The Politics Classroom

Co-hosts Kate Floros and Evan McKenzie discuss the first year of the second Trump administration with guest E.J. Fagan . Topics range from Project 2025 and the Unitary Executive Theory to the exclusion of Congress from policymaking and the Democrats' chances in the 2026 mid-term elections. Kate, Evan, and E.J. are all professors in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illin...

In this new podcast, Unpacking Politics, political scientists Kate Floros and Evan McKenzie (University of Illinois Chicago) will discuss a wide range of political issues, trying to get to the bottom of what's going on in the world. In the first episode we talk with Juan Albarracín , our UIC Political Science colleague about the January 3, 2026 US special forces raid that deposed Venezuelan pr...

Professor Floros in The Politics Classroom teases a new podcast, Unpacking Politics.

In the Classroom: Raymond Baker , Global Financial Integrity Topics: Operating businesses in Lagos, Nigeria; Biafra War; Coups in Nigeria; illicit financial flows; Global Financial Integrity Episode Transcript Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: Animal Kingdom by Craig Allen Fravel Episode Art: © 2019 | Kristina Sherk Photography Raymond Baker's Books Invisi...

In the Classroom: Professor Steven Schwinn , UIC School of Law Topics: SCOTUS; 2023 affirmative action cases; Equal Protection Clause; reinterpreting Brown v. Board (1954); achieving diversity without considering race; legacy admissions Episode transcript Intro & Outro music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition music: Hello, Good Morning by Liberty Photo description: White man with black g...

In the Classroom: Professor Sharan Grewal , Department of Government , College of William and Mary Topics: Tunisian revolution; democratic backsliding; self-coup; hyper-presidential political system; constitutional referendum; boycotting elections; secular/Islamist divide Episode Transcript Intro and Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: Let Rivers Flow by Cast of Characters...

In the Classroom : Evan McKenzie , UIC Political Science Topics : US Supreme Court; Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson; writ of certiorari; Rule 10; rule of four; Voting Rights Act, Sec. 2; Independent State Legislature "Theory"; Affirmative action Episode transcript Episode art : Photo by Rochelle Nicole on Unsplash Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: Swam...

In the Classroom: Semih Patan & Petia Kostadinova , UIC Political Science Topics: Tunisia clarification and update; regimes, political systems, and voting rules 101; political party ideology; 2016 failed coup in Turkey; 2017 constitutional referendum in Turkey Episode Transcript Photo by Peter Kostov on Unsplash Image description: View of the Palace of Westminster, the Parliament of the UK, fr...

In the Classroom: Semih Patan , PhD Candidate, Political Science , University of Illinois at Chicago: https://pols.uic.edu/profiles/patan-semih/; https://pols.uic.edu/ Topics: Competitive authoritarianism; Turkish politics; Turkish 2023 presidential election; Justice and Development Party (AKP); AKP over time; secularism in Turkish politics; military as guardian of Turkish democracy (previously);...

When the USSR collapsed, the West had so much hope for an integrated, peaceful Russia. What went so wrong, and how did the West actually embolden Putin to become a "serial aggressor"? In the Classroom: Russia expert Ambassador Ian Kelly Topics: Ambassador Kelly's Talk 2:09: Ambassador Kelly's bio 4:27: Opening remarks 9:52: Outline of Talk 10:52: 1994 Budapest Memorandum 20:26: 2008 Invasion of Ge...

In the Classroom: Professor Nicole Nguyen , UIC ( Criminology, Law, and Justice ; Educational Policy Studies ) Topics: Homeland Security curriculum in US schools; Countering Violent Extremism; role of teachers and therapists in policing extremism; gendered aspect of policing extremism; Zero Tolerance in schools; abolition; arguments that don't make sense; who becomes a terrorist Episode Trans...

In the Classroom: Max, Sam, and Meghna  Topics: 23 events in 23 years (2000-2023) to celebrate 23 years of UIC Radio . For more information about each event, check out The Bookshelf !  (Under construction)  Episode transcript  Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age   Transition Music: Happy Birthday by Birds of Norway   Photo created by Professor Floros...

