Batya Ungar-Sargon, author of *Second Class*, critiques the rise of Zohran Mamdani in political circles for prioritizing economic issues over identity politics. She discusses the working class's shared interests across party lines and the failings of elite agendas. David Leonhardt, of the New York Times, dives into the center-left's disconnect and Mamdani's political savvy, while Emily Jashinsky reflects on a cultural vibe shift, questioning whether elitist values resonate with today's youth.
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insights INSIGHT
Economic Focus Wins Mamdani Race
Zoran Mamdani's campaign succeeded by focusing on economic issues and affordability, minimizing identity politics.
Young voters respond strongly to economic populism over cultural identity themes currently.
insights INSIGHT
Mamandani's Elite Populist Image
Mamdani represents an over-credentialed elite masquerading as a working-class populist.
His support mainly comes from affluent, college-educated voters, not from the traditional working-class base.
insights INSIGHT
Working Class Consensus across Parties
The working class across party lines shares common concerns about immigration and healthcare.
Successful populist strategies must address these issues rather than focus on identity.
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This book traces the rise and fall of the American Dream, focusing on how democratic capitalism flourished in the mid-20th century to make the dream possible, only to be corrupted in the latter decades to serve the privileged few. Leonhardt examines the economic changes, labor laws, and government policies that contributed to this shift. He critiques both the right's championing of corporate greed and the left's abandonment of working-class issues, highlighting key figures and grassroots movements that shaped the American dream. The narrative is rich in innovation, grit, and hope, offering a diagnosis of America's socioeconomic malaise and suggesting ways to revive the dream through public investment, collective bargaining, and civic activism.
Coming Apart
Why Relationships End and How to Live Through the Ending of Yours
Daphne Rose Kingma
In 'Coming Apart,' Daphne Rose Kingma provides a refreshing perspective on relationships by arguing that relationships are not always meant to be forever. She suggests that relationships serve as vehicles for personal growth and development, and their endings are often a natural part of this process. Kingma explains that people choose relationships based on their developmental needs, which are rooted in childhood experiences. The book offers practical advice and a process for working through the ending of a relationship, including a personal workbook to help readers heal and move forward. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the lessons learned from each relationship and finding joy and appreciation in the experiences shared with partners.
Second Class
How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women
Batya Ungar-Sargan
In 'Second Class', Batya Ungar-Sargon presents a detailed look at the lives of American working-class individuals through extensive interviews and data analysis. The book is divided into two parts: the first profiles the state of the working class, categorizing them into the Struggling, Floating, and Rising tiers; the second proposes policy solutions to improve their lives. Ungar-Sargon addresses key issues such as immigration, job requirements, and the social safety net, arguing that the elites have betrayed the working class by prioritizing the interests of capital owners over wage-earners. The book emphasizes the need for policies that benefit working-class Americans and highlights the disconnect between the political class and the everyday concerns of working people.
Emily Jashinsky is joined by Batya Ungar-Sargon to talk about the rise of Zohran Mamdani, the way he avoided identity politics in his campaign so far and focused on economics, his familiar battle with the establishment and billionaires, whether cultural conservatism is on the rise, the "godless and morally offensive" parts of the Big Beautiful Bill, what the working class of both parties agree on, and more. Then David Leonhardt joins to discuss how the center-left failed, the decline of elite viewpoints, Mamdani's great political instincts but why the NYT has "deep qualms" about some of his policies, and more. And Emily closes it out by reflecting on the vibe shift we're experiencing in music, pop culture, and whether it's sustainable when elite millennials didn't get the memo.
After Party with Emily Jashinsky 
