Bad Faith Episode 477 Promo - Did We Learn Nothing? (w/ Benjamin Studebaker)
May 26, 2025
Political theorist Benjamin Studebaker delivers a wake-up call for the left, arguing that lessons from the Bernie cycles have gone unheeded. He critiques the divide between college-educated and non-college-educated voters, questioning if a Bernie-style candidate can resonate with all sections of the electorate. The discussion touches on how elite priorities like student loan debt may clash with the economic concerns of working-class voters. The conversation reveals a healthy debate on the future direction of the left amidst today's complex political landscape.
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Republicans Target Universities Strategically
- The Trump administration targets universities to tie Democrats and the left more closely to college-educated voters. - This strategy stirs Republican base fears and traps the left into focusing on narrowly appealing issues.
Campus Issues Are Electoral Traps
- Focusing on issues like campus protests and due process alienates many voters outside academia. - These topics connect to terrorism language, limiting their cross-electorate appeal.
Palestine Provokes Political Rethink
- A prominent Black conservative intellectual re-examined his views due to the racial implications of Israel's actions. - He was fired for acknowledging genocide or near-genocide claims, showing the Palestine issue's power to shift political thinking.