

From American Psycho to Donald Trump: How yuppies shaped US politics
Oct 9, 2024
Tom McGrath, author of Triumph of the Yuppies, explores the rise of yuppies in 1980s America and their significant influence on modern politics. He discusses how their values of wealth and status, exemplified by characters like Patrick Bateman, shaped the Reagan era and laid the groundwork for today's political landscape, including the Trump phenomenon. The conversation also touches on the culture wars, the evolution of capitalism, and our ongoing struggle with systemic inequalities, revealing a complex legacy that still resonates.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro
00:00 • 3min
Yuppies, Reagan, and Modern Politics
02:35 • 11min
Cultural Tensions: Echoes of the 80s in Today's Political Landscape
13:39 • 2min
Transformations in American Capitalism
16:01 • 4min
Yuppies, Wealth, and Cultural Reflections
20:14 • 3min
Navigating Hypercapitalism and Wealth Perception
23:36 • 3min