George Packer, a staff writer at The Atlantic known for his sharp analysis of American politics, delves into the state of democracy in the face of the upcoming 2024 election. He discusses troubling trends in voter behavior and the implications for the Democratic Party. Packer raises concerns about the misuse of power in political investigations and ponders the chilling prospect of Trump targeting January 6 Committee members. The conversation also touches on the shifting identity of the Democratic Party and the dangers of reactionary politics.
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insights INSIGHT
Demography is Not Destiny
The Democratic party's reliance on demographic shifts for victory is a delusion.
The idea that a minority-majority country guarantees a permanent Democratic majority is flawed.
insights INSIGHT
The Roosevelt Republic
The Roosevelt Republic (1932-1952) centered around the idea of a federal government responsible for social welfare and equal rights.
This era saw the expansion of the welfare state and the beginning of full citizenship for minority groups.
insights INSIGHT
Reagan's Impact
The Reagan Revolution shifted the political landscape, making government the problem and emphasizing smaller government and economic freedom.
This influenced even Democrats like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, leading to policies like deregulation and bank bailouts.
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In *The Shipwrecked Mind*, Mark Lilla explores the concept of political reaction and its influence on modern history. The book is structured into three sections: 'Thinkers,' 'Currents,' and 'Events.' It delves into the ideas of thinkers such as Franz Rosenzweig, Eric Voegelin, and Leo Strauss, and examines currents like American theoconservatism and the leftist turn to St. Paul. Lilla argues that reactionary intellectuals invoke the past to critique the present, seeing themselves as exiles from the flow of time. The book aims to expose the deep logic of reactionary thought and its impact on contemporary politics[3][4][5].
Behind the beautiful forevers
Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
Katherine Boo
Behind the Beautiful Forevers is an interview-based narrative that delves into the lives of the residents of Annawadi, a makeshift settlement near the Mumbai airport. The book follows characters such as Abdul, a Muslim teenager who sees opportunity in recyclable garbage, and Asha, a woman navigating political corruption to improve her family's life. It intricately plots the intersections of individual hopes with broader global truths, including the impacts of economic envy, religious tensions, and social inequality. Boo's work is praised for its intimate and unforgettable portrait of India's urban poor, drawing parallels to the works of Dickens and Zola.
George Packer is a staff writer at The Atlantic. Packer joins Preet to discuss his latest article, The End of Democratic Delusions, and what the 2024 election reveals about the future of American democracy and the Democratic party.
Plus, could Donald Trump have members of the Jan 6 Committee arrested? And, what will Kash Patel’s appointment as FBI Director mean for the role’s 10-year term?
For show notes and a transcript of the episode head to: https://cafe.com/stay-tuned/the-pendulum-always-swings-back-with-george-packer/
Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on Threads, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail.
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