David Axelrod, former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama, discusses building a winning coalition in 2008, the chances of Joe Biden defeating Donald Trump in 2024, cultural shifts in America, and the challenges faced by Obama in a polarized political environment.
Obama's ability to build a winning coalition in 2008 included moderate voters and could potentially be replicated by a future candidate despite polarization in American politics.
For Joe Biden to defeat Donald Trump in 2024, he needs to connect with diverse audiences, balance mobilizing the base and appealing to moderate swing voters, while considering the challenges posed by social media and technology.
Deep dives
The Importance of Overcoming Social Media's Intrusion
The podcast episode discusses the intrusive nature of social media and how big data has allowed it to infiltrate people's lives. The speaker emphasizes that social media algorithms are driven by affirmation and the formation of echo chambers, where differing views are viewed as threats. Overcoming this challenge becomes a key concern, as it hinders the ability to bridge the divides in society.
The Origin of "Wokeness" and Its Ideological Roots
The episode explores the origins of the concept of "wokeness" and the set of ideas about race, gender, and sexual orientation that gained influence in academia and beyond by 2010. The speaker argues against misconceptions that these ideas derive from cultural Marxism, instead tracing their roots to post-war Paris and the philosophical liberalism and scientific Marxism teachings of Michel Foucault. Foucault's skepticism about objective truth, his reconceptualization of power, and his critique of identity labels laid the foundation for the later development of these ideas.
The Evaluation of Potential Presidential Candidates
The podcast features a discussion with David Axelrod, the chief strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaigns. Axelrod reflects on the qualities that made Obama a successful candidate, such as his intelligence, thoughtfulness, and desire to serve the country. Axelrod emphasizes the importance of being able to connect with diverse audiences, and highlights the need for candidates to balance both mobilizing the base and appealing to moderate swing voters. The podcast also delves into the challenges of the political landscape today, such as the influence of social media and the role of technology.
The Concerns and Considerations for the 2024 Presidential Campaign
The episode raises concerns about the upcoming 2024 presidential campaign, specifically regarding the potential rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. It highlights the risks associated with Trump's legal issues and the impact of potential third-party candidates, such as the No Labels Party or Cornell West. While Biden's approval ratings have been relatively low, he still maintains an edge against Trump. However, factors such as Trump's legal cases and the presence of third-party candidates could significantly impact the outcome of the election.
David Axelrod is the former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama. He currently serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago. He is author of the memoir, Believer: My Forty Years in Politics.
In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and David Axelrod discuss how Obama was able to build a winning coalition in 2008 that included many moderate voters; whether, despite the polarized state of American politics, a future presidential candidate could replicate that success; and what it would take for Joe Biden to defeat Donald Trump in 2024.