Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
37% of Americans think the two-party system works great. This podcast is for the other 63%. Join host Dan Sally as he breaks down the big stories of the week and uncovers the root causes behind polarization and division. From dissecting the structures that drive these issues to exploring practical solutions, Middleweight Politics is all about understanding what's broken and how we can fix it.
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How the Two Party System Makes America Less Stable
04/04/2024
How the Two Party System Makes America Less Stable
Conventional wisdom says that America's two-party system maintains stability by keeping more radical ideologies out of government. But is this the case? With voters entering an election season where the winning candidate could realistically pass away or be in jail by the time of their inauguration, Dan examines the data showing how America's two-party system has actually made it easier for radical ideology to enter the mainstream and one piece of legislation that could change it. For supporting documentation and write-ups of other episodes, check out Middleweight Politics on Substack here: https://middleweightpolitics.substack.com/publish
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The Battle for Senate Majority: How Sinema's Exit Could Be Bad News for Democrats
03/13/2024
The Battle for Senate Majority: How Sinema's Exit Could Be Bad News for Democrats
Last week, Democrat-turned-Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced she would not seek reelection in 2024. Democrats had long feared Sinema's presence in a three-way race for Arizona's Senate seat would tilt the election in favor of the presumed Republican candidate, Kari Lake. Are Democrats any better off without her? In this episode, we dive into the changing electoral landscape in Arizona and how the Democrats may have had a better chance of holding the state and their majority in the Senate by backing Sinema.
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Saving House Moderates from Extinction
02/27/2024
Saving House Moderates from Extinction
After the Democratic pick-up of a House seat left vacant by Cameo star George Santos, the Republican majority has dwindled to razor-thin margins. This has left Speaker Johnson in a difficult position as he attempts to keep the government open past the March 1 funding deadline. In years past, moderate members of Congress could be relied upon to counter partisan hardliners and pass critical legislation, however this group has become an endangered species. In this episode, Dan explores the reasons fewer and fewer moderates sit in the House today, and what can be done to bring them back. A write-up of this episode can be found here: You can also find information on reforms recommended in this episode at the following sites: Ranked Choice Voting: https://rankthevote.us/learn/#howrcv Final Five Voting: https://political-innovation.org/final-five-voting/
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Biden, the Arab American Vote, and Identity Politics in 2024
02/12/2024
Biden, the Arab American Vote, and Identity Politics in 2024
In January. leaders from Michigan's Arab American community declined to meet with Biden's campaign manager after feeling their concerns regarding US policy towards Gaza have gone unheard. This same community helped deliver the state for Biden in 2020, leading many on the Democratic side to worry this could cost him in the next election. Religious and ethnic identity has always played a large role in shaping American politics, but why? In this episode, we explore the structures that make identity so effective in US elections, their historical impact, and whether there's a better way to give everyone a voice in a country as large and diverse as the US. Visit middleweightpolitics.substack.com for a full write-up of this episode along with additional reading.
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Can Congress Still Do Its Job? How Polarization Threatens Your Favorite Cause.
02/05/2024
Can Congress Still Do Its Job? How Polarization Threatens Your Favorite Cause.
Just yesterday, Senate negotiators released final language on a bill to fix the crisis at America's southern border and provide aid to Ukraine and Israel. This would be cause for celebration if House Speaker Mike Johnson hadn't announced the bill was dead on arrival. These three aren't the only crises Washington has been unable to act on - just the biggest - begging the question, is Congress still capable of doing its job? This episode reviews 50 years of Congressional data and finds a history of increasing polarization and decreasing productivity. A write-up of this episode and relevant resources can be found at
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Trump's Republican Realignment: A Historical First
01/29/2024
Trump's Republican Realignment: A Historical First
Election results in Iowa and New Hampshire show the MAGA wing is the dominant force in the GOP, but hasn't yet won over all party members, with some taking measures to help Joe Biden win in 2024. In this episode, we explore the history of political realignments within both major parties and how Trump, yet again, is a historical first for America. Additional reading: Ranked choice poll of GOP candidates after 2nd Debate (FairVote and WPA Intelligence): https://fairvote.org/new-ranked-choice-poll-examines-the-republican-presidential-field-after-second-debate/ Did a Young Democratic Activist in 1968 Pave the Way for Donald Trump (Politico): https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/13/disgusted-with-politics-blame-geoffrey-cowan-00135381 Elections, Political Parties, and Multiethnic Democracies: How the United States Gets it Wrong (Lee Drutman, NYU Law Review): https://www.nyulawreview.org/issues/volume-96-number-4/elections-political-parties-and-multiracial-multiethnic-democracy-how-the-united-states-gets-it-wrong/
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An Early Call in Iowa: How the Media Impacts Elections
01/22/2024
An Early Call in Iowa: How the Media Impacts Elections
Last Monday at 7 PM Central Time, Iowa Republicans gathered at caucus sites across the state to cast the first ballots in the 2024 GOP Primary. At 7:32 PM Central Time, with under 1% of precincts reporting their results, the Associated Press declared Donald Trump the winner. This came as such a surprise that the AP issued a statement clarifying their decision 8 minutes after making the call. This prompted claims of voter suppression by the DeSantis campaign and criticism from voices on the left and right over calling an election where the majority of voters had yet to cast ballots. While most observers felt the call didn’t materially impact the election, this call is part of a larger question as to whether the media is putting ratings ahead of public interest. In this episode, we explore how the media’s fixation on controversy has deepened the political divide between Americans, distorted their view of the other side, and led some to embrace anti-democratic measures. Additional resources below: * As Seen on TV? How Gatekeeping Makes the U.S. House Seem More Extreme: https://academic.oup.com/joc/article-abstract/69/6/696/5681995?redirectedFrom=fulltext * Research on media coverage of hyperpartisan politicians from Starts With Us: https://startswith.us/changethecoverage/ * Misperceptions about out-partisans’ democratic values may erode democracy: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-19616-4 * Information on Open Primaries: https://openprimaries.org/ * Information on Final Five Voting: https://political-innovation.org/final-five-voting/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
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Trump's Removal from the Ballot: How Both Parties Stack the Deck in Elections
01/08/2024
Trump's Removal from the Ballot: How Both Parties Stack the Deck in Elections
Over the past few weeks, two states have removed Donald Trump from the ballot on the grounds his role in the January 6th attack on the Capitol disqualified him from holding office under the Constitution. While Trump's claims of a rigged election are as dubious as the case for removing him from the ballot, there are some ways the deck is stacked in favor of particular candidates. In this episode, we discuss how both he and Biden have rigged their party's primaries in their favor, and how both major parties routinely take action to suppress independent and minor party candidacies.
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