
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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 248 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | GovernmentPoliticsNews | |||

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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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.
honestly one of the only political podcasts i can listen to without feeling super stressed out at the end. absolutely delightful.
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!
From stat to finish I enjoy each eposode. Listen and learn.
I’m not sure what happened to barstool politics, but this new show is just as good. Thanks for keeping it going
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Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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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.
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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.
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Recent guests on The Politics Lab include:
1. Steven Levitsky
2. Barbara McQuade
3. Ezra Levin
4. Jake Lahut
5. Dr. Suzanne Chod
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