Before we get into todayās episode, we wanted to let you know this is a re-release as we take some time to regroup over the summer. But weāre not just dusting it off for no reason. If anything, this episode feels even more relevant now than when we first aired it.It raises a big question: Are voters really thinking for themselves? Or are they just reflexively rejecting anything the other side says?In this episode, we dig into that question with new experimental research that challenges the conventional wisdom. Are Americans hopelessly divided? Or are they actually more open-minded than we give them credit forāif we present information in the right way?Weāre re-releasing this one because it gives us a more hopeful, evidence-based look at polarizationāand how the way we talk about politics might be part of the problem. And if youāre exhausted by the headlines, this episode just might change how you see American voters.
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The Surprising Political Consequences Of Emigration?
Migration policies shape not only the economies of countries but also their politics. In this episode, we dive deep into how letting people leaveāor restricting their exitācan have surprising ripple effects on collective action and political reform in their home countries. Yale political scientist Emily Sellars reveals why migration might weaken the power of ordinary people to organize and push for changeāand why even those who leave might ultimately lose out. Could closing borders paradoxically strengthen democracy abroad? We unpack a provocative new model that challenges our assumptions about emigration and its role in global politics.Ā Papers discussed:āEmigration And Collective Actionā: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/704697?journalCode=jop
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Is Trump Copying Obamaās Playbook on Universities?
What if the recent crackdown on elite universities didnāt start with Trumpābut with Obama? In this episode, we trace a surprising through-line connecting Obamaās Title IX enforcement to Trumpās Title VI threats. Harvard Law Professor Jacob Gersen joins us to reveal how both presidents used informal bureaucratic tools to reshape higher educationāoften without Congress. What does this say about presidential power and academic freedom in America?Papers discussed:āThe Sex Bureaucracyā: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2750143āThe Six Bureaucracyā: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5199652
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Is This the Most Unexpected Voter Turnout Strategy Ever?
What if one of the most powerful tools to boost voter turnout isnāt a flashy campaign or a new voting lawābut being randomly forced to work the polls?In this episode, we explore a surprising study of women in 1930s Spain who were randomly assigned to serve as poll workersājust after they gained the right to vote. The results? A massive, 30-point increase in future voting behavior. Is this just a historical curiosityāor a window into how habit, exposure, and civic experience shape democracy?We speak with researcher Toni Rodon about his paperĀ Working for Democracy: Poll Officers and the Turnout Gender Gap, and unpack what this unexpected experiment teaches us about gender, political culture, and the power of participation.
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Should Judges Be Elected Like Politicians?
Hello listeners, we're taking a much-needed spring break here at the podcast, but we want to re-share one of our episodes that has become increasingly salient. One of the defining features of the Trump administration so far is its entanglement with the courts. The legality or illegality of many of its actions are currently being decided by federal judges. Which means that judges suddenly have a lot of say over our politics. Is that good?There is a long running debate in political science: do we get better judges by letting the public vote in elections or by giving our leaders the power to appoint them? One side says that judges should be insulated from the influence of politics and elections, focusing entirely on the rule of law. The other side says that our judges should be accountable to the public for the decisions they make in office. Who is right?
With all the noise created by a 24/7 news cycle, it can be hard to really grasp what's going on in politics today. We provide a fresh perspective on the biggest political stories not through opinion and anecdotes, but rigorous scholarship, massive data sets and a deep knowledge of theory. Understand the political science beyond the headlines with Harris School of Public Policy Professors William Howell, Anthony Fowler and Wioletta Dziuda. Our show is part of the University of Chicago Podcast Network.