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Politics in America is transforming. We’re embarking on a new series to deepen our understanding of who we are, how we got here, and how we rebuild without repeating the mistakes of the past. Ron Steslow hosts academics, behavioral economists, social psychologists, politicos, philosophers, anthropologists, journalists, poets, and storytellers—and more—to discuss America’s political present and future and dive into the deeper problems we face as a nation. Email us questions or comments: podcast@politicology.com.

642 Episodes
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Americans largely agree on two immigration goals: securing the border and deporting people here illegally who have committed violent crimes.  But inside the United States, enforcement has become a political flashpoint. Guest Host Susan Del Percio is joined by Jeh Johnson (Former Secretary of Homeland Security) to discuss why border crossings can fall quickly based on deterrence and perception and why interior enforcement works very differently.  Then, they break down how quota-driven, “numbers-first” tactics incentivize sloppy operations and high-profile street encounters that alienate local governments, undermine cooperation with law enforcement, and ultimately make it harder to remove the “worst of the worst,” eroding public trust and public safety in the process. Then, in Politicology+ they dig into why the Trump Administration wants states’ unredacted voter rolls. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/DelPercioS Related Reading:  Axios - Trump's mass deportations are in big trouble NYT - ICE Expands Power of Agents to Arrest People Without Warrants - The New York Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are there tendencies within Christian tradition that put some versions of the faith in tension with core principles of democracy? What is “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity?” How can a pluralistic society guard against the rise of political figures—including Donald Trump—aiming to weaponize this phenomenon? In this two-part conversation, we dive into these provocative questions with the Rev. Prof. David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) and discuss his book Defending Democracy From Its Christian Enemies. Segments to look forward to in part 2: (02:12) Christianity in the reactionary politics of France and Germany in the 20th century   (07:54) The allure of authoritarian leaders who promise to fix cultural issues  (13:06) The idealization of a past Christian nation and the ubiquitous use of anti-LGBT rhetoric in policial mobilization (18:20) The difficulty of appealing to authoritarian-leaning Christians and the influence of leaders in those communities (32:30 ) “Covenantal democracy” rooted in the Baptist tradition (35:18) The importance of civic literacy and political ethics education among Christians to inoculate against authoritarian tendencies (40:00) The importance of long-term cultural and interpersonal work to build stronger democratic norms. For more of David’s work visit his website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/ Follow Ron  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Email your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Doomsday Prep—The Weekly

