We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it?  In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships? Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise (02:38) What we can all learn from how the Amish evaluate new technology (07:25) The attention economy and why it’s not working for us (13:44) Understanding “ma” and how we can use it to resolve conflict (22:14) Using quality over quantity to measure productivity (26:26) Ways to incorporate silence in your everyday life (35:35) Silence and expanded states of consciousness using psychedelics  You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2 FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinZorn https://twitter.com/LeighMarz https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it?  In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships? Harvard and Oxford trained policymaker Justin Zorn and NASA consultant Leigh Marz join host Ron Steslow to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise (02:33) Leigh and Justin’s backgrounds  (07:04) Why they began practicing silence in their own lives (12:50) Why silence feels scary (18:30) What is noise?  (22:12) Internal silence is what people think it is (30:19) The connection between noise and rigid thinking (37:27) The historical significance of silence You should read Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise : http://bit.ly/3UIGJU2 FollowJustin, Leigh, and Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinZorn https://twitter.com/LeighMarz https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) and Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:44) The deal to raise the debt ceiling  (19:30) How getting this close to a default impacts the global economy and foreign affairs  (33:52) Dianne Feinstein’s return to the Senate, her increasing reliance on aides, and the calls for her resignation coming from the left [Politicology+ Subscribers Only] The Politics of delusion and how our misconceptions about what other people think could fuel an anti-democracy spiral  Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Check out Oh My World with Hagar Chemali on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omwshow Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/DelPercioS https://twitter.com/HagarChemali What we read:  Segment 1: NYT—New Details in Debt Limit Deal: Where $136 Billion in Cuts Will Come From NBCNews—Debt ceiling vote live updates: House will take up the Biden-McCarthy plan tonight NPR—Far-right members threaten a 'reckoning' over McCarthy's debt limit deal AP—House debt ceiling vote to avert default on track with Biden and McCarthy both confident of passage | AP News The Dispatch—Loaded With Gimmicks, but Still Worth It - Brian Riedl - The Dispatch Segment 2: AP News—What it would mean for the global economy if the US defaults on its debt | AP News NYT—Republicans Are Putting Our Standard of Living at Risk Segment 3: NYT—Dianne Feinstein Relies Heavily on Staff to Function in Senate - The New York Times WP—California Democrats divided on Dianne Feinstein serving to term’s end - The Washington Post NYT—Why Dianne Feinstein, Like Many Before Her, Refuses to Let Go Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Molly McKew (Lead author of GreatPower.US) joins Ron Steslow to answer a listener's question about how the current war in Ukraine differs from Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and why support for Ukraine is greater now than it was then.  (01:12) Keith’s question  (09:40) Russia’s invasion of Georgia  (12:00) How unprepared the U.S. was to respond  (15:14) Russia’s invasion of the Crimean peninsula  (37:00) Why there was so little resistance to Russia’s annexation of Crimea (43:14) How our domestic politics shaped the lackluster response to Russia’s aggression.  (47:51) What makes this invasion of Ukraine different?    You should check out Great Power: https://www.greatpower.us/ Follow Ron and Molly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/MollyMcKew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Sadler (Chief of Staff to Carly Fiorina), Nina Verghese (senior director and head of campaigns and advocacy at APCO Worldwide), and Scott Tranter (Investor and Advisor to Decision Desk HQ) continue their conversation with Ron Steslow about the 2024 Republican Primary and Tim Scott’s campaign announcement. Get more episodes like this by joining our Politicology+ community. Visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Note: due to technical issues, we were unable to remove the background noise on this week’s episode. It’s not up to our usual standards and we’re working to ensure it doesn't happen again.  (00:37) Tim Scott’s campaign launch.  Watch his ad: https://bit.ly/3MUU1vc (06:18) Tim Scott’s plan to appeal to evangelical voters (08:37) The significance of Tim Scott’s $22 million war chest  (15:10) Kellyanne Conway advising Miami Mayor Francis Suarez as he mulls a presidential campaign  (19:30) Mike Pence’ plan to return Republicans to their pre-Trump party (23:40) Is there a constituency for Asa Hutchinson and Chris Sununu  Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/nverghese https://twitter.com/stranter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crack the code of the 2024 Republican primary race with the intellectual firepower of four seasoned strategists with 80+ combined years working and running Republican campaigns. This week, Frank Sadler (Chief of Staff to Carly Fiorina), Nina Verghese (Senior Director and Head of Campaigns and Advocacy at APCO Worldwide), and Scott Tranter (Investor and Advisor to Decision Desk HQ) join host Ron Steslow to discuss Ron DeSantis’s campaign announcement and the rest of the 2024 Republican Primary. Note: due to technical issues, we were unable to remove the background noise on this week’s episode. It’s not up to our usual standards and we’re working to ensure it doesn't happen again.  (02:40) Ron DeSantis’s campaign launch  (07:20) DeSantis hitting his messaging points and leaning into his covid messaging  (13:37) The significance of Elon Musk and David Sacks in the launch  (18:30) The impact that DeSantis’s ground game spending could have on early primaries  (31:37) Trump’s growing lead over DeSantis (35:00) Nikki Haley tries to brand DeSantis as Trump without the charm Watch her ad here: https://bit.ly/45xAnfP (38:14) Haley’s upcoming CNN town hall  Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/nverghese https://twitter.com/stranter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TikTok's potential risk to US national security is raising tough questions about how to address the challenge—legally. With 150 million Americans' personal data possibly falling into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party and fears of election interference via a foreign-controlled algorithm, TikTok finds itself in the harsh glare of the U.S. government's scrutiny. Broad bipartisan support favors aggressive action to ban the platform, but is such action even constitutional? Join Joe Cohn, Director of Legislative and Policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and Hagar Chemali, former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN. Together with host Ron Steslow, they dissect the potential impact of the RESTRICT Act that could not only ban TikTok but delegate sweeping power to the executive branch to go even further.Tune in to explore the delicate balance between national security and preserving free speech rights. (03:10) The tensions between national security and the First Amendment (10:39) How Edward Snowden’s leak shows this tension  (16:05) The national security risks that TikTok presents  (20:52) What is the status quo for determining if national security concerns can trump free speech rights? (23:57 ) What the RESTRICT Act is and what it does  (26:23) First Amendment concerns about the RESTRICT Act as it’s currently written  (32:03) How this legislation relates to speech codes  (43:43) Changes that legislators could make to the RESTRICT Act to better protect free speech  (1:05:40) The new Montana Law banning TikTok  (1:07:00) How China might respond if the RESTRICT Act passes Check out Oh My World! with Hagar Chemali on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ohmyworldwithhagarchemali Follow Ron, Joe, and Hagar on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/JoeatFIRE https://twitter.com/HagarChemali Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lanae Erickson (Senior Vice President for the Social Policy & Politics Program at Third Way), Al Cardenas (former advisor to Presidents Regan and George H.W. Bush), and Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:22) Sam Altman at the Senate hearing on Artificial Intelligence (26:00) The Durham Report on the origins of the FBI’s investigation into Donald Trump  (37:37) The APA’s warning about the harms of social media use for teenagers and record high rates of depression  [Politicology+ Preview] President Biden’s politically-savvy push to bridge the degree gap for non-college educated workers.  Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/LanaeErickson https://twitter.com/AlCardenasFL_DC https://twitter.com/AndyKroll What we read:  Segment 1: Senate AI hearing  NYT—Sam Altman, ChatGPT Creator and OpenAI CEO, Urges Senate for AI Regulation - The New York Times Politico—AI hearing leaves Washington with 3 big questions - POLITICO CNBC—Here's what happened during OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's first congressional hearing on artificial intelligence WP—​​AI chatbots won’t enjoy tech’s legal shield, Section 230 authors say - The Washington Post Segment 2: The Durham Report Politico—Takeaways from the Durham report on the Trump-Russia probe - POLITICO CNN—Special counsel John Durham concludes FBI never should have launched full Trump-Russia probe WP—Durham report sharply criticizes FBI's 2016 Trump campaign probe NYT—Durham Report Finds Fault With FBI Over Trump-Russia Investigation - The New York Times Segment 3: Teens and Social Media Gallup—U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Highs NPR—Major psychologists' group warns of social media's potential harm to kids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Claire Wardle (co-founder and co-director of the Information Futures Lab, and Professor of the Practice at the Brown School of Public Health) joins Ron Steslow to discuss the challenges( and failures) in improving our information landscape (02:12) Claire’s background and how it led to her research (05:52) Why terms like “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation” have become less and less useful  (08:45) How the real world doesn’t fit the framework of “misinformation” and “disinformation” (10:50) Why we share stories online and how that shapes the information environment (21:40) The problems that arise from research silos (25:13) How platforms can include users in