A Gentlemen's Disagreement

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Dueling take on contemporary American politics, society and culture, with perspectives from the center-left and center-right of the progressive-conservative spectrum.

Ricky Ghoshroy & Brendan Kelly


    • Jun 3, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 10m AVG DURATION
    • 173 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The A Gentlemen's Disagreement podcast is a refreshing and enlightening addition to the world of political podcasts. Hosted by Ricky and Brendan, this show seeks to provide a template for civil discourse, reminding us that we can have principled and fact-based debates on political topics while still remaining friends afterward. In a time when politics and society have been particularly tumultuous, this podcast offers an informative, articulate, and engaging take on current events and politics.

    One of the best aspects of The A Gentlemen's Disagreement podcast is the way Ricky and Brendan approach their discussions. They are able to cut through all the noise and partisanship that often muddles political debates and focus on finding common ground. They demonstrate that if we set aside our preconceived notions and truly listen to each other, there is actually a lot that we can agree on. Their discussions are interesting and clear-eyed, providing listeners with valuable insights into complex issues without resorting to gamesmanship or sensationalism.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the way Ricky and Brendan engage with each other. Despite having diverse perspectives, they manage to discuss their differing views in a non-combative manner. They present their arguments thoughtfully and respectfully, creating an environment that encourages open-mindedness and thoughtful consideration of opposing viewpoints. This allows for a more productive dialogue where listeners can gain a deeper understanding of multiple sides of an issue.

    However, one potential downside to The A Gentlemen's Disagreement podcast is that it may not be as exciting or entertaining for those who prefer more confrontational or controversial political discussions. While Ricky and Brendan aim for civil discourse, some listeners may find their approach too measured or restrained compared to other podcasts that thrive on heated debates or provocative statements. It depends on personal preference whether this aspect is seen as positive or negative.

    In conclusion, The A Gentlemen's Disagreement podcast is highly recommended for those seeking a refreshing and civil approach to political discussions. Ricky and Brendan deliver informative, engaging, and thought-provoking content that reminds us of the importance of respectful dialogue in today's divisive climate. They set an example of fair political debate without resorting to shouting or name-calling, promoting the value of listening to differing opinions while staying true to their own beliefs. Adding this podcast to your rotation is sure to provide valuable insights and foster a more inclusive understanding of complex political issues.



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    Latest episodes from A Gentlemen's Disagreement

    Episode 171 - The news is making me depressed: tell me it ain't that bad

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 58:56


    The constant barrage of news coming from this administration has been weighing heavily on Ricky. Is it at bad as it seems? Can Brendan offer any hope or simply commiserate? 

    Episode 170 - The price of tariffs with Dr. Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 56:56


    Director of the Global Linkages Lab and Brown University professor Dr. Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan makes the case for why tariffs are not the solution to U.S. trade deficits or U.S. job losses and explains why America First might soon mean America Alone.

    Episode 169 - The intersection of AI & climate change with Dr. Joseph B. Keller

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 54:42


    In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about AI. And a lot of talk about climate change. But where and how do these two forces life-changing forces collide? Dr. Joseph B. Keller of the Brookings Institution helps us answer these questions and tells us what policy makers should be thinking about as both forces continue to advance.

    Episode 168 - The first 100 days with Matthew Knych

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 99:08


    Matthew Knych joins us to reflect on the wild, whirlwind, and incredibly consequential first 100 days of the second Trump Administration.

    Episode 167 - The life, legacy, and politics of Pope Francis with Father Oliver Rafferty

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 65:24


    Jesuit priest and Boston College Professor of History Oliver Rafferty takes us beneath the surface of the simple narratives surrounding Pope Francis's life and legacy to examine the pope he really was, the church he ran, and the one that he leaves us.

    Episode 166 - The making of "The Apprentice" with Benjamin Kramer & Gustavo Nascimento

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 60:40


    Benjamin Kramer and Gustavo Nascimento, two of the Executive Producers behind "The Apprentice," a movie about Donald Trump's rise to prominence as a real estate businessman in New York City that earned multiple Oscar nominations, take us behind the scenes of the fascinating process to make this outstanding and provocative film.

    Episode 165 - Stopping the stadium steal with Emily DiVito & Elizabeth Pancotti

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 53:40


    Going to a game used to be affordable for an average family. It's not anymore. We are joined by Groundwork Collaborative's Emily DiVito and Elizabeth Pancotti to discuss why that is and what policy makers could do to fix it.

    Episode 164 - AOC, Schumer, and the Democratic split screen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 44:55


    Five months after the election, two months into the Trump Administration, what does The Resistance 2.0 look like? What do the various approaches of the leaders of the Democratic Party tell us about where the Party is now and where it is headed?

