States' Rights: Where's the Line Between State and Federal Power? | Politics with Paul #104

The concept of states' rights has been a pivotal aspect of American political discourse since the nation's founding. In this episode of Politics with Paul, we delve into the complexities of states' rights, exploring their pros and cons and how they are balanced by the Constitution. We also discuss historical controversies and developments like the Nullification Crisis, slavery and civil rights, the Incorporation Doctrine, and the evolution of federalism, as well as contemporary states' rights debates.

How to Self-Assess Your Campaign | Politics with Paul #103

The biggest issue that loses campaigns is the inability to properly self-assess. Today's episode of Politics with Paul teaches how to address that problem. When campaigning, you have to be fully honest not just about what your candidate does well or what can go right, but your candidate's weak points and what can cripple their campaign. These are done through SWOT analyses - strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Yet many campaigns do not effectively address their blind spots. Today, we cover why campaigns falter in self-assessment and SWOT analyses, how to fill out a SWOT, and practical applications.

The Politics of Physical and Mental Fitness | Politics with Paul #102

Where do we draw the line for mental and physical fitness for our government officials? We all want political leaders who are up to the task of carrying out their offices' duties. Yet we sharply differ on who is capable and how we should ensure that competency. Today's episode of Politics with Paul is about all things mental and physical fitness for elected officials: whether we might see more stringent requirements for it, the trickiness in implementing such requirements, how old is too old, the trickiness in defining "too unfit for office," and more.

What Should Be in Our Civics Curriculum? w/ Douglas Addison (CFFAD) | Politics with Paul #101

Does civics education in America need a rework in its content? On today's episode of Politics with Paul, Douglas Addison - the founder and president of the Center for Free, Fair, and Accountable Democracy - sits down to discuss the CFFAD's work in improving civics education in America. Among our discussion points are representative democracy, public opinion trends, and declining trust in democratic institutions amid rising authoritarianism, political manipulation, whether to standardize civics education, the impact of partisanship, and overlooked areas in civic education. A fun question about US presidential hairstyles wraps up the discussion.

What Does it Mean to be an American? | Politics with Paul #100

With this being the 100th episode of the podcast and falling around the 250th anniversary of American independence, today's discussion is about one of the most critical questions of all: What exactly is being an American about? I'm not talking about the legal implications or pop culture. This is about the essence of the American spirit, and the basic promise of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. This is about what American values are, free from partisan and ideological rhetoric. This is a call to civic renewal and to be good stewards of America to our fellow citizens and the people of the world. We can love our country and its foundational ideals while honestly appraising its flaws and the times it has come up short of fulfilling those ideals. Join me in this conversation   and tell me what being an American means to you.

Have We Strayed From the Federalist Papers' Vision? | Politics with Paul #99

The Federalist Papers remain a cornerstone of American political thought, but what lessons do they hold for us today? This episode delves into key essays, starting with Federalist Paper No. 10's exploration of factions and the implications of pluralism. Federalist Paper No. 39's discussion on federal and state power traces the evolution from dual to cooperative federalism. Federalist Paper No. 51 highlights checks and balances. No. 70 examines presidential power and the argues for an energetic executive. Federalist No. 78 addresses the judiciary's independence. And No. 84 argues against...a bill of rights?

America's 250th: What's Changed the Most Over the Years? | Politics with Paul #98

250 years is a lot of time for change. So what has transformed the most in American politics in that time? Many aspects have gotten better over 250 years. Some have gotten worse. And some are just as flawed as they were before. Regardless, this episode of Politics with Paul is about some of the most seismic, overarching changes that you might not know about -- from election formats to campaigning strategy to civil service reform -- and what may be in store for the next 250 years.

Redistricting Part 2: Can We Ensure Fair Districts in Elections? | Politics with Paul #97

Redistricting is fraught with partisanship and underhanded tactics...but can it be 100% fixed? Making fair districts and preventing gerrymandering is an extraordinarily difficult goal for a lot of reasons we don't realize...or want to admit. Today's episode explores the issues with rules that currently govern the redistricting process today, how we as citizens make it easier to gerrymander, several proposals for how to make redistricting fairer, and whether it is truly possible to make the redistricting process impartial.

Redistricting Part 1: What Goes Into Making New Districts? | Politics with Paul #96

Redistricting in America is a broken process - but before we can fix it, we must understand its inner workings and how we got here. In this first episode of a two-parter, I explore the background of redistricting, including its history, how its impacted today, and what currently goes into making new districts. Current attempts to redistrict have clearly partisan motives, but is that much different than the past? What needs to be considered when making new districts today? And what can redistricting of the past teach us going forward?

Is America Really on the Decline? | Politics with Paul #95

It’s a common sentiment: the country is going down the drain. But is it true? Our perceptions of whether the country is “on the decline” or “entering a golden age” are shaped by a variety of factors and biases. We need to have an honest conversation about these problems, but how do we do that? Today’s episode explores the debate about whether America is truly in decline, the importance of honestly discussing the flaws and strengths of the country, and the importance of (reasonable) optimism.

What Would the Founding Fathers Think of America Today? | Politics with Paul #94

On the cusp of America's 250th anniversary, would the nation's Founding Fathers be proud or disappointed in what America's become? I believe the answer isn't so simple. Today's episode of Politics with Paul explores this question, discussing the biases that influences our answers, misconceptions about the Founding Fathers and how those misunderstandings impact our political thinking today, how politics during the Founding Fathers' time wasn't so different to now...and what it all means for America's 250th birthday.

Lobbying: A Misunderstood, Necessary, and Flawed Institution | Politics with Paul #93

Lobbying has a lot of issues…but you probably don't hate it as much as you think you do. The term "lobbyist" often conjures up depictions of shadowy figures making corrupt deals with elected officials to manipulate public policy for the powerful few. It is true that more than a few are corrupt, unethical, or self-interested - and even lobbyists that don't fit this bill sometimes whitewash the profession. At the same time, however, the public often misunderstands what lobbying entails. Today's episode of Politics with Paul pulls back some of the curtain surrounding lobbying, explaining more about the actual role of the lobbyist and discussing how lobbyists, politicians, and the public all can do better in more accurately portraying the industry.

How Much Does Authenticity Matter in Elections? | Politics with Paul #92

Do we want authentic candidates in elections as much as we say we do? "Authenticity" is a favored buzzword by a politician's supporters to showcase why their candidate is the best, and by commentators who over-simplify the reason an election resulted the way it did. But can we actualyl say what "authenticity" is? Here's something crucial about how we judge politicians - our perception of their authenticity is deeply subjective and often influenced by biases we don't even realize we hold. But can we more objectively define authenticity? Today's episode of Politics with Paul centers on the various explanations of what authenticity is, how our perceptions of it can be biased, and what it means (and should mean) for our politics.

Midterm Elections and Why They Hurt the President's Party | Politics with Paul #91

Midterm elections are often discussed for how much the sitting president's party suffers losses, but commentary often doesn't showcase why that is. Today's episode dives into the world of midterms, why they often play out differently than presidential election years, what factors are used to predict their results, and what it all means for 2026 elections. Can Republicans buck the historical trend, or will they become another data point in it?

How to Read Ballot Measures | Politics with Paul #90

Ballot measures are the most direct way for voters to impact the political process…but they can be difficult and tedious to comprehend. Here's a guide to help you better understand them. As a critical part of the election cycle, ballot measures cover a massive variety of topics: redistricting, voting systems, campaign contribution laws, government official salaries, healthcare, taxes, and many more. Today's episode of Politics with Paul will teach you how to research these measures, how to make them easier to read, the components to a ballot measure, and some of the political games played with them that you need to watch out for.

A New Way to Nominate Congressional Candidates? w/ Tom Joseph | Politics with Paul #89

What if a Congressional party nomination could become more localized and geared toward all small donors? Primary elections tend to heavily favor the most well-funded and extreme candidates. Many Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike often feel the nominating process is unfair and unrepresentative as a result. But could a new third party's "People's Primary" be the answer to these criticisms? Today's guest on Politics with Paul is Tom Joseph, founder of America's Main Street Party. The AMSP uses the "People's Primary" to select its nominee, using local committees, small donors, and an app to allow citizens to choose the party's nominee. Listen in as Tom discusses the strategy behind this method, why the current candidate nomination process is flawed, and whether this system could expand in use in the future.

Is a Party-less Future Possible in American Politics? w/ Metin Pekin | Politics with Paul #88

Could we see the end of political parties in America in the future? While political parties have existed in this country since the 1790s, they have also often been the target of intense criticism. Despite how much they are lamented and how many voters identify as independents, however, the Democratic and Republican Parties hold the vast majority of elected offices that have partisan elections. But today's guest, Metin Pekin, argues that not only is it necessary to dissolve the party system-- he says it is practical and achievable. Metin is the author of "Breaking Democracy's Chains: Freeing and Fortifying Democracy Against Hidden Capture." Hear his thoughts on how to create a party-less future in American politics, why he believes any number of political parties is a problem, and his responses to criticisms of the idea of no parties.

How Representative is Our Government—And How Should it Be? | Politics with Paul #87

What makes a government representative of the people - and is that what we see in America? Everybody wants a government that not only works for them but also reflects its constituents. There is also a lot of agreement that government falls short of doing so. Yet how people envision that representativeness isn't always the same, and there are a lot of obstacles that hinder government's ability to be representative. Today's episode explores this concept of representation in government. How often should representatives do exactly what the voters want? What kinds of representativeness do different people find important? What are some roadblocks to representation that we need to address. Tune in for the answers to these questions and more.

What Political Civility Really is and Combatting Toxicity w/ Michael Lee | Politics with Paul #86

Do we know what civility in conversation actually looks like? Healthy and grounded discussion is in short supply, especially in politics. Political discussions are often filled with toxic rhetoric and behavior, leading to many instances of verbal and physical violence. But while we know what toxicity looks like, there are some misunderstandings and mistaken beliefs about what civility looks like.  So how do we become more civil? Today's guest, Dr. Michael Lee, dives into this question and more. Dr. Lee is the executive director of the Civility Initiative at the College of Charleston and the host of the "When We Disagree" Podcast. Check out his insights, spanning over multiple decades, on what we get wrong about civility, how to better engage in healthy discussion, and how to make civil dialogue more engaging and fun.

What Do Democrats and Republicans Agree On? More Than You Think | Politics with Paul #85

Republicans and Democrats just can't get along…or can they? Almost all the talk about interparty relations is about how much they bicker, fight, and attack each other. And it's true, there is a lot that divides us. However, there is a surprising amount that both parties actually agree on - they just don't realize it. But it's easy to say that we actually have a lot of common ground - how about some examples? Today's episode will show you why we focus so much on differences between the parties, why we underestimate the level of similarities, some of the contexts through which we can study and showcase commonalities, and why acknowledging these commonalities is key for making progress on our country's most pressing problems.