Elections
109 episodes · Page 2 of 5
#5046: Mapping Purple: How Texas Really Votes
Texas isn't just red. We break down the blue cities, red rural expanse, and the purple suburbs that decide elections.
#5042: The Town That Vanished From the Map
How do real, populated communities simply disappear from official maps? We explore the strange phenomenon of forgotten towns.
#4947: Israel's Instant Political Parties: Serious or Startup?
Can a general with no political infrastructure win Knesset seats? A deep dive on Israel's startup party culture.
#4942: How Israeli Politics Became a Permanent Fire Drill
How security fears swallowed every other issue in Israeli politics — and why domestic problems rarely get solved.
#4901: The Loneliness of Power: How Politics Kills Friendship
Can a president have real friends? The structural barriers that make genuine connection nearly impossible for public figures.
#4592: When Political Parties Faceplant at the Ballot Box
From yogic flying to 40% poll mirages — why ambitious political parties crash so hard.
#4516: Weaponizing Time: The Filibuster as Democracy's Strangest Hack
From ancient Rome to the US Senate to the Knesset — how endless talking became a political weapon.
#4384: When the Military Blocks the Knesset
How four laws passed in rapid succession led to a standoff at a Gaza checkpoint.
#4368: Israel's Four Laws: A Democratic Crisis Unfolds
Four laws passed in rapid succession before the Knesset dissolved itself. Can the High Court stop them?
#4246: When Left Meets Right: The Two-Axis Political Spectrum
Why libertarians can't win elections but welfare chauvinists are surging across Europe.
#4243: What to Call Politics That Actually Fixes Daily Life
A listener asks: what do you call a political outlook that prioritizes housing and cost of living over ideology?
#4242: Where Left and Right Actually Come From
The French seating chart that gave us political labels — and why centrism struggles to be more than a mood.
#4241: How "Liberal" Means Opposite Things in Different Countries
The same political word can mean opposite things depending on which country you're in.
#4240: When Political Disagreement Becomes Mortal Enmity
Two sitting UK MPs were murdered by extremists. What does the respectful response to Ann Widdecombe's death tell us about political discourse?
#4235: What Actually Unites Global Conservatism?
Burkean roots, wildly different branches — how one political label produces opposite policies worldwide.
#4215: How Foreign Powers Quietly Shape Elections
From Roman bribery to Iranian botnets, the hidden history of election meddling and why it's getting harder to detect.
#4136: How 4 Democracies Decide If Laws Are Valid
Ireland, US, Israel, UK — four countries, four ways courts decide if laws are constitutional.
#4081: Why Flag-Planting Beats Policy in Israeli Politics
How coalition math, voter incentives, and media loops reward provocation over governance in Israel.
#4010: What Happens When Everyone Votes on Everything?
Estonia, Switzerland, and Taiwan prove digital voting works. So why hasn't it replaced politicians?
#4009: When Manifestos Actually Work for Voters
Three parties that reimagined the voter manifesto — and what they teach us about political communication.
#4007: The Ballot With No Home for You
One voter's impossible choice between housing and security — and what it reveals about a broken system.
#4006: Who Fixes a Broken Political System?
The invisible infrastructure of democracy — how think tanks actually design and push through political reform.
#4005: Why Do Second Chambers Exist? A Global Guide
Second chambers exist for four very different reasons — and most people get them wrong.
#4002: How to Spot Real Policy Research vs. Political Vibes
What separates a serious policy platform from a weekend manifesto? A toolkit for voters.