    Episode 163 - Stock down: Tesla; The First Amendment

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 49:45


    We begin by discussing the detention and possible deportation of Mahmoud Khalil before looking at the retreat of the stock market, in general, and of Tesla, in particular.

    Episode 162 - 46 days of 45 & 47

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 74:28


    We discuss our biggest takeaways from the start of the second Trump administration including DOGE, tariffs, and Ukraine. Then we recap our first book club where we read "Poverty, by America" by Matthew Desmond.

    Episode 161 - Global & domestic decolonization with Sam Klug

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 65:51


    Sam Klug, professor of U.S. history at Loyola University Maryland, joins us to discuss his new book, The Internal Colony: Race and the American Politics of Global Decolonization. We talk about the global decolonization movement of the mid-20th century, the ties between that global movement and domestic issues of race and class in the U.S., and how all of those issues continue to reverberate today.

    Episode 160 - A draft of the most influential works of U.S. literature

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 85:37


    Our fifth annual Presidents Day Mount Rushmore-style draft, joined, once again, by our friends Dan Gonzalez and Devon Hull, and this year we are drafting the most influential works of literature in U.S. history. A fun episode for any lover of U.S. history and/or literature!

    Episode 159 - Cabinets & chaos: making sense of the madness with David A. Graham

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 52:33


    David A. Graham of The Atlantic joins us to discuss President Trump's cabinet nominees, their confirmation process, his appointees, and what his personnel strategy helps to show us about the overall direction of his nascent second administration.

    Episode 158 - Nuclear is the only option with Suriya Jayanti

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 70:54


    Suriya Jayanti of the Atlantic Council and TIME joins us to talk about this period of energy transition and the necessity of nuclear power to that transition. 

    Episode 157 - Coronation Day, or A Resurrection Complete

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 52:39


    He's baaaaack. We react to the return of President Trump, a man at the apex of his power.

    Episode 156 - Biden's legacy with Charles Sykes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 61:04


    Charles Sykes of MSNBC, The Atlantic, and The Bulwark joins us to discuss President Biden's legacy as his four years as president and fifty years in politics comes to a close this week. We discuss that legacy within the context of the life and legacy of President Carter, who is, perhaps, a presidential analogue of Biden's.

    Episode 155 - On antitrust & competition with Bob Levy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 68:48


    Robert A. Levy, former chairman of the board of the Cato Institute, joins us to discuss antitrust laws. Do these laws help or hurt competition? When, if ever, should the government step in to protect and promote competition in the marketplace? We delve into these questions and many more in our conversation with Bob.

    Episode 154 - The top stories of 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 55:42


    Our annual look back at the stories that dominated our discourse this year.

    Episode 153 - Self-defense at home and abroad

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 56:25


    From a pair of killings in New York City to the actions of Israel and Russia internationally, how we view these incidents often seems to be tied to how we view the concept of self-defense. Is there an innate right to self-defense? If not, who can claim self-defense and against whom? Is the right of self-defense tied to the means? If so, how far does it extend? What does it permit? Can self-defense only be invoked as a reaction to something/someone else? Can it be preemptive? We try to tease out our own thoughts on these questions in this conversation.

    Episode 152 - Six in Sixty: Murder, Pardon, Crypto; Syria, South Korea, France

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 63:05


    We're back to hit a series of topics that have been in the news over the past couple of weeks both in the U.S.--the murder of the UnitedHealth CEO, President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter, the rise of Bitcoin--and abroad--the overthrow of the Syrian government, the declaration of martial law by the South Korean government, and the collapse of the French government.

    Episode 151 - Was Trump right? Am I tired of winning?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 46:07


    Republicans have won the Presidency, the Senate, and the House. Conservative justices dominate the Supreme Court. What was the cost of those victories? Where does the current environment leave people who don't align with this vision for the country? We ruminate on those questions and more in this episode.

    Episode 150 - A Court unlike any other with Kevin J. McMahon

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 66:13


    With the election behind us, we turn our attention to the Supreme Court, which is sure to have a say in what happens over the next four years. Kevin J, McMahon, Trinity College professor and author of a trilogy of books examining the relationship between democracy and the Court, joins us to put this Court in historical context, analyze what the current composition of the Court says about the state of our democracy, and debate some potential Court reforms.

    Episode 149 - Making the case for a national popular vote with Patrick Rosenstiel

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 76:02


    In the wake of another U.S. presidential election dominated by discussion of the electoral college, we are joined by Patrick Rosenstiel, senior consultant to the National Popular Vote campaign, who makes the case that the switching from the current electoral college system to a national popular vote would be the single biggest improvement we could make to our democracy--and that this election proves that we are ready for it.

