Politics in Perspective

Dr. Jason Russell makes his hosting debut in this important episode on the proper role of religion in our politics. Joined by Dr. Marcia Bumgardner, they explore the historical context of church and state separation, highlighting pivotal moments from the founders' era and examining how these principles are interpreted today. They dive into contemporary issues such as religious requirements for...

In this episode of 'Politics in Perspective,' host Marcia Bumgardner is joined by Dr. Jason Russell and Dr. Charles McCoy to discuss the history and current use of the National Guard, with a focus on instances of federalization. They explore the legal framework, such as the Posse Comitatus Act, and examine historical examples like Little Rock in 1957 and the LA riots in 1992. The episode a...

In this episode of Politics in Perspective, Marcia, Jason, and Charles discuss the recent assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and the broader issue of political violence in the United States. They explore the historical context of political violence, the importance of having a national conversation about deescalation, and strategies for teaching children to engage positively wit...

In this episode of 'Politics in Perspective,' Marcia continues the conversation on propaganda with Dr. Jason Russell and Dr. Charles McCoy. The discussion delves into the overwhelming presence of propaganda in modern society and its sources, including government, media, and social media. They explore how propaganda has evolved from wartime efforts to current domestic political battles. The convers...

In this episode of Politics in Perspective, Marcia, Charlesand Jason discuss the use of propaganda, from the Civil War to World War II, examining the evolution of propaganda tools and their impact on society. Charles highlights the differences between wartime andpolitical propaganda, exploring both its beneficial uses and potential harms. Marcia and Jason emphasize the importance of recognizing pr...

In this episode of Politics in Perspective, hosts Charles McCoy, Jason Russell, and Marcia Bumgardner discuss recent high-profile deportations under the Trump administration. The discussion focuses on the resurgence of the Alien Enemies Act, a historical law allowing expedited deportation, and its modern implications. They explore the background and historical context of the Act, the specifics of...

Marcia and Jason discuss the recent executive orders targeting prominent law firms that have opposed the Trump administration. The episode discusses the implications of these orders and highlights President Trump's unprecedented use of executive power to penalize specific firms and their clients. The discussion includes the motivations behind these actions, the reactions from the legal communi...

In this episode of Politics in Perspective, host Marcia Bumgardner is joined by political scientist Jason Russell and historian Charles McCoy to explore NATO's role in U.S. foreign policy. The discussion delves into NATO's origins and significance post-World War II, the Berlin Airlift, and the Cold War dynamics. The conversation also covers more recent events, including the U.S. shift in p...

In this episode of Politics in Perspective, Marcia, Jason and Charles discuss the US's current foreign policy toward Ukraine and how historical events from World War II, such as the Munich Agreement and European appeasement strategies, hold lessons for today. The conversation explores parallels between Hitler's actions pre-WWII and Putin's moves in Ukraine, debating whether modern dipl...

In this episode of 'Politics in Perspective,' Marcia, Charles, and Jason discuss the recent upheaval in the Department of Justice, dubbed the 'Thursday Night Massacre.' They delve into the implications of Mayor Eric Adams' bribery indictment and its controversial dismissal, drawing parallels to the Nixon-era 'Saturday Night Massacre.' The discussion covers the DOJ's...

In this episode, Marcia Bumgarner and Jason Russell discuss the significant changes to the Department of Education proposed by the Trump administration, particularly through a new executive order and the appointment of Linda McMahon. T They also touch on broader educational issues like Pell Grants, FAFSA, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The episode explores the ideological mot...

In this episode of Politics in Perspective, Marcia, Charles, and Jason, delve into the concept of separation of powers in the U.S. government. The discussion centers around the extent of presidential authority and the checks that exist to balance this power. The team explores President Trump's recent executive actions, historical examples of Congressional pushback against presidential overreach, a...

In this episode of Politics in Perspective, hosts Marcia Bumgardner and Charles McCoy delve into the complex topic of tariffs. They discuss the recent news on President Trump's announcement of a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, its potential implications for American consumers, and the broader economic landscape. Charles provides an insightful historical overview of tariffs in the U...

Exploring Executive Orders: From FDR's Japanese Internment to Trump's Birthright Citizenship In this episode of 'Politics in Perspective,' hosts Charles McCoy and Jason Russell, along with special guest Dr. Abby Grubb, discuss the impact and implications of executive orders. They begin by examining President Trump's recent wave of executive actions, particularly focusing on his...

Big news! Dr. Jason Russell officially joins the Politics in Perspective podcast as a co-host. In Jason's first official episode, he shares his expectations about the first 100 days of the Trump presidency. Charles explains where this idea of the first 100 days of a presidency got its start. And Marcia discusses Trump's communication style.

Historian Charles McCoy and Political Science expert Jason Russell join Marcia to discuss the recent election results, Trump's cabinet picks, and the significant changes in the FBI's leadership. The conversation explores the political landscape post-election, focusing on the nomination of Kash Patel for FBI director. The episode delves into the history of the FBI, examining parallels with J. Edgar...

Welcome to the final episode of Politics in Perspective before the big 2024 election. In this episode, Charles McCoy shares heartwarming personal news, and friend of the pod, Dr. Jason Russell breaks down expectations for Election night. We cover what to look for in election challenges, the intricacies of polling and their margins of error, recounts, and the likelihood of election fraud verus elec...

Charles does a deep dive into Presidential assassination attempts. Four sitting U.S. Presidents have died as a result of gunshot wounds, including the often-forgotten James Garfield. There are also a few surprising similarities between Teddy Roosevelt's close call and the recent attempt on Donald Trump.

Less than a month out from the Presidential Election, with an essentially tied race, what will move the dial for the campaigns? Marcia breaks down the Vice Presidential debate with special guests Dr. Cassandra Khatri and Dr. Jason Russell. The civility of the debate was a welcome change of pace for some viewers, but did it change the state of the race? What might matter more in these final days? W...

Marcia breaks down the Electoral College with special guest Dr. Jason Russell. They explain the Nebraska and Maine method of allocating electors and how the outcome of the Presidential election might change if more states adopted this method. They also discuss the state of the race and why it may be a long election night!

Marcia discusses a few of the stand-out moments from Trump and Harris's Tuesday night debate. Charles tells us about how political debates have evolved from Lincoln-Douglas to the modern era of TV debate. To get Marcia's weekly polling updates join Marcia's 'Political Vitality' newsletter: (29) Topline Election 2024 | Political Vitality | Marcia Bumgardner | Substack

In this episode, Marcia and Charles welcome Dr. Brandon Rottinghaus, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston. The discussion centers around Texas politics, the career of former Governor Rick Perry, and the shift in the Republican Party. Dr. Rottinghaus shares stories from his new book 'Rick Perry, a Political Life,' and details Perry's evolution from a con...

The new season of Politics in Perspective kicks off with an exciting DNC Roundtable. Marcia and Charles get insights from political experts Jason Russell & Cody Pogue, plus in-depth analysis on Kamala’s big speech. Hit play and stay informed!

In the last few weeks, we've seen an explosion in campus protests across the country over the Israel-Gaza conflict. Charles discusses the campus protests of the 1960s and 70s, the Vietnam War, and Kent State. Marcia makes observations about the complexities of free speech rights and the creeping antisemitism that has made its way into some of the protests. Time Place and Manner Restrictions Ti...

Marcia and Charles discuss the Senate's dismissal of the Mayorkas Impeachment and explain why this was inevitable. Charles takes us back to the very first Presidential Impeachment and answers all Marcia's questions about Andrew Johnson.