The Politics of New America

The Republican Party is polling poorly.Parts of its coalition are fracturing.Special elections suggest vulnerability.And yet — there is still a path to victory.This episode examines the structural realities that often matter more than approval ratings: Senate geography, turnout asymmetry, voter access laws, and party discipline.Midterms are not referendums on popularity alone.They are shaped by institutional design.If Republicans hold power in November, it may not be because voters are satisfied. It may be because the system itself still tilts in their favor.Part one of our midterm analysis series.Next week: the Democratic path.Politics of New AmericaA weekly institutional briefing for people who don’t want Twitter takes.A podcast by Haunted Mouse Productionshttps://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica

Welcome back to The Politics of New America. Nathan and Producer Josh are back to talk about America's withdrawal from the world order it created, and how its dependant nations in Europe and beyond are struggling to find a new way forward.The Politics of New America explores the radical new era of American politics and its effects on the world.https://linktr.ee/hauntedmouseproductions

Democrats win big, then cave on the shutdown. Nathan & Josh unpack margins that matter, why affordability could be the only winning play, and what SCOTUS might do to Trump’s tariffs. Final 2025 ep—back in January.Host: Nathan Stone • Producer/Co-host: Josh CarmodyA Haunted Mouse Production.Content note: explicit language.00:00 Cold open01:30 Election wins (VA, NJ)07:45 NY: Mamdani & affordability30:00 Shutdown tradeoffs41:45 What SCOTUS could change47:15 Programming note + cross-promo52:00 Sponsor: Start with Leverage Assistant — try them free for 1 month.https://www.leverageassistants.com/?via=hauntedmouse

America has never been hungrier. Over 42 million citizens struggle to afford enough to eat. For decades, America's food stamp program, now known as SNAP has helped many of those suffering from hunger, now the ongoing government shutdown threatens to fully halt the initiative and leave one out of every eight citizen wondering how they're going to feed themselves and their families. Special guest Gabrielle Hill-Desjardins brings her expertise on International and Domestic development to the discussion of the history of America's food stamp program and helps examine the current state of affairs.Consult the resources below If you would like to support efforts to help the hungry during the government shutdown or are in need of support for yourself or your family.https://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-foodhttps://mealconnect.org/https://www.fns.usda.gov/national-hunger-hotlinehttps://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/food-banks-how-to-help-government-shutdown/story?id=126972747🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica  Subscribe for more sharp political analysis.Get one month free of Leverage Assistant → https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmouse

There have been few examples of closer relationships between nations than Canada and the United States. The two share common origins, language and culture. Now the Trump administration is using its immense economic influence to punish its northern neighbour for perceived slights large and small. Join us as we look at the unequal trade war between Canada and the US and discuss the seemingly no-win scenario that Canadians find themselves facing. We also explore the lasting impact of America’s abandonment of diplomacy and soft power on its international relations. The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

The American attacks on alleged Venezuelan drug cartel boats have killed at least 27 people and launched a wave of international condemnations. How can trump legally deploy America's military to attack foreign civilians at whim? Join us as we uncover America's modern history of extra judicial killings and trace the origins back to the aftermath of 9/11. The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American Federal Government in this era of radical change. 🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica  Subscribe for more sharp political analysis.Get one month free of Leverage Assistant → https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmouse

The Trump administration is attempting to paint the American anti-facist movement as a terrorist threat as dangerous as any the nation has faced. In a recent presidential roundtable, Trump, his cabinet, and right wing influencers took turns calling for the dismantling and destruction of Antifa. The discussion was high drama political theatre that sought to create a fictional version of the movement to serve as a target of the government’s wrath. In this episode we look at the origins and history of the American Antifa movement and demonstrate that it is far from the violent leftist revolutionary movement that Trump is trying to sell. The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of rapid change.🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica  Subscribe for more sharp political analysis.Get one month free of Leverage Assistant → https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmouse

