Join author Dave Eggers, founder of McSweeney's and a nonprofit for youth writing, as he dives into his satirical novel, The Captain and the Glory. He shares surprising insights from his interviews with Trump supporters and critiques the emotional nature of political decision-making. Eggers discusses the absurdity of modern electoral practices, his decision to embrace a flip phone, and reflects on the themes of his earlier work, The Circle, highlighting the cultural shifts driven by social media. It's a fascinating blend of humor, politics, and creativity!
58:39
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Sanctuary vs. Rally
Dave Eggers visited a Honduran family in sanctuary and then a Trump rally in Hershey, PA.
He observed a stark contrast between the administration's immigration policies and the human complexity of Trump supporters.
insights INSIGHT
Voter Malleability
Trump voters are not necessarily die-hard fanatics; they often have complex motivations.
Many are driven by economic concerns and a desire for disruption, demonstrated by past support for figures like Obama and Reagan.
question_answer ANECDOTE
El Paso Rally Surprise
At an El Paso rally, Trump drew a larger crowd than Beto O'Rourke, despite prior criticisms of the city.
This demonstrated Trump's popularity, driven by economic gains under his administration, even among Latino voters.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Politics and the English Language', George Orwell argues that vague and imprecise language can obscure truth and manipulate public opinion. He critiques the 'ugly and inaccurate' written English of his time, particularly in political contexts, where language is used to 'make lies sound truthful and murder respectable'. Orwell emphasizes the importance of clear and concrete language, suggesting that poor writing fosters poor political thinking and is a danger to society. He provides examples of bad writing and offers guidelines for effective writing, including six rules to avoid the misuse of language. Orwell believes that language and thought are interdependent and that improving language can help improve political life[1][3][5].
The Circle
Dave Eggers
Lord of the Flies
William Golding
In 'Lord of the Flies', William Golding tells the story of a group of British schoolboys who are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. The novel follows their attempts to govern themselves and the gradual descent into chaos and savagery. The story is an allegory that explores themes of human nature, morality, leadership, and the fragility of civilization. Key characters include Ralph, who represents order and democracy; Jack, who symbolizes power and violence; and Piggy, the voice of reason. The novel highlights the tension between the desire for civilization and the primal savagery that lies beneath the surface of human society.
The Captain and the Glory
An Entertainment
Dave Eggers
The Captain and the Glory: An Entertainment is a satirical novella by Dave Eggers, published in 2019. The story follows a ship called the Glory, symbolizing the United States, as it falls into disarray under a new captain who embodies incompetence and authoritarianism. The novella uses absurdist humor to critique contemporary politics, drawing parallels between the captain and former President Donald Trump. It explores themes of authoritarianism and the vulnerability of democratic institutions.
Writer and McSweeney's founder Dave Eggers talks with Recode's Kara Swisher about his latest novel, The Captain and the Glory, why he chose to write a satirical novel about the Trump era, and what he's learned from interviewing Trump supporters that most people on the left wouldn't expect. Eggers also discusses his writing nonprofit, 826 Valencia; why he has a flip phone rather than a smartphone; and what he thinks of his novel about a technology company, The Circle, in hindsight. Plus: Why Trump, not Obama, is the first social media president.
Featuring:
Dave Eggers, author, The Captain and the Glory
Host:
Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), Recode co-founder and editor-at-large
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to Reset, Recode's new podcast that explores why — and how — tech is changing everything.
About Recode by Vox:
Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us.
Decoder with Nilay Patel 
