Journalist and NPR host Steve Inskeep joins The Remnant to discuss his book on Abraham Lincoln, exploring Lincoln's encounters with figures who disagreed with him. They delve into Lincoln's personal story, his role in shaping America, and the reasons behind people's fascination with him. They also discuss the role of religion and media bias in 19th century America, Lincoln's beliefs on law and abolition, and the challenges of changing political beliefs.
Building a coalition based on shared interests is crucial for political success.
Negative polarization in American politics hinders coalition-building and policy discussions.
Lincoln's approach of reasoning with opponents and appealing to shared interests is applicable today for building broad coalitions.
Deep dives
Understanding Lincoln's Approach to Politics
Lincoln believed in appealing to people's self-interest in order to build a coalition and achieve political success. He understood that it was not necessary to change everyone's fundamental beliefs, but rather to gather a majority of support. This approach is still relevant today, as seen in initiatives to create clean energy jobs in red states, which aim to engage different ideologies and address shared interests.
The Challenge of Negative Polarization in Contemporary Politics
The current state of American politics is characterized by negative polarization, where parties focus on divisive rhetoric and owning the other side. This approach lacks a true coalition-building strategy based on shared interests and policy objectives. To move beyond this challenge, politicians must strive to reach across party lines and appeal to people's self-interest, rather than relying solely on negative tactics to energize their base.
The Importance of Policy and Persuasion in Politics
Lincoln's political strategy was not solely performative, but rooted in policy and persuasion. He understood the need to reason with people, even if they didn't necessarily agree with him on fundamental issues. This approach allowed him to gather broad support and assemble functioning majorities. Today's politicians can learn from this example by focusing on policy-driven discussions and making honest appeals that speak to people's interests and concerns.
Building Broad Coalitions for Political Success
In order to succeed politically, parties need to build broad coalitions that extend beyond their core base. This requires reaching out to different demographics and regions, recognizing their interests, and finding common ground. Today's parties can learn from Lincoln's ability to reason with diverse groups and make appeals based on shared interests, as demonstrated in his approach to engaging opponents and emphasizing the benefits of emancipation even to those who did not support equality.
Challenges of Contemporary Politics
Today's political landscape is marked by tribalism, performative politics, and a focus on owning the other side. This mindset inhibits cooperation, stifles policy discussions, and hinders the formation of functional majorities. To address these challenges, politicians must strive to build coalitions based on shared interests, engage in meaningful policy debates, and prioritize the needs and concerns of a broader electorate.
The Remnant further affirms itself as America’s leading podcast in book promotion today, as journalist and NPR host Steve Inskeep brings his velvety tones to the program to discuss his new book, Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America. Though studies of Honest Abe aren’t exactly in short supply, Steve’s has a unique hook: It tells Lincoln’s life story by examining sixteen of his encounters with prominent figures, each of whom disagreed with him in some way. The questions raised are significant: Why is there an abiding fascination with Lincoln in the American consciousness? How did Lincoln become a Republican? And could a novel about Lincoln fighting Nazis with a pet poodle in tow become an all-time bestseller?