Lowering prescription drug costs for Americans was one of Trump's populist campaign promises. Now that promise has taken shape as TrumpRx, a website launching in 2026 that intends to connect American's with direct to consumer prices for prescription drugs. Could this new initiative finally bring down America's sky high prescription drug costs? And will Trump's bullying tactics finally benefit everyday American's by bringing the big pharmaceutical companies to heel? Also on the show, we look the implications of Hegseth's military meeting and how it could force thousands of women and people of colour out of the armed forces. We also check in on the government shutdown and the hyper partisan messaging coming from federal agencies.The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change. Straight talk, sharp takes — and the context you need to see how politicians keep rewriting the rules of democracy.🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica  Subscribe for more sharp political analysis.Get one month free of Leverage Assistant → https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmouse

Trump's speech to the United Nations was bizarre, insulting, and perfectly encapsulated his government's disdain for the organization. Since Trump took office, his administration has slashed UN funding, sometimes in ways that violate the constitution. In this episode we explore the fallout of Trump's speech, the decline of American soft power, and the impact of the massive budget cuts on the workings of the UN.In this episode of Politics of New America, Nathan and Josh break down:The escalator/teleprompter fiasco—and why the spectacle mattersTrump’s ranting, rambling speechBioweapons/“lab leak” claims revived on the UN stageGlobal fallout: Colombia’s Petro torches Trump at the UNChina fills the vacuumThe looming U.S. government shutdown—and how it could be used to gut agenciesStraight talk. Sharp takes. Politics explained.🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamericaSubscribe for more clear, fearless political analysis.#UN #Trump #ForeignPolicy #USPolitics #UnitedNations #SCOTUS #GovernmentShutdownThe Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

The Supreme Court made use of its controversial Emergency Docket to quash a federal court order that stopped Trump from firing an FTC commissioner. In doing so the judges signalled their willingness to throw out protections that keep Independent Federal Agency heads from being fired without cause by the president. This decision threatens to destroy the independence of dozens of important agencies like the FTC, FDIC, and even the Federal Reserve. Join us as Nathan discusses where this ruling came from and the coming legal battle to determine if Trump can bend these agencies to his will. The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change. 

Congress is surrendering more of its power to the president. In this episode we look at two events from last week that illustrate the diminishing roll of the house and senate.The announcement of The Trump Gold Card visa for wealthy immigrants is very on brand for the president. For "a gift" of one million dollars to the federal government, rich immigrants can receive expedited approval to live and work in the United States. It's a plan that the Whitehouse says will bring in billions to the treasury. It's also a clear power grab by the executive branch as Congress, not the president, constitutionally controls immigration law.   The US senate confirmed 48 of Trump's federal appointees in one vote after the Republican majority changed the rules to shut out their Democrat opponents. In doing so, the senate weakens its own power to influence how presidents choose their nominees going forward.In this episode:- Senate rule change → 48 confirmations in one vote. Republicans lowered the bar to a simple majority and batch-approved sub-cabinet posts and ambassadors.- “Trump Gold Card” fast-track immigration. An executive-order pathway offering expedited visas for the ultra-wealthy—positioned as phase one before a “Platinum” tier.- Executive power vs. Congress. Both moves centralize authority in the White House and sidestep Congress’s role over confirmations and immigration.- FCC pressure as playbook. The Kimmel saga shows how loyal appointees can weaponize agencies without formal orders.- Why it matters long-term. Normalizing simple-majority, batch confirmations + EO-driven immigration policy erodes checks and balances.🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica  Subscribe for more sharp political analysis.[https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmouse](https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmouse)Get one month free of Leverage Assistant → https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmouseThe Politics of New America explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

In the wake of the Charlie Kirk killing, we explore the rising tide of American political violence and how the country is at risk of normalizing such attacks.In the second half of the show we look at the looming threat of a federal government shutdown and explain why these shutdowns are a uniquely American phenomenon.The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change. Get one month free of Leverage Assistant: https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmousehttps://linktr.ee/hauntedmouseproductions

