In this midweek show, Trey and Mike look to the expanding international vision from Trumpworld as it relates primarily to Greenland. Mike argues that Greenland is just saber rattling, but Trey argues that it is more. Further, he argues that MAGA does not see common ground with other democracies, especially in Europe.

Next, they discuss the economic policies of exiting the global tax agreements. Mike believes it was the best move in the case of the U.S. Trey goes into the details of how Europe has targeted the U.S. in terms of taxes.

They close the show with their rants and recommendations. Mike’s rant is that One Battle After Another is nothing but a leftist fantasy. Trey’s rant is anti-immigration Christians.

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Mike joins Trey to open the show with a deep dive into the ICE killing of Renee Good. Mike focuses on the language used by administrative officials and its militant attack on Good. Trey highlights that, even if Good was engaged in illegal activity, there is a level of due process. He also argues that federalism better handles police situations because they are inherently a part of those communities.

Next, the guys turn to a deeper dive into Operation Absolute Resolve or the attack on Venezuela. While last week the guys got a quick first take, this week Trey and Mike were able to dive deeper. The pair are in large agreement, but while Trey focuses on the aspects of international law, Mike argues that even pragmatically it makes little sense.

They close the show looking at the suspension of TANF funds to Democratic states. Trey argues that the current block grant format of federal government spending largely means that states are not concerned with waste and fraud. Mike suggests that Congress would be better off legislating new rules for fraud, but that the current mode simply seems to be punishing states who disagree with Trump.

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Mike and Michael open with CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes investigation into alleged abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador, focusing less on the prison itself than on what the decision signals about media independence. Mike argues that conditioning broadcast on administration participation amounts to false balance and effectively hands officials a veto over investigative journalism, while Michael stresses that the move breaks with 60 Minutes’ role as a mass-audience accountability institution rather than a niche outlet.

Next, the guys step back and treat Trump’s first year as a scorecard exercise, weighing major 2024 campaign promises against outcomes across inflation, Ukraine, taxes, tariffs, immigration, and “draining the swamp.” Michael frames the segment as a reality check on which promises were structurally impossible, which were substantively kept, and which were kept only by expanding executive power, while Mike emphasizes that Trump largely delivered where he could, but at the cost of higher prices, degraded state capacity, and long-run institutional risks that are likely to matter more politically than symbolic wins.

They close with Trump’s move to put his name on the Kennedy Center, debating whether it represents routine branding or an abuse of power that politicizes a national memorial. Michael highlights the legal vulnerabilities and cultural backlash already hurting the institution, while Mike sees the episode as emblematic of Trump’s show-business instincts and insecurity, warning that spectacle-driven politics may be crowding out restraint as the country looks ahead to 2028.

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Mike and Michael open with the breaking news that the Trump administration launched military strikes against Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, debating whether the operation violates international law and risks plunging Venezuela into deeper instability. Michael stresses the fog of war, unresolved legal authority, and the danger posed by entrenched militias and fractured institutions, while Mike argues that even removing a brutal strongman sets a dangerous precedent when done outside the UN framework and without clear congressional authorization.

Next, the guys turn to domestic executive power in Trump v. Illinois, analyzing the Supreme Court’s refusal to lift an injunction blocking the federalization of the National Guard and Trump’s subsequent decision to stand down, at least for now. Michael defends the Court’s insistence on a clear statutory basis and warns that Justice Alito’s dissent reflects an overly expansive view of presidential power, while Mike criticizes the majority’s strained reading of the statute, siding more with Alito’s interpretation but still opposing the administration’s policy as reckless and destabilizing.

Finally, the conversation becomes more personal as Michael presses Mike on his recent decision to stop identifying as a Democrat and what that means philosophically and politically. Mike explains his Humean conservatism, rooted in epistemic humility and institutional fragility, argues that modern politics punishes restraint and caution, and concludes that while he is politically homeless, his commitment to rule of law means he will continue voting Democratic as long as Trumpism dominates the Republican Party.

