Inside Political Science

KAMU Studios · tamu.edu

What do you know about politics? What should you know? Forget views, beliefs and opinions – politics is really a science. In this audio and video podcast, Dr. Kirby Goidel and Dr. Todd Kent from the Texas A&M Department of Political Science use their years of teaching, research and campaign experience to show you what’s actually happening in politics. No partisan politics here, just a navigation of political data, media, money, behavior and more so you can be more informed the next time you vote.

51 episodes

1mo ago latest

fortnightly cadence

English language

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Episodes 51

Inside Political Science #047 – The World Cup: A Political Tool?
1mo ago · 44:29
Can sports change the way the world sees a country? On this episode, Kirby and Todd interview Professor Guy Whitten, who brings the perspective of both a fan and a political scientist when it comes to speaking on the World Cup. Together, they discuss why countries decide to host the World Cup, how hosting shapes a country’s national identity and image, and what effects the US obtained from hosting this year’s World Cup. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/InsidePoliticalScience.
Inside Political Science #046 – Changing The Viewpoint: Trump’s Effect on the System
1mo ago · 44:59
Has Donald Trump permanently changed American politics? On this episode, Kirby joins Todd as a guest alongside his son and co-author, Spencer Goidel, a Texas A&M doctoral graduate and assistant professor of political science at Auburn University, to discuss their book, “The Trump Realignment.” The conversation explores Trump’s effect on the party system, what political realignment means and where American politics may go from here. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/InsidePoliticalScience.
Inside Political Science #045 – Betting on Politics: Prediction Markets, Public Health, and Democracy
2mo ago · 45:40
Why is gambling now a public concern? Join Kirby and Todd alongside special guests Matt Motta and Tim Callaghan, associate professors in the Department of Health Law, Policy and Management at Boston University, for a conversation about prediction markets, gambling, public health and democracy. From election forecasting to insider trading and gambling addiction, this episode explores one of the fastest-growing and most controversial developments in American politics. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/InsidePoliticalScience.
Inside Political Science #044 – Too Close To Call: Looking at Texas Polling Data
2mo ago · 42:50
Is this the year Texas turns blue? How do certain concerns voters have affect favorability numbers on certain candidates? Join Kirby and special guest Brandon Rottinghaus, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston and leading expert in Texas politics, as they break down the context behind the Texas Pulse Poll data. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/InsidePoliticalScience.
Inside Political Science #043 – Nuclear Politics: A Game Changer
4mo ago · 42:41
How has nuclear politics changed the game? What does it mean to use nuclear weapons defensively and offensively? Join Kirby as he digs deep to find the answers to these questions through the history of international nuclear weaponry with Texas A&M professor and expert Matt Furhmann. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.
Inside Political Science #042 – Is the Government Legit?
4mo ago · 47:09
What does it mean to be a legitimate institution? Are government institutions still representing citizens? In this episode, Kirby sits down with Soren Jordan, associate professor at The Bush School of Government & Public Service, to discuss how science guides political methodology. Soren emphasizes the importance of data interpretation and representation, noting that representation is essential for gathering accurate data, but what does it mean to be represented? If meaningful representation is lacking, does that mean the system is broken? Later, they explore the values that drive public polic
Inside Political Science #041 – Does Presidential Greatness Exist?
4mo ago · 45:53
What is presidential greatness? Does it even exist? Kirby and Todd sit down with Texas A&M former student and co-director of the Presidential Greatness Project, Justin Vaughn, to explore patterns among highly rated presidents and the power of their terms. The hosts pose the question: what makes a president “great?” Vaughn shares his research, noting that the consensus is evolving. While a “great” presidential run has traditionally been marked by policy change and broad impact, there is a growing emphasis on a president’s commitment to democratic norms and honorable leadership. Later, the group
Inside Political Science #040 – Power, Primaries and the President
5mo ago · 40:24
Between the recent U.S. Senate primary elections and the developing conflict with Iran, tensions are rising in Washington, D.C. That begs the question: what power does President Trump hold, and does he have the support of the American people? Kirby and Todd agree that U.S. citizens do not seem to be backing the President’s choice to ignite war in the same way they have in the past. The two argue that presidents seem to face less constraint in foreign relations than in domestic affairs. At the same time, recent U.S. Senate primaries suggest that the President’s endorsements seem to be the predi
Inside Political Science #039 – The Press vs. Power
5mo ago · 51:16
