
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
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 217 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | News | |||

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