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The Politics Lab

The Politics Lab
Donald Trump
Israel
US Presidential Elections
Supreme Court
China
Polling Data
Middle East
Hush Money Payments
Felony Convictions
Russia
Republican Party
International Criminal Court
Biden Administration
Iran
Ukraine
Democracy
Germany
Lara Trump
Republican National Committee
Joe Biden

Politics isn’t always black and white. Dr. Bill Muck and Dr. Phil Barker, professors of political science and longtime friends, talk through the week’s news and discuss how political science might help make sense of things. In The Politics Lab, we put politics under the microscope.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes248Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentPoliticsNews

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Artwork for The Politics Lab

Latest Episodes

This week, Bill and Phil explore the legality and political fallout from the Venezuelan boat strikes and then reflect on the state of Donald Trump’s agenda and what that means for the future of the Republican Party.

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil celebrate Thanksgiving by handing out the highly coveted Turkey of the Year awards.

This week, Bill and Phil ponder whether political scandals matter anymore and then discuss George Orwell and whether Trump has created his own Orwellian version of 1984.

This week, Bill and Phil sort through the results of the 2025 midterms and discuss whether they tell us anything useful about American democracy, consider the legacy of Dick Cheney, and play another round of “What’s More Stupid?”.

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Recent Guests

Steven Levitsky
Professor of government at Harvard University and co-author of books on democracy.
Harvard University
Episode: Discussing Democracy with Steven Levitsky
Barbara McQuade
Former federal prosecutor and legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC
NBC News and MSNBC
Episode: Trump’s Court
Ezra Levin
Co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible
Indivisible
Episode: Moving Forward
Jake Lahut
Campaign reporter for the Columbia Journalism Review
Columbia Journalism Review
Episode: Bonus Episode: Bill on WCPT Radio
Dr. Suzanne Chod
Professor of political science specializing in American political institutions, parties, campaigns, and elections.
North Central College
Episode: Bonus Episode: Bill on WCPT Radio

Hosts

Bill Muck
Professor of Political Science, specializing in political theory and comparative politics. Longtime collaborator and co-host with Phil Barker.
Phil Barker
Professor of Political Science, with a focus on American politics and political behavior. Co-host alongside Bill Muck.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 94 ratings
  • My favorite podcast

    It’s informative, creative, and entertaining. I had learned about the podcast in a class of Dr. Mucks. It’s refreshing to hear current events from the standpoint of political academia, including when domestic news is alarming.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Spencer'01
    United States3 months ago
  • the goat political podcast

    honestly one of the only political podcasts i can listen to without feeling super stressed out at the end. absolutely delightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fingscientist
    United States9 months ago
  • My favorite politics podcast

    I look forward to this podcast every week. There’s something about it that’s just so much more enjoyable than my other political run down podcasts. The hosts are charming and fun to listen too. It almost makes me wish I could take one of their classes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Momanda beep
    United States3 years ago
  • Woderful podcast

    From stat to finish I enjoy each eposode. Listen and learn.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steve Breeze
    United States4 years ago
  • Love you guys

    I’m not sure what happened to barstool politics, but this new show is just as good. Thanks for keeping it going

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Utah Ty
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the nuanced and thoughtful discussions that combine humor with serious political analysis.
Many find the hosts' backgrounds in academia refreshing compared to typical punditry, noting their ability to explain complex topics clearly.
Audience members express a strong fondness for the informal, conversational tone of the content, often feeling engaged and entertained while being informed.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Discussing Democracy with Steven Levitsky
Q: How do political institutions hold up during the current democratic challenges?
While the U.S. has robust institutions, they are weakening rapidly, with Congress abdicating its role in oversight.
Discussing Democracy with Steven Levitsky
Q: How do authoritarians use the tools of democracy to undermine democracy?
Authoritarians exploit democratic institutions through means like constitutional reforms, packing the courts, and weaponizing the law.
Piety or Profanity
Q: What is the significance of the protest votes against Biden in the Democratic Party?
These protest votes highlight the discontent of young voters and minority groups with Biden's policies, potentially threatening his re-election.
Piety or Profanity
Q: How has Donald Trump's embrace of January 6th affected his political narrative?
Trump's narrative has transformed the perspective on the violent acts of January 6th into a heroic moment for his supporters, which he presents as a rallying cry in his campaign.
China’s World
Q: Is now the time for Sonia Sotomayor to retire?
From a liberal perspective, it is suggested that due to the uncertainty of upcoming elections, it may be prudent for Sotomayor to consider retirement to allow for a Democratic nomination.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Politics Lab

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

A team of political science professors offers a unique perspective on current events by combining personal insights with academic perspectives. The discussions often center around pressing political topics, such as the implications of Donald Trump's policies, judicial decisions, and broader trends in democracy and political dynamics. This conversational format not only tackles serious issues but also maintains an engaging tone, often infusing humor to make complex subjects more accessible. The hosts invite listeners to rethink traditional narratives in politics and challenge the status quo while fostering critical reflection on democracy and government today.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Politics Lab?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Politics Lab. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Politics Lab and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Politics Lab get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Politics Lab?

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How many subscribers and views does The Politics Lab have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Politics Lab has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Politics Lab?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Politics Lab:

1. Political Gabfest
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. If Books Could Kill
4. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
5. Criminal

How many episodes of The Politics Lab are there?

The Politics Lab launched 5 years ago and published 248 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 The Politics Lab?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Politics Lab?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Politics Lab from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Politics Lab?

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What guests have appeared on The Politics Lab?

Recent guests on The Politics Lab include:

1. Steven Levitsky
2. Barbara McQuade
3. Ezra Levin
4. Jake Lahut
5. Dr. Suzanne Chod

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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