Democrats are sounding the alarm over what they say are Trump’s plans to postpone or cancel the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential elections. Join us as we delve into the constitutional legalities around federal elections and America’s history of holding elections in times of crisis to answer the question: What can Trump legally do to interfere with the normal election process?In the second half of the show we look at  the soul searching amongst federal democrats as the party deals with a crisis of faith among their base. The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change.Get one month free of Leverage Assistant: https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmousehttps://linktr.ee/hauntedmouseproductions

In a showcase of the limits of presidential power, Trump's executive order titled: "Prosecuting the Burning of The American Flag" does nothing of the sort, as flag burning is a constitutionally protected form of protest. The document descends into absurdity as it pushes the Department of Justice to find other crimes to charge flag burners with. Join us for a discussion on what, if anything, this executive order actually does and a look at the unintentionally humorous history of attempts to criminalize flag burning in the US. In the second half of the show, we check in on the immigration file after a Pew Research report that shows more than a million immigrants left the US since Trump took office. Episode Breakdown:- Flag-burning EO ≠ ban: Trump’s executive order can’t criminalize flag burning—First Amendment still protects it.- What it does do: Tells DOJ to target other crimes (e.g., incitement) that occur while someone desecrates a flag—symbolic, not substantive.- Trial balloon? Why this EO may be a test to push courts to revisit long-standing free-speech rulings.- Enforcement surge: Deportations and detentions are up; daily arrests rising even as official quotas lag.The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the United States federal government in this era of radical change. 🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica **Get one month free of Leverage Assistant** → https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmouseSubscribe for more sharp political analysis.

Created for situations where time is of the essence, the Supreme Court's shadow docket allows the justices to weigh in on matters of extreme urgency without requiring a full trial. Since Trump's first term, the shadow docket is being used more and more frequently to remove obstacles to the president's agenda. New data reveals an overwhelming bias towards conservative rulings through the shadow docket and highlights the dangers of an increasingly compliant Supreme Court. The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change.Get one month free of Leverage Assistant: https://www.leverageassistants.com?via=hauntedmousehttps://linktr.ee/hauntedmouseproductions

Once a fringe belief, the Unitary Executive Theory is being used by the Trump administration and right-wing political analysts to justify handing the president absolute authority over federal agencies. Expansion of presidential power threatens to further marginalize congress, the courts, and American democracy. In this episode we look at the history of the Unitary Executive Theory and how it’s being invoked in the present. Then we take some time to explain how Washington DC’s strange history allows for Trump to militarize the city over a fictional emergency.The Politics of New America explains and explores the policies of the American federal government in an era of radical change.

Gerrymandering is an American tradition dating back to the nation’s founding. Join us as we look back at how Gerrymandering took root in the US, the humorous story of how it got its name, and its continued devastating impact on American democracy. The Politics of New America explores and explains the American federal government in this age of radical change. 

The US accounts for close to 40% of the world’s military spending, but it never seems to be enough. Maintaining the globe’s mightiest armed force is becoming unsustainably expensive. Join us as we look at the over inflated and fiscally disastrous state of the US military and how the Trump administration is making a big problem even worse. Welcome to the Politics of New America. We explore and explain the policies of the American federal government in this age of radical change. 

President Trump's latest Executive Order seeks to institutionalize thousands of Homeless Americans without their consent. It also forces states to abandon their current homelessness initiatives or face funding cuts and criminal investigations. Join us as we break down the order piece by piece to look at the context and consequences of this new aggressive approach toward America's ever worsening homelessness crisis. The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal Government in this era of rapid change. 

The Supreme Court has given the Trump administration the green light to continue its dismantling of the Department of Education. At the same time the federal government is pulling billions out of school programs. We discuss the effects of these cuts and how the most vulnerable children will face the greatest impact. The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American Federal Government in an era of radical change.