

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

Nov 8, 2023 • 36min
What Does Democrats Huge Election Night Victory Actually Mean?
De3mocrats ran the table in the 20232 elections, so how does that mesh with all that polling suggesting Joe Biden is down against Donald Trump in 2024? Conservative analyst Alicia Preston suggests Republicans need a 'cleansing fire' to rid them of Trump's shadow. Does this mean we are in for a totally negative re-run of recent campaigns next year? Also, should anyone watch the Republican Presidential debate? And should Democrat Rashida Tlaib have been censured for her comments on Israel?
00:44 Analyzing the Recent Democratic Victories
01:43 Implications for Biden and 2024
08:19 The Role of the Economy in Voter Sentiment
14:03 The Impact of Inflation
31:35 Tlaib and Free Speech

Nov 6, 2023 • 29min
Why You Should NOT Freak Out About that Scary NYT Poll
Recent New York Times poll results show President Biden trailing Donald Trump in six key battleground states for the 2024 election. Host Matt Robison welcomes back guest Ian Smith, Director of Polling and Analytics for Navigator Research, to talk about why Democrats should not panic.
00:01 Polling Results
02:03 The Impact of Economic Factors on Voter Sentiment
03:52 The Role of Campaigns and the Potential for Change
07:47 The Influence of Negative News and Criminal Trials
07:47 Why Are Dems Suddenly losing young, Black, and Latino voters?
11:01 The Importance of Voter Education and Awareness
15:50 The Potential Impact of Donald Trump's Legal Troubles
20:20 The Debate on Whether President Biden Should Drop Out
25:41 The Need for a Micro Economy Message

Nov 5, 2023 • 26min
Financial Life Planning: Get Organized After Estate Planning
Tune in to this week's podcast where Mike Morton and I discuss how to stay organized while estate planning. Make sure to follow the correct process so that your heirs aren't left cleaning up a mess.

Nov 3, 2023 • 23min
The Financial Mystery of the Most Powerful Republican in America
Does Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson not have a bank account? It seems like the answer might be no, and whatever is going on, it only leads to more disturbing questions. Guest Roger Sollenberger, Senior Political Reporter with The Daily Beast, shares insights into a story he broke.
00:01 Why does the most powerful Republican in America seem to have no bank account?...01:48 Comparing Johnson's Finances with Other Politicians...02:37 Exploring Possible Reasons for Johnson's Financial Status... Implications of Johnson's Financial Status on His Political Position....17:00 How did he find this story?

Nov 1, 2023 • 36min
Is Election Denier Speaker Mike Johnson REALLY This Crazy?
New House Speaker Mike Johnson literally believes that people rode dinosaurs onto Noah's Ark. Really. But that may not even be the most out-there thing about him. Matt, Paul, and Alicia dive in to the deep right-wing craziness of the man who is second in line to the Presidency. Also, can Republicans pay for Israel support...with a tax CUT? (12:44) Will the investigation into Clarence Thomas go anywhere? (17:06)? Does Dean Phillips run for the Dem nomination matter? (23:49) Will Santos get kicked out of the House, and will Tlaib get censured? (30:48)

Oct 30, 2023 • 38min
Could One Big Money Group Spoil the Election & Bring Trump Back?
Could Donald Trump walk right back into the White House again? It looks like the answer is, yes. No Labels has $70 million, they're on the ballot in key states, and they just shifted to a new plan that could easily spoil the 2024 election by making it impossible for President Joe Biden to win enough states. No Labels thinks it would then be in a position to have more influence over who wins. But the reality could be much worse.

Oct 29, 2023 • 26min
Financial Life Planning: 3 accounts
What if I told you that you could be paying thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes every year on your savings? You might think I have some savvy financial trick up my sleeve to save you from Uncle Sam, but the opposite is actually true. In this episode, it’s all about the basics. Basic account types, that is: The Three Musketeers: Taxable, Tax Deferred, and Tax Free

Oct 25, 2023 • 37min
Barb McQuade: 3 Flipped Lawyers, Powerful Evidence, Huge Trump Trouble?
For months, the eyes of the political and legal world have been on Georgia, ever since Donald Trump and eighteen alleged co-conspirators were indicted in Fulton County under the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis is aiming to prove that there was collusion to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election. The past week has seen a dramatic turn in the case as three of Trump’s former attorneys have plead guilty in rapid succession. To get a handle on what that might mean, we welcome back one of America’s sharpest legal minds, Barbara McQuade, a professor at Michigan Law, former US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, well known as legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. She is also part of the Sisters-in-Law podcast featuring Joyce Vance, Jill Wine-Banks, and Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Oct 24, 2023 • 22min
Bonus Episode: Matt's Newsweek Article on the Shameful New York Times Incident
Matt Robison joins radio host Matt McNeil to talk about his recent Newsweek article laying out the horrible sequence at the New York Times that may have cost the Times credibility, cost Israel support, and cost lives. The Times has now issued a non-apology apology, and the episode raises questions about what is driving mainstream media to behave this way, and what it will mean if they are falling prey to pressures from extreme voices that undermine their function in America.

Oct 24, 2023 • 35min
MORE Trump Lawyers Guilty, Are Republicans Destroying Themselves?
After a third Trump attorney, Jenna Ellis, pled guilty in the Georgia Trump election interference case, the immediate question became: is the wall around Trump crumbling? And is the entire Republican Party descending into an incoherent melee?


