Best Niskanen Center The Science Of Politics Podcasts (2024)

1
The Politics of Our Jobs 53:32

1d ago53:32

53:32

Our jobs shape our politics, including whether we run for office and which side of the political spectrum makes us feel most comfortable. Just as we are polarizing geographically, even our workplaces are now more likely to be filled with those who agree with us about politics. And our politicians come from these workplaces, often taking the specifi…

1
How will TikTok change politics? 52:12

20d ago52:12

52:12

Congress is fearful of TikTok’s influence, but America’s young people increasingly see it as a key platform for learning about and spreading political ideas. Will TikTok get young people engaged in the 2024 election or serve as another distraction? Neta Kligler-Vilenchik finds that young people embody an expressive citizenship, where you should spe…

1
How race makes us less punitive on opioid policy 52:40

1M ago52:40

52:40

The opioid crisis has not abated, but so far policy has remained far less punitive than for prior drug epidemics. Is that because it has been characterized and seen as a “white” drug problem? Could it take a more punitive turn if its connotations change? Tanika Raychaudhuri finds that sympathetic media coverage makes Whites more supportive of treat…

1
Do Voters Dislike Old Candidates 47:02

2M ago47:02

47:02

We are headed toward a replay of 2020, with the oldest candidates ever nominated for president. How much does candidate age matter in elections and how do voters judge older and younger options? If voters are disappointed with older candidates, why do they keep electing a gerontocracy?Jennifer Wolak finds that voters do stereotype older and younger…

1
Lessons from the COVID-era Welfare Expansion 57:40

2M ago57:40

57:40

COVID brought expansions of social welfare programs and increased flexibility. But many of the changes expired. Now Congress is considering a bit of a revival of the child tax credit expansion, but recipients of traditional welfare programs won’t see equivalent gains. Did policymakers learn the right lessons from the successes and failures of COVID…

1
How Bureaucrats Deal with Political Chaos Above 48:56

3M ago48:56

48:56

With the prospect of a second emboldened Trump administration on offer, the administrative state is under attack. How well did the bureaucracy deal with Trump appointees? Was there really a resistance in a "deep state"? And how much are career civil servants affected by chaos and turnover in the political class that sit above them? Jaime Kucinskas …

1
Elites Misperceive the Public 53:45

3M ago53:45

53:45

Are political elites in bubbles, out of touch with the American public, not recognizing how their views and conditions are not reflective of most people’s experience? Prior research found that elites tend to overestimate conservative policy positions in the American public, but there are wider misperceptions across the political spectrum. Alexander…

1
The Deterioration of Congress 58:10

3M ago58:10

58:10

After a year of minimal lawmaking, the public is disappointed with Congress. And the members don’t seem very happy either, but they are not changing their behavior. How much has Congress deteriorated and why? Alex Theodoridis has a new survey of former members of Congress to explore their insights on what ails Congress. We discuss January 6th and p…

1
The Two Sides of Immigration Backlash 1:03:42

4M ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Voters are upset about disarray at the US-Mexico border and the increase in illegal crossings under President Biden. But they also reacted negatively to former president Trump’s crackdowns. In both ways, immigration has become more important in our politics, making it more like Europe. Ernesto Tiburcio finds that flows of unauthorized migrants into…

1
Previewing 2024: How Voters Judge Presidents 47:27

4M ago47:27

47:27

Despite relatively strong economic data, the public is sour, judging President Biden poorly and putting him even or below former President Trump in early polling. How will polls and economic assessments evolve as we approach the 2024 election? Robert Erikson finds that early polls are not predictive but that presidents will eventually be judged by …

1
Do presidents have the power to act alone? 53:25

5M ago53:25

53:25

Courts have overruled key policy changes from President Biden acting alone. But Republicans are gearing up to enact a suite of policy changes on Day 1 of a potential new administration, reigniting fears of an imperial presidency. Jon Rogowski finds that presidents act unilaterally quite often, beyond executive orders to include a lot of other tools…

1
Why presidents still spend their time raising money. 59:00

5M ago59:00

59:00

Even with low approval, President Biden is still a big fundraising draw. In fact, presidents spend lots of time fundraising and the campaign is now year-round. And Biden has big competition: former President Trump never stopped fundraising or campaigning. Brendan Doherty finds that changes in campaign finance law have enabled a formidable president…

1
The decline of union Democrats 1:05:14

6M ago1:05:14

1:05:14

The United Auto Workers is gaining concessions and unions are generating public support with strikes this year. But Democrats have been losing voting share among union members and private industrial unions are still in decline. What dynamics gave rise to unions’ Democratic support and is a resurgence possible? Lainey Newman and Theda Skocpol invest…

1
What explains the diploma divide? 1:02:20

6M ago1:02:20

1:02:20

Voters with college degrees are increasingly supporting Democrats, with Republicans now doing better among those without college—a big reversal in recent decades. Joshua Zingher finds that college-educated Americans are more liberal on social issues and that more educated Americans are moving furthest toward Democrats when surrounded by other educa…

