What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead

Trump and the Spirit of Davy Crockett

Nov 8, 2024

Dive into the surprising rise of Donald Trump as he captivates younger, Latino, and urban voters. Explore the unusual voting patterns in Michigan, where unexpected support for Trump emerged. The podcast also tackles shifting perspectives on immigration among Hispanic communities. Plus, uncover how generational changes are reshaping Republican appeal amidst the rise of a new brand of populism. With historical nods to Davy Crockett, the discussion reveals the power of authenticity and spectacle in modern political engagement.

47:42

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Donald Trump's surprising gains among Gen Z, Hispanic, and traditionally Democratic voters indicate a shift in American political alignment and voter demographics.

The diminished impact of the abortion issue on elections suggests a preference for state governance over federal mandates in addressing divisive topics.

Deep dives

Trump's Electoral Gains

The 2024 presidential election shows significant improvements in Donald Trump's voter share, as he outperformed his 2020 support in 49 states, including major gains in traditionally Democratic areas such as California and New York. According to data, over 90% of the counties analyzed shifted in favor of Trump, indicating a notable change in American public sentiment. This trend raises questions about the accuracy of polling predictions, which have repeatedly underestimated Trump’s support in prior elections. The ongoing discrepancies between polling data and actual voter behavior suggest a need for reevaluating how public opinion is measured.

Intro

2min

Polling Misjudgments and the Role of Federalism in Divisive Issues

3min

Analyzing Voting Trends: Youth and Hispanic Shifts in Michigan

3min

Evolving Perspectives on Immigration

5min

The GOP's Evolving Appeal: Immigrants and Multi-racial Coalitions

4min

Populism and Political Transformation

27min

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss how Donald Trump won over Gen Z, Latino, and Blue state urban voters, and how the history of the American South, Latin American populism, and Davy Crockett-style mass politics explain the greatest comeback in American political history.

Each week on What Really Matters, Walter Russell Mead and Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now. For more, check out tabletmag.com/what-really-matters. You can read Walter Russell Mead’s Tablet column here, and check out more from Tablet here.

Connect with us

Follow the podcast on Twitter
Follow Walter on Twitter
Follow Jeremy on Twitter
Email us: wrm@tabletmag.com

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