The Government Shutdown: Why Our System Fails on Purpose
American Angst1 Nov 2025

The Government Shutdown: Why Our System Fails on Purpose

Boo! In this Halloween edition of American Angst, political philosopher Dr. Michael Bailey leads a brisk, illuminating tour of the current government shutdown and what it reveals about our constitutional machinery. Michael lays out why both parties share blame in different ways, but, more importantly, why the structure itself incentivizes brinkmanship over basic governance. He explains how the Senate filibuster concentrates leverage, why “who’s actually in charge?” is maddeningly opaque to vo...

Episoder(30)

Protesting in God's Name: Faith, Immigration, and Public Witness

Protesting in God's Name: Faith, Immigration, and Public Witness

This week on American Angst, Mike shares a crossover episode with host Dale McConkey Church Potluck. They are joined by United Methodist pastors Rev. Ash McEuen and Rev. Karen Kagiyama for a timely an...

30 Jan 1h 10min

Jimmy Carter’s Living Legacy (Literally!) Josh Carter on Democracy, Global Health, and Caregiving

Jimmy Carter’s Living Legacy (Literally!) Josh Carter on Democracy, Global Health, and Caregiving

In this kickoff-to-2026 episode of American Angst, we’re joined by a truly special guest: Josh Carter—podcaster, advocate, and yes, Jimmy Carter’s grandson—who offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes lo...

22 Jan 1h 5min

"It's a Republic, not a Democracy": Bailey's Take

"It's a Republic, not a Democracy": Bailey's Take

Dr. Michael Bailey closes out the American Angst year with a holiday-season conversation that’s equal parts warm, witty, and razor-sharp about American civic identity. Starting with a few Christmas-mo...

22 Des 202553min

Trump’s Troublesome Environmental Policy: From Ocean Depths to Atmospheric Heights

Trump’s Troublesome Environmental Policy: From Ocean Depths to Atmospheric Heights

In this wide-ranging episode of American Angst, Dr. Michael Bailey and Dale take a deep and sobering look at Donald Trump’s environmental record. Using a “bottom of the ocean to the top of the atmosph...

12 Des 20251h 2min

Thanksgiving: The Most American Holiday?

Thanksgiving: The Most American Holiday?

It's a special Thanksgiving crossover episode of American Angst and Church Potluck! Dr. Michael Bailey and Dale McConkey start off-topic with a quick overview of 10 dizzying days in American politics....

24 Nov 20251h 4min

Election Results and Shutdown Breakthrough: Who Won the Week?

Election Results and Shutdown Breakthrough: Who Won the Week?

In this episode of American Angst, Michael Bailey briefly updates us on the apparent breakthrough in the government shutdown. The deal reopens the government and restores furlough pay, but Bailey emph...

11 Nov 202558min

American Dream on Hold: The Rising Barriers to Homeownership for Young Adults

American Dream on Hold: The Rising Barriers to Homeownership for Young Adults

Homeownership used to be the on-ramp to the middle-class American Dream. For many young adults, that on-ramp now feels barricaded—by high prices, high mortgage rates, high rents, and student debt. In ...

10 Nov 202553min

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