American Prestige Bonus - What Happened to Liberal Politics? w/ Tim Shenk (Preview)
Nov 9, 2025
Tim Shenk, a historian at George Washington University, explores the shifting landscape of American liberal politics. He highlights how the Cold War era purged the left and led to the rise of a managerial elite. The discussion includes the decline of organized labor, the financialization of the economy, and the missed opportunities for populist coalitions post-Obama. Shenk critiques the Democratic Party's focus on cultural representation over class issues, urging a return to social-democratic policies to enhance material wellbeing for all.
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Campaign Promises Versus Governing Choices
- Strategists like Stan Greenberg advised melding economic populism with cultural moderation to win working-class voters.
- After elections, leaders often shifted to neoliberal policies, betraying those voters and seeding backlash.
Prioritize Economic Policy Over Easy Cultural Wins
- Reconnect policy to the economic grievances that drive working-class votes instead of prioritizing easier cultural wins.
- Otherwise you risk long-term alienation and a retaliatory political backlash.
Bailouts Alienated The Base
- The 2008 housing crash and bank bailouts highlighted Democrats' willingness to prioritize financial institutions over homeowners.
- That choice alienated working-class voters and set the stage for 2016 populist anger.
