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.
Beg to Differ is a weekly roundtable podcast brought to you by TheBulwark.com. Host Mona Charen is joined by Linda Chavez of the Niskanen Center, Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution, and Damon Linker of The Week to discuss the news of the week in a respectful, rational forum.
Making sense of the post-Trump political landscape… Both the Republican and Democratic parties are struggling to defend the political center against illiberal extremes. America must put forward policies that can reverse our political and governmental dysfunction, advance the social welfare of all citizens, combat climate change, and confront the other forces that threaten our common interests. The podcast focuses on current politics seen in the context of our nation’s history and the persona ...
AEI’s Norm Ornstein joins to discuss police violence, court packing, and Afghanistan. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Norman J. Ornstein.By The Bulwark
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The Vital Center

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The Rise of the "Establishment," and Its Impact Today, with Aaron M. Renn
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"One of the few things that both left and right can agree upon nowadays is that both the "establishment" and the meritocracy ought to be overthrown. But in all of these discussions, there's little awareness that there is a history and a scholarly literature behind these concepts. And all of that in one way or another draws upon the work of the soci…
On this week’s Beg to Differ, Sarah Longwell sits in for Mona Charen, and discusses with the panel the future of the filibuster, GOP fundraising tactics and their new embrace of boycott culture, H.R. 1 and election law, and China and the Olympics. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Sarah Longwell.…
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The Resilience of the Filibuster and its Myths
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Democrats have full control of government but the Senate filibuster is blocking large agenda items. How likely is reform and what would it look like? What does the filibuster's resilience say about the role of partisanship in policymaking? Sarah Binder of George Washington University and the Brookings Institution has long been tracking the filibust…
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Beg to Differ with Mona Charen


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Will Biden Bucks Defeat Culture Wars?
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Bret Stephens joins to consider the latest multi-trillion dollar spending bill, the GOP workers' party strategy, and the decline in church membership. Special Guests: Bret Stephens, Damon Linker, and Linda Chavez.By The Bulwark
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The Vital Center

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Could Women Save the GOP by Running for Office? (With Kodiak and Ariel Hill-Davis)
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For years, Democrats have provided training and resources to women looking to run for office through organizations like EMILY's List. Republicans have not, and the current demographics of Congress show the results. That's one of the reasons sisters Kodiak and Ariel Hill-Davis helped to found Republican Women for Progress, which provides policy-mind…
George F. Will joins to discuss lessons of the pandemic, whether Biden is creating a new New Deal, and how to handle China. Special Guests: Damon Linker, George F. Will, Linda Chavez, and Sarah Longwell.By The Bulwark
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The Science of Politics


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Values and Racism in American Immigration Views
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Biden is abruptly shifting immigration and refugee policies from Trump, facing new blowback. Are public views rooted in anti-Latino racism or a broader American ethos? Mark Ramirez finds that anti-Latino attitudes are pervasive because Latinos are stereotyped as not living up to American values; these attitudes predict policy opinions and helped el…
The Niskanen Center's Samuel Hammond joins to discuss improving Biden's child allowance and border policies. Plus: eliminate the filibuster? Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Samuel Hammond.By The Bulwark
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The Vital Center

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The Man Behind the Modern Conservative Movement, with Sam Tanenhaus
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William F. Buckley was a public intellectual, commentator, and founder of National Review, the magazine that arguably launched the modern conservative movement as we know it today. Would there even be a conservative movement without Buckley's leadership? And if so, is he responsible for the Trumpist turn Republican Party has taken? Does Buckley bea…
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Beg to Differ with Mona Charen


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Is There a Trapdoor in the Recovery Plan?
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AEI's Desmond Lachman analyzes the inflation risk in our gargantuan spending and loose money policies. The panel then considers the border crisis and the GOP's outreach to the working class. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Desmond Lachman, and Linda Chavez.By The Bulwark
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The Science of Politics


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How Media Coverage of Congress Limits Policymaking
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Advocates and legislators often want to generate media attention for their preferred legislation, but that does not help pass bills in Congress. Mary Layton Atkinson finds that media coverage focuses on legislation with partisan conflict and emphasizes process over policy substance. That tells voters that Congress is dysfunctional and full of extre…
AEI’s Kori Schake joins to discuss Biden’s Iran policy, non-white voters’ move right, and whether HR1 can solve the Democratic party’s geography problem. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Kori Schake, and Linda Chavez.By The Bulwark
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The Vital Center

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Why I Left the GOP, with Linda Chavez
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During the Trump years, political commentator and strategist Linda Chavez held out hope that the more moderate elements of the Republican Party would make a resurgence. But the widespread denial of the 2021 election results was her breaking point, and she openly left the party. She could no longer associate with a group that embraced conspiracy the…
Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget offers her insights. The group also discusses prospects for a Jan 6 commission, and Europe's response to Biden. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Maya MacGuineas .By The Bulwark
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The Science of Politics


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How Political Values and Social Influence Drive Polarization
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How Political Values and Social Influence Drive Polarization by Niskanen CenterBy Niskanen Center
Slate's Will Saletan returns to consider the McConnell/Trump GOP, Texas's woes, and Limbaugh's legacy. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Will Saletan.By The Bulwark
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The Vital Center

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The Forces Behind the Radical Right
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What motivated the rioters to buy plane tickets and storm the Captol? Was it a pre-meditated, organized coup or something more spur-of-the-moment? And what's the future of the Republican Party, given that so many base voters still support Trump? The Week's Damon Linker joins Niskanen's Geoffrey Kabaservice to discuss the intellectual, psychological…
Jay Nordlinger joins to discuss the impeachment trial, the Romney plan for families, and the firing of Don McNeill from the NYTimes. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Jay Nordlinger, and Linda Chavez.By The Bulwark
Some Republican voters supported the January 6th storming of the capitol, raising fears that the U.S. will continue to escalate violent extremism, moving everyday partisans toward endorsement of violence against their political opponents. Nathan Kalmoe and Lilliana Mason find that partisanship leads a sizeable minority of Americans to support viole…
Tom Nichols joins to consider the state of governance and GOP self-policing. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Linda Chavez, and Tom Nichols.By The Bulwark
Anne Applebaum joins to discuss options for reconciliation. Also, brave Navalny and cowardly Republicans. Special Guests: Anne Applebaum, Bill Galston, Damon Linker, and Linda Chavez.By The Bulwark
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The Science of Politics


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Right-Wing Extremism and the Capitol Insurrection
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Violent right-wing extremism again came to America's attention in the Capitol insurrection, including organized militia groups and white supremacists. How did these movements build support, radicalize, and evolve out of the alt-right? Sam Jackson tracks the growth of the militia movement and its involvement in right-wing politics, helping to explai…
EPPC's Peter Wehner joins this week to review the inauguration and look forward to the first priorities of the Biden administration. Also impeachment 2.0. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Peter Wehner.By The Bulwark
Jonathan V. Last and Catherine Rampell join the group to discuss impeachment 2.0, deplatforming (pro and con), and prospects for Biden. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Catherine Rampell, Damon Linker, and Jonathan V. Last.By The Bulwark
The Politics of School from Home by Niskanen CenterBy Niskanen Center
Eric Edelman joins to discuss the Trump mob’s storming of the Capitol. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Eric Edelman, and Linda Chavez.By The Bulwark
A.B. Stoddard joins the group on New Year's Eve to discuss the lows (many) and highs (there were some) of 2020. Special Guests: A.B. Stoddard, Bill Galston, Damon Linker, and Linda Chavez.By The Bulwark
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The Science of Politics


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How Much Did Trump Undermine U.S. Democracy?
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Will Trump do lasting damage to American democratic institutions? He has repeatedly broken norms during his presidency and tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. How much is the US undergoing democratic backsliding and what did his presidency reveal about the strength and limits of our institutions? Brendan Nyhan is an organizer of Bri…
Bulwark founder Sarah Longwell joins the group to discuss Trump’s sabotage of the relief bill, reforms to Trump-proof the presidency, and recommendations for holiday viewing/listening. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Sarah Longwell.By The Bulwark
Charles Lane joins this week to discuss how Biden is doing. Is GOP terminally Trumpy? A look at the Georgia run-off. Plus, is huge gov’t debt actually ok? Special Guests: Bill Galston, Charles Lane, Damon Linker, and Linda Chavez.By The Bulwark
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The Science of Politics


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How Presidential Appointments Reveal Policy Goals and Elite Interests
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President-elect Joe Biden is choosing his cabinet, prioritizing government experience and diversity. President Trump instead appointed corporate executives and left many positions unfilled. But maybe the differences are not as stark as they first appear. Christina Kinane finds that presidents can manage vacancies and use interim appointments to gui…