The Dig Rogue State w/ Aziz Rana
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May 3, 2025 Aziz Rana, a professor at Boston College Law School and author of insightful works on American freedom, dives into the complexities of the U.S. Constitution and its historical implications. He discusses the transformation of America from a settler colony to a global empire, the rise of radical right movements, and the challenges faced by leftist movements today. The episode critiques how neoliberalism has influenced political dynamics and examines the evolution of presidential power, advocating for a reevaluation of the Constitution to better support democracy and social justice.
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Originalism Fuels 1970s Right-Wing Rise
- The 1970s economic shifts weakened labor, aiding the rise of the radical right and neoliberal counterattack.
- Originalism fused ethno-nationalist, business, and social conservatism into a potent right-wing constitutional interpretation.
Gender and Settler Politic Connections
- Masculinist populism centers male economic control as proof for political rights in settler colonial society.
- Feminist movements linked gender, race, and class struggles to challenge this patriarchal order.
Blocked Constitutional Critique and Inclusion
- American constitutional critiques largely ignored structural undemocratic features until late 20th century.
- Mid-century constitutional veneration masked settler colonialism and limited possibilities for transformative politics.