Doomsday Prep—The Weekly

2026-01-3001:07:551

Guest Host Lucy Caldwell and Dmitri Mehlhorn (Founder, The Atoll Society) have a conversation about political risk, institutional blind spots, and what scenario-based thinking reveals that conventional analysis often misses. They discuss the Atoll Society’s simulation salons, which use scenario-based exercises to test assumptions about power, institutions, and the rule of law. Rather than predict outcomes, the goal is to surface blind spots: where existing frameworks for understanding democracy, law, and political behavior may no longer fully apply. The conversation turns to the violence in Minnesota, the uneven application of state power, and the idea that political systems often change less through dramatic breaks than through accumulation—small decisions that reshape incentives and expectations over time.  They examine why political leaders and institutions tend to emphasize reassurance, even in periods of uncertainty, and how that instinct can limit honest discussions about risk. Along the way, they consider how history, founding-era debates, and comparative examples can help anchor difficult conversations without resorting to speculation. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/lucymcaldwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are there tendencies within Christian tradition that put some versions of the faith in tension with core principles of democracy? What is “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity?” How can a pluralistic society guard against the rise of political figures—including Donald Trump—aiming to weaponize this phenomenon? In this two-part conversation, Ron Steslow and Rev. Prof. David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) discuss these provocative questions and more as they dive into David’s book, Defending Democracy From Its Christian Enemies. In part 1: (04:40) Ron shares a personal note with David about the impact he’s had on Ron’s journey   (07:24) David discussed a few of the transformative moments in his career  (13:08) The historical and current challenges Christianity poses to democratic values  (16:30) Why some Christians are skeptical of democracy and the nuanced reasons behind it (22:02 ) Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity and why it’s a better term for what we’re seeing  than Christian Nationalism  (28:38) How certain Christian groups prioritize their beliefs over democratic norms and values  (34:02) The cycle of secular revolutions followed by religious counter-revolutions  For more of David’s work visit his website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/ Follow Ron  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Email your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Guest Host Mike Madrid and Susan Del Percio (MS NOW political analyst and crisis communications expert) grapple with a central question: when Americans say “this isn’t who we are,” are we describing an aspiration—or denying a reality? They confront the collision between ideals and reality, examining government overreach, due process, and what it means when executive power stretches beyond long-standing constitutional limits. The conversation moves through voter exhaustion, institutional breakdown, and why secrecy inside government is often the clearest warning sign that something has gone wrong. They look deeper than just the crisis of “democracy” in the abstract, and discuss how Americans are losing freedom itself, the right to privacy, bodily autonomy, and protection from arbitrary state power. The episode ends with an unsettling possibility: if the American experiment depends on restraint and shared belief, what happens when those beliefs fracture—and no institution is strong enough to hold the line? Then, in Politicology+ they dig into why housing affordability has become the central economic and political problem heading into the midterms. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/madrid_mike https://x.com/DelPercioS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Iran is erupting in protests—and the regime is cracking down with extraordinary violence.  Guest Host Hagar Chemali sits down with Jay Solomon (investigative reporter at The Free Press) to unpack why protests are surging nationwide, what the regime’s economic rot reveals about its fragility, and what (if anything) the U.S. and Israel might do next. They dig into a bank-collapse story that helped ignite the unrest, the regime’s deteriorating proxy network after October 7, and the strategic debate inside Washington over strikes, cyber operations, and financial pressure. Then they turn to the American political fringes—left and right—and why some activists echo Islamic Republic propaganda about the protests being “astroturfed.” Finally, in Politicology+, they unpack how Qatar, a tiny Gulf nation with just 350,000 citizens, has built one of the most wide-reaching influence networks in the world. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/HagarChemali https://x.com/FPJaySolomon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus For most Americans, losing access to a bank account sounds like a customer-service hassle—not a political problem. But what if your ability to get paid, pay bills, run a business, donate to a cause, or even shop online or just withdraw cash at an ATM can be shut off quietly, without a trial, without an explanation, and without a meaningful way to appeal? In this two-part episode, Ron Steslow is joined by economist Jorge Jraissati, President of the Economic Inclusion Group, to unpack the growing reality of debanking and the compliance machinery behind it. In this second episode, they go upstream: who writes the rules—and how do they spread? Ron and Jorge focus on FATF (the Financial Action Task Force), a powerful global standard-setter for AML/CFT that most people have never heard of, despite how much it shapes modern banking. Jorge explains FATF’s enormous “soft power,” how gray/black lists raise the cost of cross-border finance, and why its opacity makes democratic accountability nearly impossible. They also dig deeper into “de-risking”, the lack of public data, and how AML/CFT allegations can escalate into asset freezes. Finally, they confront the “escape hatch” many people are turning to: permissionless money. Jorge argues Bitcoin has become a lifeline for the unbanked and debanked—while warning that technology can’t substitute for defending due process and reforming the underlying system. Learn more about the Economic Inclusion Group: https://econinclusion.com/ Get in touch with Jorge: jorge@econinclusion.com Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow Ron and Jorge on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/JraissatiJorge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For most Americans, losing access to a bank account sounds like a customer-service hassle—not a political problem. But what if your ability to get paid, pay bills, run a business, donate to a cause, or even shop online or withdraw cash at an ATM can be shut off quietly, without a trial, without an explanation, and without a meaningful way to appeal? In this two-part episode, Ron Steslow is joined by economist Jorge Jraissati, President of the Economic Inclusion Group, to unpack the growing reality of debanking and the compliance machinery behind it. In this first episode, they trace how post-9/11 AML/CFT and KYC regimes turned banks into de facto enforcement arms of the state—creating mass reporting, privacy erosion, and incentives to cut off customers based on “risk,” stigma, or perception rather than proven wrongdoing. They also explore how this system becomes ripe for weaponization—by authoritarian regimes, domestic actors, or simply the structure of the rules—especially when finance becomes transnational, opaque, and increasingly disconnected from due process. Learn more about the Economic Inclusion Group: https://econinclusion.com/ Get in touch with Jorge: jorge@econinclusion.com Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow Ron and Jorge on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/JraissatiJorge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ron Steslow kicks off 2026 with a “Smash Brothers” weekly featuring Lucy Caldwell, Hagar Chemali, Susan Del Percio, and Mike Madrid to look at the forces they think will define the year ahead—geopolitical disruption, institutional failure, civil dysfunction—and the transformational period we’re living through. Then they share some exciting news about The Weekly in 2026. Finally, in Politicology+, they dive into the values that will matter the most as we head into 2026. POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/lucymcaldwell https://x.com/HagarChemali https://x.com/DelPercioS https://x.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TAPPED:  Maduro’s Capture

