Jacobin Radio: Post-Election Analysis w/ Robert Brenner
Nov 13, 2024
auto_awesome
In this engaging discussion, Robert Brenner, a UCLA history professor and editor at New Left Review, analyzes the surprising election results that favored Donald Trump. He delves into the decline in Democratic voter support and critiques the party's focus on professionals over the working class. The conversation highlights Biden's communication struggles and the influence of wealthy donors. Brenner emphasizes the urgent need for Democrats to reconnect with everyday voters and reflects on how Trump's populism reshapes the Republican Party's appeal.
The significant shift of working-class voters towards Donald Trump reflects the Democratic Party's failure to address their economic concerns.
The election results highlight the need for the Democratic Party to adopt more populist strategies to reconnect with disenchanted voters.
Deep dives
Shifts in Voter Demographics
The election results indicate a significant shift in voter demographics, particularly concerning the working class's alignment with the Republican Party. Working-class men, previously thought to be a strong voter base for Democrats, prominently supported Donald Trump, signifying a broader trend of disillusionment with the Democrats among working-class voters, including Latino and Black workers. This shift is interpreted as a reaction to the Democratic Party's abandonment of working-class interests, as warned by Bernie Sanders, who noted the party's focus on professionals and suburbanites at the expense of its traditional base. The results suggest that the Democrats need to reevaluate their strategies to reconnect with working-class voters to avoid further electoral losses.
Interpretation of Election Outcomes
The analysis of the election outcomes suggests that Trump did not gain significant support compared to 2020; instead, the Democratic Party experienced a substantial drop in votes. While Trump received approximately 73.66 million votes in the recent election, which is slightly lower than his total in 2020, this decline highlights the Democrats' struggle to maintain their previous voter base, translating to a net gain for Republicans due to decreased Democratic turnout. This drop-off raises questions about the effectiveness of the Democratic Party's electoral strategy and messaging, particularly regarding their distribution of votes across regions. It becomes clear that while Trump’s numbers may remain stable, the Democrats face significant challenges in winning votes in key demographics and regions.
Campaign Strategy Flaws
Kamala Harris's campaign is criticized for its focus on abstract themes such as democracy and reproductive rights, which did not resonate with the economic concerns dominating voters' minds. The campaign's perceived disconnect from pressing issues like inflation and economic hardship contributed to its failure, as evident from the polling data that indicated voters prioritized economic topics over political rhetoric. Some argue that had Harris adopted a more populist and economically focused strategy, appealing to the working class's immediate needs, the outcome could have been different. Moreover, the Democratic Party’s reliance on traditional centrist policies rather than bold, progressive reforms may have deepened the alienation felt by potential voters.
The Broader Political Context
The election results are part of a broader global trend where incumbents are losing favor, indicating a political realignment toward the right. Despite Trump's controversial campaign tactics, his ability to connect with a segment of working-class voters shows that issues of gender and identity remain pivotal in this realignment. The Democratic Party's focus on establishing a robust democratic narrative, while largely neglecting economic populism, appears insufficient to counteract the structural issues leading to voter disaffection. This outcome suggests that, moving forward, the Democratic Party must integrate robust social and economic strategies to reclaim voter trust and effectively challenge the growing rightward shift in global politics.
We look at the election results that took many of us by surprise — giving Donald Trump and Republicans an across the board victory. For a look at the bigger picture, Suzi speaks to Robert Brenner, professor of history at UCLA, for analysis and some post-election blues. This podcast was recorded on November 8, before all the votes were counted along the West Coast. The final tallies will likely shrink Trump’s margin of victory, but not the overall results. The striking character of the Trump victory is attributable virtually entirely by the drop off in the vote for the Democrats. We try to understand what happened, and how to analyze this shift to the right.
Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode