Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps SZEPS WORLD TOUR – COLEMAN HUGHES on Race, Trump & Power
17 snips
Aug 18, 2025 
Coleman Hughes, a thought-provoking writer, podcaster, and musician, discusses race and identity in America with incisive clarity. He reflects on the evolving political landscape, the challenges of identity politics, and the changing dynamics within the Democratic Party. Hughes also critiques the impact of Trumpism on political messaging and societal discourse. With his jazz trombone background, he draws parallels between music and politics, highlighting the importance of art as a medium for dissent and cultural reflection.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Pervasive-Racism Narrative Harms Agency
- Coleman Hughes argues that portraying racism as all-pervasive hurts Black people's agency and fosters oppositional identity.
- He says this narrative discourages personal progress and perpetuates conflict between groups.
BLM Era Fuelled A Racial Backlash Online
- Hughes links the BLM-era salience of race to a countermovement that amplifies racist content online.
- He warns media focus on race created demand for reactionary channels that fuel racial fear.
Culture Over Race For Immigration Policy
- Hughes distinguishes cultural immigration preferences from racial exclusion and calls racial criteria both stupid and immoral.
- He accepts cultural criteria like language but rejects race as a policy basis.