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50 Day Check-In

This week, Bill and Phil offer a big picture look at the tumultuous first fifty days of the Trump presidency.

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A Baffling Foreign Policy

This week, Bill and Phil discuss Trump’s dramatic actions regarding Ukraine, his embrace of Tariffs, and the ways that these actions will remake the international system. 

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Strange Bedfellows

Bill and Phil consider the state of global democracy in light of the third anniversary of the Ukraine war, the success of the far right in Germany’s elections, and the Trump administration’s attacks on press freedom.

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King Trump

Bill and Phil assess the implications of Donald Trump’s embrace of Russia, examine JD Vance’s speech lecturing Europe on democracy, and ponder what Donald Trump posting pictures of himself as king and comparing himself to Napoleon means for our constitution.

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Red, White, and Blue Land

This week, Bill and Phil take a look at what leading scholars are saying about Trump’s assault on American democracy and then lighten the mood by playing a round of “What’s More Stupid?”

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World People

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil discuss Trump’s pledge to own Gaza, starting a trade war with allies and enemies alike, and claims that Elon is up to some serious illegality.

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Chaos and Cruelty

This week, Bill and Phil sift through the chaos of the first 10 days of Trump, 2.0, including the halt on federal spending, opening a immigrant detention center in Guantanamo, a fight with Colombia over deportees, the firing of 17 inspectors general, and much, much more. Now lets go to the lab. 

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Here We Go (Again)

This week, Bill and Phil react to Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.

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Ceasefire

This week, Bill and Phil react to the breaking news of a ceasefire in Gaza, reflect of the life of Jimmy Carter, and discuss the transition from Biden to Trump.

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Confronting a Bully

This week, Bill and Phil assess the hybrid war Putin is waging across Europe, review Mitch McConnell’s recent Foreign Affairs article rejecting isolationism and calling for American primacy, and close with a look at how a debate over sandwiches has divided the British government. 

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Syria

This week, Bill and Phil discuss the implications of Bashar al-Assad’s fall in Syria and the troublesome logic of the Supreme Court’s arguments on trans rights, and then play “What’s More Stupid: Trump Social Media edition”.

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EOY Speed Round!

This week, its time for speed round. Bill and Phil tackle Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, the state of Trump’s cabinet nominations, the crisis in South Korea, and Trump’s offer to annex Canada.

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2024 Turkey of the Year!

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil celebrate Thanksgiving by reviewing their top turkeys of the year,

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Trump, Democracy, and the World

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil examine the state of democracy in light of Trump’s early actions, then discuss the impact that Trump’s second term might have on global politics.

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Nomination Insanity

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil try to wrap their heads around Trump’s initial cabinet nominations, and then consider the various explanations for the results of the 2024 presidential election.

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Trump, Take 2

This week, Bill and Phil react to Trump’s resounding victory in the 2024 election. 

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Closing Arguments

This week, Bill and Phil break down Trump and Harris’s closing arguments and predict what may happen in next Tuesday’s election. 

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How Are We Here (Again)?

On this weeks episode, Bill and Phil discuss recent accusations that Trump is a fascist, explore Trump‘s bizarre pre-election behavior, and highlight possible post-election dangers.

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Three Weeks Away

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil break down the state of the presidential race just three weeks until Election Day and explore the question of whether we are living through the most dangerous international moment since the Cold War.

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Why Are Politics So Stupid?

On this week’s episode, Bill and Phil open with a spirited game of “What’s More Stupid,” then reflect on why our politics have become so stupid, and close by looking at how Jack Smith may have outsmarted the Supreme Court. 

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