content moderation decisions  (37:07) What role do troll farms actually play in information pollution? (39:44) How the focus on foreign actors stops researchers, academics, and government officials from reflecting sincerely on their failures (44:00) Why we share stories online and how that shapes the information environment (50:28) Improving community-led resistance  (55:53) How viewing social media users as a product shapes content moderation decisions  (1:01:30) How AI could impact the information landscape… Watch Operation InfeKtion from the New York Times: https://bit.ly/3IjJUxo Read Claire’s piece “Misunderstanding Misinformation”: https://bit.ly/3IlSFa1 Watch the video op-ed where the NYT turned Claire into Adele: https://bit.ly/3MzvNq5 Follow Ron and Claire on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/cward1e Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder), Lucy Caldwell (Walsh 2020 Campaign Manager) and Romina Boccia (Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy at the Cato Institute) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:05) The negotiations for raising the debt ceiling and cutting spending  (34:30) The end of Title 42 and the surge in migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border [Politicology+ Preview] The rise of white nationalist Hispanics Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/madrid_mike https://twitter.com/lucymcaldwell https://twitter.com/RominaBoccia What we read:  Segment 1: Debt Ceiling negotiations NYT—Biden and McCarthy Reach No Consensus on Debt Ceiling as Possible Default Looms - The New York Times CNN—Biden to meet with congressional leadership again on Friday as threat of national debt default looms | CNN Politics WP—White House leaves door open to deal that resolves debt ceiling crisis - The Washington Post CNN—43 Senate Republicans vow to oppose debt ceiling increase without spending cuts | CNN Politics NYT—What’s in the House GOP Debt Limit Bill - The New York Times NYT—What Would the G.O.P. Plan Actually Do to the Budget? - The New York Times Cato—The GOP’s Modest Debt Limit Proposal | Cato at Liberty Blog Cato—Designing a BRAC-Like Fiscal Commission To Stabilize the Debt | Cato at Liberty Blog Segment 2: End of Title 42 NBCNews—Biden admin to allow for the release of some migrants into the U.S. with no way to track them Pew—Hispanics’ views on key issues facing the nation | Pew Research Center NYT—U.S. Is Said to Consider Reinstating Detention of Migrant Families - The New York Times Reuters—US family immigration detention won't restart 'at this time,' official says | Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donna Redel (former Managing Director of the World Economic Forum) joins Ron Steslow to put the biggest financial stories in the news into context (02:00) What would it mean to hit the debt limit? (03:21) What a U.S. default would mean for individuals (04:30) The role of trust in the monetary system (07:00) How does the Fed control money supply (12:50) Why the size of U.S. debt matters (14:50) How Bitcoin is different from other crypto currencies (20:17) How a new dominant currency would impact the U.S. economy (23:23) The difference between our current currency and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) (27:00) The risks of CBDCs Follow Ron and Donna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/DonnaRedel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Jon Ward (Chief National Correspondent at Yahoo News) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:00) Artificial Intelligence shaking up our political landscape (34:43) J.P. Morgan’s purchase of First republic bank after it collapsed  [Politicology+ Preview] President Biden’s “Freedom” messaging in his reelection campaign and his move to send troops to the border in anticipation of a major influx of migrants next week Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. You should read Jon’s book Testimony: https://www.jonwardwrites.org/ Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/madrid_mike https://twitter.com/jonward11 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2, recorded 9 months after Part 1, Ron Steslow and Robert Chapman (Candidate for President of Zimbabwe) look at how the landscape has changed since they first talked, Robert’s goals for rebuilding the economy and infrastructure in Zimbabwe, why this is in America’s interest, the growing Chinese influence in Africa, the fight for democracy and the challenges his campaign has faced, and his plan to win. (01:40) The security challenges of Robert’s campaign  (07:00) Why Robert is running for president of Zimbabwe (14:10) The challenge of economic development  (22:10) The state of the campaign  (24:52) Corruption and election interference in Zimbabwe  (41:00)The Al Jazeera investigation into Corruption in gold mining  (53:00) Building critical infrastructure over empty promises (59:39) The importance of stabilizing the currency (1:05:00) The influence of BRICS countries in Zimbabwe  Learn more about Robert’s campaign: https://duz.org.zw/ Follow Ron and Robert on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/DrivenChapman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus This is a story about human rights, corruption, hyperinflation, rapacious economic development, a currency war, a diaspora, and one man’s mission to make meaningful change for suffering people in a failed state. Robert Chapman (Candidate for President of Zimbabwe) join