1
Can state politicians be held accountable to the public? 55:21

7M ago55:21

55:21

Most people don’t know who their state legislators are, much less what they are up to. So how do voters hold them accountable to public views? Steven Rogers finds that voters don’t know enough about state politicians and most legislators are not facing competitive elections. Electoral mechanisms are not enough to keep them from diverging from the p…

1
Partisan election administrators don't tip the scales 52:32

7M ago52:32

52:32

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, local election officials became objects of unfounded conspiracy theories and attacks. But local clerks, even those elected in partisan elections, do make and implement key decisions about voting opportunities and election procedures. Do they tip the scales to favor their party? Daniel Thompson finds that elect…

1
Do the media drive presidential primaries? 52:09

8M ago52:09

52:09

In 2016, Donald Trump dominated media coverage in the race for the Republican nomination and he is on track to do so again this time. Does the media react to events and signals of public support, moving from one candidate to the next, or does it just focus on the frontrunner? And is media attention the main moving part in presidential primary campa…

1
Are claims that social media polarizes us overblown? 59:13

8M ago59:13

59:13

Do our social media feeds polarize us, with algorithms that lure us into echo chambers and trap us with viral political content and misinformation? Andy Guess is part of four new papers that suggest these claims are overblown. The big social science collaboration with Meta found that reducing exposure to content shared by those that agree with you …

1
Don't expect extreme weather to spur climate policy change 1:00:09

9M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

The hottest July on record is bringing big headlines, with scientists and activists hoping that Americans will notice the changing climate and call for policy action. But the prior record suggests no easy path from climate impacts to mobilization for change. Peter Howe finds that the effects of temperature shocks and natural disasters on public opi…

1
Has American business turned left? 1:09:32

9M ago1:09:32

1:09:32

American business used to be a common partner of Republicans. But the party claims that corporations have now gone “woke”, endorsing progressive values. Are companies really moving leftward? Eitan Hersh finds that business leaders perceive their companies moving toward Democratic elites and policy priorities, mostly due to internal demands. Soubhik…

1
Will Supreme Court Opinions Provoke Public Backlash? 1:04:32

10M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

The Supreme Court made major conservative rulings this term but did not go as far as some expected. Are Court rulings out of step with public opinion? How much do they risk public backlash for moving against the public? Joe Ura finds that the Court provokes more backlash for moving in a too liberal direction than a too conservative direction. Steph…

1
Are We Overproducing Elites and Instability? 53:20

10M ago53:20

53:20

High levels of political violence and low levels of institutional support suggest we are in the midst of an age of discord. What can we learn from the cycles of history about political disintegration and recovery? Peter Turchin predicted the tumult. He points to our large class of aspiring elites competing for power without advancing the living sta…

1
How Parties Recruit and Limit Candidates 48:33

10M ago48:33

48:33

Before primary voters get input, local party leaders recruit and select candidates to run for office. Their views produce and limit voters' choices. Even if voters might support candidates from diverse occupations or ethnicities, those candidates might never run if party leaders tap someone else. Michael Miller finds that county party chairs have d…

1
The causes and effects of budgeting under threat 56:39

11M ago56:39

56:39

Why does the federal government budget under pressure in high-stakes showdowns like the debt ceiling deadline, especially when Republicans control Congress under Democratic presidents? And why do the imposed spending constraints not last? On this special edition, Matt Grossmann talks to Joshua Huder of Georgetown University for a deep dive into the…

1
How administrative burdens undermine public programs 59:22

11M ago59:22

59:22

Government administrators often write complex and interacting rules that make it harder to access public programs to improve health and social welfare. They impose compliance, learning, and psychological costs on the people that these programs are trying to help. Donald Moynihan and Pamela Herd have launched a renewed recognition of the barriers th…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Niskanen Center The Science Of Politics Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The Science of Politics

Niskanen Center

1
The Politics of Our Jobs 53:32

1
How will TikTok change politics? 52:12

1
How race makes us less punitive on opioid policy 52:40

1
Do Voters Dislike Old Candidates 47:02

1
Lessons from the COVID-era Welfare Expansion 57:40

1
How Bureaucrats Deal with Political Chaos Above 48:56

1
Elites Misperceive the Public 53:45

1
The Deterioration of Congress 58:10

1
The Two Sides of Immigration Backlash 1:03:42

1
Previewing 2024: How Voters Judge Presidents 47:27

1
Do presidents have the power to act alone? 53:25

1
Why presidents still spend their time raising money. 59:00

1
The decline of union Democrats 1:05:14

1
What explains the diploma divide? 1:02:20

1
Can state politicians be held accountable to the public? 55:21

1
Partisan election administrators don't tip the scales 52:32

1
Do the media drive presidential primaries? 52:09

1
Are claims that social media polarizes us overblown? 59:13

1
Don't expect extreme weather to spur climate policy change 1:00:09

1
Has American business turned left? 1:09:32

1
Will Supreme Court Opinions Provoke Public Backlash? 1:04:32

1
Are We Overproducing Elites and Instability? 53:20

1
How Parties Recruit and Limit Candidates 48:33

1
The causes and effects of budgeting under threat 56:39

1
How administrative burdens undermine public programs 59:22

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