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Stubborn Things: Daily Summaries Delivered
by AEI Podcasts
John Adams famously said: “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." In this era of knee-jerk partisanship and ideological posturing, Adams's warning is as important as ever. Tune in every other week as AEI's Jay Cost and Sean Trende draw on their wide-ranging base of knowledge and stubborn commitment to the evidence to understand what is happening in the world of American politics.
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- 4 days ago1h 5m
Return of the Tiers
The last Stubborn Things episode was so popular that we couldn’t resist doing yet another presidential tiers episode. Take a listen to hear how Sean and Jay rank the first presidents of the twentieth century, from Theodore Roosevelt through Hebert Hoover. And let us know where you’d place these presidents on your own tiers!Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast.Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.
- 2 weeks ago1h 3m
More Presidential Tiers!
Back by popular demand, this week, Sean and Jay continue their rankings of America’s presidents. After harshly grading the antebellum presidents, our Stubborn Things hosts sprinkle in a few good grades for the presidents of the latter half of the 19th century. Still, failing grades abound, as Stubborn Things has a strict policy against grade inflation! Let us know in the comments where you agree and where you disagree with Sean and Jay’s tiers.Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast.Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.
- May 4, 202657 min
Bayou Ballots
This week, Stubborn Things is laser-focused on the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. Our hosts discuss the history of the Voting Rights Act, as well as the Gingles test which the majority updated last week. Sean and Jay evaluate how far-reaching the Court’s decision will prove to be, and they correct some of the narratives that have emerged in the wake of the decision. What do they think of Justice Alito’s argumentation? What about Justice Kagan’s dissent? Take a listen to find out!Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast.Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.Show notes:Louisiana v. CallaisAmy Coney Barrett’s Precedent and Jurisprudential Disagreement
- Apr 20, 20261h 2m
The Evolution of the Democratic Party with Ruy Teixeira
Jay and Sean are joined this week by Ruy Teixeira, Nonresident Senior Fellow at AEI and longtime analyst of Democratic politics. Our hosts interview Ruy about the evolving relationship between the Democratic Party and organized labor, whether Democrats can learn from their past mistakes to form a durable electoral coalition, and more. Along the way, Jay, Sean, and Ruy discuss the “Abundance" movement, immigration, class, and if there are any heterodox Democrats who can make waves in future elections. Take a listen!Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast.Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.Show notes:America's Forgotten MajorityThe Emerging Democratic MajorityWhere Have All the Democrats Gone?Ruy's last article in The Liberal Patriot
- Apr 7, 20261h 3m
Special Edition: Presidential Tiers
This week, our hosts take a break from talking about the drama of 21st century American politics and turn back the clock. In this very special edition of Stubborn Things, Jay and Sean start the Very Official Stubborn Things Presidential Tiers List. They start, of course, with Washington and make it all the way through Buchanan. See where Jay and Sean agree and where their lists diverge. Take a listen and let us know what you think about our tiers!Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast.Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.Show notes:Jay’s biography of James Madison
- Mar 27, 202654 min
SAVEing the Voting Discourse
Our Stubborn Things hosts this week talk voting and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a.k.a. the SAVE Act, a.k.a. the SAVE America Act, currently making its way through Congress. Jay and Sean discuss how the bill would change voting, the advantages and challenges with requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and the bad faith arguments each camp makes about the bill. Then, they go back in time to review the 2021 Democrat-led For the People Act, and Sean calls Jay old. Finally, the episode wraps with a focus on campaign finance and the role of big money in elections.Take a listen and let us know what you think!Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast. Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.Show notes:H.R.22 – SAVE ActYuval Levin’s National Review articleNYT article about campaign finance
- Mar 10, 20261h 0m
Can Talarico Turn Texas Blue?
This week, Jay and Sean tackle the results of the Senate primary in Texas. They discuss James Talarico’s victory in the Democratic primary and the religious dimension of Talarico’s candidacy. They also assess the strengths and weaknesses of Talarico’s two potential GOP opponents, incumbent John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who will face each other in a runoff in May, as well as how Texas demographics may play in the general election. Plus, Jay and Sean dip into the mailbag and answer a listener question about the books that have influenced them. Take a listen and let us know what you think!Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast.Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.Show notes:Sean’s Recommendations:The Almanac of American PoliticsElectoral Realignments, by David MayhewThe Emerging Democratic Majority, by John Judis and Ruy TeixeiraJay’s Recommendations:Conjectures and Refutations, by Karl PopperMicromotives and Macrobehavior, by Thomas SchellingReflections on the Revolution in France, by Edmund Burke
- Feb 26, 202656 min
Major Questions About the Supreme Court
AEI’s Jay Cost and Sean Trende talk about the topic on everyone’s mind this week: the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Learning Resources v. Trump, which struck down President Trump’s use of tariffs under IEEPA. Throughout the episode, our hosts touch on the majority opinion, as well as the various concurrences and dissents, that came down last Friday. Jay and Sean address the history of tariffs in American political economy before moving on to a conversation about the separation of powers. They wrap up by discussing the ideological makeup of the Court and this case’s implications for questions of checks and balances. Take a listen and let us know what you think!Remember to rate and follow Stubborn Things and stay up to date by following us on X @aei_STpodcast.Comments? Suggestions? Email us at StubbornThings@aei.org.Show notes:Jay’s review of The Constitution of Conflict
About Stubborn Things
John Adams famously said: “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." In this era of knee-jerk partisanship and ideological posturing, Adams's warning is as important as ever. Tune in every other week as AEI's Jay Cost and Sean Trende draw on their wide-ranging base of knowledge and stubborn commitment to the evidence to understand what is happening in the world of American politics.
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