, and the unavoidable reality that someone loses under any legal rule, while Michael argues the Court is ducking meaningful scrutiny, endorsing blanket exclusions, and turning vulnerable kids into symbolic casualties of a broader culture war. Next, th...

Mike and Michael open with an update on events in Minneapolis in the wake of the killing of Renee Good. Michael emphasizes how polling shows broad public skepticism and frames the situation as a legitimacy crisis for ICE, while Mike argues the administration’s response reflects an entrenched us-versus-them mentality that treats protesters as enemies rather than citizens. Next, the guys pivot to the clash between President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over the Fed’s headquarters renovation and the resulting DOJ investigation. Michael lays out the cost overruns, subpoenas, and Republican unease about Fed inde...

In this midweek show, Trey and Mike look to the expanding international vision from Trumpworld as it relates primarily to Greenland. Mike argues that Greenland is just saber rattling, but Trey argues that it is more. Further, he argues that MAGA does not see common ground with other democracies, especially in Europe. Next, they discuss the economic policies of exiting the global tax agreements. Mike believes it was the best move in the case of the U.S. Trey goes into the details of how Europe has targeted the U.S. in terms of taxes. ...

Mike joins Trey to open the show with a deep dive into the ICE killing of Renee Good. Mike focuses on the language used by administrative officials and its militant attack on Good. Trey highlights that, even if Good was engaged in illegal activity, there is a level of due process. He also argues that federalism better handles police situations because they are inherently a part of those communities. Next, the guys turn to a deeper dive into Operation Absolute Resolve or the attack on Venezuela. While last week the guys got a quick first take, this...

Mike and Michael open with CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes investigation into alleged abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador, focusing less on the prison itself than on what the decision signals about media independence. Mike argues that conditioning broadcast on administration participation amounts to false balance and effectively hands officials a veto over investigative journalism, while Michael stresses that the move breaks with 60 Minutes’ role as a mass-audience accountability institution rather than a niche outlet. Next, the guys step back and treat Trump’s first year as a scorecard exercise, weighing major 2024 campaign promises against outc...

Mike and Michael open with the breaking news that the Trump administration launched military strikes against Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, debating whether the operation violates international law and risks plunging Venezuela into deeper instability. Michael stresses the fog of war, unresolved legal authority, and the danger posed by entrenched militias and fractured institutions, while Mike argues that even removing a brutal strongman sets a dangerous precedent when done outside the UN framework and without clear congressional authorization. Next, the guys turn to domestic executive power in Trump v. Illinois, analyzing the Supreme Court’s ref...

Trey and Mike join in this holiday-sized show! The pair start with a look into the Pentagon’s investigation into Senator Kelly over his video of illegal orders. Mike outlines the contours of the military code of justice. Trey argues for the need for members of the Senate (and House) to have the ability to speak freely. Next, they move to the ongoing feud between Candace Owens and Erica Kirk over TPUSA and the killing of Charlie Kirk. Trey argues that the future of the political right is who wins in this battle. Mike argues Owens is si...

Trey and Mike start with a focus on economic affordability, inflation rates, and the implications of Trump's economic policies. Trey outlines the historic economic conditions between Trump and Biden, noting that the economic conditions under Trump were better than under Biden. Mike argues that you can’t look at the total average under Biden because of COVID.  Next, they discuss Trump's pardon of Tina Peters, exploring the limits of presidential power and the role of norms in governance. Mike argues that, from a textualist viewpoint, the U.S. Constitution is consistent with a unitary theory of the pre...

Mike and Joey open with a deep dive into the emerging battle over Warner Bros. Discovery, weighing Netflix’s proposed mega-merger against Paramount Skydance’s rival bid and asking whether antitrust law still has teeth in a streaming world defined by consolidation. Mike stresses market definition, consumer harm, and the risk of enshittification when dominant platforms get complacent, while Joey argues consolidation raises prices and erodes both competition and the marketplace of ideas  Next, they turn to the idea of “objective” or traditional news, debating David Ellison’s claim that CNN and CBS could rebuild a fact-driven, ideological...

Mike and Joey open with a look at U.S. missile strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats and the seizure of an oil tanker, debating whether Article II authority is enough or whether Congress should have a say. Mike presses on limiting principles, civilian deaths, and why Coast Guard interdiction might achieve the same ends with fewer moral costs, while Joey argues the strikes fit long-standing counterterror logic and reflect the president’s duty to act decisively against narco-terror networks  Next, they pivot to Trump v. Slaughter and the fate of Humphrey’s Executor, unpacking what presidential remov...

Trey & Justin continue their dive into contemporary political ideologies. This week they dive into Marxism. Topics covered include: Marxism’s underlying structure in Hegel’s writings Historical Determinism Democracy and Marxism Lenin’s “fix” to Marxism with imperialism Critiques of Marxism and Neo-Marxism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks about the Explain Like I'm 5 podcast. I hope you will enjoy this excellent show as much as we do.

Trey and Justin start the show discussing last week’s tragic incident involving the National Guard in Washington DC. Here, both Trey and Justin agree on the terrible nature of the attack. Trey highlights the emotionally charged nature such an episode will have on immigration conversations. Specifically, Trey discusses how media frames impact policy. Justin highlights that the White House is simply using the incident to crackdown further on immigration. The pair both agree that Afghans who assisted the U.S. were due help and that an individualized tragic incident does not change the need for a robust asylum po...

Mike, Tim, and Michael open with the “Deciding to Win” memo and the broader question of how Democrats can reconnect with working-class voters while staying true to core values. Mike argues that Democrats already face structural disadvantages and will lose even more elections if they treat politics as a mass pedagogy project instead of meeting voters where they are with authentic, non-condescending economic populism. Tim contends that Democrats are ripping themselves apart over issues like trans rights, women’s sports, and abortion limits, and that these fissures are driving away Hispanics and moderates in a way no amount of pollin...

Mike, Tim, and Michael open with Trump’s 28-point Ukraine peace plan, built on Russian terms that demand territorial concessions, a NATO ban, limits on Ukraine’s army, and sweeping amnesty. Tim focuses on trading some Ukrainian territory for ironclad security guarantees, including foreign troops on the ground as real deterrence. Mike argues the U.S. should massively ramp up weapons and capabilities for Kyiv, rejecting escalation fears and warning that half-measures only reward aggression and embolden China over Taiwan. Michael sees the plan as politically and militarily a nonstarter, doubts any near-term peace is possible, and warns that Zele...

Mike and Joey open with the spiraling Comey prosecution, where a Trump-aligned U.S. attorney faces judicial scorn for alleged grand-jury missteps that could collapse the case. Mike argues the real play is intimidation and precedent-setting revenge politics rather than a credible legal charge. Joey counters that Comey was central to what he considers the most serious political scandal in decades and sees the prosecution as predictable fallout, while defending Halligan against “rookie mistake” criticisms. Next, they roll into the looming ACA subsidy cliff and the GOP’s strategic paralysis: extend subsidies, rebrand them throug...

Mike and Joey open with the blowback to Joey’s claim that “the hubris of the left” is the biggest obstacle to national unity . Mike frames Trump’s behavior as the more obvious example of hubris, while Joey argues that Trump’s personality is massive but incidental and that the real divide is between people focused on ideas and people hung up on identity. Joey sees Trump as a magnanimous, big-ideas president undermined by small-minded opponents, while Mike counters that Trump’s “magnanimity” looks more like dominance dressed up as charm. Next, they dig into Congress’s overwhelming vote...