Fever Dreams
The Ali Allegations feat. Aaron Kleinman
Apr 19, 2023
Aaron Kleinman of the States Project joins to discuss extreme characters in America's state houses. Topics include right-wing outrage without evidence, Cliven Bundy's defiance of court orders, allegations of grooming and misconduct within the right-wing movement, Ron DeSantis's controversies and political strategies, the parallel between the Trump-DeSantis feud and the Bernie-Warren standoff, the influence of state legislative races, the campaign against drug legalization, and the emergence of a new character archetype in San Francisco.
54:10
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Quick takeaways
- Extremist candidates in state legislatures are on the rise due to lack of media coverage and weaker campaign infrastructure, highlighting the importance of fair redistricting efforts to combat gerrymandering.
- Conservative media outlets, like the New York Post, frequently demonize marijuana legalization without concrete evidence and rely on anecdotes, targeting liberal-leaning cities.
Deep dives
The rise of conspiracy theorists in state legislatures
State legislatures are becoming increasingly influenced by conspiracy theorists, grifters, and extremists. Examples include a candidate in Pennsylvania connected to QAnon who participated in the Capitol insurrection, as well as state legislators in Tennessee who make controversial statements and support anti-democratic actions. The lack of local media coverage and weaker campaign infrastructure for state legislative races contribute to the rise of these extremist candidates. Additionally, the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights in the Dobbs case impacts state legislatures and highlights the importance of fair redistricting efforts to combat gerrymandering.
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