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Trey and Mike join in this holiday-sized show! The pair start with a look into the Pentagon’s investigation into Senator Kelly over his video of illegal orders. Mike outlines the contours of the military code of justice. Trey argues for the need for members of the Senate (and House) to have the ability to speak freely.

Next, they move to the ongoing feud between Candace Owens and Erica Kirk over TPUSA and the killing of Charlie Kirk. Trey argues that the future of the political right is who wins in this battle. Mike argues Owens is simply a grifter, but Trey argues that today’s media environment creates unintended consequences for the consumers of a grifter’s product.

After that, it is a Politics Guys tradition: making predictions on 2026! Listen for both hosts’ 2026 predictions!

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Trey and Mike start with a focus on economic affordability, inflation rates, and the implications of Trump's economic policies. Trey outlines the historic economic conditions between Trump and Biden, noting that the economic conditions under Trump were better than under Biden. Mike argues that you can’t look at the total average under Biden because of COVID. 

Next, they discuss Trump's pardon of Tina Peters, exploring the limits of presidential power and the role of norms in governance. Mike argues that, from a textualist viewpoint, the U.S. Constitution is consistent with a unitary theory of the presidency. Trey disagrees sharply, arguing that no matter the framework of constitutional interpretation, you can’t get to a unitary vision of the presidency. The show ends on an extended debate between Trey and Mike over the need for more than paper barriers in political systems.

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Mike and Joey open with a deep dive into the emerging battle over Warner Bros. Discovery, weighing Netflix’s proposed mega-merger against Paramount Skydance’s rival bid and asking whether antitrust law still has teeth in a streaming world defined by consolidation. Mike stresses market definition, consumer harm, and the risk of enshittification when dominant platforms get complacent, while Joey argues consolidation raises prices and erodes both competition and the marketplace of ideas 

Next, they turn to the idea of “objective” or traditional news, debating David Ellison’s claim that CNN and CBS could rebuild a fact-driven, ideologically broad audience. Joey defends the possibility and sees value in restoring credibility and competition in media, while Mike remains skeptical that mass audiences in 2025 want anything other than affirmation and outrage, even if he’d personally welcome the experiment 

After that, the conversation shifts to the Minnesota COVID-era fraud scandal, where more than a billion dollars meant for vulnerable populations was allegedly stolen. Mike frames it as a structural failure driven by weak oversight, rushed emergency funding, and overreliance on nonprofits, while Joey emphasizes the brazen nature of the fraud and warns against the weaponization of racism accusations to shut down scrutiny 

Then they tackle harder cultural questions around assimilation, balkanization, and how identity politics complicates governance and accountability. Mike argues these are permanent tensions between competing values that require constant management rather than simple fixes, while Joey worries that avoidance of honest discussion creates openings for corruption and social decay 

Finally, the guys close with listener questions on evidence-based policy, tariffs, deficits, and accusations of authoritarianism in the Trump era. Mike concedes the right often diagnoses problems with big government more accurately but rejects its preferred cures, while Joey defends tariffs as pragmatic fair-trade tools and dismisses claims of rising authoritarianism as rhetorical overreach fueled by fundraising incentives on both sides

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Mike and Joey open with a look at U.S. missile strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats and the seizure of an oil tanker, debating whether Article II authority is enough or whether Congress should have a say. Mike presses on limiting principles, civilian deaths, and why Coast Guard interdiction might achieve the same ends with fewer moral costs, while Joey argues the strikes fit long-standing counterterror logic and reflect the president’s duty to act decisively against narco-terror networks 

Next, they pivot to Trump v. Slaughter and the fate of Humphrey’s Executor, unpacking what presidential removal power means for “independent” agencies. Joey leans toward a unitary executive reading that restores democratic accountability, while Mike agrees the precedent is weak but worries that blowing it up without Congress rebuilding its own capacity could turbocharge executive whiplash and regulatory chaos 

