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!

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Show notes:

Jay’s biography of James Madison

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 Act

Yuval Levin’s National Review article

NYT article about campaign finance

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 Politics

Electoral Realignments, by David Mayhew

The Emerging Democratic Majority, by John Judis and Ruy Teixeira

Jay’s Recommendations:

Conjectures and Refutations, by Karl Popper

Micromotives and Macrobehavior, by Thomas Schelling

Reflections on the Revolution in France, by Edmund Burke