

Beyond Politics
Matt Robison
Politics may be dismal, but the ideas that swirl around it and shape it are fascinating. This is a show that looks not just at politics, but the deeper ideas from history, science, psychology, economics, and technology that are shaping our world. We feature smart, lively, upbeat discussions with people who know what they're talking about and can help us understand the world better. Hosted by Matt Robison: writer, former senior congressional staffer, and campaign manager.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 26, 2024 • 34min
A Staggering Disaster For 20 Million in America
There's a shadow healthcare crisis looming for 20 million, and you probably haven't heard about it. That's because it largely affects a group of people who have been swept up in the politics of immigration and border policy -- even though the vast majority of them are naturalized citizens, documented permanent residents, or Americans born in this country. Adriana Cadena, Director of the Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign, and Leo Cuello, a research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, explain why this is happening, why it's so important, and what can be done about it.
00:00 Introduction to the Looming Healthcare Crisis
01:05 Understanding the Scale of the Problem
04:32 The Human Impact of Losing Healthcare Coverage
06:09 Exploring the Reasons Behind the Crisis
11:19 The Role of Immigration Status in Healthcare Access
13:07 The Politics of Healthcare and Immigration
22:55 Potential Solutions to the Healthcare Crisis
27:48 The Future of Healthcare for Immigrant Families
31:58 Closing Thoughts on the Importance of Policy Experts

Feb 23, 2024 • 26min
Russia-Republicans Swindle America AGAIN
Tell me if you heard this before--the whole impeachment case against President Biden was based on a Russian disinformation operation. AGAIN. Also, what is the impact of an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling regarding in-vitro fertilization?
00:00 Introduction: The Russian Disinformation Operation
01:12 The FBI's Role and Suspicion
01:59 The Hillary Clinton Investigation and Russian Intelligence
08:00 The Alabama State Supreme Court Ruling on Embryos
19:24 The Ezra Klein Controversy: Should Biden Step Down?

Feb 21, 2024 • 27min
They Publicly Protested the President. He's Their Boss.
***Please share our show with a friend!*** What do you do if you disagree with your boss, when your boss is one of the most powerful people in the world? Recently, 17 Biden campaign staffers publicly wrote a letter to the president disagreeing with his position on the war in Gaza, which followed a letter anonymously sent by over 500 staffers back in November. Our guest Jim Papa is a former White House and Congressional staffer and host of the podcast "Staffer," and he says that this kind of protest can cause serious damage. But what about the case of Trump White House staffers who quietly worked against Trump ideas that they thought were dangerous or outright insane. Where do you draw the line
00:59 The Dilemma of Disagreeing with Your Boss
02:51 The Balance Between Personal Conscience and Professional Duty
10:42 The Consequences of Publicly Disagreeing with Your Boss
13:14 The Ethical Dilemma of Working for a Controversial Administration
21:51 The Role of Staffers in Shaping Information

Feb 19, 2024 • 34min
How Republicans Disatrously Broke Congress
Republicans have broken Congress to a dysfunctional and dangerous level, impacting American politics. They discuss Trump's influence, the New York special election, the 'MAGA mind virus,' and the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas. The consequences of congressional dysfunction and the future of the Republican Party are also examined.

Feb 16, 2024 • 31min
A Prosecutor + Her Boyfriend = Get Out of Jail Free for Trump?
Could Fani Willis' relationship kill the Georgia Trump case? Also, Trump's total meltdown on NATO and Putin, MAGA Republicans try to kill Ukraine aid, gun violence in Kansas City, and an easy solution for the patriarchy. ***Don't forget to rate and review us!!*** Check out another great podcast at Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other ***
02:03 Introducing 'Rent-a-Dude': A Solution to Gender Bias
04:07 The Fani Willis Hearing
07:15 Trump Legal Watch: A Look at Ongoing Cases
10:36 The Foreign Aid Bill: A Political Standoff
13:40 Lindsey Graham's Political Shift
14:38 Sheldon Whitehouse's Twitter Rant
17:19 Donald Trump's Controversial Statements
22:56 Debate on Gun Violence and Media Coverage

4 snips
Feb 14, 2024 • 31min
$17 Billion in Political Ads. Does It Even Work?
Analyzing the effectiveness of political ads and the trust gap in political advertising. Exploring the influence and limitations of political ads from a data perspective. Examining the impact of negative political ads and the role of money in campaigns. Highlighting the need to rethink political campaign strategies. Discussing the power of person-to-person contact in politics and the future of political advertising.

Feb 12, 2024 • 50min
"Disenfranchisement and Chaos": Inside the Supreme Court's Biggest Case
ProPublica's star investigative reporter Andy Kroll takes us behind the scenes, inside the issues and internal debates within the Supreme Court as it hears the 14th Amendment case against former President Donald Trump.
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***Check out another great podcast at Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other ***
01:17 Case Overview: Donald J. Trump vs Norma Anderson
05:54 The Debate on the 14th Amendment
11:40 The Tension Between Strict Constructionism and Legal Interpretation
20:19 The Three Core Questions for the Court
25:28 Understanding the Concept of Insurrection
26:55 The Role of States in Enforcing the 14th Amendment
36:13 The Role of the Supreme Court in Political Decisions
41:38 The Potential for Future Political Crises
46:42 The Importance of a Functional Congress

Feb 11, 2024 • 31min
A Disaster Day for Democrats: Sunday Roundtable Edition
A Bad Day for Democrats, the 14th Amendment, and Questions about Joe Biden's Fitness for Office. A special Sunday bonus roundtable discussion with Matt, Paul, and Alicia on how the Supreme Court is crushing Democrats dreams of getting saved from Trump, while the Special Counsel crushed Biden's age and memory in a way that could have lasting echoes throughout the Presidential race.
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***Check out another great podcast at Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other ***
00:40 The Impact of Special Counsel's Investigation on Joe Biden
09:15 The Political Impact of the Special Counsel's Report
14:42 The Age Factor in Politics: Biden vs Trump
18:19 The Supreme Court and the 14th Amendment
22:16 The Immunity Question: Trump's Legal Challenges
24:30 The House of Representatives: A Study in Dysfunction
30:14 The Swift Bowl

Feb 10, 2024 • 24min
Bonus Episode: Trump CAN Run, But He AIN'T Immune
Two cases in the federal courts this week had very different outcomes for Donald Trump. A Federal Appeals Court demolished Trump's claims of immunity from prosecution, but the US Supreme Court seemed poised to allow him to remain on the ballot despite a constitutional challenge over his role in the Insurrection. Matt Robison joins radio legend Howard Monroe to break it down.
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***Check out another great podcast at Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other ***
02:51 Discussion on Court Rulings and Presidential Immunity
08:37 Conversation on the 14th Amendment Case
18:12 Discussion on the Biden Special Prosecutor's Report

Feb 9, 2024 • 27min
Top Expert's Election Forecast Is In, And the Winner Is...
Top forecaster Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody's Analytics and the host of 'Inside Economics' has released his election forecast model. We dive into the factors that will truly matter in 2024, and announce the predicted winner.
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***Check out another great podcast at Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other ***
02:49 The Impact of the Economy on Voter Behavior
04:40 The Influence of Voter Turnout
07:00 The Significance of Election Forecast Models
09:42 The Role of Third-Party Candidates in Elections
19:43 The Impact of Economic Factors on Elections
23:35 Predicting the Next President


