The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Pete Buttigieg’s theory of political change

Apr 1, 2019

Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and a prominent 2020 presidential candidate, shares his compelling vision for political change. He discusses the pivotal role of collective action in addressing big societal issues like carbon emissions and wealth disparity. Buttigieg delves into how local governance aligns with broader philosophical themes, navigating the complexities of American political ideology and polarization. He emphasizes the importance of identity in voter decisions and the influence of literature on his political thought.

01:02:29

Episode guests

Pete Buttigieg

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Navigating the Political Landscape

11min

The Complex Dynamics of American Political Ideology

5min

Navigating Political Polarization and Reform

20min

Understanding Voter Motives: Identity Over Ideology

5min

The Interplay of Identity and Politics

13min

Literature's Influence on Political Thought

2min

The Emotional Landscape of Politics

2min

First off. Hello! I’m back from paternity leave. And this is a helluva podcast to restart with.

Pete Buttigieg is a Rhodes scholar, a Navy veteran, and the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He’s a married gay man, a churchgoing Episcopalian, and a proud millennial. He’s also, according to CNN, “the hottest candidate in the 2020 race right now.”

There’s been plenty of discussion of Buttigieg’s biography, and of whether a midsize-city mayorship is appropriate experience for the presidency. But I wanted to talk to him about something else: his theory of political change. How, in a broken system, would he get done even a fraction of what he’s promising? To my surprise, he actually had an answer.

Before I did this podcast, I was surprised to see Buttigieg catching fire. Now that I’ve had this conversation, I’m not.

Book recommendations:

Ulysses by James Joyce

Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000 by Stephen Kotkin

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