Off The Record With Paul Hodes

The Future of the Republican Party: Matt Robison joins A.J. Kirstead from The New England Take and Republican writer Dexter Tarbox to tackle a provocative question: are we about to see the end of the Republican Party? Episode available at https://www.youtube.com/@newenglandtake.00:00 Introduction: The Republican Party's Closing Act?03:06 Discussion Begins: State of the Republican Party04:57 Coalition or Chaos? Internal GOP Dynamics07:27 Economic Shifts and Political Realignments10:00 Populism and Party Identity15:59 Trump's Influence and Future GOP Leadership20:49 Debating Inflation and Economic Policies28:55 Final Thoughts: GOP's Path Forward

Should Democrats Take Carville's Advice? And How Trump-Zelensky Meeting Unfolded: Democratic political analyst Matt Robeson and Republican political consultant Matt Wylie discuss James Carville's controversial advice for Democrats to 'roll over' against Trump and explore whether there's a better version of that idea that just might work. They also delve into the high-stakes meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and Trump, along with America's role in global democracy, Republicans' internal conflicts, and the vulnerabilities of both parties.00:00 Introduction: Should Democrats Follow Carville's Advice?00:49 Introducing Matt Wiley: A Republican Perspective02:04 The Trump-Zelensky Meeting: Real-Time Reactions04:31 Understanding Matt Wiley's Republican Stance09:14 Debating Trump's Foreign Policy and Its Implications25:23 James Carville's Controversial Strategy for Democrats26:38 Prosecuting the Case: A Republican Consultant's Perspective27:35 Democrats' L

The Exhausting Chore of Engaging with the News and How We Can Fix It: Matt Robison discusses the increasing difficulty and demoralization of modern news consumption and its negative impact on America--including how it empowers Trump. Important Links: Newsweek article Matt's Substack Cliff's Substack00:00 Introduction: The Exhausting Chore of Getting the News00:39 The Vicious Cycle of News Consumption02:08 Exploring the Change Research Study04:09 The Impact of Avoiding the News08:47 Trust in Media and Institutions09:22 Potential Solutions and Media Examples13:52 Conclusion: Fixing Trust First16:39 Personal Reflections and Future Plans

Decoding Trump’s Secret Plan to Sabotage the Government:Matt Robison delves into the possibility of a covert Trump strategy to wipe out huge swaths of the government through a "glitch fix.'' Based on his article in Newsweek, available at: https://www.newsweek.com/will-trump-fix-glitch-win-his-war-government-opinion-2031305.If you want to give feedback on the show, you can email Matt directly at robisonmatt@gmail.com.00:00 Introduction: Trump's War on American Government01:38 Programming Note: Changes to the Show03:34 Office Space Analogy: Fixing the Glitch04:42 Elon Musk's Role: Government Efficiency07:43 Legal Implications: Trump's Executive Authority11:58 Conclusion: The Ongoing Assault

 Yes, unfortunately, you read that episode title, right: Today is Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos' last episode of Beyond Politics. Before we got into her big send off, we had to talk about the whole mess of things that are going on from the Trump administration. What's the most concerning? Is there a constitutional crisis happening right now? And what do we think is really the strategy going on behind all of this? And then at the end, yes, we did get to our send off for Alicia with some very special guests. Not kidding. No joke.

While all the focus has been on Trump's executive orders and funding freezes affecting billions of dollars, under the radar, Congress is starting to make decisions affecting trillions of dollars and vital functions of government that Americans rely on. Matt Robison and Congressional insider Ryan McConaghy explore the Democrats' potential leverage points and strategies in the huge upcoming Congressional battles and where everything could land.00:00 Introduction: The Overlooked Question in Trump's Washington01:43 Interview with Ryan McConaughey: Inside Congress02:59 Shock and Awe: Reactions to Trump's Administration05:32 Probing the Limits: Trump's Strategy09:06 Reconciliation and Government Funding Challenges16:42 Democratic Leverage and Legislative Strategy31:14 Predictions and Future Outlook33:37 Conclusion: Final Thoughts and Farewell

 Alicia Preston returns to our regular panel, and like all thoughtful friends, she's brought gifts. In this case, a new poll suggesting that even Republicans are quickly souring on the Elon Musk show, and he may be about to drag Donald Trump down with him. We also got into the less than effective communications that Democrats have been mounting in opposition to Trump over the past two weeks, and the truly awful, obscenely immoral thing that Trump and Musk just did. And hang on until the end when Alicia reveals the ultimate Trump scam that she received live on air in the middle of our show. 00:00 Welcome Back Alicia Preston! 00:17 Republicans Sour on Elon Musk 01:51 Trump's Unfulfilled Promises 02:44 The Reality of Trump's Policies 06:59 The Honeymoon is Over 08:52 Government Spending Debate 11:56 Condescension and Condemnation 17:09 Biden's Role in Inflation 18:00 Democratic Messaging and Campaigning 19:12 Critique of Current Democratic Strategy 20:39 Proposed Legislative Actions 24:46 Forei

