Interesting Times with Ross Douthat Ezra Klein Is Worried — but Not About a Radicalized Left
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Sep 18, 2025 
Ezra Klein, a prominent journalist and co-founder of Vox, explores the current state of the left in America. He discusses the urgent need for a unifying project to combat progressive pessimism and the vacuum within the Democratic Party. Klein warns about the risks of political violence and critiques inaction, proposing a vision of 'Abundance' that emphasizes faith in government and technology. The conversation also touches on reclaiming a narrative of inclusion and articulating a concrete vision of the 'good life' that resonates with American values.
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Liberalism's Lost Horizon
- Liberal optimism evaporated after Obama's presidency and unmet expectations.
- That left mainstream liberalism uncertain about its next unifying project.
Democrats Split Over Means And Ends
- The Democratic Party now debates liberal technocratic policymaking versus populist anti-oligarchy politics.
- No new dominant leadership or project has emerged to unify those strands.
Governing Without Delivering
- Liberals have often failed to deliver tangible life improvements despite holding power.
- That failure, sometimes hidden by migration, eroded trust in mainstream liberal governance.
