Sips & Substance — Politics Distilled

About Sips & Substance — Politics Distilled

Sips & Substance — Politics Distilled is a weekly podcast that discusses US politics. We analyze the issues that we think will have a long-lasting impact on our system in a fun, digestible way.

Publisher

Jonathan and Justin

Category

government · news

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

27 Jul 2024

Latest episode

3 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

49 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Feb 2026

   Exceeding Authority: Trump's First Year and Minneapolis

   This week, we discuss the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and what it means for the future of this country. Then, we review President Trump's first year in office and talk about some of the surprises and silver lining. 00:00 Introduction 00:47 ICE in Minneapolis 24:31 Beer Talk 25:53 Year in Review (Jonathan) 33:22 Year in Review (Justin) Show Notes - [Minneapolis ICE shooting: A minute-by-minute timeline of how Renee Nicole Good died](https://abcnews.go.com/US/minneapolis-ice-shooting-minute-minute-timeline-renee-nicole/story?id=129021809) - [Timeline: A Moment-by-Moment Look at the Shooting of Alex Pretti](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/24/us/minneapolis-shooting-alex-pretti-timeline.html) - [Trump's immigration approval drops to record low, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-immigration-approval-drops-record-low-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-01-26/) - [Trump's Most Lethal Policy](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/opinion/trump-usaid-cuts.html)

2. 

   7 Dec 2025

   You're Fired — And So Are the Missiles

   This week, we discuss Unitary Executive Theory with a specific focus on the removal power. We run through the major Supreme Court decisions that corroborate this power as well as the limits to said power. Then, we tie in the lack of enforcement of checks and balances and how that leads to abuses of power illustrated by the boat strikes in the Caribbean. 00:00 Introduction 02:50 Beer Talk 04:00 Unitary Executive Theory 06:57 Myers vs. US 08:30 Humphrey's Executor vs. US 10:33 Morrison vs. Olson 12:31 Ceila Law vs. CFPB 13:40 Trump vs. Slaughter 17:41 Removal Power Analysis 35:41 Caribbean Boat Strikes Show Notes * Myers v. United States [https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/272/52/] * Humphrey's Executor v. United States [https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/295/602/] * Morrison v. Olson [https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/487/654/] * Seila Law LLC v. CFPB [https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/591/19-7/] * Trump v. Slaughter: an explainer [https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/trump-v-slaughter-an-explainer/] * Trump's Venezuela boat strikes fuel war crimes allegations — Are they legal? [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-hegseth-venezuela-boat-strikes-war-crimes-are-they-legal/]

3. 

   8 Nov 2025

   Nov 2025: Dems Strike Back & Trump's Tariffs on Trial

   We had several elections this week and Democrats were poised to do quite well given the circumstances. The Democrats managed to exceed those expectations and we do a quick overview of the most important races. Then, we analyze the most important case of the term Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump a.k.a the "Trump Tariffs." 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Beer Talk 02:51 Election Quick Hits 04:21 New Jersey 06:12 Virginia 09:30 California Special Election 13:15 Minor Races 16:54 Future Trends 20:17 Tariffs Case Intro 25:00 Non-delegation and Major Questions Doctrines 31:15 Case Analysis 40:42 Predictions Show Notes:: * What is IEEPA, the Law Trump Used to Levy Tariffs? [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/us/politics/ieepa-scotus-trump-tariffs.html] * The International Emergency Economic Powers Act: Origins, Evolution, and Use [https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45618] * The Supreme Court and Trump's Tariffs: An Explainer [https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/08/the-supreme-court-and-trumps-tariffs-an-explainer/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * The Other Arguments in Trump's Tariffs Case [https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/the-other-arguments-in-trumps-tariffs-case/] * Court Appears Dubious of Trump's Tariffs [https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/court-appears-dubious-of-trumps-tariffs/] * Why It Will Be Hard for Five Justices to Bless Trump's Tariffs [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/opinion/supreme-court-tariffs-trump.html]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,290

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.5 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

90

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.