Democracy is evidently changing, and so is the field of journalism. In this episode, Kirby and Todd are joined by Axios’ Senior Contributor and Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship Maragaret Talev to discuss how journalism and democracy go hand-in-hand. The former White House correspondent argues that now, more than ever, many politicians are bypassing the news filter, changing journalism’s role in politics. With evolving forms of media and an overwhelming amount of information, Kirby questions how mainstream news outlets can remain relevant a
Inside Political Science #038 – The Money “Monopolist”
6mo ago · 37:04
What’s the Federal Reserve, and how does it function? Join Kirby and Todd as they sit down with Texas A&M professor Bill Clark to learn about the significance of The Fed and how it affects our economy. Although the institution is said to operate independently from the government, Clark says the Federal Reserve is actually “partially independent,” with dependence on policymakers like Congress and the President. The professors explain that the economy is the institution’s main focus when maintaining balance. Clark refers to the Republican Party as “inflation hawks,” whose main focus is to decrea
Inside Political Science #037 – Are college sports broken?
6mo ago · 46:24
Kirby and Todd are back for another semester with new topics beyond the realm of politics! In this episode, they invite Keith Gaddie, author of Bragging Rites: College Football’s Titles, and an expert on the politics of football within the Southeastern Conference. With the implementation of NIL rights, the NCAA transfer portal and the post-season systems, are we past the point of no return? Although athletes are being valued and properly compensated, are they losing sight of the value of their studies? Loyalties towards schools seem to be a thing of the past. Can Congress step in? The professo
Inside Political Science #036 – American Affordability: A New Mantra
8mo ago · 38:31
Do Americans think the country is on the wrong track? Between the economy, healthcare, housing, and elections, affordability is a major concern for many Americans. Kirby and Todd discuss how the term has taken over political media. It’s a “new mantra,” they say, but who’s to blame for the lack of affordability many Americans say they’re facing? Later, they talk about the increase in housing prices and the worries of many young Americans. Will they fulfill the “American dream?” Does it reflect uncertainty within the economy? With recent discussion surrounding healthcare and its various programs
Inside Political Science #035 – From the Authors of “Nativist Nation”
9mo ago · 42:30
In this episode, co-host Kirby Goidel is joined by pollster Clifford Young to dive into their new book, "Nativist Nation.” Todd inquires about the current state of the country and how nativism has affected the U.S. Is it a cultural or economic issue? Does nativism define American politics? Who belongs in America? Kirby claims that nativism has always been present in politics, but there’s a time when it lights a fire and is more prominent. Cliff Young says it’s a political driver in the United States. Later, they discuss the role American nativism has on immigration. Do American born citizens f
Inside Political Science #034 – Do Local Elections Matter?
9mo ago · 46:05
It’s off-year election season, but how much significance do these elections have? With the New York City mayoral election in the national spotlight, Kirby and Todd touch on the effects of the election’s outcomes. To what extent does the mayor truly hold power? Although voter mobilization encourages people to get up and vote, it’s the persuasion that truly makes a difference. Later, they touch on the ongoing government shutdown, the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Kirby and Todd question whether the differing benefits for Democratic Party leaders and Republican Party leaders are worth the gov
Inside Political Science #033 – The Bigger Game
11mo ago · 38:09
Have government shutdowns become a strategy for political parties? With the recent American government shutdown, Kirby and Todd say we’ve been here before, except they predict the impact might be greater. Both sides are decisive and don’t want to reach a compromise, but can either party make their case? The two discuss how the shutdown could impact the American people, and they hope that politicians recognize this. They raise questions about who is affected and how they’re affected. As Americans' trust in institutions declines, what impact does this have on democracy? Kirby says, “If we expect
Inside Political Science #032 – Ballots Instead of Bullets
11mo ago · 44:32
With recent events in America, many people are questioning the American system. Kirby and Todd sit down with Texas A&M Visiting Professor Clifford Young to weigh in on the current state of the country and possible solutions to political challenges. The three discuss how, as satisfaction levels of democracy have decreased, so has political unification. Is the increase in political violence and extremism because of U.S. leaders? Cliff believes the world should have leaders who don’t add fuel to the fire. As educators, their ultimate goal is to provide students with frameworks to make sense of th
Inside Political Science #031 – New Era of U.S. Politics
11mo ago · 39:47
The United States of America is entering a new political climate since President Trump took office nine months ago – what are the people saying? Is there a shift in the crime rate? Do people agree with the immigration policies being enforced? What is going on with the economy? With so much change, it can be hard to keep up. Kirby and Todd say President Trump seems to be realigning the political system of the United States. Given the Republican Party's typical ideological alignment with business, they wonder whether increased government involvement could lead American businesses to lose their f
