The Death of The American Coalition with Tim Shenk (S3 Ep.37)
Nov 11, 2022
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Tim Shenk, a historian and co-editor, discusses Obama's unpublished book from the 90s, his evolving views, and the crisis of building lasting coalitions. They explore the impact of media polarization, harnessing protests for political change, and the need for personal responsibility in progress.
Building lasting coalitions is crucial for meaningful change in politics.
President Obama's unpublished book reveals his early influences and critiques.
Durable political coalitions are hindered by structural factors, requiring effective strategies that address economic and cultural issues.
Deep dives
The Importance of Majority Coalitions
The podcast episode discusses the importance of building majority coalitions in politics. The speaker argues that the ability to form lasting coalitions is crucial for bringing about meaningful change for ordinary Americans. The episode explores historical examples of parties that were able to build durable majorities and win multiple elections in a row, pointing out that current political parties struggle to replicate this success. The speaker emphasizes that finding a democratic solution to the crisis of democracy requires the development of more lasting coalitions that can push through significant policy changes.
Obama's Early Influences and Critiques
The episode focuses on a book written by President Obama in the 90s, which was never published but has recently been brought to light. The speaker highlights Obama's early influences and critiques, including his critique of the left and expertise. The episode discusses Obama's changing views over time, comparing his perspectives from the 90s to his presidency. Additionally, the podcast explores the important role of civil rights leader Bayard Rustin in shaping Obama's political and intellectual development.
Challenges of Coalition Building and Challenges in Modern Politics
The podcast delves into the challenges of building durable political coalitions and the structural factors that have hindered the ability to establish long-lasting majorities in recent times. The discussion highlights the transition from traditional machine politicians to activists with a focus on principles and causes. The episode also addresses the danger of relying on the courts for progressive victories, arguing that popular opinion and effective coalition building are essential for durable change. Furthermore, the podcast touches on the debate over populism, the midterm elections, and the need for political strategies that address both economic and cultural issues.
The Obama campaign's strategy in 2012
The Obama campaign's strategy in 2012 was to portray Barack Obama as a champion of the beleaguered middle class, fighting off vulture capitalists personified by Mitt Romney. This economic-focused campaign allowed Obama to position himself as being on the side of the people, which resonated with voters and helped secure his re-election.
The strategy of passing legislation before it gains public support
The idea of passing legislation before it gains widespread public support is discussed in the podcast. While some argue that waiting for public opinion to shift is the right strategy, others believe in passing legislation even if only a small percentage of the population agrees with it. The reasoning is that once the policy bears positive results and becomes popular, people will be grateful for its implementation. However, there are risks of backlash and eventual repeal if the policy does not gain popularity in time.
My guest today is Timothy Shenk. Tim is a historian at George Washington University and a co-editor at Dissent magazine. He has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, London Review of Books, The Nation, The New Republic, and Jacobin, among other publications. Tim is also the author of the book "Realigners: Partisan Hacks, Political Visionaries, and the Struggle to Rule American Democracy".
In this episode, Tim and I discuss the book that President Obama wrote in the 90s, but never published, which Tim was able to get his hands on. We discuss Obama's early influences, his critique of the left and his critique of expertise. We talk about how Obama's views have changed from the 90s to today. We talk about the legacy of Bayard Rustin, civil rights leader and writer who was a hero to both Tim and myself. We talk about how political parties used to build long-term coalitions and win many elections in a row, and why neither party is able to do that today. We discuss popularism and its critics. We also go on to talk about the midterm elections.
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