Rephonic
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2024 Election
Donald Trump
Republican Party
Kamala Harris
Democratic Party
Georgetown University
Healthcare
Voter Dissatisfaction
Polling Data
2026 Midterms
Ukraine War
Public Service
Political Strategy
Lobbying
Covid-19
Voting Rights
Social Media
Joe Biden
Abortion Policies
Battleground States

Your weekly window into how the most impactful moments in politics unfold. From the Oval Office to the Clinton campaign war room to the hallowed halls of Congress to Maryland's Governor's Mansion, we bring you inside the rooms where the biggest decisions are made. Hosted by a couple of college kids still trying to learn how things get done in this complicated yet beautiful world of American politi... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes215Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for The Fly

Latest Episodes

Welcome back to The Fly for a special episode with Tiffany Muller, the President of End Citizens United and Let America Vote. Named one of the Most Influential People in Washington, Tiffany transformed End Citizens United into a national organization... more

Award-winning journalist and Zateo founder Mehdi Hasan joins us on The Fly to discuss his transition from corporate media giants like MSNBC to the "fascinating, dynamic" world of independent, subscriber-funded journalism. Hasan offers a candid critiq... more

We are flying back in with a special guest! Our flies Kennedy and Aniya sit down with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler as she discusses her journey from a young activist to becoming the first female leader of the federation. She highlights the stark diff... more

Aaron Bennett discusses the founding of the show and the importance of relationship building in Washington, D.C., noting how his own career trajectory was shaped by connections made at the Institute of Politics and Public Service. As a professional s... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Tiffany Muller
President of End Citizens United and Let America Vote
End Citizens United / Let America Vote
Episode: Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United, "There’s a lot that could be done with a single vote of Congress."
Mehdi Hasan
Founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of Zateo (new media company)
Zateo
Episode: Mehdi Hasan, Founder of Zeteo, "Telling people what they want to hear is not journalism."
Liz Shuler
President of the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
Episode: Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO, "The labor movement can be both a shield and a megaphone."
Aaron Bennett
Co-founder of The Fly
The Fly (Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service)
Episode: Aaron Bennett, Co-Founder of The Fly, "Relationships are the coin of the realm."
Richard Walters
Spring 2026 GU Politics Fellow; former Executive Director of the Trump Vance Inaugural Committee and former Chief of Staff to the RNC
FGS Global; Republican Party politics
Episode: Richard Walters, Former RNC Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor, "Elections come down to pocketbook issues."
Jon Tester
Senior U.S. Senator (former) from Montana, guest on episode
U.S. Senate
Episode: Jon Tester, Former U.S. Senator (D-MT), "Authenticity beats the slick politician every time."
Nora O'Donnell
CBS News Senior News Correspondent; 60 Minutes contributor
CBS News
Episode: Norah O'Donnell, CBS News Senior News Correspondent, "If you capture someone’s heart, you capture their mind."
Stephen Martinko
Global Head of Product Public Policy at TikTok
TikTok
Episode: Stephen Martinko, TikTok's Global Head of Product Public Policy, "There aren’t Republican bridges or Democratic roads"
Ankit Jain
D.C. Shadow Senator and voting rights attorney
Episode: Ankit Jain, D.C. Shadow Senator, "We fought a revolution to prevent this”

Hosts

Will Traxel
Host of The Fly; co-host of the episode; part of the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service ecosystem.
Chloe
Host/Co-host; participates in campus-based political podcasting and conversation.
Isha
Host of The Fly; co-host on some episodes; frequent participant in political discussions.
David Grice
Co-host; frequent on-air contributor.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 34 ratings
  • Great show!!

    Love listening to this, some great guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MBaldassarre
    United States6 years ago
  • Hoya Saxa

    Great guests and hosts. Love the show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BeastMode9
    United States7 years ago
  • Awesome podcast!

    Love listening to the great guests every week — what a thoughtful idea from these students! Can’t wait for more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dr. kn
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong lineup of guests keeps discussion fresh and relevant.
Thoughtful, well-produced conversations with diverse guests.
Hosts come across as curious and student-driven, without sacrificing depth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#189
Italy/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United, "There’s a lot that could be done with a single vote of Congress."
Q: What are the landmark Supreme Court rulings and how do they connect to End Citizens United's mission?
The guest explains Citizens United and related cases like SpeechNow as pivot points that allowed unlimited, undisclosed money into elections, which End Citizens United aims to curb through transparency, caps, and reforms to the FEC and disclosures.
Mehdi Hasan, Founder of Zeteo, "Telling people what they want to hear is not journalism."
Q: What does independent journalism mean to you, and independent from what?
Hasan explains independence as insulation from corporate pressures and ad-based revenue, allowing a subscriber-funded model to preserve truth and avoid being pulled by powerful interests.
Richard Walters, Former RNC Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor, "Elections come down to pocketbook issues."
Q: What is the role of endorsements and fundraising in the 2026 cycle, especially without a presidential race?
Endorsements from the president are important for coalition-building and credibility, while fundraising remains a critical driver of competitiveness; money in politics could become even more pivotal if coordinated limits are lifted by the Supreme Court.
Richard Walters, Former RNC Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor, "Elections come down to pocketbook issues."
Q: How does the Republican Party decide which economic issues to foreground in its messaging?
The president largely sets the messaging, and the party follows, using the president's policy agenda and tone to shape the campaign narrative, including proposals aimed at lowering costs and increasing take-home pay.
Richard Walters, Former RNC Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor, "Elections come down to pocketbook issues."
Q: What are the biggest issues for voters in the upcoming midterm elections?
Affordability and pocketbook concerns are primary, with voters considering how policy proposals on health care, housing, and taxes affect their day-to-day finances, and recognizing potential impacts from international events on gas prices and inflation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Fly

What is The Fly about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly political conversation featuring a rotating cast of young hosts and a steady stream of high-profile guests who share frontline perspectives on how policy, campaigns, media, and governance actually unfold. Recent episodes center on campaign finance reform, independent journalism, labor rights, and GOP strategy, often tying in real-world events, legislative fights, and the mechanics of messaging in Washington. The show tends to blend personal career stories with practical takeaways for students, aspiring communicators, and professionals who want a clearer view of how power is exercised and communicated in the U.S. political system. A notable strength is the approachable, campus-origin lens—yet guests span a broad spectrum from journa... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Fly?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Fly:

1. The Bulwark Podcast
2. Pod Save America

How many episodes of The Fly are there?

The Fly launched 9 years ago and published 215 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Fly?

Recent guests on The Fly include:

1. Tiffany Muller
2. Mehdi Hasan
3. Liz Shuler
4. Aaron Bennett
5. Richard Walters
6. Jon Tester
7. Nora O'Donnell
8. Stephen Martinko

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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