2024 has been… complicated. This year’s election was already highly polarized and scrutinized before it was turned on its head by an assassination attempt and a candidate swap. And there are still five weeks for more campaign news to unfold before we know who our next president, senators, representatives, state officials and city councilors will be.
If you’re confused by overwhelming news coverage and never-ending campaign ads, “Inside Political Science” is here to provide clarity. This KAMU podcast was launched earlier this year to simplify political concepts and news coverage, cutting through the noise with non-partisan discussions about polling data, policies, the economy, communication strategies and more. The goal? Everyone has a decision to make in November, and while this podcast won’t tell you who to vote for, it will help you make an informed decision when it’s time to cast your ballot.
Read on to see why we think you should listen to “Inside Political Science.” Plus, we’ll highlight some other KAMU election resources as the countdown to Election Day continues.
Inside Political Science: Your Guide to a Complex Election Year
Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris. This election has been covered in-depth on all mediums by pundits from all over the political spectrum. But there’s more to politics than what they’re covering. Forget views, beliefs and opinions — politics is really a science. And that’s where our hosts Kirby Goidel and Todd Kent come in. They’re political science professors at Texas A&M University.
“Politics is the best unscripted reality TV we have,” Kirby says. “We try to go into more depth than you’re typically going to get on your typical news channel and we’re trying to do more than just provide soundbites.”
Between the two, they have decades of experience in politics, with priceless knowledge about things the public may not always understand, like how polling is conducted and campaigns are run.
“We’re really thinking about politics as opposed to just experiencing it,” Todd says.
What is Inside Political Science?
Learn something from listening to this podcast? Good! In each 45-minute episode, Kirby and Todd bring their years of expertise and their fascination with politics to lead key discussions about what’s going on in the world. They break down complex behavior into easy-to-understand concepts, bringing high-brow politics down to a digestible level.
“Some podcasts are very good at presenting research but not talking about how it works in the real world,” Kirby says. “Sometimes you have to make the connection beyond the research so that it’s relevant and timely. We want our listeners to understand the real world, informed by that research perspective.”
They share “appetizers” of major moments they’re watching on the campaign trail and dig into larger topics in the “main course” of each episode. They utilize research, data and facts to back up their interpretations of political behavior. Plus, they have a little fun. And when they’re not experts on an important topic, they call on other great experts at Texas A&M and beyond. Guests already featured on the show come from places like UCLA, TCU and Coastal Carolina University.
Past Episodes:
- Episode 1: Campaign Polling
- Episode 2: Persuasion Strategy
- Episode 3: The Campaigns So Far, with guest Lynn Vavreck from UCLA
- Episode 4: Media and Politics
- Episode 5: The Political Economy, with guest Bill Clark from TAMU
- Episode 6: Congressional Elections, with guest Keith Gåddie from TCU
- Episode 7: Supreme Court, with guest James Rogers from TAMU
- Episode 8: Globalism, with guest Thomas Flaherty from TAMU
- Episode 9: American Jews vs. Israeli Jews, with guest Guy Golan from TCU
- Episode 10: Defining Kamala Harris, with guest Justin Vaughn from Coastal Carolina University
- Episode 11: Economic Proposals, with guest Jonathan Meer from TAMU
- Episode 12: Debate Recap
- Episode 13: Voter Mobilization
Who Are the Voices Behind the Mics?
Kirby brings years of academic and research experience to the podcast table. He earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kentucky. He’s been teaching in Aggieland since 2014 and his research focuses on public opinion, political communications and how institutions influence policy.
“Politics isn’t just my job,” Kirby says. “It’s my hobby. I love to talk about politics. I love to watch politics. I’m reading news and reading about politics. It’s absolutely fascinating.”
Todd’s experience is two-fold: years of practical experience in campaigns and political consulting plus time in international higher education. He’s an Aggie-grad, earning his Ph.D. in Political Science here at A&M, and his research hones in on foreign policy decision-making and political risk-taking.
“They say that you should never talk about politics when you get together with other people, but that’s all I want to talk about,” Todd says. “We may have our personal views, but we can critique what’s going on and make assessments for both sides.”
They can’t always predict everything. But just like you, they’re constantly learning as new things happen in the political world every day.
“There’s real value in being wrong,” Kirby says. “And I’ve been wrong. But I’ve never been unexcited or uninterested in what’s going on, because every time I’m wrong, I’m learning something.”
Who Should Listen?
Everyone should listen, of course! However, you won’t find reinforcement of what you already believe on this show. Kirby and Todd have more than opinions. If you want clarity before you vote, or if you’re someone who wants to understand why campaigns and candidates are acting certain ways at certain times, this show is for you.
“I tell my students on the first day of class, I hope I’m an equal opportunity offender,” Todd says. “If you’re coming and you expect me to take one side over the other and not really critique what’s going on, then you’re going to be disappointed. And this show is the same way.”
Both hosts say the discussions they have on the show are much like conversations they have with students in their classrooms: authentic and based on evidence.
“If you watch a lot of political shows where they bring in the Republican and the Democrat, they provide talking points for the party,” Kirby says. “But the talking points are removed from evidence. We’re trying to show what’s really going on but also give historical and theoretical context.”
How to Listen to Inside Political Science
New “Inside Political Science” episodes are released every other week on KAMU’s website and popular podcast platforms. Plus, all past episodes are available to stream at any time. The show is likely on your preferred podcast platform – find us and subscribe today!
Listen on our website or any of these platforms:
Additional KAMU Election Resources
“Inside Political Science” is our key, locally-produced resource for the election, but we have several other resources to recommend.
Voting Guides for Students
As part of “KAMU Student Perspectives,” hear from a Texas A&M University student on two important voting topics.
How to Register to Vote
The deadline to register to vote is coming up on Oct. 7. Learn the basics of registering to vote from Brazos County Elections Administrator Trudy Hancock.
What to Expect When You Go Vote
If it’s your first time voting and you’re a little nervous, Brazos County Elections Administrator Trudy Hancock breaks down what you can expect when you visit the polls.
PBS and NPR Election Coverage
Watch or listen to trusted election coverage from now through November on KAMU-TV and KAMU-FM. On the TV side, PBS News Hour leads the way with thorough coverage of election news every night. Plus, enjoy several political specials, covering everything from voting rights to the vice presidency. Catch these specials on KAMU (check our TV schedule) or stream past specials anytime on PBS.org. And on Election Night, PBS offers seven hours of coverage, starting at 5 p.m., live on KAMU.
Your favorite NPR news programs like “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered” and more also have all things election covered. Expect analysis every day leading up to the election. And on Election Night, KAMU-FM brings together NPR and Texas Standard for complete coverage of national and state races starting at 7 p.m.
PBS KIDS Get Out the Vote
Get a kid’s perspective on voting and why it’s important to vote every time in this special video from “Arthur.”