Politicology

For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode Ron talks to Leopoldo Lopez (Venezuelan opposition leader and co-founder and general secretary of the World Liberty Congress) about his journey fighting for freedom against the Maduro regime. They discuss the collapse of democracy in Venezuela, the importance of grassroots movements...

This week, Ron Steslow and Greg Brower (Fmr. Assistant Director of the FBI and U.S. Attorney in Nevada) unpack what’s real—and what isn’t—in the Epstein investigations.     They walk through the unusual non-prosecution agreement for Epstein in Florida, how victims’ rights weren’t honored, and why additional prosecutions may not have materialized.  Then, they dig into the politics: the House Oversi...

We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it?  In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relatio...

For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode Ron talks to Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) about Ukraine’s resilience and global fatigue 3.5 years into Russia’s invasion.  They discuss: (07:56) The Ukrainian refugee murdered in Charlotte(09:52) Ukrainian morale and shifting public...

Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men.  (02:04) The toxicity of “toxic masculinity” (08:00) The “right” at war and the “left” in denial (13:00) How negative partisanship only increases the problem (15:00) The differences in funding and instit...

This week, Ron Steslow and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) discuss information warfare and the biased reporting about Israel ahead of their ground offensive in Gaza City.    Then, the backlash against parties in power in Europe and why Americans need to care about it. In Politicology+ they discuss China’s military parade, the meetings between the leaders of China,...

Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men. (02:13) Richard’s work and how it led to studying boys and men (04:00) The risks if the problems are not addressed (07:30) The gendered education gap(0z8:20) How economic shifts have impacted men(11:20)...

This week, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (Author of The Latino Century) unpack President Trump’s move to remove a sitting Federal Reserve governor,  the overt politicization of the Fed, and how it raises questions about whether it even makes sense for an institution this powerful to exist as it does.    Then, the administration’s deal for a 10% stake in Intel and what it signals about a turn toward...

Ron Steslow and Katherine Mangu-Ward discuss surveillance pricing, the role of government in data collection, the third-party doctrine that allows the government to buy personal data, and the marriage of corporate and state centralized power. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  ⁠https://www.oneskin.co/⁠ #oneskinpod Related Reading:  Vox - Delta is using AI to give you a personalized airfare....

This week, Ron Steslow and Olivier Knox (Senior National Political Correspondent at U.S. News & World Report) talk about Trump's federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department and the longstanding crime problem in Washington, D.C.  Later, they discuss the tensions between local and federal law enforcement nationally, the increasing surveillance and privacy concerns in society, and redisco...

For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode, Ron Steslow and Isaac Stone Fish (founder and CEO of Strategy Risks) discuss China's influence and the risks associated with corporate exposure to the Chinese Communist Party They explore the shifting public perception of China, the implications of leadership conflicts in major com...

This week, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (Author of The Latino Century) talk about the threats of the escalating, mid-decade redistricting war that Texas and California are kicking off. Later, they discuss some of the shocking, but not surprising, news on the Epstein scandal. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss the major jobs number revision from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump firing the agen...

Over the last 100 years, we have streamlined the process of food production. A hundred years ago, 99% of people were engaged in the agricultural process in some way. Today, that number is 1%. As a result, our relationship with food has become desperately impersonal. But what are the consequences of all that efficiency? Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of our food systems with Jeff...

This week, Ron Steslow and Katherine Mangu-Ward (Editor in Chief of Reason) examine some major current developments through a libertarian lens, focusing on negative liberties, free expression, and privacy. They discuss the threats to privacy and free expression from age-verification laws to "misinformation" regulation to the battle over values on the Internet. Then, in Politicology+ they discuss “...

Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and  Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) examine how efforts to “protect democracy” can sometimes undermine its foundations. They unpack the ongoing Epstein investigation and what it reveals about the importance of impartial justice and truth...

Dr. Catherine Sanderson (@SandersonSpeaks), Poler Family Professor, Chair of Psychology at Amherst College and the author of Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels joins host Ron Steslow (@RonSteslow) to analyze why Trump was able to exert control on the Republican party, how to recognize leaders who will stand up for what’s right—and what we can do to become moral rebels . To contribute...

We’re doing it! This December, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid are excited to host our first-ever salon-inspired retreat. Unscripted: A Politicology Gathering is a 3 night/4 day in-person retreat at a luxury villa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from December 5-8, 2025. You can find more information and apply at politicology.com/unscripted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this two part series, Journalist and author Byron Tau joins host Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State  Part 2: (02:17) The extensive government data collection Edward Snowden revealed  (09:40) How data vendors bypass privacy reviews within government agencies  (11:50) The role of encryp...

Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid (author of The Latino Century) discuss the unraveling of our political institutions, the devolution of political parties, what’s happening with them, where they’re heading and what it means. They dive into the Epstein Files and the MAGA backlash, Mamdani’...

For the ad-free and full version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at ⁠https://politicology.com/plus In this two part series, Journalist and author Byron Tau joins host Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State  Part 1: (02:36) Byron’s background and why he decided to write this book ...

Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Isaac Stone Fish (CEO and founder of Strategy Risks) discuss what it means to win the AI race with China, what the CCP’s ambitions are, and whether we could be sleepwalking into a future shaped by authoritarian values.    Then, in Politicology+ they discuss how China...

In this conversation, Susan Del Percio discusses Zohran Mamdani’s win in the Democratic Primary for New York City Mayor, what it means for New York, and what it will mean for Democrats in and outside the state.  Listen to our episode with Mike Madrid about the Fighting Oligarchy Tour: https://bit.ly/45Rr2lL Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Follow Ron and Susan on...

Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow and Jennifer Schulp (Director of Financial Regulation Studies at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives) discuss the Senate passing the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins. They dive into the implications of the Bank Secrecy Act and the critic...

Ron Steslow, Mike Madrid, and Marc Polymeropoulo discuss the shift in immigration enforcement, the protests in LA, and the values America stands for.  Related Reading:  CBS News - Afghan ally detained by ICE after attending immigration court hearing - CBS News WSJ - The White House Marching Orders That Sparked the L.A. Migrant Crackdown - WSJ The Dispatch -This Won’t End Well SacBee - A message to...

Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow, Mike Madrid (author of The Latino Century), and Marc Polymeropoulos (Former CIA Official) discuss the recent military operations by Israel against Iran and the implications for U.S. foreign policy.  They dive into Trump becoming wartime president and the internal divisi...