Strategic Zen in the Trump Era: Navigating Exhaustion and Overwhelm: Matt Robison joins radio legend Howard Monroe to discuss the coping strategy of 'Strategic Zen' to deal with the overwhelming nature of Trump's second administration. They discuss how critical it is for Democrats to differentiate between significant moves and more transient actions, and how overreacting to every development is counterproductive. 02:33 The Strategic Zen Approach to Trump's Actions 03:36 Interview with Howard Monroe: Coping with the Trump Administration 05:21 The Fire Hose Effect: Managing the Overwhelm 07:43 Something or Nothing: Evaluating Trump's Actions 17:04 The End Game: What Should the Opposition Aim For? 31:20 Conclusion: Finding Calm Amidst the Chaos

Democrats vs Trump's Tactics: How to Beat the Flood the Zone Strategy. Matt Robison, Matt Wylie, and Paul Hodes discuss how Democrats should respond to the outpouring of pronouncements and Executive Orders from Donald Trump's administration. Democrats may be falling into the trap that Trump's team intended--but it's not that hard to see it and stay out of it. 01:06 The Spending Freeze Saga 06:51 Democratic Exhaustion and Disengagement 10:45 Trump's Performative Politics 15:15 Immigration and the Bigger Picture 22:42 The TV Presidency: Trump's Media Strategy 27:56 Republican Opportunities and Challenges 36:19 The Chaos and Its Consequences 42:23 The Absurdity of Trump Loyalty

Cross Purposes: The Broken Connection Between Christianity and American Democracy Matt Robison explores the relationship between Christianity and American democracy with Brookings scholar and Atlantic author Jonathan Rauch. They discuss the themes of Rauch's new book, Cross Purposes, which argues that the health of America's political and religious institutions are deeply intertwined. The conversation delves into the decline of Christianity's influence, the rise of secular substitutes, and the problematic blend of religion with partisan politics. Rauch also highlights the potential model of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a way forward for American Christianity. 00:00 Introduction: Christianity and American Democracy 01:28 Christianity's Contributions to America 07:17 The Decline of Religiosity in America 14:50 Sharp Christianity and Its Political Influence 19:17 The Broken Bargain Between Christianity and Democracy 22:03 Why Christianity Matters in America 31:05 The Decl

 It's been a blitzkrieg of executive orders from President Donald Trump in his first week. But is it all a huge deal or is it more like Shakespeare said, a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing? That's the question weo wanted to put to our round-table today and Once again, we had a pinch hit from our friend, Matt Wylie, who was super subbing in for Alicia Preston. We covered immigration, climate agreements, energy production, and controversial measures like birthright citizenship and the "weaponization" of the federal government. 00:42 Trump's Executive Orders: Big Deal or Not? 03:08 The Role of Congress and the Judiciary 07:00 Big Deal, Little Deal, or No Deal: Game Time 14:12 Trump's Immigration Policies 21:25 The Fox News Fallacy and Immigration Impact 23:17 Economic Frustration and Trade Effects 25:00 Trump's Climate and Energy Policies 29:45 Weaponization of the Federal Government 33:00 TikTok Ban and Executive Orders 38:38 Trump's High Point

Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement--a rare case of productive teamwork between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in brokering the deal? The Jack Smith report detailing Trump's alleged crimes related to January 6th and classified documents. Pete Hegseth's controversial confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense. And finally Alicia Preston's birthday so who's the second greatest person born on her birthday? 00:28 Ceasefire Agreement Between Israel and Hamas 02:12 Trump and Biden's Roles in the Ceasefire 09:25 Jack Smith Report on Donald Trump 20:53 Pete Hegseth's Embarrassing Confirmation Hearing 26:41 Elon Musk vs. Steve Bannon 35:28 Middle Class Struggles and Political Neglect 37:53 Birthday Game: Famous People Born Today

Matt Robison and radio legend Howard Monroe separate the real, subtle threats posed by artificial intelligence from the kinds of things we stress about in movies. Then: why Democrats need to avoid falling into the "Trump fallacy." And finally, an audio adaptation of Matt's most recent Newsweek column on why Congress needs to step in and ban fraternities and sororities on college campuses. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 03:00 Howard Monroe Radio Show: Health and Humor 06:43 The Real Danger of AI: Distorting Reality 13:16 Trump's Press Conference: World Domination or Bluster? 15:15 Navigating Trump's Statements: Picking Battles 29:12 Fraternities and Sororities: Time for a Ban