TAPPED: Maduro’s Capture

2026-01-0701:05:232

In the first week of the new year, the U.S. launches a dramatic operation in Venezuela that ends with Nicolás Maduro (and Cilia Flores) in U.S. custody, transported to New York to face narco-terorism charges.  Ron and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) unpack what we know about the raid, why the administration says it happened, and why the real motive may be bigger than oil or drugs.  Then they turn to the hardest questions: legality in a world where "international law” often lacks enforcement, what happens next inside Venezuela as the regime attempts to hold power without Maduro, and whether free and fair elections are even possible while the military and security services that upheld Maduro’s rule remain intact.  Finally, they dissect the political reaction, arguing it’s possible to demand transparency and a plan without laundering Maduro or aligning with authoritarian propaganda.  Related reading: Who Organized The Pro-Maduro Protests? https://x.com/asranomani/status/2007708749075480885?s=46 POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow Ron and Hagar on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/HagarChemali Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ron Steslow and Olivier Knox discuss whether thinking is becoming a luxury good. They explore the alarming trend of declining literacy and the implications of digital media and AI on human thought and social interaction. Later, they discuss how the shift towards a post-literate society, characterized by short-form content and algorithmic reading, threatens the foundations of democracy and critical thinking.Related Reading: NYT - Thinking Is Becoming a Luxury GoodTIME - ChatGPT's Impact On Our Brains According to an MIT Study | TIME Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ron Steslow and Lucy Caldwell talk about the current healthcare landscape and the ongoing debate about how we pay for healthcare. They critique the ACA’s effectiveness, the challenges of health insurance coverage and explore market-based solutions. They also highlight the importance of personal advocacy in navigating healthcare and the evolving discourse around health and wellness, particularly in the context of AI's role in healthcare advocacy.Related Reading: NBC News - Senate Republicans plan vote on a health care alternative as ACA funds look likely to expire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You can pre-order Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation now at https://www.jonwardwrites.org/ Jon Ward (Journalist and author of Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss growing up in the Evangelical Church, “Christian Trumpism,” and his new memoir. (06:05) Why Sarah Palin resonated with so many Christians  (10:36) What having difficult conversations can teach you engagement and defensiveness   (20:00) Evangelicals showing more fear than faith  (28:50) How the structures in evangelical communities enabled Trump to distort reality  (31:06) Right Makes Might vs Might Makes Right  (36:32) How can outsiders engage positively with Evangelicals on reforming the movement  Pre-order Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation—https://www.jonwardwrites.org/ Follow Ron and Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/jonward11 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You can pre-order Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation now at https://www.jonwardwrites.org/ Jon Ward (Journalist and author of Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation) joins Ron Steslow to discuss growing up in the Evangelical Church, “Christian Trumpism,” and his new memoir. (03:28) Why Jon wrote the book (08:10) Being a “border-stalker” (14:36) The Jesus Movement (21:07) Understanding the different motivations (abortion and race) for Evangelicals joining the Republican party (23:00) The insular church community and how it impacted his worldview (30:00) How Christian belief in the end times impacts action (32:50) The connection between being a spiritual warrior and a political warrior (36:15) Spiritual ecstasy as a sign of devotion to God (and the burnout it caused) (41:41) How anti-intellectualism reinforced the social bubble Pre-order Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation—https://www.jonwardwrites.org/ Follow Ron and Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/jonward11 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid discuss the redistricting wars, the Supreme Court case that could upend a central part of the Voting Rights Act, how Latinos becoming the largest minority group will make us rethink what being a “minority” even means, and how partisanship is becoming our primary identity. Related Reading:  Axios - Virginia judge lets Democrats' redistricting plan move forward - Axios Richmond Politico - The Republicans thwarting the White House’s redistricting hopes - POLITICO Sac Bee - Prop. 50 in California is trivial compared to this U.S. Supreme Court case | Opinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid unpack historian Gordon S. Wood’s recent Wall Street Journal op-ed arguing that the United States is built on shared ideas, not shared bloodlines—and what that means in an era of rising “blood and soil” nationalism and demographic change. They dig into whether the American creed still has enough power to hold a multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy together.  