    Episode 148 - Reactions to the 2024 election results with Ray Mooney

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 73:50


    We try to make sense of the election results, including what it says about our country now and what it means for our country moving forward, before we are joined by our good friend Ray Mooney to provide the Trump-voter perspective.

    Episode 147 - It's the economy, stupid with TIME's Alana Semuels

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 50:16


    We wanted to fit in one more episode before the election looking at the state of the economy. Alana spent time on the ground of the swing states and told us what the vibes were like heading into election day. 

    economy stupid alana semuels
    Episode 146 - A psychiatrist's take on psychedelics with Dr. John Fromson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 62:35


    We were joined by Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School psychiatrist Dr. John Fromson to discuss the potential and pitfalls of the legalization of psychedelics. We debated legalization through ballot initiatives versus legislatively, the hopes versus dangers medically, freedom versus safety, and much more.

    Episode 145 - Breaking down the Massachusetts ballot questions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 74:49


    We dive into each of the five questions on the Massachusetts ballot, explaining what a "yes" or "no" vote means and exploring the pros and cons of each measure. We also look at ballot questions nationally to identify trends we are seeing across the country and discuss how these questions might impact races up the ballot in the upcoming elections.

    Episode 144 - Analyzing the 2024 elections with Steve Kornacki

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 71:43


    Steve Kornacki joined us this week for a deep dive into the upcoming U.S. elections. Steve broke down the battleground states for the presidency, the races that will decide the Senate and the House, and the overall demographic and issues-based trends that will ultimately impact the results in November.

    Episode 143 - A conversation with the Libertarian Presidential Ticket: Chase Oliver & Mike ter Maat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 106:52


    We are joined this week by the Libertarian Party's candidate for President, Chase Oliver (4:02-40:38), and Vice President, Mike ter Maat (40:46-1:29:42), for wide-ranging conversations about third-parties, policies an Oliver-ter Maat administration would pursue, what success in November would look like, and much, much more.

    Episode 142 - The wild west: the landscape of college football with Austin Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 71:48


    We are joined this week by lobbyist Austin Jackson to try to examine the present and future of college athletics in the time of NIL, the transfer portal, and shifting conferences. We analyze the roles that Congress, the NLRB, and the courts will play in defining the future of college sports.

    Episode 141 - Reactions to the second first presidential debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 61:24


    We stayed up past Ricky's bedtime to discuss our immediate reactions to and takeaways from the debate between former President Trump and Vice-President Harris.

    Episode 140 - Discontent with democracy with Dr. Rachel Navarre

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 64:37


    We are joined by Dr. Rachael Navarre to discuss the findings from her most recent book, including why populism, extremism, and conspiracy theories have taken hold in so many democracies across the world over the past decade.    

    Episode 139 - The reinvention of Kamala Harris with Jacquetta Van Zandt

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 72:17


    We welcome Jacquetta Van Zandt back to the program to get her thoughts on the last two months of Democratic politics. We discuss the abandonment of President Biden, examine how Vice President Harris has captured the imagination of the party, debate whether the country is ready for a Black/Indian/woman president, and offer some advice for the Harris campaign moving forward. Whether you're just tuning in or having been following every detail, you'll enjoy this conversation.

    Episode 138 - 1968 & 2024: parallel politics and protests at the DNC

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 65:57


    We are joined this week by Simpson College Professor of History Nick Proctor to examine the many parallels between 1968 and 2024. The events of 1968 culminated in the infamous Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Will the events of 2024 produce a similar Democratic Convention in Chicago this week?

    Episode 137 - What is Harris's platform?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 53:53


    While we are still in the honeymoon phase of the Harris candidacy, we take a look at what candidate Harris stands for policy-wise and how policy under a Harris administration might differ from both the Trump and Biden administrations.

    Episode 136 - The Olympic spirit v. the political spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 45:38


    We begin this week by talking about the opening week of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, particular stories that have caught our eyes, and the general feeling of togetherness that rooting for Team USA brings and then juxtapose that positivity with the direction our political discourse has taken since the new presidential race has begun in earnest.

    Episode 135 - What. A. Week.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 85:09


    We recap one of the wildest weeks in modern U.S. political history, starting with the assassination attempt on President Trump, the ensuing RNC and President Trump's selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate, and ending with President Biden's decision to drop out of the race and to endorse Vice-President Harris as his successor.

    Episode 134 - A SCOTUS '23-'24 term review with Professor Renee Landers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 94:39


    We welcome back Suffolk University Law School Professor Renee Landers to analyze the major cases and trends from the Supreme Court's just-concluded term. We discussed the Trump cases, the administrative law cases, including the overturning of the Chevron Doctrine, the abortion cases, and the gun cases.

