Navigating Political Strategy: Living Standards and the Democratic Party

Today I'm joined by Tim Shenk, a history professor at George Washington University and the author of Left Adrift: What Happened to Liberal Politics.

We start back in 1992 with Bill Clinton's presidential campaign and the emergence of party strategists Stan Greenberg and Doug Schoen. We discuss competing approaches for coalition building—Greenberg's preference for New Deal-esque pocketbook populism and Schoen's for a more complete move to the center on social and cultural issues.

Turning towards this year's campaign, Tim makes the case that Kamala Harris has largely rejected the expected Brahmin Left playbook. But does Harris's campaign rhetoric actually represent a lasting change for Democrats? Is the progressive moment over?

Join us for an engaging conversation on the past, present, and future of the Democratic Party.