Related Reading:  WSJ - Why America Is a ‘Creedal Nation’ - WSJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, Ron is joined by Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) to break down the Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy—and why it reads like multiple agendas stitched together. They dig into the document’s big shift toward the Western Hemisphere, what “partnership without shared values” really implies, and how the administration’s internal split—isolationists vs. internationalists—creates real risk when the U.S. can’t speak with one voice. The conversation moves to China and Taiwan, where the NSS repeats long-standing policy while the administration’s actions suggest a tougher, more transactional posture. Then they hit the blind spots: Hong Kong and Jimmy Lai, the chilling signal sent by a collapse of opposition space, and what it means when human rights drops out of the national security frame. Finally: Islamist extremism and antisemitic violence, including the Bondi Beach shooting and a foiled bombing plot in Southern California—and why ignoring incitement doesn’t make it disappear. DONATE FOR UKRAINE To support equipment requests for our frontline communicators and psyop-ers in Ukraine, you can use this link: paypal.me/MollyKMcKew POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/HagarChemali Related Reading: The Atlantic - The Longest Suicide Note in American History - The Atlantic NYT - Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai’s Conviction Was Years in the Making - The New York Times NYT - Heng Guan Documented China’s Detention of Uyghurs. The U.S. Wants to Deport Him. - The New York Times Kharon -Hypersonic Secret: ‘China’s MIT’ Worked with U.S. while Developing Weapons to Use Against It | Kharon WP - Bondi Beach gunmen appear inspired by Islamic State, authorities say - The Washington Post Compact Magazine - The Lost Generation | Compact NY Times - Opinion | Does Discrimination Explain the Rightward Shift of Young Men? - The New York Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, Ron is joined by Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative) to confront the question hanging over Democratic politics: Can the Democratic Party keep pretending we’re not in a populist era?  Lucy breaks down the party’s internal struggle between centrists and insurgents—and why both sides are wildly overinterpreting recent election results. Using the Maine Senate race as a case study, they examine how primaries reward disruption and narrative power, often at the expense of general-election viability, and why nationalized politics makes it harder than ever for candidates to outrun the Democratic brand. Finally, Ron and Lucy dig into affordability—the disconnect between elite economic narratives and everyday experience—and why dismissing those pressures only fuels the kind of toxic populism Democrats say they fear.    In Politicology+ they talk about the current healthcare landscape and the ongoing debate about how we pay for healthcare. They critique the ACA’s effectiveness, the challenges of health insurance coverage and explore market-based solutions. They also highlight the importance of personal advocacy in navigating healthcare and the evolving discourse around health and wellness, particularly in the context of AI's role in healthcare advocacy. DONATE FOR UKRAINE To support equipment requests for our frontline communicators and psyop-ers in Ukraine, you can use this link: paypal.me/MollyKMcKew POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Listen to The Last Invention: https://bit.ly/4pob891 Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/lucymcaldwell Related Reading:  Noah Smith - The "$140,000 poverty line" is very silly The Free Press - Big-Tent Politics Won’t Save the Democrats The Free Press - Has the Democratic Tea Party Arrived? - by Gabe Fleisher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus Last weekend, eleven Politicology listeners from all over the country joined Ron and Mike in person for a salon style retreat called Unscripted: A Politicology Gathering. They explored big questions like “What is the point of America?” and “What does it mean to be a citizen in the digital age?”  In this episode, those same listeners share what they learned and how it’s changing how they think about the evolving world we’re all living in. Stay in the loop about Unscripted gatherings: https://bit.ly/3XK4tub Find our sponsor links and promo codes here: https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow Ron and Mike on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Have you ever thought about what it means to be anonymous?  Have you considered what it means that you can walk down the street or go to the grocery store or out to dinner without someone you’ve never met knowing your name, everything you’ve posted online, or your political leanings? Or when you go on a first date with someone, they’d walk in knowing your dating history, your political affiliations, your credit score or what groceries you buy? Advancements in facial recognition and a secretive startup could end privacy as we know it.  In this two-part conversation, New York Times Tech Reporter Kashmir Hill joins host Ron Steslow to discuss privacy, anonymity, facial recognition software and her book Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It. In part 2: (01:40) “Technical sweetness” and the lack of ethical considerations by the people building these new technologies  (12:30) Privacy laws in the U.S. and Europe  (15:24) The trend of law enforcement agencies skirting constitutional protections by buying information from private companies. (27:20) Balancing security and privacy in the age of ubiquitous surveillance (30:50) What the future of privacy might look like  Read Your Face Belongs to Us: https://bit.ly/49qsbQm Follow Ron and Kashmir  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/kashhill Email your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Comments (239)

