The Politics Lab

This week, Bill and Phil examine President Biden’s speech on democracy, the potential rebirth of the liberal world order, why autocrats fear women, and what to make of Clarence Thomas’ wife sending text messages to Mark Meadows about overturning the 2020 election.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the Senate confirmation hearing of Ketanji Brown Jackson, debate whether Russia can be held accountable for war crimes for its actions in Ukraine, and play a foreign policy edition of “what’s more stupid.” 

Bill and Phil break down recent developments in Ukraine, reflect on what Russian history can teach us about its current invasion, and think through the upcoming challenges facing U.S. courts as they try to determine the proper balance between free speech and disinformation.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss recent developments in Ukraine, how Russia’s invasion will impact the global world order, whether Vladimir Putin is acting rationally, and what political science research tells us about madman theories of international politics.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil devote the entire episode to breaking down the Russian invasion of Ukraine and examining its implications for international politics.

Bill and Phil break down the Russian invasion of Ukraine, discuss China’s use of social media to shape global opinion on the Olympics, and play a game of ‘Whose Home State is Dumber?’

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the thinking behind the US’s intelligence disclosures on a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, whether Republicans are living within a lie, and if Trump’s mishandling of documents might prove to be a big problem. Then we wrap up with a game of “What’s More Stupid?”

This week, Bill and Phil ponder whether the Olympics bring the world together or inflame nationalism, what this Olympics reveals about China’s rise, new data on the declining competitiveness of congressional districts, and Trump’s relentless habit of destroying documents. 

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss a potential new law in New Hampshire that demands teacher loyalty, recent developments in Ukraine and what it means for the future of US foreign policy, Trump’s place in the Republican Party, and the future of the filibuster. 

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on Biden’s first year of foreign policy, escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, why more inexperienced candidates are running for office, and what to make of the GOP’s idea to create a voter fraud police force. 

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the changing politics of Covid and whether Donald Trump just launched his reelection campaign.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil reflect on the anniversary of January 6th and new research on the prospect of civil war, a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Novak Djokovic’s efforts to play some unvaccinated tennis in Australia.

This week, Bill and Phil take a look back at 2021, including some of the major political stories you may have already forgotten, as well as a big picture look at what the year taught us about the state of our political world.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil take a deep dive into democracy and disinformation, including what we learned from Mark Meadows text messages and January 6th powerpoint presentations, the extensive use of disinformation in political emails, and China’s attempt to troll Biden’s democracy summit. Then we close by pondering whether the next political coup is already underway.

Bill and Phil take a lighter look at the wacky week of politics, including stories of an ultra-nationalist presidential candidate in France being put in a headlock, a male senator in Australia growling at a female colleague during her speech, Mark Meadows calling his own book “fake news” after Trump told him so, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposing his own military force for Florida, and Repres...

Bill and Phil examine the disconnect between Biden’s popular policies and his political unpopularity, what nuclear brinkmanship can teach us about the debate over the debt-ceiling, how the shift in self-defense laws can help us understand the result in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, and Bill and Phil enjoy some Thanksgiving leftovers by announcing their biggest turkeys of the year. 

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the seriousness of political rhetoric, the shifting attitudes towards race in America, the growing number of Americans advocating for political violence, and what to make of Steve Bannon’s surrender for contempt of Congress charges. 

This week, Bill and Phil discuss whether former President Obama is outshining Joe Biden, if China’s president Xi Jinping is overrated, what the increase in US hostages means for US power, and why Ted Cruz is so mad at Big Bird.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil explore the “Let’s Go Brandon” chant, Republican involvement in the January 6th activities, growing concern among US allies about a possible 'no first use' change to nuclear policy, and recent anti-democratic shenanigans in Florida and Illinois.

Welcome to an almost, nearly, might-have-been LIVE episode of The Politics Lab , in which Bill and Phil discuss potential Democratic plans to remove Iowa from it’s privileged position as the first step in the presidential nomination process, consider the possibility of a new Cold War between the US and China, and wrap up the episode by playing a round of “Who’s the More Dangerous Idiot?”

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss recent revelations about former President Trump’s efforts to get the Justice Department to help overturn the election, a new global agreement on corporate taxes, growing tensions over Taiwan, and trouble at the C.I.A.

Bill and Phil grade Biden’s foreign policy, discuss why bipartisanship is dying in the Senate, contemplate what a shortage of clowns in Northern Ireland suggests about how Brexit is going, and ponder the future of religious exemptions in U.S. law.

This week, Bill and Phil discuss the recent German elections, whether Facebook is an authoritarian nation-state, the federal budget standoff, and play a game of "What’s More Stupid - Trump Edition".

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss the geostrategic implications of the submarine deal between the US and Australia, recent Trump revelations from Bob Woodward’s latest book, and Jair Bolsonaro’s unvaccinated trip to New York for the opening of the United Nations.

Bill and Phil are joined by Dr. Suzanne Chod, Professor of Political Science at North Central College, to discuss the Texas abortion law, Biden’s vaccine mandate, the Democrats’ struggle to defend democracy, and the significance of the California recall vote.