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The Science of Politics

Niskanen Center
Political Polarization
Interest Groups
Trump Administration
Donald Trump
Partisanship
Policy Change
Wokeness
Polarization
Vaccination Policies
Kamala Harris
Democratic Party
Bureaucracy
Public Opinion
Structural Inequality
Black Voters
Culture War
Racial Realignment
Congress
Essential Workers
Groupthink

The Niskanen Center’s The Science of Politics podcast features up-and-coming researchers delivering fresh insights on the big trends driving American politics today. Get beyond punditry to data-driven understanding of today’s Washington with host and political scientist Matt Grossmann. Each 30-45-minute episode covers two new cutting-edge studies and interviews two researchers. We welcome your tho... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes217Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The Science of Politics

Latest Episodes

The 2026 election will decide who controls the House and Senate for the duration of Trump's presidency. Trump's approval is low and public opinion is moving against his policy ideas. The historical pattern suggests Democrats are on the way to big con... more

Legislators spend considerable time dialing for dollars to support their party, even if they themselves are not in electoral danger. That helps them move up the party leadership ladder, but does not help them achieve their policy goals. Michael Kistn... more

AI tool improvement is compounding fast enough for researchers to start using tools like Claude Code for real social science tasks. What are the early lessons from using AI to conduct research? Will it just mean more slop papers and slop reviewers? O... more

Some Americans prefer obedient, respectful, and well-mannered children and others prefer independent, curious, and self-reliant kids. And that divide is a surprisingly broad window into contemporary political views and partisan choices. How did we be... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Kistner
Researcher at the University of Houston and author of "Paying for the Party"
University of Houston
Episode: Legislators are raising money instead of making policy
Andy Hall
Stanford University researcher specializing in political science.
Stanford University
Episode: Can AI ‘vibe research’ replace social science?
Agustin Markarian
Political scientist at Loyola, Chicago
Loyola, Chicago
Episode: Which groups win policy under each party?
Kevin Angell
Researcher at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: Who now directs spending: Congress or the president?
Julia Azari
Political scientist and author of Backlash Presidents
Princeton University
Episode: The backlash presidency
Danielle Thomsen
Academic and Author of The Money Signal
University of California, Irvine
Episode: How the money chase governs our elections
Adam Bonica
Political Scientist at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: The Supreme Court is enabling Trump’s executive power
Eric McGhee
Researcher at the Public Policy Institute of California and author of the article Districts for a New Decade.
Public Policy Institute of California
Episode: Will partisan redistricting tip Congress?
Daniel Kolliner
Researcher at Kenyon College and co-author of the NBER paper on partisan control over redistricting.
Kenyon College
Episode: Will partisan redistricting tip Congress?

Host

Matt Grossmann
Host of The Science of Politics

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 93 ratings
  • Getting in bed with fascists

    This was a pretty solid podcast until they decided to get onboard with a couple of fascist Kennedy supporters peddling brain dead anti-anti-conventional wisdom about Covid. Now I’m going back over what the Niskanen Center has done elsewhere worried that I missed signs of their slide into misanthropic anti-democracy.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    elonruinedtwitter
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great for academics and students

    This is a great way to introduce students to political science research; it also keeps me up to date with current scholarship!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dbenbailey
    United States2 years ago
  • Great idea, needs reformatting

    Five stars for the content, host, and idea behind this podcast. It is much needed. However, it needs reformatting. It can be very difficult to follow weaving in and out of interviewees. Stick to one paper then move onto the next. Put yourself in the shoes of a podcast listener. We aren’t taking notes and aren’t paying close attention to names. We’re exercising, cooking, commuting. Make it as easy as possible to follow. In any case, please keep it up. It’s been very important for me to keep up wi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mitchell.33
    United States5 years ago
  • A Podcast on Political Science for the Political Scientist

    They do an incredible job bringing cutting-edge political science research to relevant topics based on current events. Many of the guests are relative unknowns, so the listener learns about ideas and perspectives they will rarely find anywhere else.

    Justin Kempf

    Democracy Paradox

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    justin kempf
    United States5 years ago
  • Who you poll

    I don’t know who you are polling but I can tell you in my lifetime I have not engaged so much in daily life with so many people that are into a conspiracy like Q. Once more I am seeing it preached from the pulpit and corrupting the public trust in both church and state. Also something I’ve not seen before, the marketing of it is now with signs on bridges and highways in my local community. So your polling is missing something and quite frankly it is very dangerous to public servants. Furthe... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    EvenMySatireNameisTaken
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast is highly regarded as a resource for academics and students interested in political science research.
Some feedback indicates that while the content is strong, the delivery may benefit from improved audio quality and formatting.
Many praise the diverse perspectives from researchers, bringing lesser-known insights to light, which is a refreshing change from mainstream coverage.
Listeners appreciate the rigorous analysis and data-driven discussions featured in the episodes.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How authoritarian parenting attitudes explain our political divides
Q: What is kind of the bottom line now on the extent to which this story helps to explain either Trump's rise or the continuing acceptability of what he is doing to a large part of the electorate?
The empirical findings suggest that those with higher authoritarianism tend to endorse anti-democratic attitudes that transcend party lines among white Americans.
How authoritarian parenting attitudes explain our political divides
Q: So, Dr. Federico, tell us about the main findings and takeaways from the new book, The Authoritarian Divide.
The findings indicate that authoritarian values are growing influence in structuring political attitudes and voting choices, primarily among white Americans.
Which groups win policy under each party?
Q: How do you interpret party influence on policy outcomes?
Party differences explain part of the racial gaps; Democrats tend to represent their core voters more effectively, while Republicans maintain gaps even among their constituents.
Which groups win policy under each party?
Q: So tell us about the findings and takeaways from your new paper on race, responsiveness, and representation in the US.
We find that racial differences in policy responsiveness are low overall, but white Americans tend to get more of what they want under Republican control. Conversely, racial and ethnic minority groups experience better representation under Democratic control.
How the money chase governs our elections
Q: Does money mean less if it's not this reliable signal of support, but it just comes from the individual?
Self-funding is common; candidates generously contribute to signal strength but winning dynamics often hinge on donor perceptions rather than immediate funding sources.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Science of Politics

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

Content primarily revolves around in-depth analyses of current political dynamics in America, emphasizing research-backed insights rather than traditional punditry. Episodes often feature discussions with researchers on pivotal topics such as campaign finance, policymaking, AI's influence on social sciences, authoritarianism, and the implications of media incentives on culture wars. The host typically invites a diverse array of scholars, leading to a rich tapestry of perspectives on how various factors intersect with American political trends. This systematic exploration contributes to a deeper understanding of trends affecting governance and electoral practices, making it particularly appealing for listeners interested in rigorous politica... more

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1. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
2. Explain It to Me
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Throughline
5. Today, Explained

How many episodes of The Science of Politics are there?

The Science of Politics launched 8 years ago and published 217 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 Science of Politics?

Recent guests on The Science of Politics include:

1. Michael Kistner
2. Andy Hall
3. Agustin Markarian
4. Kevin Angell
5. Julia Azari
6. Danielle Thomsen
7. Adam Bonica
8. Eric McGhee

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