#442 - In Defense of Colorblindness (w/ Coleman Hughes)
Feb 11, 2024
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Coleman Hughes, author of The End of Race Politics, discusses his book with the hosts. They explore the concept of colorblindness and challenge the assumption that racism is the cause of all disparities. They also critique public naming and shaming on social media, discuss the consequences of unfounded accusations, and touch on topics like the Republican Party meltdown and the importance of free speech. A meandering conversation on selective enforcement, college admissions, and politics adds humor to the podcast.
The concept of colorblindness should be rescued and defined as treating people without regard to race.
Neo-racism, which sees race as crucial and promotes constant interruption of racism, departs from the civil rights movement's ideals.
Disparities between racial and ethnic groups are complex and not solely caused by racism or discrimination.
Due process and fairness are important, and rushing to judgment without evidence undermines justice.
Congress prioritizes winning over governing, resulting in a lack of effective legislation and missed opportunities to address key issues.
Deep dives
The book argues for a colorblind America
Coleman Hughes explores the concept of colorblindness and its evolution over time. He emphasizes the importance of rescuing colorblindness as a wise philosophy and defining it as treating people without regard to race.
Neo-racism and its impact on society
Hughes delves into the concept of neo-racism, which views race as a crucial factor and promotes the constant interruption of racism through counter pressure. He discusses the flaws in this philosophy and its departure from the civil rights movement's ideals.
The significance of disparities and clustering in population genetics
The book explains the significance of disparities between racial and ethnic groups and challenges the notion that all disparities are caused by racism or discrimination. Hughes highlights the existence of clustering in genetic variations and the limitations of equity in a multicultural society.
The importance of due process in handling allegations
The podcast discussion concludes with a commentary on the importance of due process and fairness. It highlights the need to investigate allegations and avoid rushing to judgment based solely on one person's word, emphasizing the value of evidence and a fair process.
Political Incentives Over Governing
The legislative process in Congress is fundamentally broken, with a focus on winning rather than governing. Members of Congress often prioritize complaining about the executive branch or the opposing political party instead of passing bills and engaging in open debates. Key issues often get bundled into last-minute bills negotiated by a small group of people, leaving other members with little insight or time to review and debate. This lack of seriousness about governing leads to a lack of effective legislation and a missed opportunity to address important issues.
Electioneering and Strategic Posturing
There is a tendency in Congress to prioritize political advantage over policy-making, using issues as rallying points for elections rather than seeking meaningful solutions. Examples include politicians objecting to exercise of war powers without Congressional approval but not taking decisive action to address it, or failing to pass bills on immigration reform when it could be politically advantageous to keep the issue unresolved. The focus becomes preserving the issue as a campaign talking point rather than finding actual solutions.
Public Pressure and Activist Base
The Biden administration faces pressure from its activist base, such as young people and Arab Americans, who feel disillusioned and demand action on certain issues. This pressure can drive a politician's public appearances to be more heavily criticized, particularly regarding topics like U.S. support of Israel. Politicians are aware that losing even a few percentage points can have a significant impact on elections, leading them to try to appease these groups while also maintaining broader support.
Republican Party Meltdown
The Republican Party is experiencing a meltdown, with the RNC chair losing her position and the party facing financial issues. Republicans had focused on the fentanyl border issue and spent four months working on a border deal, only to be criticized for not taking effective action.
Joe Biden's Approval Rating and Cognitive Ability
Joe Biden's approval rating is historically low, currently at 37%. This is attributed to concerns about the border situation and the economy, as well as doubts about Biden's cognitive ability. Critics argue that Biden's stumbles and gaffes, coupled with his age, have contributed to a perception of weakness and ineffectiveness.
We’re back with two episodes smashed into one! So if you have a spare two hours… First up, our friend Coleman Hughes returns for a one-on-one conversation with Kmele about his brand-new book The End of Race Politics, which you should buy immediately. Also: Coleman was on Bill Maher’s show on Friday, most of which is available on YouTube.
After an hour with Coleman, the full team is back for a few very uncomfortable conversations about a few very uncomfortable topics. Just listen and you’ll understand…
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