The Politics Lab

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil grapple with how the world would be different if China were in charge and whether that be a good or bad thing AND given the possibility of a Trump victory in November, should Sonia Sotomayor retire now.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil grapple with the questions of why Iran launched roughly 300 missiles at Israel and whether Trump’s trial(s) will matter come November.

Bill and Phil reflect on the 30-year anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, ponder the complicated relationship between Corporate America and Donald Trump, and close with a look at developments in the world of international law, including Ecuador storming the Mexican embassy, Nicaragua accusing Germany of Genocide in Gaza, and Switzerland being found guilty of violating its citizens’ right to a healthy climate.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil ponder Donald Trump selling Bibles, discuss the backlash against the liberal international order, and consider whether the US should utilize illiberal actions to defend that liberal order.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil tackle the politics of the political extreme. We begin with a look at the struggle between piety and profanity within the modern Republican Party, then explore Donald Trump’s full embrace of January 6th, transition to Donald Trump’s provocative language from last week, take a look at the Democratic Party and the protest votes against Joe Biden, and close with a game of What’s More Stupid, Aaron Rodgers edition.

Bill and Phil reflect on Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech, discuss startling new evidence that Russia was seriously contemplating using a tactical nuclear weapon in the early stages of the Ukraine war, assess the implications of Lara Trump being announced as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, and close with a debate over where Katie Britt’s disastrous State of the Union response speech fits in the long list of bad response speeches.

Bill and Phil reflect on the Supreme Court’s decision to keep Trump on the ballot, break down the results from Super Tuesday, ponder whether Americans are suffering from collective amnesia about Donald Trump, and close with a look at some new research suggesting that Americans reward candidates who take hawkish foreign policy positions even when those positions are in direct conflict with the voters’ preference. 

Bill and Phil analyze the Alabama IVF court ruling as part of a broader conservative war on sex, explore the latest in Donald Trump’s ongoing legal troubles, reflect on the state of the Ukraine war on the two year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, and close by asking the hard question of whether the president should be seen eating ice cream.

Bill and Phil reflect on Donald Trump’s controversial remarks encouraging Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to US NATO allies, assess the concerns that Joe Biden is tool old to run for president, consider the implications of Donald Trump threatening another trade war with China, and close with a lively discussion of Russia’s open and determined war on woke.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil review this week’s legal developments regarding Donald Trump’s immunity and his ability to appear on the ballot, assess Joe Biden’s efforts to avoid an escalating conflict in the Middle East, and close with a fun new game we’re calling, “If I were…”

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down results from the New Hampshire primary, discuss concerns that North Korea may be preparing for war, check in on the Doomsday Clock, and close by looking at Alabama’s new method for the death penalty.

Bill and Phil break down the Iowa caucus results and preview the New Hampshire primary, examine the GOP’s rewriting of the history of January 6th, discuss South Africa bringing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and close by looking at data suggesting that all Americans feel like political losers. 

Bill and Phil look back at 2023 in their annual year-in-review episode.

Bill and Phil tackle 6 topics in an hour, including an installment of “Phil’s Campaign Corner,” news of a major global climate agreement, the strategy & morality of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, a coming Biden impeachment, Congressional Republicans losing interest in the Ukraine war, and Jack Smith heading to the Supreme Court in the Trump case.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil begin with a segment of “Phil’s Campaign Corner,” then ponder whether the Ukraine war has slipped into a stalemate, reflect on the death of Henry Kissinger, and finish with a game of What’s More Stupid…populism edition.

Bill and Phil hand out their world-famous “Turkey of the Year” Awards. So grab a turkey leg and a scoop of stuffing and let’s go to the lab. 

Bill and Phil discuss what to make of Trump’s threat to put millions of immigrants in camps and calling his political opponents vermin, look at the high stakes meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, examine the Supreme Court’s new ethics rules, and close with a spirited game of what’s more stupid.

Bill and Phil reflect on the state of the 2024 presidential race exactly one year out from election day—including looking at what a 2nd Trump presidency might entail. We then examine the intersection of religion and politics in the Republican Party, and close with a discussion of the most recent Supreme Court case on whether taking guns away from domestic abusers is unconstitutional.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil throw the outline out the window and instead discuss the week’s breaking news, including Republicans efforts to elect a speaker of the House, new legal trouble for Trump in Georgia, and the spiraling conflict in Gaza.

Bill and Phil examine how the rules of war and Just War Doctrine apply to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, discuss what Jim Jordan’s nomination to be House Speaker and the recent elections in Poland teach us about the state of democracy, and close with a look at artificial intelligence and whether Bill should be excited or worried that soon a machine will be making his Chipotle burrito