Inside Political Science #030 – Uncertainty in Texas
1y ago · 40:53
Texas Republicans and Democrats are at odds over redistricting – what does this mean for the future? There’s a lot going on in Texas and across the country. As President Trump embarks on his seventh month in office, Kirby and Todd say he embraces uncertainty, including asking Texas to find more Republican-leaning Congressional districts. Will the evasive strategies of the Texas Democratic Party stop the redistricting push? Kirby and Todd talk about the risks that come with gerrymandering, and why both sides are guilty depending on who’s in power. Later, they dive into party factions and the ec
Inside Political Science #029 – Germans Analyze American Politics
1y ago · 43:34
How are German politics different from American politics? And which country does it better? Todd presents a special student-focused episode from Passau, Germany, during a Bush School Study Abroad trip. Two Texas A&M students and two University of Passau students engage in a roundtable discussion about the future of politics in the United States and Germany. With election season wrapped up in both nations, students discuss the outcomes and repercussions, and say that after talking about elections for so long, they’re ready for a break. With the rise of social media, students say they don’t know
Inside Political Science #028 – Interpreting Public Opinion: What Polling is Really About
1y ago · 50:39
What’s the role of a pollster? Is it about getting the numbers right? Or can they help us predict the future? Kirby invites Cliff Young from Ipsos to the show to discuss how pollsters measure and interpret public opinion. Cliff says pollsters serve as a bridge between those who govern and those who are governed. They try to understand what people are thinking and how that affects future political outcomes. He says people only see the accuracy of the polls, but there’s a lot more to it: providing narrative and context is critical, and ultimately, their goal is to avoid election surprises. Later
Inside Political Science #027 – The Next Political Generation: What College Students Care About
1y ago · 45:52
What issues matter to college students? Is there hope for a political common ground among the next generation? Three Texas A&M students join Kirby and Todd for a robust discussion of student perspectives. As young voters, they are discovering how to be a part of the political process. They bring up national issues like the economy, debt and free speech, but also local issues that directly affect them, including affordable housing and immigration. Rent concerns are a big part of the conversation, as the students debate if and how they can create change. Kirby and Todd ask where students get the
Inside Political Science #026 – Fighting About the Facts: Science vs. Politics
1y ago · 50:04
Will the U.S. lose its world power? Are we on a path to a lower quality of life? In this episode, Kirby and Todd bring on Dr. Matt Motta to talk about the politicization of scientific research and how it affects our lives and power. As the federal government makes budget cuts, Dr. Motta wonders what will happen to important research. He argues that things like GPS, the internet and medicine are direct results of scientific investment. Plus, how will universities, which do much of the country’s research, be affected? Universities can be valuable assets to local communities, but will the decisio
Inside Political Science #025 – Bail Reform
1y ago · 48:27
Keeping people in jail can get expensive. But public safety is vital. So is letting people out on bail effective? Kirby and Todd bring two guests to the show to discuss bail reform in their new episode. First, Ken Good, a bail attorney and board member for the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, shares what he thinks good bail reform looks like. He encourages accountability and wants to give judges and police officers the tools to do their jobs. Later, George Naufal, a research scientist at Texas A&M’s Public Policy Research Institute, discusses his work on a Harris County equitable bail study. He
Inside Political Science #024 – “The Entire Destiny of Humanity”
1y ago · 49:34
If it feels hard to keep up with the whiplash of politics these last few weeks, you’re not alone! Kirby and Todd are back with a new episode about everything happening: from tariffs and the constant battle between free trade and fair trade; to Elon Musk proclaiming that “the entire destiny of humanity” rests on a Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Plus, is President Trump’s ‘third term’ discussion a distraction ploy, or is he serious - and are Democrats taking the bait? And why are right-wing podcasts so much more popular than left-wing podcasts? Later in the episode, Kirby is joined by George
Inside Political Science #023 – A Constitutional Crisis?
1y ago · 47:26
Our Constitution was built for presidents like Donald Trump. That’s the argument from Kirby and Todd in their latest episode. Kirby says the Constitution was set up for presidents to grab power and Congress to provide checks and balances - much like Trump is doing. But everyone knows the next mid-term election will change the balance again. Kirby and Todd discuss a variety of topics in this episode, including judge clashes, immigration, the economy, Republican messaging and why Democrats just can’t seem to get their party back together. For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, vis