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Artwork for Government That Doesn't Suck

Government That Doesn't Suck

Rewind Studios
NASA
United States Government
National Weather Service
Government
Apollo Program
Weather Forecasting
First Amendment
Constitution
Moon
Civil Service Reform
World Meteorological Organization
European Centre For Medium-Range Weather Forecasting
Spacex
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Patronage
Garfield Assassination
Chester A. Arthur
Weather Satellites
International Space Station
Planetary Society

The government gets a bad rap. But the roads under your feet, the forecast on your phone, and the letter in your mailbox are all government too. Hosted by Professors Greg Jackson and Lindsey Cormack, Government That Doesn't Suck brings together the sharpest thinkers to reveal the real-world impact of American government, one episode at a time.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes11Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryGovernment

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Artwork for Government That Doesn't Suck

Latest Episodes

Something has crept into this feed…For Halloween, Hidden History with Dr. Harini Bhat has slipped through the walls to haunt your feed with an episode just for you.

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in ... more

It's the same question every election season: can we trust our voting system? To get a straight answer, we talked to someone who spent more than two decades inside the agency that polices money in American politics. We get into what the Federal Elect... more

Every generation of leaders inherits a government that feels too slow, too wasteful, or too tangled in its own rules. From the Hoover Commissions of the 1940s and 50s to Al Gore’s forklift full of regulations in the 1990s, the push to make government... more

Fun fact: Did you know Jaws almost never existed because the shark kept sinking while filming? That is Connor Tomlinson just getting started. If that sounds fascinating, you are going to love Rewind Studios’ new podcast out now called WHAT THE FACT h... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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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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Recent Guests

Max Stier
CEO and founding member of the Partnership for Public Service
Partnership for Public Service
Episode: Government Reform Before DOGE: NPRG and the Hoover Commission
John Elliot
Meteorologist at CBS New York
CBS News / CBS New York
Episode: National Weather Service (Part II): A Day in the Life of Weatherman John Elliot
Casey Dreier
Chief of Space Policy at the Planetary Society
Planetary Society
Episode: NASA and the Commercialization of Space
Mitchell Kramer
Historian who specializes in Ben Franklin and Independence Hall
Historian/Independence Hall
Episode: Before the First Amendment: The Trial of John Peter Zenger
Andrew Blum
Author of The Weather Machine, A Journey Inside the Forecast
Author
Episode: National Weather Service
Zachary Carabelle
Author of a biography of Chester Alan Arthur
Author, Chester Alan Arthur biography
Episode: The Spoils System / Pendleton Civil Service Act
Neil Maher
Award-winning historian, author of Apollo in the Age of the Aquarius
University/author (as introduced)
Episode: Moonshot / NASA Apollo missions

Hosts

Greg Jackson
Host of the show, Historian; Professor
Lindsey Cormack
Co-host, Political Scientist; Professor

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 194 ratings
  • HTDS Radicalized

    Came for the context and unbiased takes, left disappointed. Does not hold the standard of History that Doesn't Suck.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Theonlyway2die
    United States11 days ago
  • Strong leftist bias

    GTDS started out strong, but fell hard only a few episodes into the series. Unlike HTDS, this podcast has a very strong leftist bias and doesn’t achieve the factual storytelling of HTDS.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    marcusp75
    United States16 days ago
  • GTDS

    One of the many great aspects of HTDS is its non-bias point of view of US History. While generally starting out strong with episodes on NASA and the Founding Fathers among others, the GTDS podcast on US Government reform and efficiency fell woefully short of this non-bias perspective.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    GTDS Episode Review
    United States19 days ago
  • Need to Fact Check

    I’m a fan of HTDS and started as a fan here, until… I listen to the Moonshot episode and was taken aback by the guest inaccuracies. I was questioning some of the timelines and assertions of right vs. left. Then when the author claims that Teflon which was invented in 1938 and Velcro invented in 1955 where NASA spin off, the entire episode lost credibility. I spent 34 years as a NASA employee (engineer-astronaut-manager) and very disappointed that a show of your caliber would further myths and ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    pwr102
    United Statesa month ago
  • John Elliot Yes!

    So great to hear John Elliot talking about the weather. I’m used to his slightly goofy persona on weekend mornings in NYC area. Lovely to get his take. Always a positive for e of nature.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    5 am
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive reception of the educational yet entertaining approach.
Listeners appreciate how topics connect government to everyday life.
Guests and hosts come across as credible and well-researched.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#70
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#218
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#156
South Korea/History
Apple Podcasts
#192
Philippines/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Government Reform Before DOGE: NPRG and the Hoover Commission
Q: What were the key lessons from the Hoover Commission that could inform current reform efforts?
The Hoover Commission demonstrated the value of a thoughtful, expert-led, nonpartisan review of government structure, with a focus on leadership, institutional health, and sustained change rather than quick-fire cuts. It showed that real reform requires collaboration with Congress and a long-term commitment to organizing the executive branch more effectively.
Before the First Amendment: The Trial of John Peter Zenger
Q: Mitchell, is there anything we missed on the press and Ben Franklin that you think we need to touch on?
Mitchell responds with additional examples about Franklin's scientific pursuits, the Junto, and the broader tension between truth, public virtue, and the political uses of newspapers, highlighting how Franklin's approach combined inquiry with public engagement.
National Weather Service
Q: Can you tell us what the impetus was for having some national approach to weather?
It came from a mix of social needs, like protecting citizens from storms on the Great Lakes, and technological advances, such as telegraph networks that could collect and share observations nationally, creating a continental view of weather.
The Spoils System / Pendleton Civil Service Act
Q: What did the Pendleton Act change, and what did it leave unfinished?
The Act established merit-based hiring for a portion of federal jobs via examinations and created the Civil Service Commission, but only covered a fraction of the federal workforce initially, leaving many positions under patronage for years to come.
The Spoils System / Pendleton Civil Service Act
Q: Why did Garfield's assassination become a turning point for civil service reform?
Garfield's assassination underscored the dangers of a patronage-heavy system and created political pressure to move toward merit-based hiring, especially after midterm losses weakened the old guard's resistance to reform.

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 Government That Doesn't Suck

What is Government That Doesn't Suck about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A civics-forward show that makes government tangible by linking institutions to everyday life. Episodes explore how public policy, constitutional design, and historical developments shape real-world outcomes—from weather forecasting and civil service reform to landmark space programs and constitutional literacy. The hosts bring rigorous historical and political analysis, paired with engaging storytelling, to illuminate how government operates, its victories, and its missteps. A standout trait is the clear emphasis on practical implications for citizens, not abstract theory, making it appealing to listeners who want accessible, evidence-based discussions about how governance affects daily life.

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Which podcasts are similar to Government That Doesn't Suck?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Government That Doesn't Suck:

1. History That Doesn't Suck
2. World War II with Tom Hanks
3. HISTORY This Week
4. American History Hit
5. History Unplugged Podcast

How many episodes of Government That Doesn't Suck are there?

Government That Doesn't Suck launched 4 months ago and published 11 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Government That Doesn't Suck?

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What guests have appeared on Government That Doesn't Suck?

Recent guests on Government That Doesn't Suck include:

1. Max Stier
2. John Elliot
3. Casey Dreier
4. Mitchell Kramer
5. Andrew Blum
6. Zachary Carabelle
7. Neil Maher

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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