Comiendo Rico

i stopped listening to this podcast at minute seven of non stop commercials. I know you need to make a living,but 7 minutes of non stopped commercials is to much. how about charge mere for on air time and less commercials. Think about it.

May 4th
Reply

Stephanie Sisson Bodette

Thank you for talking about our younger generations getting their news on Tik Tok. My 18 year old daughter gets virtually all of her news on Tik Tok, and a lot of it is inaccurate.

Nov 27th
Reply

Cody Buttron

Can we stop calling All criticism of Israel "antisemitism" because that's what you're doing.

Sep 7th
Reply

Kathryn Ragsdale

These people clearly have never dealt with a drug addict or someine with TBI.

Jul 15th
Reply

Cody Buttron

We're talking about kids not being able to handle/process social media, but we adults can't even handle it. Some even tried to overthrow the government because of it, hundreds of murders and mass shootings because of what written or precieved on it, social media is a Black Mirror level of evil device, like an evil truth machine we can help but say what we think when we can't perceive the future consequences.

May 22nd
Reply

Cody Buttron

Can we make a 4th branch of government that is dedicated to balancing the capital and social financial needs of America.

May 15th
Reply

Douglas Dickenson

I really dislike the tone style of the Georgetown professor. She is awful.

Apr 18th
Reply

Cody Buttron

Stupid is the new super glue lmao

Oct 10th
Reply

Cody Buttron

After seeing Matt Gates attack add, it would be the perfect time to create a Rhino party, conservative ideals that charge forward to the future not be held back by the past. "You mess with a Rhino you're gonna get the horn"

Jun 27th
Reply

Gayle Choojitarom

. @AlCardenasFL_DC knows that they are *Democratic* candidates from the *Democratic* party, but he continues to use the childish & purposefully disrespectful "Democrat party". Do better, sir.

Jun 20th
Reply

Cody Buttron

I'm curious why you don't have to prove any intent for abless wealthy/influential citizen guilt is assumed for the poor and must reach unbreakable levels of proof for well to do and highly influential people. Equality is a lie, one more reason people don't trust the "justiceless system"

Jun 20th
Reply

Kathryn Ragsdale

Look at the men, biching about manners. and it's always, only, men. And only when it's about an issue they themselves are not personally effected by. The epitome of Wokeness.

May 14th
Reply

Kathryn Ragsdale

The Modern GOP will not survive if the younger generation is taught critical thinking and growth mindset. Their entire premise is based on lies, conspiracy theories, and a sense of entitlement/victimization.

May 1st
Reply

Cody Buttron

I think it would be smarter for Democrats to say they won't make anymore gun legislation and point out that anything they put will be shutdown by Republicans so if you want gun laws it's up to them. Dump the whole dumpster on thier laps tell voters if the want gun legislation go to you Republican representative.

Apr 18th
Reply

Cody Buttron

Figures I live in Kansas and I haven't even heard a blip about it this 4 day school week. (my wife also works for the local district)I had to search to find anything on it and what did I get... a fox "news" article praising how great it is and down playing the complaints of parents who have to pay hundreds for one day a week of overcrowded and overpriced daycare. I didn't even vote for the first 10 yrs I was able because it never mattered. That started to change but I fear we will backslide right back into it because the big picture is just to hard to understand.

Mar 10th
Reply

Cody Buttron

Can we sign a treaty or agreement with China. We wipe out Putin and split up Russia 3 ways with EU, US and China. What about u India you want a piece to send some troops we can make something happen ;-) Actually the Russian people can have thier own chunk they are actually pretty bad ass but Putin and the Russian oligarchs need to go. "Save Russia death to Putin!" Nothing creates better friends than common enemies.

Jan 20th
Reply

Cody Buttron

Also I called my shameless Maga croney Senator Roger Marshall to let him know he doesn't deserve to sit at the same desk as the late and honorable Bob Dole.

Jan 15th
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Cody Buttron

K, This may be harsh and don't get me wrong I love you guys, but quit victim blaming the Democrats for not being able to stop the Frankenstein monster your former party created, quit telling them what they should do from the outside and join them to defeat Maga Republicans or force your way back into the Republican party and take back its honor from the inside.

Jan 14th
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Cody Buttron

I can see it know, the negative Mike Madrid commercial, "Mike wants to take food off you table and force you to eat numbers for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you need to fight and fight hard for your dinner table rights before this radical leftist cancels your dinner." payed for by the, use a patriotic name to get people to this this is actually good for them committee

Jan 13th
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Claude Poliakoff

shouldn't cable news be less labeled as a group? All cable news people are not equal, some are certainly more equal than others. I am dependent on news pieces including evidence of any conclusions.

Dec 3rd
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