American Angst
American Angst is a podcast where political scientist Dr. Michael Bailey unpacks the founding ideals and present tensions of American democracy with clarity, depth, and concern. Hosted and produced by his longtime friend Dale McConkey, the show blends serious civic reflection with honest, good-humored conversation for anyone trying to make sense of this American moment.
Podcasting since 2025 • 23 episodes
American Angst
Latest Episodes
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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1:11:24
Democratic Backsliding: How Democracies Erode (with Dr. Sam Call)
We may begin talking about sweater weather and niceties about upstate New York, but we quickly let the angst flow deep and wide. Join us as Sam Call (comparative politics) joins Michael Bailey (political science and philosophy) an...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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1:06:11
Faith & the Founders, Part 2: The Godless Constitution Thesis
We’re back with another crossover of American Angst and Church Potluck—and it’s the middle slice of a three-part series. In Part 1, we explored evidence for a religious impulse at the founding of the United States. Today, we f...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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1:08:44
Faith & the Founders, Part 1: The Christian Commonwealth Thesis
It’s a crossover feast: American Angst meets Church Potluck for a lively, thoughtful dive into religion, politics, and the Founders—setting the table for an upcoming conversation on Christian nationalism. This one leans a bit more...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:04:47
San Francisco De-Angstified: A Father-Daughter Conversation
San Francisco is often painted as a city in crisis by conservative politicians and pundits, but does that picture hold up when you actually live there? In this special episode, political scientist Michael Bailey sits down with his daught...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:01:47