Co-hosts Kate Floros and Evan McKenzie discuss the first year of the second Trump administration with guest E.J. Fagan. Topics range from Project 2025 and the Unitary Executive Theory to the exclusion of Congress from policymaking and the Democrats' chances in the 2026 mid-term elections.

Kate, Evan, and E.J. are all professors in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Chicago.

E.J.'s book: The Thinkers: The Rise of Partisan Think Tanks and the Polarization of American Politics

Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/4s5yLoL

Today's show was produced by Jack Petraitis

Cover art by Isabel McKenzie

Music by Hunter Nico McKenzie at Handmade Audio

In this new podcast, Unpacking Politics, political scientists Kate Floros and Evan McKenzie (University of Illinois Chicago) will discuss a wide range of political issues, trying to get to the bottom of what's going on in the world.

In the first episode we talk with Juan Albarracín, our UIC Political Science colleague about the January 3, 2026 US special forces raid that deposed Venezuelan president, Nicholas Maduro.

Produced by Jack Petraitis

Cover art by Isabel McKenzie

Music by Hunter Nico McKenzie at Handmade Audio

Professor Floros in The Politics Classroom teases a new podcast, Unpacking Politics.