Mack and Steve discuss why it always seems to the same two groups, how it really isn’t, and how that might inform your choices when voting. Wade on in, because sometimes it doesn’t feel like a party at all.

References

Take Britain as a counterpoint with a parliamentary system:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Parliament.” Updated: September 27, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parliament/Decline-of-the-House-of-Lords

The prime minister is a member of the legislature:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Prime minister.” Updated: September 25, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/prime-minister

The history of the Republican societies that became the Democratic-Republican party:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Democratic-Republican Party.” Updated: September 13, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Democratic-Republican-Party

A political scientist discussing whether it does indeed lend itself to two parties:

Difford, Dylan. “Duvager’s Law: More guidelines than actual rules?” March 9, 2022. Electoral Reform Society. https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/duvagers-law-more-guidelines-than-actual-rules/

Independent members of senate:

Congress.gov. “Senator Angus S. King Jr.” https://www.congress.gov/member/angus-king/K000383

Congress.gov. “Senator Bernard Sanders.” https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033

Congress.gov. “Senator Krysten Sinema.” https://www.congress.gov/member/kyrsten-sinema/S001191

People were discussing what the Tea Party actually was back in the day as well:

Connolly, Katie. “What is the Tea Party?” September 16, 2010. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11317202

What constitutes an actual party:

Federal Election Commission. “Qualifying as a political party committee.” https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/registering-political-party/qualifying-as-a-political-party-committee/

Despite Anne’s opinion, the political parties are technically nonprofits:

IRS. “Tax Information for Political Organizations.” Updated September 9, 2024. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/political-organizations

How to get on the ballot in Texas:

Ballotpedia.org. “Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Texas.” https://ballotpedia.org/Ballot_access_requirements_for_presidential_candidates_in_Texas

All kinds of parties, or individuals, running for president you might see on the ballot in November:

Ballotpedia.org. “List of registered 2024 presidential candidates.” https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_candidates,_2024#List_of_registered_2024_presidential_candidates

No, you can’t list any party you want when you run for president in Texas. You must be a member of a recognized political party or run as an independent or write-in candidate:

Texas Secretary of State. “Running for President in Texas (in 2024).” https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2024/president.shtml

What’s an interest group:

Thomas, Clive S. “Interest group.” Updated: September 16, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/interest-group

Who’s Dick Armey:

Congress.gov. “Representative Richard K. Armey” https://www.congress.gov/member/dick-armey/A000217

Steve said caucus:

USA.gov. “Presidential primaries and caucuses.” Updated Augus 22, 2024. https://www.usa.gov/primaries-caucuses

The Populist Party and the dynamic that happened there:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Populist Movement.” Updated June 3, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/Populist-Movement

What were they getting over:

Merriam-Webster. “Rook (verb).” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rooked

Not the grain movement:

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “The Grange Movement, 1875.” https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/grange-movement-1875

Here’s why the Progressive Era was the Progressive Era:

Library of Congress. “Progressive Era to New Era, 1900–1929.” https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/progressive-era-to-new-era-1900-1929/

This is a cute video about how an amoeba subsumes its food:

MocomiKids. “Nutrition in Amoeba – Feeding & Digestion Process” [YouTube video]. September 7, 2012. https://youtu.be/u7IN7HTWzLs?si=5PMMtaGpEGye2pN3

Get to know Ross Perot:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Ross Perot.” Updated September 24, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/money/Ross-Perot

Want to know more about the 1992 election and who got how many votes:

Levy, Michael. “United States Presidential Election of 1992.” Updated: September 17, 2924. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1992

Who’s Phil Gramm:

Congress.gov. “Senator Phil Gramm” https://www.congress.gov/member/william-gramm/G000365

In case you were wondering, there is still a Reform Party:

https://reformparty.org/

Who’s Pat Buchanan:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Pat Buchanan.” Updated July 12, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Patrick-J-Buchanan

The crash:

Weinberg, John. “The Great Recession and Its Aftermath.” November 22, 2013. Federal Reserve History. https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/great-recession-and-its-aftermath

Bailout or handout:

Davis, Marc. “A History of U.S. Government Financial Bailouts.” September 23, 2024. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/government-financial-bailout.asp

Learn about the many budget battles:

Bipartisan Policy Center. “Budget Battles Defining Washington: A Timeline.” Last updated February 2020. https://bipartisanpolicy.org/budget-timeline/

Who’s Ted Cruz:

Congress.gov. “Senator Ted Cruz” https://www.congress.gov/member/ted-cruz/C001098

Who’s Jim DeMint:

Congress.gov. “Senator Jim DeMint” https://www.congress.gov/member/james-demint/D000595

The House Freedom Caucus during the time period we were discussing in the podcast:

Desilver, Drew. “What is the House Freedom Caucus, and who’s in it? October 20, 2015 Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2015/10/20/house-freedom-caucus-what-is-it-and-whos-in-it/

The House Freedom Caucus more recently:

Desilver, Drew. “Freedom Caucus likely to play a bigger role in new GOP-let House. So who are they?” January 23, 2023. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/01/23/freedom-caucus-likely-to-play-a-bigger-role-in-new-gop-led-house-so-who-are-they/

Learn about the debt ceiling and what defaulting on it means:

Desjardins, Lisa and Barajas, Joshua. “How a debt default could affect you.” May 24, 2023. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-a-debt-default-could-affect-you

Some Republicans at the time saying that it wouldn’t be that bad:

Reid, Tim and Johnson, Steven C. “Republican mainstream flirts with brief default.” June 7, 2011. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/us-politics...

Does It Have To Be Two Parties?

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