Air Date: 7-25-2026

Today we look at the idea that America has become a gerontocracy, a country run by the old, and then interrogate the premise a bit. The wealth, the politicians, and the voting electorate really do concentrate at the top of the age ladder, and benefits for the old tend to stay protected while younger people wait their turn. But several of our sources argue age is the wrong name for the problem, that it is really a story about money and who the whole system was built to serve.

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TOP TAKES

KP 1: What Is There to Say About Lindsey Graham - Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie - Air Date 7-12-26

KP 2: Where Is Mitch McConnell? - The NPR Politics Podcast - Air Date 7-10-26

KP 3: The Mitch McConnell Mystery Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-14-26

KP 4: Why Is Congress Like This Part 1 - Civics 101 - Air Date 6-30-26

KP 5: Mitch, Lindsey and the Gerontocracy Part 1 - What Next - Air Date 7-13-26

KP 6: Gerontocracy with Samuel Moyn Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 7-1-26

(00:52:22) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

How Congress Got Crippled, A True Crime Story

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DEEPER DIVES

(01:07:37) SECTION A: THE MCCONNELL & GRAHAM MOMENT

A1: A Grave Situation In The Senate Part 1 - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 7-14-26

A2: The Mitch McConnell Mystery Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-14-26

A3: A Grave Situation In The Senate Part 2 - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 7-14-26

A4: The Attractive Anti-Politics of 'Gerontocracy' Discourse Part 1 - Citations Needed - Air Date 9-21-22

(01:49:14) SECTION B: THE GERONTOCRACY CASE

B1: Mitch McConnell and Our Very Old Congress Part 1 - What A Day - Air Date 7-9-26

B2: Mitch, Lindsey and the Gerontocracy Part 2 - What Next - Air Date 7-13-26

B3: Mitch McConnell and Our Very Old Congress Part 2 - What A Day - Air Date 7-9-26

B4: The Gerontocracy Problem Samuel Moyn - Future Hindsight - Air Date 6-11-26

B5: Gerontocracy with Samuel Moyn Part 2 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 7-1-26

B6: The Attractive Anti-Politics of 'Gerontocracy' Discourse Part 2 - Citations Needed - Air Date 9-21-22

(02:34:15) SECTION C: HOW CONGRESS ACTUALLY WORKS

C1: Melinda N. Ritchie, Backdoor Lawmaking Evading Obstacles in the US Congress (Oxford UP, 2023) Part 1 - New Books in Political Science - Air Date 12-12-23

C2: Why Is Congress Like This Part 2 - Civics 101 - Air Date 6-30-26

C3: Melinda N. Ritchie, Backdoor Lawmaking Evading Obstacles in the US Congress (Oxford UP, 2023) Part 2 - New Books in Political Science - Air Date 12-12-23

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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