In the Classroom: Chicago mayoral candidate Ja'Mal Green Topics: Chicago elections (in February!); E.P.I.C. agenda; activism arrests and bans; experience over age; creating a public bank; investing in neighborhoods; Progressive bona fides Episode transcript Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: Miss U So by Midnight Daydream The Politics Classroom website The Book...

In the Classroom: Dr. Margaret Fink , Director, UIC Disability Cultural Center Topics: Disability vocabulary, reclaiming "crip", disability justice, disability cultural centers, non-apparent disabilities, ADHD, improving accessibility in the classroom Episode Transcript Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music:  Gotcha! by Avocado Junkie Photo description: Margar...

This is a re-release of an episode of The International Classroom, a live studio precursor of this podcast. The episode originally aired on UIC Radio in 2019. In the Classroom: 2019 UICUF President Janet Smith & Executive Vice President Aaron Krall Topics: Union contracts; bargaining units; tenure-track v. non-tenure track; university budgeting Episode transcript Photo credit: UIC United Facul...

In the Classroom: UICUF organizers Sophie Bauerschmidt Sweeney and Jeff Edwards ; UICUF President and bargaining co-chair Aaron Krall Topics: Union organizing; strike planning; forming a bargaining team; working with management; demonstrating power through mobilization; short tribute to Janet Smith Transcript coming soon Photo credit: Charitianne Williams Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses b...

In The Classroom: Professor Nicole A. Perez , Bridge to Faculty Scholar, Department of Medical Education , UIC Topics: Medical education; medical racism; winding career paths; social and cultural capital; community cultural wealth; first generation student success Episode Transcript Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: The Sheriff is in Town by Adam Saban Podcast...

In the Classroom: UIC History Professor Robert D. Johnston Topics: Professors with teacher parents; union stewards; teaching aspiring teachers; the Omaha Platform of the People's Party (1892); not populism but populisms; conspiracy theories; nativism; US Founders Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: Strikken by Tiger Gang Podcast website The Bookshelf for further...

In The Classroom: I have the joy and privilege of speaking with many UIC faculty and students about what makes UIC special, and why they've chosen to make it home. Thank you to all who participated in the episode. I look forward to many more episodes in 2023! Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: You Cool! by Ends of the Earth Pod...

In the Classroom: Ryan Hurley , Regional Director for the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund Topics: Nov. 8 election; election day for a campaign staffer; paying campaign staff; post-Covid campaigning; the power of texting Photo by Andrew Adams on Unsplash Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: Viral by Sweet Sammy

In the Classroom: Professor emeritus Chris Mooney, UIC Political Science Topics: November 8 election; election judging; ranked choice voting; ballot initiatives around the country; effects of redistricting overreach; billionaires playing politics in Illinois Photo by Niranjan _ Photographs on Unsplash Intro & Outro music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition music: Truffle Shuffle by Tiger...

Brief explanation for why there is no full episode this week. Photo by Aleksandar Cvetanovic on Unsplash

Bits and pieces of previously unaired interview fragments, strangely stitched together with spooky results. In the Classroom: Professors Cedric Johnson & Juan Albarracín  and student panelists Hiba, Olivia, Meghna, and Sam Intro and Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transitions by Soundstripe Photo by freestocks on Unsplash Full episode with Professor Johnson Full episode with Pro...

In the Classroom: UIC Political Science student panel comprised of Hiba, Sam, Meghna, and Olivia Topics: Protests in Iran, Brazil's elections, coup in Burkina Faso, death of Queen Elizabeth II Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: Ticky Tacky by Rhythm Scott Episode Cover Art: Gaël Gaborel - OrbisTerrae on Unsplash Podcast website

In the Classroom: Prof. Juan Albarrac&iacuten , UIC Political Science Topics: Relationship between political and criminal actors in Brazil and Colombia; criminal governance; transitional justice; post-conflict Intro & Outro Music: Three Goddesses by Third Age Transition Music: Descarga Mapal&eacute by Anthony Catacoli