The Argument Liberalism Under Pressure w/ Ezra Klein, Matt Yglesias, & Derek Thompson
5 snips
Sep 29, 2025 
Ezra Klein, an Opinion columnist at The New York Times, Matt Yglesias, a writer known for actionable policy insights, and Derek Thompson, a cultural and economic commentator, engage in a lively debate. They discuss the challenges facing liberalism, the dynamics of intra-left arguments, and the impact of social media on civic engagement. The panel delves into why liberalism struggles to unite amid cultural conflicts and whether recent critiques of abundance accurately reflect the housing crisis. Their honest exchanges showcase the complexities of political discourse today.
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Journalism As Democratic Infrastructure
- Ezra Klein argues journalists must build institutions that contest anti-democratic threats because no one else has a master plan.
- He says journalists must use their limited bandwidth to generate rigorous internal debate that others can carry forward.
Trust Editorial Intuition Over Viral Signals
- Klein says editorial intuition matters more than chasing social-media-driven topics.
- He argues distinctive voices (like Substacks) succeeded because they trust a single editor's taste.
Pick Tactical Battles And Fund Strategic Races
- Matthew Yglesias urges choosing battles strategically and doing intra-elite persuasion on tactics and down-ballot races.
- He recommends directing readers to strategically important state legislative races and practical actions.
