Citations Needed Ep 222 - The Empire Strikes First Part I: Party Elites Who Lost to Trump (Twice) Blame Everyone But Themselves
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Jun 4, 2025 
Join Jake Grumbach, an Associate Professor at UC Berkeley and author of "Laboratories Against Democracy," as he delves into the Democratic Party's missteps post-Trump. He discusses how elite Democrats evade responsibility for electoral losses, often scapegoating marginalized groups. The conversation highlights the disconnect between party strategies and voter needs, especially among young voters. Grumbach critiques the pervasive influence of money in politics and emphasizes the urgent need for authenticity and labor-focused policies to reconnect with disillusioned Democrats.
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Elites Scapegoat Wokeness for Losses
- Party elites blame losses on 'wokeness' instead of policy failures.
- This scapegoating ignores the abandonment of working class and corporate-friendly liberalism.
Messaging Over Policy in Democratic Response
- Dems see working class voters drifting to GOP but focus on messaging not policy.
- Party elites plan expensive cultural studies without addressing substantive issues hurting voters.
Elites Mask Conservatism as Populism
- Coastal elite liberals claim to represent 'everyman' while pushing conservative policies.
- This laundered right-wing agenda ignores real working-class concerns, blaming identity politics instead.