Factually! with Adam Conover

This Election is Historically F***ed Up with Rick Perlstein

Jul 31, 2024

Rick Perlstein, a political historian known for his insights on American conservatism, delves into the absurdity of the 2024 election cycle. Discussing Biden's debate missteps and the attempted assassination of Trump, he draws parallels between today’s turbulence and the chaos of 1968. Perlstein also critiques Project 2025, which threatens non-partisanship, and examines the internal conflict within the Republican Party on divisive issues like abortion. This conversation highlights the fragility of American politics and historical lessons that resonate now.

01:02:12

Episode guests

Rick Perlstein

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The 2024 election cycle has been characterized by unprecedented chaos and violence, echoing historical political turmoil, particularly reminiscent of 1968.

Rick Perlstein emphasizes the importance of grounding political commentary in contemporary realities rather than solely relying on historical tropes.

The rise of right-wing populism intertwines with authoritarian aspirations, complicating the Republican Party's ideological landscape and affecting social cohesion.

Deep dives

Historical Influences on Modern Food Choices

Many food habits are shaped by historical events and decisions that date back decades or even centuries. This reveals that the perception of food choice is often a mirage of autonomy, as the societal influences and laws governing food have roots in power dynamics. For instance, Andrea Freeman's work highlights the use of food in U.S. law as a means of control, challenging the idea of free choice in eating. Understanding this historical context can help recalibrate modern perceptions of food and its origins.

Intro

5min

Echoes of 1968: Politics and Parallels

19min

Min-Maxing Life: Deals and Dilemmas

9min

Project 2025: Politicizing Government

8min

Political Rivalries and Privacy Concerns

5min

Chaos in Republican Politics: The Abortion Divide

19min

Navigating Political Uncertainty

4min

The 2024 election cycle has been positively ludicrous. Between Biden's disastrous debate performance, the attempted assassination of Trump, every single thing about JD Vance, and Biden dropping out of the race, it seems like history is happening too fast to even keep track of. This week, Adam sits down with Rick Perlstein, political historian and author of Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980, to unpack one of the most charged moments in American political history. Find Rick's book at factuallypod.com/books

SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/adamconover

SEE ADAM ON TOUR: https://www.adamconover.net/tourdates/

SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Factually! on:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/factually-with-adam-conover/id1463460577

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fK8WJw4ffMc2NWydBlDyJ

About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.

» SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1

» FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum

» FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/

» FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum

» Advertise on Factually! via Gumball.fm

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.