How white identity politics won the Republican civil war

Jul 18, 2019

Tim Alberta, Chief Political Correspondent at Politico Magazine and author of "American Carnage," unpacks the dramatic shifts in the Republican Party. He discusses how white identity politics have taken center stage, especially post-Trump's election. Alberta reveals the internal struggles among Republican leaders and explores why many abandoned their principles for power. The conversation also touches on the complex dynamics of loyalty and the implications for the upcoming 2024 election, providing a riveting portrait of a party in turmoil.

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ANECDOTE

Access Hollywood Reaction

Tim Alberta's book excerpt reveals reactions to the Access Hollywood tape.
Republicans initially believed Trump's candidacy was doomed.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Ryan's Criticism

Paul Ryan criticized Donald Trump after retiring, causing backlash.
Many questioned Ryan's silence while still Speaker of the House.

insights

INSIGHT

Self-Preservation in Politics

Self-preservation drives many political decisions, including those related to Trump.
Many politicians prioritize their careers over other considerations.

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The Paradox of Political Idealism

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Analyzing Insights from the 2024 Election

47:10 • 2min

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Navigating Political Waters

48:41 • 15min

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Misinformation and Modern Leadership

01:03:33 • 10min

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Dynamics of Party Power and Polarization

01:13:45 • 13min

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The Concerted Sensibility

George Will

How to Change

The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Katy Milkman

In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.

Moneyball

The Art of Winning an Unfair Game

Michael Lewis

The book tells the story of the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, where General Manager Billy Beane and his assistant Paul DePodesta used advanced statistical analysis, known as sabermetrics, to assemble a competitive team despite a limited budget. The approach, pioneered by Bill James, focused on metrics such as on-base percentage and slugging percentage rather than traditional measures like batting average and runs batted in. This data-driven strategy allowed the Athletics to compete with teams having much larger payrolls, like the New York Yankees, and achieve significant success, including a 20-game winning streak and a playoff appearance.

The Looming Tower

Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11

Lawrence Wright

The Looming Tower is a comprehensive and deeply researched book that spans five decades, tracing the transformation of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri from idealistic soldiers in Afghanistan to leaders of the most successful terrorist group in history. The book also follows key figures such as FBI counterterrorism chief John O’Neill and other Americans involved in counter-terrorism efforts. It examines the background and conditions that produced the men who planned and staged the 9/11 attacks, highlighting issues such as poor communication within U.S. intelligence and law enforcement communities.

War

Bob Woodward

In this book, Bob Woodward provides an intimate and sweeping account of one of the most tumultuous periods in presidential politics and American history. The narrative centers on President Joe Biden’s approach to managing the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as Donald Trump’s efforts to regain political power. Woodward reveals the complexity and consequences of wartime back-channel diplomacy and decision-making, highlighting efforts to deter the use of nuclear weapons and prevent a rapid slide into World War III.

American Carnage

Tim Alberta

American Carnage provides a comprehensive look at the making of the modern Republican Party, highlighting how a decade of cultural upheaval, populist outrage, and ideological warfare made the GOP vulnerable to a takeover by Donald J. Trump. The book is based on hundreds of exclusive interviews with key figures such as President Trump, Paul Ryan, Ted Cruz, John Boehner, and Mitch McConnell. It explores the fundamental questions at the center of America’s current turmoil, including the transformation of the GOP’s values and policies, and how Trump’s victory was a culmination of the party’s internal civil war and broader societal changes.

Tim Alberta’s new book American Carnage documents “the Republican Civil War”: a decade-plus struggle over whether the Republican Party would build itself around white identity politics or try to reach out to a changing America.

Trump’s election settled the argument, and Alberta’s book tracks the way top Republicans processed that resolution — and submitted to their new reality — in real time. The profiles in courage are few and far between; the capitulations, however, are everywhere. Alberta takes us deep inside that process, and the quotes and stories he’s revealed already have top Republicans at each other’s throats.

This is a conversation about what the Republican Party has become, why Donald Trump won the fight for the party’s soul so decisively, why so many conservative politicians abandoned their loathing of Trump to embrace the power he offered, and what comes next. Alberta brings the receipts, and if nothing else, it’s a helluva portrait of how principles are traded for power.

Book recommendations:

The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

War by Sebastian Junger

Moneyball by Michael Lewis

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