Bungacast /523/ Woke in the Dark ft. Ryan Zickgraf
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Nov 28, 2025 Ryan Zickgraf, a contributing editor focused on US politics and 'woke' debates, joins the discussion on the Democratic Party's challenges in the current political landscape. He argues that 'Big Woke' is losing power, and explores the emergence of 'dark woke' identity politics. Zickgraf highlights the influence of think tanks advocating for post-woke strategies, including economic populism and youth outreach initiatives. The conversation touches on how the Democrats might adapt to Trump's challenge and the potential for a significant electoral realignment.
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Woke's Institutional Decline
- "Big woke" is losing institutional power as universities, media, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley weaken or shift right.
- Ryan Zickgraf argues this decentralizes identity politics into academia and online pockets rather than mainstream institutions.
Democrats' Post‑Woke Credibility Gap
- Democrats face a credibility problem: peak woke passed and many cultural signals alienated voters, especially rural and male constituencies.
- Ryan says the party is trying to distance itself from identity-first messaging and re-nationalize its appeal.
Pivot To Moderate Economic Populism
- Think tanks propose pragmatic repositioning: moderate social stances plus economic populism to win back voters.
- Embrace affordability, moderated cultural messaging, and targeted outreach to Sunbelt and young voters.