    Episode 133 - Debate reaction & election issues 2024: foreign policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2024 68:00


    We begin with an extended reaction to the presidential debate before analyzing what foreign policy might look like under a second term of either President Biden or President Trump.

    Episode 132 - Juneteenth reflections: lessons and legends from the Negro Leagues

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 56:08


    We begin this week by discussing the life and legacy of Willie Mays, and then we dive more fully into what the significance of the Negro Leagues was then and is now and discuss how baseball, in particular, and sports in general, often serve as a microcosm for the country. We wrap up by highlighting two Negro League greats.

    Episode 131 - The power of people in the age of AI with Dr. Po-Shen Loh

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 72:14


    We are joined this week by Dr. Po-Shen Loh, professor of mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University, social entrepreneur, and innovator, to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities the rise of AI will pose to work, education, and democracy. Throughout our conversation, we analyze how humans can--and must--remain supreme in an AI world.

    Episode 130 - Haiti: the conversation no one is having, with Brian Concannon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 67:20


    We are joined this week by Brian Concannon, the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti. We discussed the history of Haiti, the role of the U.S. and France in that history, and how that history has led to the current situation in Haiti. We also talked about what U.S. policy towards Haiti should look like moving forward and how Haiti has been a world leader in the past and can be once again in the future.

    Episode 129 - The U.S.-China relationship & rivalry with Dr. Michael Beckley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 67:23


    We are joined this week by Dr. Michael Beckley, professor of political science at Tufts University and Jeane Kirkpatrick Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, for a discussion on U.S. policy towards China. Dr. Beckley discusses the challenges China currently faces, why those challenges should concern the U.S., and what the U.S. needs to do both economically and militarily to counter China.

    Episode 128 - Election Issues 2024: Crime & Guns

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2024 51:20


    We're back this week with the latest installment in our monthly series of episodes analyzing how individual issues might affect the 2024 election. In this episode, we discuss the feelings people have around crime in the U.S., how those feelings combine with the messaging about crime by the two major parties to give one of those parties a significant advantage, what Presidents Trump and Biden did during their terms in office around crime and guns, and what a second term of either president might look like in dealing with these issues. 

    Episode 127 - A conversation on the state of journalism with TIME editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 58:52


    We are joined this week by TIME editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs to discuss the challenges and opportunities journalism faces today, how TIME is navigating that landscape, and what his vision is for covering the most controversial stories of the day, including and especially the 2024 election here in the U.S. 

    Episode 126 - Debating the campus protests

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 51:44


    We discuss and debate every aspect of the campus protests that have proliferated across the country over the past few weeks, including who the protesters are, what they are protesting, what the goals of the protests are, and how these protests compare to historical protest movements.

    Episode 125 - Election Issues 2024: Taxing & Spending

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 51:45


    The third installment in our monthly series of episodes analyzing how individual issues might affect the 2024 election returns as we take a look at what taxing, spending, the budget, and the national debt would look like with Congress and the Presidency under control of either of the two major parties.

    Episode 124 - Mental health & the epidemic of loneliness with Dr. Eugene Beresin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 71:36


    Ricky reflects on being a father, and then we welcome on Dr. Eugene Beresin, a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Executive Director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds to talk about mental health and the rise of loneliness in our society. We discuss why people seem to be increasingly lonely and what we can as family members, friends, mentors, and as a society to make things better. 

    Episode 123 - The importance of ballot access & RFK Jr. with Larry Sharpe

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 68:17


    We are joined this week by Larry Sharpe, the Director of National Organizing for American Values 2024, a Super PAC supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to talk about the importance of ballot access, generally, and the importance of getting RFK on the ballot, in particular. Larry, himself a former gubernatorial candidate in New York, makes a fascinating and compelling case for not only why people should want RFK to win but also how RFK could actually win the presidency.

    Episode 122 - Election Issues 2024: Abortion

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 52:35


    Our monthly episode analyzing how individual issues might affect the 2024 election returns as we take a look at the state of the abortion debate from both a long-term, post-Dobbs perspective, and a short-term perspective given recent cases around mifepristone and IVF. It's an issue on which Democrats have an advantage, but will that translate to electoral results in the fall?

    Episode 121 - Six in Sixty: SCOTUS, Super, Senate, SOTU, Gaza, Caitlin Clark

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 79:15


    Lots to talk about this week, including a great week for former-President Trump: the Supreme Court ruled that states could not disqualify him from their ballots, he romped through Super Tuesday and his last remaining challenger dropped out, and the longtime Republican Senate Leader with whom he has a famously frosty relationship announced he was stepping down. We then shifted to President Biden's State of the Union address and analyzed the political needle he is trying to thread in the Middle East. Finally, we spent some time discussing the supernova that is Caitlin Clark.

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