Matt, Paul, and Alicia hit the biggest stories unfolding this week, starting with the  Los Angeles wildfires and the way in which the politics of global warming have already entered the picture, even as people are still at risk. Also, Joe Biden's assertion that if he had stayed in the race, he would have won; the end of all of the Donald Trump legal cases and the confusing muddled pile up it's turned into and what it ultimately means; the question of how Republicans are going to try to pass the Trump agenda; Facebook waving the white flag on fact checking; and finally, the case that Donald Trump is actually right about taking possession of Greenland. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:11 Los Angeles Wildfires and Climate Politics 03:17 Debating Energy Policies and Insurance Issues 07:58 Biden's Interview and Political Reflections 10:22 Trump's Legal Troubles and Sentencing 16:04 Jack Smith Report and Transparency Issues 19:00 The Importance of Truth in Politics 20:42 Debating Trump's Legislative Strategy 27:

Was Jimmy Carter really a failed President? Ahead of his funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, Matt Robison and historian Dr. Erik Loomis take a clear-eyed, unvarnished look at a presidency and historic legacy that are more complicated, and at times more successful, than we remember. 00:00 Introduction: Reflecting on Jimmy Carter's Legacy 02:17 Jimmy Carter's Early Life and Political Rise 04:33 Carter's Relationship with Racism and Segregation 07:42 Media Perception and Public Image 12:51 Presidential Challenges and Failures 29:44 Carter's Post-Presidency Achievements 35:54 Final Thoughts and Legacy

A Stellar Year: Space Discoveries and Cosmic Wonders of 2024 Matt Robison is joined by astronomy professor John Gianforte from the University of New Hampshire, also known as 'the Sky Guy'. They delve into the most fascinating space-related events of 2024, including the Great North American Eclipse, new moons around Uranus and Neptune, significant finds from the James Webb Space Telescope, and intriguing developments in early universe theories. They also look ahead to future missions like the Europa Clipper and the use of AI in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, highlighting how science fiction is becoming reality. (New Englanders: if you want to see some of these amazing sky sights, come to the UNH Observatory--more information here) 00:00 Introduction to Beyond Politics 02:04 A Big Year for the Sun 02:14 The Great North American Eclipse 05:39 Solar Maximum and Aurora Borealis 13:39 The Parker Solar Probe 16:22 Exploring the Solar System 16:49 The Comet 18:54 The Mysterious Oort Cloud 24:04 The D

PART TWO of the "Boppies": our annual award show of the highlights and lowlights in news, politics, and current events for 2024. We dive into the most intriguing public opinion and demographic data of 2024, biggest science story, the year's defining moment, and the "Winner" of the year. 02:07 Public Opinion Fact of the Year 11:54 Best First of 2024 20:49 Breakthroughs in Science: Top Stories of the Year 33:14 Defining Moments of 2024 36:48 Who Won the Year?

It's the "Boppies": our annual award show of the highlights and lowlights in news, politics, and current events for 2024. In Part One we cover categories such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) on both the Democratic and Republican sides, 'Perp of the Year,' and the most significant news stories of 2024. 00:00 Opening Remarks and Fashion Highlights 03:10 Introducing the Gala and Categories 03:37 Democratic MVP Nominees 08:36 Republican MVP Nominees 13:44 Perp of the Year: Political Scandals 20:32 Best Achievement in Legislation 24:04 News Story of the Year

How did Elon Musk corner Donald Trump into a fit of chaos that could shutter the entire US government? Matt, Paul, and guest panelist Republican political consultant Matt Wylie discuss how the rapid meltdown could be a preview of the next four years of Trump giving Republicans fits. We also analyze Trump's lawsuits against media figures and the chilling effect on journalism, and a close look at the big Daylight Savings Time fight. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Host Announcement 01:34 House Speaker Mike Johnson's Challenges 02:12 Government Shutdown and Debt Ceiling Crisis 06:02 Elon Musk's Influence on Politics 09:46 Republican Party's Internal Struggles 12:12 Trump's Governance by Chaos 15:36 Future Political Strategies and Predictions 23:43 Midterm Election Prospects and Historical Patterns 28:13 Trump's Legal Battles and Media Accountability 34:01 The Future of Free Press and Media Ownership 42:23 Debate on Daylight Savings Time

Did American Jews Mess Up Hanukkah and How Can It Be Fixed? Matt Robison explores how American Jews altered Hanukkah in an attempt to align it with the new "American Christmas," of the 19th century, and why the initiative never really worked. 00:00 Introduction and Article Overview 02:09 The Cultural Confluence of Hanukkah and Christmas 02:31 The Historical Context of Hanukkah 03:42 The Commercialization of Christmas and Its Impact on Hanukkah 05:41 The Failure of the Hanukkah Makeover 08:08 Proposed Changes to Hanukkah Traditions 12:17 Conclusion and Upcoming Content