After that, the discussion widens into the administrative state itself, with both circling the same problem from different angles: Congress has offloaded too much responsibility, leaving courts and agencies to fill the void. Mike stresses the need for narrow, well-defined lanes where experts handle technical matters but elected officials own big policy choices, while Joey pushes the idea that forcing Congress back into the driver’s seat may be the only way to fix the incentive rot 

The guys close with a sober reflection on stability versus accountability, warning that unchecked executive swings risk long-term incoherence at home and weakness abroad. Despite sharp disagreements, they converge on a rare point of unity: the system’s dysfunction is less about any one president and more about a legislature that has forgotten how to govern 

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Trey & Justin continue their dive into contemporary political ideologies. This week they dive into Marxism. Topics covered include:

• Marxism’s underlying structure in Hegel’s writings
• Historical Determinism
• Democracy and Marxism
• Lenin’s “fix” to Marxism with imperialism
• Critiques of Marxism and Neo-Marxism

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Trey and Justin start the show discussing last week’s tragic incident involving the National Guard in Washington DC. Here, both Trey and Justin agree on the terrible nature of the attack. Trey highlights the emotionally charged nature such an episode will have on immigration conversations. Specifically, Trey discusses how media frames impact policy. Justin highlights that the White House is simply using the incident to crackdown further on immigration. The pair both agree that Afghans who assisted the U.S. were due help and that an individualized tragic incident does not change the need for a robust asylum policy.

Next, the guys talk about Secretary Hegseth. Here, the conversation focuses primarily on the strikes on the narco-boats, but briefly includes a conversation about the findings in Hegseth’s Signal chat. There is large agreement between Trey and Justin that international law and American Rules of Engagement specifically state that shipwrecked individuals are no longer combatants. Trey suggests that the entire incident is about a larger policy from Hegseth to get back to a “warrior culture.”

After that, the guys turn to Alina Habba and what her disqualification means for the power between the branches of government. A lack of Senate confirmation and a loss of the ruling means the issue heads to the Supreme Court, yet there appears to be no indication that the White House or the Department of Justice are changing policy in light of the court ruling. Trey says his faith in the Supreme Court will be shaken if they allow Habba to continue. 

Then the pair turn to the takeaways from the Tennessee Special Election. Trey highlights the unique nature of special elections and doesn’t think it offers much, although he does question the choice of Democratic candidates to be more competitive. Justin discusses that it might be a warning light for Republicans.

They close by discussing the controversial academic assignment at the University of Oklahoma and the ramifications for academic freedom and standards in higher education. 

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Mike, Tim, and Michael open with the “Deciding to Win” memo and the broader question of how Democrats can reconnect with working-class voters while staying true to core values. Mike argues that Democrats already face structural disadvantages and will lose even more elections if they treat politics as a mass pedagogy project instead of meeting voters where they are with authentic, non-condescending economic populism. Tim contends that Democrats are ripping themselves apart over issues like trans rights, women’s sports, and abortion limits, and that these fissures are driving away Hispanics and moderates in a way no amount of polling or data can paper over. Michael embraces the memo’s focus on bread-and-butter economics but insists Democrats cannot simply bury generational fights over climate and trans rights, warning that throwing vulnerable groups under the bus for short-term wins risks both moral failure and long-term political costs.

Next, the guys tackle the explosion of legal sports betting after Murphy v. NCAA, weighing the tax revenue and entertainment value against addiction, integrity scandals, and the corrosive rise of in-game micro-bets. Mike stresses that problem gamblers provide a huge share of industry revenue and that once you factor in social services, law enforcement, and economic substitution, every state gambling dollar likely costs several more dollars in external damage, all while leagues gorge on betting-related income. Tim frames gambling as a perennial human impulse that should be managed rather than banned, suggesting a middle ground that allows traditional game-outcome betting but sharply restricts corruption-prone prop bets instead of pretending the state can save people from every self-destructive choice. Michael admits to enjoying small, controlled wagers but argues today’s always-on apps and prop-bet interfaces amount to “addiction by algorithm,” fueling both personal ruin and match-fixing risks in lower-tier sports, even as states and leagues grow dependent on the cash.

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