What do you know about politics? What should you know? Forget views, beliefs and opinions – politics is really a science. Dr. Kirby Goidel and Dr. Todd Kent from the Texas A&M Department of Political Science use their years of teaching, research and campaign experience to show you what’s actually happening in politics. No partisan politics here, just a navigation of political data, media, money, behavior and more so you can be more informed the next time you vote.
Listen to Recent Episodes
#034 – Do Local Elections Matter?
It’s off-year election season, but how much significance do these elections have? With the New York City mayoral election in the national spotlight, Kirby and Todd touch on the effects of the election’s outcomes. To what extent does the mayor truly hold power? Although voter mobilization encourages people to get up and vote, it’s the persuasion that truly makes a difference. Later, they touch on the ongoing government shutdown, the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Kirby and Todd question whether the differing benefits for Democratic Party leaders and Republican Party leaders are worth the government standstill. Kirby says if the shutdown truly had profound immediate effects, then our government leaders wouldn’t risk playing the political game – but at what cost?
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Meet the Hosts
Dr. Kirby Goidel
Kirby Goidel is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Texas A&M. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kentucky and arrived to teach in Aggieland in 2014. Goidel’s research focuses on public opinion, political communications and how institutions influence policy. He currently serves as Associate Department Head at the Bush School and is co-editor of “Social Science Quarterly.”
Dr. Todd Kent
Todd Kent is the director of undergraduate programs and an instructional professor for the Department of Political Science at Texas A&M. Kent completed his Ph.D. in Political Science here at A&M. He has both international higher education experience and practical experience in campaigns and political consulting. His research specializes in presidential foreign policy decision-making and political risk-taking.
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