Ron Steslow to discuss the history of Zimbabwe and his campaign to become its next president : (02:15) Robert’s background and childhood  (09:10) Bitcoin and green energy (11:50) Zimbabwe’s war for liberation (16:35) The Reign of Mugabe (23:17) Land reallocation and hyperinflation (29:39) A military coup and its aftermath  (35:50) Economic collapse and government corruption  Learn more about Robert’s campaign here Follow Ron and Robert on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/DrivenChapman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) and Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:15) Fox News and CNN fire Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon (20:35) Joe Biden’s anticlimactic announcement that he’s running for reelection and the responses to it (43:03) President Zelensky’s phone call with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping and what it could mean for Xi’s positioning as a global statesman [Politicology+ Preview] The climate activist group deflating tires and losing support for their cause Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Check out Oh My World with Hagar Chemali on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omwshow Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/DelPercioS https://twitter.com/HagarChemali Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock exclusive content, visit: https://politicology.com/plus Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Anthony York (Senior Communications Advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom) join Ron Steslow to answer Politicology listeners’ questions: (00:30) Why hasn’t Biden done more to codify political norms?  (06:16) How social media has changed the way we connect and political organizing  (11:31) How should polling about America being “headed in the wrong direction” reflect on the president? (16:26) Do Democrats really just have a communications issue?  (20:28) How can campaigns communicate to people who aren’t interested in listening?  Have a question for a future Mailbag episode? Send it over to us at podcast@politicology.com! Follow Ron, Mike, and Anthony on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/madrid_mike https://twitter.com/anthonyyork49 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug Jones (former U.S. Senator from Alabama), Michael Steele (former Chairman of the RNC), and Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:38) The bombshell report from the U.S. Government's top Afghanistan watchdog (40:44) The settlement in the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News [Politicology+ Preview] America’s police exodus and the challenges with recruiting and retaining police officers across the country Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Watch the interview with Elon Musk here: https://youtu.be/a2ZBEC16yH4 Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/DougJones https://twitter.com/MichaelSteele https://twitter.com/HagarChemali Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Molly McKew (Lead author of GreatPower.US) joins Ron Steslow to discuss the recently revealed leaked intelligence documents, the 21-year-old leaker, the WSJ reporter detained in Russia, and how all of this impacts the war in Ukraine (01:25) **Conversation Update** What we know about the identity and motivations of the leaker and the leak that there are 14 U.S. troops in Ukraine (14:33) What we know about what’s in the documents  (25:00) How this can change how Ukraine and other allies share more information with the U.S.  (31:00) A detour about Snowden  (36:33) How this leak could impact our relationship with other allies (47:00) The potential goals of the leak (53:33) The WSJ reporter detained in Russia  (57:40) The visibility of recent Russian hostages  (01:10:00) The significance of Finland joining NATO   You should check out Great Power: https://www.greatpower.us/ Follow Ron and Molly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/MollyMcKew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucy Caldwell (Walsh 2020 Campaign Manager), Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica), and James Kirchick (columnist for Tablet magazine and writer at large for Air Mail) join host Ron Steslow to unpack some of the most important stories of the week and how they’re shaping the political landscape: (02:20) The No Labels insurance plan to … re-elect Donald Trump? (34:34) Jon Stewart’s accusation of “corruption” at the Pentagon [Politicology+ Preview] Tim Scott announces an exploratory committee  Politicology+ is our private, ad-free version of this podcast, with subscriber-only episodes, strategy, and analysis. To join us there, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Follow this week’s panel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/lucymcaldwell https://twitter.com/AndyKroll https://twitter.com/jkirchick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It) joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men.  (02:04) The toxicity of “toxic masculinity” (08:00) The “right” at war and the “left” in denial (13:00) How negative partisanship only increases the problem (15:00) The differences in funding and institutional support for men and women  (23:00) Redshirt the boys  (28:00) The criticism Richard has faced for his writing on boys and men You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/ Follow Ron and Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices